Best Bars in Orlando (2025)

Orlando’s classic password-only speakeasy hides in the city’s oldest downtown building, pouring serious cocktails on a tiny rooftop. Frequently highlighted by local media and featured for its nightly password ritual, it remains a rite of passage for cocktail lovers.

The region’s pioneering craft cocktail bar moved to Winter Park and hasn’t missed a beat, with reservations, classes, and seasonal menus. Praised by Forbes and respected local outlets, it’s still the bar pros recommend for technique-driven drinks.

Set in a 140-year-old downtown landmark, Mathers delivers vintage spirits, house blends, and a parlor vibe with burlesque and live music. Regularly celebrated by Orlando Weekly and regional publications, it nails both spectacle and craft.

A Japanese bar-meets-izakaya in Mills 50 with pristine highballs, inventive cocktails, and yakitori over charcoal. Recommended by the Michelin Guide and spotlighted by national editors, it’s a no-reservations hotspot with real Tokyo bar energy.

A neighborhood rum bar with Cuban soul in the Milk District, recognized by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand and an Exceptional Cocktails award for its bar leader. Expect deep rum knowledge, bright flavors, and a convivial room.

The Audubon Park craft-beer institution turned brewery marks two decades of shaping Orlando’s beer culture. Lauded by Orlando Weekly and nominated by national editors, it pairs rare pours with a kitchen and frequent community events.

Family-owned in the Milk District, Sideward’s taproom pours 20 house beers alongside a from-scratch kitchen. A multiple-time local favorite and recent medal winner, it’s where industry folks drink on their day off.

A lush courtyard bar at a historic downtown property serving playful, seasonal cocktails and tapas. Repeatedly voted Best Bar Patio by Orlando Weekly and noted by regional travel writers, it’s Orlando’s answer to a secret garden.

Next to Will’s Pub, this beloved Mills 50 bar doubles as a listening room for DJs, jazz, and Orlando’s indie scene. Recognized in Orlando Weekly’s readers’ polls, its cocktails are thoughtful and the community programming nonstop.

A bar tucked inside an import-furniture showroom in Ivanhoe Village—sip wines, beers, and classic cocktails among hand-carved teak and vintage lanterns. Profiled by local media and beloved by neighborhood regulars.

A bright, plant-filled bar anchoring Mills 50 with an influential happy hour and balanced classics. Cited by Orlando Weekly’s Best of Orlando and linked to award-winning bartending talent next door at Sunroom, it’s a reliable first stop.

Milk District mainstay focused on Florida-made beer and intimate community events—from vinyl nights to local art pop-ups. Orlando Weekly recently marked its seventh anniversary, underscoring its indie spirit and staying power.