The 21 most beautiful bars in the Orlando area

Bösendorfer Lounge

325 Orange Ave., 407-581-4700
Skip the repetitive pop choruses and booming dubstep bass found in other local watering holes and upgrade to the melodic music of this lounge’s Imperial Grand Bösendorfer Piano, one of only a handful in the world. Open 7 days a week, 11am till “late”.

Photo via Orlando Weekly

Hanson’s Shoe Repair

27 East Pine Street, 407-476-9446
Speakeasies are all over, but Hanson’s does it right: You have to call ahead to get a password and upon arrival, you will notice there’s a controlled amount of people allowed in the dim, beautiful space. They offer craft cocktails but none with vodka, considering it wasn’t a part of American drinking during the Prohibition era. They really stick to the theme.

Photo via Hanson’s Shoe Repair/Facebook

180 Skytop Lounge

400 West Church Street, 407-913-0180
It’s called 180, but the sweet view is 360. That’s a complete circle, folks. Try not to get a sore neck as you sip fine martinis and admire the view of Orlando’s burgeoning collection of sky-scrapers. Elegant dress is required, but with the chill breeze of natural air, no one will know when the last time you laundered it.

Photo via 180downtown.com

M Lounge

2000 N. Orange Ave., 321-430-1140
Located in the former Orlando Surgery Center building, M Lounge is Ivanhoe Village’s first rooftop bar. Access to the upscale bar requires a trip in the external glass elevator to the top floor. The craft cocktails, imported beers and wines and a beautiful view of downtown make for a pretty fancy night out.

Photo via M Lounge/Facebook

The Nest

4953 New Broad St., 407-629-6601
The Nest has quickly begun to take its place among the competition against other craft bars like Hanson’s Shoe Repair and Courtesy Bar. The “mixologists” behind the bar curate seasonal drink menus with out-of-this-world creations.

Photo via The Nest Bar Orlando/Facebook

Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar

Pleasure Island Boat Dock, Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-6244
Styled after an old airplane hangar, this bar is named for Jock Lindsey, who made his way to Florida after retiring from globetrotting the world (and oh yeah, flying Indiana Jones that one time). Adventure-themed drinks include the Fountain of Youth, Pancho’s Margarita and the Scottish Professor, not to mention thrilling bites likes Rolling Boulder Sliders and Lao Che’s Revenge.

Photo via themeparkcouple/Instagram

Mathers Social Gathering

30 S. Magnolia Ave., 407-250-5005
You won’t find a better-looking throwback bar than Mathers Social Gathering. The space is decked out in early 20th-century opulence, from comfortable leather armchairs to polished wooden bookcases to some of the best mood lighting around. Touches of local history abound, including seats and a giant U.S. flag rescued from Tinker Field. Just know that you’re going to have to pay a steep price for the privilege of drinking anything here. There’s also a dress code, so suit up.

Photo via mathersorlando/Instagram

Herman’s Loan Office

22 W Pine Street, 407-649-0000
At this downtown bar, the well-appointed space features the kind of furniture you’d expect to find in a bank: dark wooden coffee tables, nicely upholstered couches and chairs, and a white marble bar to tie the room together. Chief creative bartender Rene Nguyen and his team sculpt a variety of forward-thinking cocktails. Try our favorite, the Dance at Bougival, a dark concoction of gin, prosecco, balsamic vinegar and Cynar served in a champagne flute.

Photo via hermansloanoffice/Instagram

Reyes Mezcaleria

821 N Orange Ave., 407-868-9007
With its carefully-crafted menu and its fine Mexican Mezcal - plus plenty other creative or traditional drinks - Reyes Mezcaleria is a must-visit for Orlando’s food and drink connoisseurs. But if you’re not in the mood for a meal, you can’t go wrong just showing up with a sketchbook. Not a single item here is here by accident. Although, seriously, grab some Mezcal, too.

Photo via Faiyaz Kara

Geyser Point Bar & Grill

901 Timberline Dr., Lake Buena Vista
No , you won’t find piping hot water spewing in a vertical stream from beneath the floorboards, but that’s probably for the better. Geyser Point is nestled in a quieter part of nature, and certainly a quieter part of Disney, and is defined by big open spaces and comfortable rustic furniture. Grab a seat at its classy, stone-topped bar and try pretending you’re not sitting inside the world headquarters for corporate, industrialized recreation.

Photo via Disney

Shark Bar inside the T-Rex Cafe

1676 E. Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, 407-828-8739
This bar may attract more tourists and their adventurous kids, with their animatronic dinosaurs and mammoths roaring and moving their heads, than single people. This bar is a sight to behold, with a massive saltwater fish tank tucked into the arms of a giant octopus. You may accidentally leave having purchased scuba gear on Amazon on your phone.

Photo via Rob Bartlett

Aku Aku Tiki Bar

431 E Central Blvd., 407-839-0080
As an homage to a 1950s-'60s Hawaiian beach bar, Aku Aku strives to not be “just your average tiki bar” with throwback bamboo bar stools, leaning surf boards and vintage beach films playing on the TVs. Drinks like the Fu Manchu, made with a heavy dose of 94-proof Sailor Jerry Rum and a kick of ginger, and the Tiger Fucker, made with 44* North Huckleberry Vodka and housemade jalapeño-blackberry syrup, are sure to knock you off your chair.

Photo via Rob Bartlett

The Woods

49 North Orange Ave., 407) 203-1114
The Woods is one of the linchpins of the craft cocktail scene in downtown. Accordingly, there’s very little in the place to distract you from the business at hand: trying new cocktails. Check out their website to stay informed of Iron Bartender competitions or other distillery- or brewery-sponsored events, often with complimentary booze for attendees.

Photo via thewoodsorlando/Instagram

The Guesthouse

1321 N Mills Ave., 407-630-6574
At The Guesthouse, the many hanging plants (and the nifty palm-print wallpaper in the restrooms) give this watering hole a fern-bar feel; the lighting’s soft glow and the cushion-strewn couch pick up on that pick-up vibe. The walls, ceiling and floor are all dark, and the flickering candles and hanging globes give this bar the most flattering lighting ever. You’ll feel like you’re floating as you sit at the bar, quaffing carefully shaken craft cocktails. Don’t miss the Army-Navy, a gin-based wonder.

Photo via The Guesthouse/Facebook

Joysticks Arcade Lounge

69 E Pine St., 407-613-5007
Joysticks spares no detail when it comes to re-creating the neon frenzy of the 1980s. Homages to Jaws, The Goonies and other nostalgia-heavy flicks abound, and there are more than enough arcade and console video games to go around (including couches with old Nintendos hooked up to TVs for adventurous nerds on dates). The drink menu matches the bar’s over-the-top theme with specialty cocktails using dry ice and colorful liqueurs to concoct science-project worthy beverages.

Photo via alz.yeah/Instagram

Eden Bar

1300 S Orlando Ave, Maitland, 407-629-1088
It’s a place that can make a couple looking for craft cocktails just as happy as a crowd who just want to split a few pitchers of beer. The splashing fountain and tropical landscaping make it picturesque (when the weather’s nice), the menu is a good balance of satisfying bar snacks and more upscale fare, and the best movies in town are screening inside, just steps away.

Photo via Orlando Weekly

Mango’s Tropical Cafe

8126 International Dr., 407-673-4422
What started as a new-age Miami retirement home has since become famous for its wild dinner shows and over-the-top presentations. Also, Pit Bull likes its vodka. The new Orlando location has eight bars. Whether you’re down for 8 crazy nights or one really crazy night, Mango’s is the place to go.

Photo via Orlando Weekly

Sideshow Bar

15 N. Orange Ave., 407-420-1515
You don’t go to a carnival to drink hoity-toity craft beer – you want to get drunk on the classics and ride some rides. In this case, the ride is your own class-act drunkenness. It’s a trip to see passers-by stop mid-stride and soak in the ambience. Can you blame them? The place is a visual marvel. The Sideshow is in town, and we’re the freaks – act accordingly.

Photo via Orlando Weekly

Rock & Brews

6897 South Semoran Blvd., 407-367-2840
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley brought their rockin' restaurant chain to the Lee Vista area. The burger and beer joint features an assortment of rock-themed decor, a "Great Wall of Rock," and a variety of music-themed artwork. The crazy-long list of beers, ciders and wines will make you want to rock and roll all night--and party every day.

Photo via rockandbrewsorlando/Instagram

The Courtesy

114 N. Orange Ave., 407-450-2041
One of the first Orlando bars to kickstart the craft-cocktail movement here, the Courtesy is a don’t-miss on any true connoisseur’s barhop. Truly creative drink recipes are tested exhaustively before hitting the menu – no “hey, this might be good” sloppiness here – and only a few customer favorites stick around through the menu’s seasonal updates. In addition to the delicious drinks, the vibe is sophisticated without being stuffy: Lighting and sound levels are both pleasingly low, while style points for the vintage furnishings and long banquette are high.

Photo via The Courtesy Bar/Facebook