Visit Orlando’s hidden gems: A grown-up’s guide to Michelin dining, thrills and luxury
Sure, there are gobs of theme parks and attractions geared toward kids, but there are also plenty of new thrills for adults in Orlando. While the word ‘tranquility’ doesn’t immediately come to mind, adults can escape to a new luxury hotel that feels more like an island paradise or check in to a tech-heavy hotel that recently landed a Michelin nod. Orlando’s culinary scene is exploding with Michelin-rated restaurants, and new concepts from Champagne bars to sober speakeasies and an intimate music hall. If you’re coming from South Florida, the Brightline train takes the stress out of driving, offering an easy three-hour ride (with a cocktail in hand). Kick back, this Orlando itinerary is for the adults.
CONRAD ORLANDO
Walking into the third-floor hotel entry, you’re met with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame a shimmering turquoise lagoon and a white-sand beach. For a minute, you may question exactly where you are. The Bahamas, the Caribbean? Nope — it’s the new Conrad Orlando, a luxury hotel that’s seamlessly situated within the resort campus of Evermore Orlando Resort and centered around its queen: an 8-acre crystal-clear lagoon known as Evermore Bay.
Flipping the mindset of an on-the-go trip to Orlando, there’s no need to leave this property that feels like a private island. With a variety of room configurations, there’s everything from king rooms overlooking the lagoon to spacious suites. Conrad guests share amenities with Evermore, which includes access to the lagoon, water-focused activities, and the surrounding beaches dotted with hammocks, cabanas and fire pits. While the Conrad has its own pool and private cabanas, you’ll want to leisurely drift in the lagoon on starfish floats and glide through the clear water on kayaks and paddle boards. Catering to adult rejuvenation, the Conrad Spa showcases a lush outdoor water garden fashioned after the area’s natural springs, with a water circuit of cold and hot plunges. Treatments range from sound healing and breath-work rituals to massages like the ‘Blanket of Calm,’ a blissful mixture of body, scalp and foot massage.
There are numerous dining options, including waterside Papaya Club, which offers Polynesian-inspired fare from pu pu platters to fun tiki concoctions, and Ceiba rooftop restaurant which serves elevated Mexican cuisine with a flurry of house-made sauces like salsas and moles. Make a reservation at sunset to capture incredible views from its expansive windows — and for a sprinkle of Disney magic, stick around until 9 p.m. to watch the nightly fireworks at the theme parks from the rooftop terrace. If you decide to venture to Walt Disney World, the hotel offers a free shuttle.
LAKE NONA WAVE HOTEL
Discover another serene Orlando experience in Lake Nona, a planned community that’s located 15 minutes from the airport and Brightline train station. Lake Nona is a secluded world of its own that revolves around innovation and health, catering to athletes, tennis stars, wellness junkies and tech-savvy vacationers looking for respite from the parks (though, most attractions are around 30 minutes away). The area’s gem is Lake Nona Wave Hotel which deservedly snagged a Michelin Key award for its high-tech perks and aesthetics like the lobby stacked with notable art, towering sculptures and playful social media moments. Its living room-style lobby genuinely lives up to its name, with plenty of social nooks for sipping cocktails from the bar, playing games, or listening to live music. The outdoor sculpture garden rivals an art museum with its collection, and serves as a tranquil backdrop for morning yoga classes to movie nights under the stars. Guests have access to the Lake Nona Performance Club, a massive complex which offers fitness classes, a golf lab, rock climbing, and the first-ever Deepak Chopra Mind-Body Zone & Spa.
Guests can live large in their suites, which feel like posh apartments in the sky. Rooms feature high-tech touches like smart windows that dim to block sunlight, Toto toilets (they’ll be a highlight of your stay), and some are tricked out with special beds and sleep apps devoted to giving guests an incredible night’s sleep.
Another major reason to stay: a wealth of outstanding on-property restaurants, including Michelin Recommended Bacán which impresses with its jaw-dropping decor and its creative Latin American menu of well-composed dishes. Think tender birria short ribs paired with arepas to soak up the rich sauce, perfectly charred octopus in a chimichurri sauce, and crispy duck with foie gras. The hotel is in walking distance to restaurants like Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen, and Boxi Park an outdoor entertainment hub lined with shipping containers that have been transformed into eateries and bars.
DAY ADVENTURES
If there’s one theme park worth devoting a day to, it’s Discovery Cove. This tropical day retreat that doubles as a marine park and limits park capacity, so it never feels too crowded. Plus, everything from the food to park amenities are included. Guests can snorkel the artificial Grand Reef teeming with fish and graceful rays, spend hours floating the lazy river that winds under waterfalls, and hand-feed birds in the aviary. Add on animal encounters like swimming with the dolphins or the highly adventurous SeaVenture experience. After sliding on a dive helmet with flowing oxygen (no diving experience needed), you’ll walk the aquarium floor surrounded by sea life and even peep at sharks behind a glass enclosure. For extra indulgence, reserve a private cabana overlooking the dolphin cove, or book a VIP experience with a designated ambassador who offers insider access and knowledge.
Another adult-friendly option is a day trip to Winter Park, one of Florida’s oldest communities that will capture your heart (and camera roll) with its moss-draped trees and charming neighborhoods. Spend an afternoon popping in Park Avenue’s upscale boutiques and restaurants, then take off on the Scenic Boat Tour, an attraction that’s older than Disney World. While the 45-minute pontoon boat tour weaves through the area’s chain of lakes, soak in the area’s natural beauty and learn fun facts about the area’s famous residents from the late Mr. Rogers to young billionaires.
ADULTING IN ORLANDO
In a city where theatrics thrive, check out Judson’s Live, a cabaret-style music space that recently opened in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The beauty of this venue is its intimate space — you’re so close to the stage that you can see the performer’s expressions — and its ease of popping in for a 50-minute show. Another new hotspot is Flûtes Champagne Bar in Winter Park, where a trendy crowd sips Champagne while being serenaded by a sax player, violinist or a DJ-fueled set. Upgrade your bubbly experience with a sweet pairing from local chocolatier, AJ Chocolate House. Don’t drink? You’ll feel just as fancy at the area’s first spirit-free speakeasy The Bandbox, which seats only nine guests. The dimly lit room transports guests to a 1920s Gatsby-inspired world, and you won’t miss the alcohol with their expertly crafted mocktails (try the mango habanero margarita rimmed with sriracha salt) or the CBD-infused drinks for a chill night.
The grown-up version of Orlando is magical too, and there’s still plenty of time to sprinkle in a theme park.
This story was originally published May 15, 2024 at 1:37 PM.
