Orlando’s 17 Best Cocktail Bars

Interior of The Moderne (Photo Credit: The Moderne)

July 6 • By Andrew Langford

It’s a relatively new phenomenon that people are willing to spend $10 to $15 on cocktails.  But what was once old is new again and the era of cocktails tapping into a vast array of spirits and liquors has moved from the Mad Men days back into the forefront of America’s conscience.  Over the past decade, Orlando has been caught up in the national cocktail resurgence, with a number of recent openings bringing the same glitz seen at trendy bars in other major US cities.

Defining what qualifies as a cocktail bar is important for these rankings.  For this, we narrowed our search to places that 1. primarily serve craft cocktails - dive bars, breweries, and wine shops will be covered down the road - and 2. largely function independent of a restaurant dining room - the bars at AVA and Prato are great, but won’t be included in this list.  With this criteria, we asked some of our contributors to send their favorite cocktail bars or places they - reluctantly - go with friends.  This yielded 17 spots that we’ve ranked below:

#17 Proper

112 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

(877) 386-7346

It’s difficult to rank a new spot at the bottom of this list, but Proper is a cocktail bar still searching for its identity.  Trying to muscle into the same market as Mathers and The Robinson, Proper wants to be a high-end alternative to many of the other bars downtown.  But with a cocktail making process probably too complex and time-intensive for the downtown market and a seemingly incongruent mix of crowds, there seems to be some growing pains.  We’ll be sure to give it a try in the future to see if the kinks have been worked out.

#16 The Neighbors

3201 Corrine Dr #201, Orlando, FL 32803

View of the main bar area typically used by East End’s revolving pop-up restaurant (Photo credit: The Neighbors)

Out of the handful of beverage programs available at East End Market, which is partly dependent on which vendors/restaurant concepts are operating there at any given moment, The Neighbors is East End’s definitive in-house bar concept.  The cocktails are pretty good - and beat some served at bars higher on this list - but it’s the space and ambiance that keeps The Neighbors so low.  Sharing the room with East End’s revolving restaurant pop-up and their merchandise store, it’s hardly a space to go meet people and it just feels kind of strange.  If you’re paying bar prices for cocktails without the social element, you might be better served learning to make the cocktails at home.

#15 The Wellborn

211 N Lucerne Cir W, Orlando, FL 32801

A drink on one of The Wellborn’s many patio enclaves (Photo credit: The Wellborn)

If you’ve seen The Wellborn before, it’s probably from friends posting on your feed.  And that’s because the outdoor patio here is gorgeous.  For fall/spring brunches or evening cocktails, there are few better outdoor places to hang in Orlando.  The cocktail menu recognizes this and taps into the local climate by offering an array of tropical cocktails, but that’s about it.  For the price, it may be best to stick with the wine and mimosas here and save the fancy mixology for another spot on the list.

#14 The Matador

724 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

(Photo credit: The Matador)

The bar companion of the local tapas hangout, Santiago’s Bodega, The Matador taps into what Santiago’s does best - drinks on a patio.  While the draw of drinking sangria outside in mild Florida winter weather somewhat carries over to The Matador and the drinks are satisfying, this appeal becomes a bit sapped by hot Florida summers and a space lacking some of that same sense of identify seen in nearby Mills/50 bars.

#13 The Robinson Room

63 E Pine St, Orlando, FL 32801

(Photo credit: The Robinson Room)

A classic bar/club space in downtown Orlando, The Robinson Room is the kind of spot that would be your favorite fancy night out during college.  Tapping into that energy, the DJ is usually blasting 2010s hits - think a lot of Drake and Rihanna - and the bar area is always crowded.  There’s nothing wrong with the drinks here, but they’re hardly as inventive as ones that appear higher on the list.  But maybe the chance to run into a Magic player or D-list rapper will help move this spot up for you.

#12 The Moderne

1241 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

(Photo credit: Andrew Langford)

Appearance-wise, this may be the hottest bar in Orlando.  Every detail of the interior looks crafted to make for the perfect Instagram post on dating app profile picture.  That said, the drinks could use some more refinement.  Many drinks like the Dragon in a Bag seem more focused on spectacle than flavor.  But there is hope for this spot beyond who you might run into amongst their chic patrons.  A monthly cocktail competition between bartenders has helped to elevate the cocktail menu and the food-side of Moderne is in good hands.  Coming from the same crew behind Maki Hibachi, it’s not uncommon to hear nearby tables rave about the Korean vodka pasta or Japanese poutine.

#11 Hanson’s Shoe Repair

27 E Pine St, Orlando, FL 32801

(407) 476-9446

(Photo credit: Hanson’s Shoe Repair)

One of the first bars to usher in Orlando’s modern cocktail scene, Hanson’s remains a speakeasy in the true sense of the word.  On the second floor of Bauhaus, the doorman will require the changing daily password - which can be found on Twitter or by calling a dedicated number.  Once inside, you’ll find a tight bar which feels like a step back in time.  The exposed brick walls date back to the 1880s - ancient history by Orlando standards - and the bartenders focus on crafting classic American cocktails.  Up top you’ll also find a small outdoor patio for the members of your party that insist rooftop bars are always better.

#10 Kabooki Lounge

3122 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 228-3839

Chef Henry Moso’s Colonialtown fiefdom has come a long way since opening in 2013.  Once a hole-in-the-wall sushi restaurant next to a pizza shop and iPhone repair store, Kabooki Sushi has grown to become one of the trendiest, highest regarded restaurants in Orlando controlling that same strip mall where it all got started.  In this expansion, Moso has branched out to support other ventures, including a cocktail space - Kabooki Lounge.  Channeling some of the Miami energy that brings celebrities into Kabooki’s Sand Lake location, this bar offers refined Japanese-inspired cocktails that make for a great start or finish to any meal in the adjoining restaurant.

#9 Domu

3201 Corrine Dr #100, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 960-1228

(Photo Credit: Domu)

This is as much as we’ll blur the lines between restaurant and bar.  But with a dedicated bar space serving drinks well after the last seating in the main dining room, it’s safe to say that Domu’s beverage program can stand on its own legs.  Given the restaurant’s focus on ramen, this is another Japanese-influenced bar with the accompanying requirements of imported whiskeys and izakaya-esque bar snacks - the wings are a must try.  Really, this bar is a bit of a cheat code, as it’s great for low-key drinks or skipping the restaurant line to try Domu’s best food - their wings.  

#8 Guesthouse/The Sunroom

1321 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(407) 630-6574

(Photo Credit: Guesthouse)

One of the most popular Mills/50 spots, these twin bars are some of the safest bets for trendy crowds and high-energy vibes in Orlando.  Close in their cocktail menus - with the Sunroom’s drinks being a bit more tropical and complex - its mostly the interiors that sets them apart.  The Sunroom is a better spot to sit down and catch up with friends, while the Guesthouse is more about standing and interacting around the bar.  The cocktails may not reinvent mixology and the waits can draw on the longer side, but the ambiance is top-notch.

#7 Lil Indie’s

1036 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(Photo Credit: Lil Indie’s)

It doesn’t take $15 drinks or an interior pulled from a Pinterest board to make a great cocktail bar.  Fundamentally, a great cocktail bar cares most about the drinks and the vibe.  Lil Indie’s serves both in spades.  The more grown-up cousin of neighboring Will’s Pub, Lil Indie’s promises creative drinks alongside the live music that first put Will’s on the map.  The modern cocktail bar often risks being too Instagram-focused or stuffy - with room to dance and a casual patio in the back, this bar is a great reminder for why you should be drinking in the first place.

#6 The Courtesy

1288 N Orange Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

(Photo Credit: The Courtesy)

Since decamping from downtown Orlando last year, The Courtesy has filled a much-needed void for high-end cocktail bars in Winter Park.  The cocktail menu checks off all the essentials, while their spirits and liquor list is an impressive multi-page affair.  Their new partnership with Swine & Sons means both great bar snacks and more substantial plates from the Swine menu, like their smashburger and Chiang Mai chicken sandwich.  Set in an intimate, low-lit space, this is a great date night option.

#5 The Broken Cage

101 S Eola Dr, Orlando, FL 32801

(Photo credit: The Broken Cage)

Easily the most underrated cocktail spot in downtown Orlando, this Eola hangout is as laid-back as a bar worth its weight in the city can get.  The posted menu focuses on a small selection of rotating signature cocktails as well as some tried and true “favorites.”  Yet what really sets this place apart is the bartenders’ knowledge of the craft.  With just a few ingredients, they can offer a comprehensive list of off-menu recommendations sure to please the pickiest of drinkers.  Add in bites from their sister restaurant - RusTeak - and you have a spot that’s great for a casual date or drinks with friends.

#4 Mathers Social Gathering

30 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

(Photo credit: Mathers Social Gathering)

The king of the downtown cocktail scene is that speakeasy that your “in-the-know” friend has probably taken you to.  Sure, there is very little secret about this speakeasy nowadays, but that’s for good reason.  The classic cocktails are all well-executed and the ambiance is a welcomed relief for those seeking an alternate to many of the rowdier downtown establishments.  Rotating live music acts, burlesque, and a festive decor for Christmas mean each visit is never the same.

#3 Otto’s High Dive

2304 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803

(321) 231-7902

(Photo credit: Andrew Langford)

Any of these top three could make a case for the top ranking.  Otto’s claim to fame - aside from a recent Bib Gourmand designation - is their focus on Cuban/Caribbean cocktails.  Sure the daiquiris and mojitos are great, but it’s their signature shaken and stirred cocktails that really make a mark.  With their incredible selection of rums and other spirits, you can safely rely on the bartender’s recommendation - worst case scenario, you can always resort to the crowd pleasing Pandamerican.  Perhaps the only thing holding this spot back is some of their accompanying plates, but with the bar it’s hard to find a complaint.

#2 Kaya

618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(Photo credit: Kaya)

The ambiance is a bit more laid-back than some of the others near the top, but don’t let that confuse you about the seriousness of the team’s commitment to the beverage program at Lordfer Lalicon and Jamilyn Bailey’s new establishment.  Lighter crowds mean intimate service and intricate tropical cocktails, with ingredients like banana liqueur, mentnengro, and Batavia Arrack - a rum made with red Javanese rice.  Add on a new a-la carte food menu and a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails and you have an underrated gem in the local cocktail scene.

#1 Tori Tori

720 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

(Photo credit: Tori Tori)

The opening of Sean Nguyen’s Tori Tori represented a new chapter in the Orlando cocktail scene.  Not only did it have a great interior and killer cocktail menu, but the selection of light bites made it a great spot to catch up with friends or take a date to pass the hours away.  While there have been a spat of recent trendy openings in the area, Tori Tori safely remains one of the hottest bars in town.  And with recurring Michelin attention, it’s likely that their Japanese inspired menu - including standouts like the Golden Hour and Saturn - will continue to draw crowds, both near and far.