Orlando Nightlife

A faithful reproduction of the famed New Orleans watering hole, Pat O’Briens boasts a party atmosphere and a young crowd. They serve authentic Hurricanes (the drink the bar invented) and there is a healthy dose of live music, including the duelling pianos so associated with the original.

Florida’s climate is perfect for rooftop bars, and this chic spot is among the best in town. There are curtained cabañas where the great and the good order bottle service, and a chrome-decked lounge with views over Downtown. Cocktails and people watching seem to be the order of the day.

Sophistication is not a word that immediately comes to mind when you talk about Downtown Orlando, but this Martini bar offers an oasis of cool among the brash neon. Oversized cocktails, retro tiki décor and a good bar menu mean that there is a healthy crowd, especially for happy hour.

Somewhere between a dance club and a lounge are the 'ultralounges', where DJs play, but dancing is less important than posing. Bliss is perhaps the epitome of this scene in Orlando, and bright young things sit louchely in the dark wood interiors that surround the VIP areas. Loud and lively.

This upscale dance club runs a variety of nights throughout the week, with some attractive drinks specials on weeknights. Music runs from techno and hip hop to indie and Latino. There are plush private rooms with bottle service for high rollers and even beds with hookah pipes.

One of the largest dancefloors in Downtown Orlando is in a relatively historic building, dating back to 1921. High ceilings and industrial interiors surround the huge space. The club attracts a good selection of international dance acts and DJs, and there is always a good-sized line at the door.

This well-oiled franchise is part of Disney Springs and is as consumer-friendly and mainstream as you might expect. However, this does not mean that they do not host some great acts; many big names pass through indeed.

Built in the 1960s as the city’s first two-screen theatre, the Plaza has been transformed into a live music venue. The main stage hosts the bigger name acts and holds around 1,200 people.

This is a hip, smaller venue that is part of the same complex that houses The Beacham. You are likely to see a young crowd coming for mid-to-big name indie bands and alternative rock. It is not a spit and sawdust kind of place, and it is actually quite clean-cut for a rock venue.

This is a professional company that works in partnership with the University of Central Florida to stage family-appropriate classics and riffs on kids' literature. There is the regular main stage season and a youth academy for aspiring young actors.

This is the premier venue for theatre, ballet and opera. Opened in 1926, the venue holds around 2,500 people. It is also home to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra.