It was one of the last neighborhoods to resist the call of the developer, but even College Park’s shady streets of tidy bungalows are feeling the incursion of five- and six-story condo buildings. For the time being, however, the small-town feeling remains strong, with local-owned businesses lining Edgewater Drive and kids walking to and from the newly expanded high school. It’s no surprise Orlando’s mayor lives in College Park – it’s walkable, bikeable and offers plenty of green space.
GRAB A BITE
K Restaurant
1710 Edgewater Drive, 407-872-2332, krestaurant.net
Indefatigable chef Kevin Fonzo is seen all over town lending his talents to one food-related charity or another, but he’s the mack daddy of College Park: Dining at this Italian-inflected spot is a must, not a might, when in the neighborhood. The scene at the wine bar is pretty lively, too.
RusTeak
2625 Edgewater Drive, 407-540-1100, rusteakwinebar.com
A new face on the Edgewater strip, RusTeak offers inventive pizzas, burgers, pastas and seafood, with a focus on local and sustainable products. They also offer a rainbow of wines by the glass, plus exquisite craft cocktails – all in all, a welcome addition.
Trevi Pasta
2120 Edgewater Drive, 407-985-2577, facebook.com/trevipastallc
Beautiful simplicity is the hallmark at this family-owned and operated pasticceria. Pick up handmade pasta, high-quality antipasti and house-churned gelato on your way home for a weeknight feast.
HAVE A DRINK
Downtown Credo
706 W. Smith St., 407-250-4888, downtowncredo.com
A coffee shop with a social mission, Credo’s pay-what-you-will model seems to be working for them. And they seem to be working for others, sponsoring five local charities and a network of Guatemalan coffee growers. (It also doesn’t hurt that they serve a great pour-over in a charming space.)
Grounding Roots
710 W. Princeton St., 407-276-0091, groundingroots.com
Whether or not cold-pressed juice makes you healthier, it definitely makes you happier – particularly the cocoa-almond-avocado-date “shake” served at Grounding Roots.
The Soda Fountain
2525 Edgewater Drive, 407 540-1006, thesodafountain.com
Sip on a strawberry-basil sorbet spritzer, a caramel egg cream, a chunky monkey milkshake or a cherry kick float at this old-timey ice cream emporium.
CHECK THIS OUT
Alchemy
2812 Edgewater Drive, 407-650-8022, alchemyorlando.com
Don’t follow trends, set them – get your hair cut and colored at one of Orlando’s most creative hair studios.
Artichoke Red Vegan Market
2808 Edgewater Drive, 407-898-3353, artichokered.com
Find all manner of cruelty-free products, from ice cream to beer to pet food, plus stop by for a food-truck brunch behind the store on Sundays.
Dance on the Drive
May 2, 6 p.m., Edgewater Drive between Smith and Bryn Mawr streets
Eat, drink and learn to cha-cha right in the middle of Edgewater at this annual family-friendly event. Three blocks of the Drive are closed off and tables and a dance floor are installed for the live-music event.
This article appears in Mar 18-24, 2015 and City Guide (2015).