Living in one of the most visited cities in the world means a rotating door of friends and relatives coming to crash at your place and asking how to get cheap park tickets. Lately, tho, Orlando has become better known for the locals-only parts of the city, and while we may never beat out a theme park-driven trip, more and more people are venturing out of tourist traps and want to see the “real Orlando.”

This list might be handy if you want to impress out-of-town guests with an authentic Orlando experience that you curate just for them. You can show them our vibrant neighborhoods, lush natural escapes, and foodie experiences that might have them questioning how much unseasoned, overpriced theme park food they consume on their trip.

This list is not all-inclusive but is a starting point. My blog contains recommendations to help you discover all Orlando offers. Also, this is a personal list. No matter how popular a place is, if I’ve experienced bad service, bad food, toxic ownership, or it’s difficult to find parking (and I might get towed), chances are I’m not taking my friends.

COFFEE

• Haan Coffee

• Stemma

• Deeply

• Coterie Coffee

• Lineage

• Qreate

• Cups and Pups

• Piccolo

BARS

• Sunroom

• Courtesy Bar

• Matador

• Otto’s High Dive

• The Neighbors

• Hanson’s Shoe Repair

• Redlight Redlight

• Whippoorwill

• NEW - Permanent Vacation

LOCAL EATS

• Edoboy

• The Strand

• Bombay Street Kitcen

• Reyes Mezcaleria

• Overrice

• Doshi

• Deli Desires

• Kaya

• Lotte Market Food Court

• Juju/Susuru

• Zeytin

• Shiraz Market

• Ramen Takagi

• Nile Ethiopian

• Black Rooster

• Jam Hot Chicken

• Jeff’s Bagel Run

• Taco Fiesta

• Red Panda Noodle

• Rincon Latino

  For MY vegan friends

• Veggie Garden

• Winter Park Biscuit Co.

• Plantees

TREATS

• Sampaguita

• DG Doughnuts

• Hanalei Shaved Ice

• Light on the Sugar

• Sugardough Bakehouse

• Sister Honey’s

• Buttermilk Bakery

• Nomad Bakehouse

• Midnight Sun

• Matcha Maiko Cafe

• Dochi

• Gideons

• Valhalla Bakery

• Chiffon Culture

BOBA Shops

• Spring Tea

• iTea

• Tan-Cha

• Krave

• Boba Queen

• Sago Tea

• Dang Boba and Musubi House

• Meet Fresh

PLACES

• Orange Tree Antiques

• Rollins Art Museum

• Leu Gardens

• East End Market

• Gatcha USA

• Player 1

• Winter Garden or Downtown Farmers Market

• Kings Landing

• Artifact Candle

• Morse Museum

• Orange County History Center

• Orlando Art Museum

• Winter Park Library

• Winter Park Boat Tour

local shops

• Miscellaneous Market

• Gasp

• Piante

• Gold Dust Home

• Park Ave CDs

• Smarkpunk Records

• YAY! Tiny Shop

• House on Lang

• Etoile Boutique

• Owl’s Attic

• Acme Superstore

• Good Crowd

• Echo Base

• Maffrey’s

• The Lovely

tourist traps

• 192 Flea Market in Kissimmee

• Putting Edge

• Disney Springs Lego Store

• Lake Eola Swan Boats

• Ripley’s Mirror Maze

• Universal Cabana Bay