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.
We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Orlando Weekly. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Orlando Weekly, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
Email us at feedback@orlandoweekly.com.
Orlando Weekly works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Central Florida.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Orlando’s true free press free.