Gotta Go Orlando

Jan 1

New Restaurants & Bars opening in Orlando in 2024

Updated: Jan 2

Superb eating and drinking choices are hallmarks of a great city, and here in Orlando there is an almost never ending choice of restaurants and bars offering delights from around the world, and in the upcoming year there is even more new restaurants and bars coming to our great city!

Masti Indian Street Eats International Drive Orlando

Orlando is a foodies delight, and in 2024 there is an exciting and long list of new restaurants getting ready to impress locals and visitors alike.

Here we take a look at just some of the amazing new restaurants, bars and lounges opening in the new year here in Orlando.

Tom's Watch Bar

Tom's Watch Bar, is an 11,000 SF sports bar concept from Smashburger founder Tom Ryan and will soon be occupying the roof-top space in the Hollywood Plaza parking garage on I-Drive, next to Mango's Live.

The new Tom's Watch Bar will feature Top Golf simulators and several other entertainment features, and its calendar, once open, will feature a variety of watch parties and events. The menu in the new sports bar will include traditional sports bar staples such as burgers and wings but also sushi-grade tuna towers and poke bowls. Estimated opening date is expected to be early 2024.

Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar

36,000 square feet of immersive indoor and outdoor space anchored by nationally acclaimed concepts Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar, as well as an incredible outdoor Live! Plaza is coming to Pointe Orlando on I-Drive, offering a year-round gathering place for special events, live music, sports watching, and festivals. Two additional concepts will be announced at a later date. The target opening date for the new immersive dining and entertainment hub is 2024.

Masti

A growing Indian street food chain based in Atlanta is coming to the Hollywood Plaza Garage on International Drive. Masti Indian Street Eats describe themselves as "Fun Indian Street Eats Meets The City Life In The USA."

When the restaurant opens, expect casual dining with Bollywood tunes serving classic Indian food and innovative American-Indian fusion. Estimated opening is expected to be in early 2024.

Packing District Food Hall

Scheduled to open in early 2024, the Packing District Food Hall will feature 11 vendors in a 22,400-square-footspace featuring an elevated plaza with outdoor green space. Hospitality HQ, run by award-winning chef Akhtar Nawab, whose restaurant Alta Calidad in Brooklyn earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2018, will operate the hall.

Maw’s Mountain Moonshine

Maw’s Mountain Moonshine is coming to Old Town, Kissimmee in Spring 2024. Already extremely popular after its first year in Mount Dora, Fla., the five generations Adkins moonshine family is now bringing a second location of their Craft Cocktail Distillery to Old Town, located in Kissimmee.

Steel Chef's Market

International Drive's first food hall Steel Chef's Market, will have 53,000 SF of retail and restaurant space and will be made up of 26 shipping containers.

Wave Asian Bistro

The popular Mount Dora sushi house known for fusion fare such as sushi burritos & donuts, create-your-own bento boxes & poke bowls will anchor the soon-to-open Maitland Social at 360 E. Horatio Ave. in a 1,400-square-foot space in the building with an outdoor patio. Other businesses moving in will include Vitality Bowls Superfood Cafe, Foxtail Coffee Co. and Urban Body Works.

Torchy's Tacos

Texas based taco chain Torchy's Tacos is opening their second Central Florida location at Vineland Pointe, Orlando in 2024.

Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chao has started construction on their second International Drive location on Vineland Pointe. The 8,000 SF Brazilian Steakhouse is due to open early 2024.

Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane’s have big plans in Florida, with plans to open upwards of 25 locations in the state, with the first already open at 7105 Palm Parkway. In 2024, Raisisng Cane's will open at 12040 Pioneers Way, 8170 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, and in Lake Nona at Narcoossee Road.

Loyd Have Mercy Orlando

Dezerland Action Park on I-Drive will be welcoming a new restaurant, Loyd Have Mercy Orlando, a southern soul food restaurant currently located at Titusville, expected to open early 2024.

Jinya Ramen Bar

Jinya Ramen Bar is opening a second Central Florida location at 234 E. Mitchell Hammock Road in Oviedo early in 2024.

Divina Carne

Divina Carne, a Brazilian steakhouse based in Cancun, Mexico, will be opening in early 2024 in the former TGI Friday on North I-Drive.

Chuck Lager America’s Tavern

Growing restaurant brand Chuck Lager America’s Tavern is set to open soon at 8151 International Drive, Orlando, a location that was previously home to Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux. Co-created by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, Chuck Lager is centered around the idea that life’s best stories take shape over delicious food and a couple of drinks.

Big Chicken

NBA legend Shaq O'Neal is opening one of his hugely popular Big Chicken restaurants in Orlando at the Market at Southside at 250 E. Michigan Street. From crispy chicken sandwiches and tenders to Cheez-It crusted mac n’ cheese and hand-crafted ice cream shakes, each menu item tells a story all while offering guests an inside look into the life and personality of Shaquille O’Neal.

Bangkok Thai

A new Thai cuisine restaurant, Bangkok Thai will be replacing the former Tony Roma's on International Drive, estimated completion is TBA.

Bear Hug Brewing Company

Bear Hug Brewing Company is a new micro-brewery coming to Orlando. I-Drive will be gaining a new brewery, Bear Hug Brewing will be replacing the former George's Music Store and will be a micro brewery and tasting room. Completion is TBA.

Moso Nor

Moso Nori, a concept by James Beard Award finalist Henry Moso, is coming to Winter Park. The hand roll bar serving a variety of temaki is opening at 1100 S. Orlando Ave next summer. Moso Nori will feature an island bar with 30 seats, where chefs will serve cylindrical rolls fashioned from premium roasted Japanese nori with filling including dry-aged fish, foie gras, and vegetables.

White Rabbit

White Rabbit is set to open at E. Robinson St. White Rabbit will offer international-themed tapas, small plates and craft cocktails in downtown Orlando. The New York City inspired Restaurant and Bar is being described as where Latin American and American gastropub cuisine meet craft cocktails. The new venue will be a place to eat, share, and drink in a chic setting with live music and modern vintage art.

Natsu Omakase

Natsu Omakase, an exclusive 10-seat sushi omakase concept is set to open at 777 N. Orange Ave.. Omakase, a form of Japanese dining in which customers leave themselves in the hands of a chef and receive a meal which is innovative, elegant, seasonal, and uses the finest ingredients available.

Eastwood

Eastwood will be a fire-centric restaurant featuring a custom wood-burning grill over a blend of oak and hardwood lump coal, as well as a large-scale smoker. The 3,300 SF restaurant, led by Team Market Group’s lead culinary brain and executive chef, Nick Grecco, will be located in the former Kittinger Printing building at 1024 N. Mills Avenue, across the street from Will’s Pub.

Light On The Sugar

Light On The Sugar which is known for creating French goods with Asian inspired flavors such as Matcha, Ube, Taro, Black Sesame and more, is opening a new location within Waterford Lakes Town Center, next to Regal Cinemas and Zaza Cuban Cafe.

I Love Orlando Cafe

I Love Orlando Cafe is opening at 151 E. Washington St. overlooking Lake Eola in ealry 2024.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop has turned classic diner staples into dumplings and they offer never-ending options to choose from, and the are planning an Orlando location

Sorekara

Chef William Shen is opening a new restaurant called Sorekara at 4979 New Broad St. The restaurant will embody the Japanese philosophy of culinary arts re-created with European imagination.

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls

The former home of Embassy Irish Bar at 2 S. Orange Avenue, will be the location for Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls. The chain features lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, crab rolls, BLT rolls, New England clam chowder, lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac and cheese, lobster bisque, and salads, as well as Whoopie Pies for dessert.

Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews

Burger restaurant Sickies Garage is opening its second area location at the Orlando International Premium Outlets. The menu at Sickies Garage boasts 50 brews, and 50 different kinds of burgers and sandwiches all served in a unique garage setting.

Pepper Lunch

Pepper Lunch is opening in Orlando in 2024, bringing it's affordable teppanyaki-style concept to the city, offering a novel menu of sizzling Steaks, Curry Rice, Teriyaki and Pasta based dishes, plus the signature Pepper Rice on the brand’s patented hot iron plate. At Pepper Lunch, each guest is the MasterChef, where they can ‘Sizzle It Your Way.’

Mid Drive Dive

Mid Drive Dive will open at 2401 Edgewater Drive in College Park, a restaurant and bar serving American snacks, salads, sandwiches and mains. At the bar, guests can enjoy cocktails, beers and wines.

The Original Rainbow Cone

The Original Rainbow Cone, a Chicago tradition for over 97 years is coming to Orlando. The ice cream shop that is known for its multi-flavor cones featuring orange sherbet, pistachio, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, opened its first Florida location in the Tampa Bay area of Bradenton in September, and will open in Orlando in 2024.

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