Best Nightlife in Orlando

A cornerstone of Orlando’s indie scene since the ’90s, Will’s hosts national and local bands nightly with a scrappy, all-welcome spirit. Regulars and musicians alike laud it in Orlando Weekly, and its 2025 calendar shows zero signs of slowing.

Next door to Will’s, this living-room-sized cocktail bar punches above its weight with vinyl DJ nights, jazz, and Monday residencies from Orlando musicians. Frequently praised by local critics for community programming and smart drinks.

Downtown’s intimate club where buzzy touring acts and Orlando bands play shoulder-to-shoulder shows. Regular event listings on JamBase and Ticketmaster keep it current, while Orlando Weekly calls its stage a rite of passage for locals.

A historic downtown theater turned high-energy club and concert hall, the Beacham anchors Orange Avenue nights with hip-hop, alt, and dance parties. AXS and Ticketmaster show stacked 2025 bookings; locals treat it as downtown’s big-room essential.

Orlando’s classic password-only speakeasy in an 1880s building with a tiny rooftop. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler and Eater, it enforces old-school etiquette and meticulous cocktails—call for the nightly code and settle in for jazz and conversation.

Descend the downtown staircase for nightly live funk, jazz, and blues in a smoky basement beloved by locals. Orlando Weekly touts it as a reliable live-music stalwart; recent listings and social posts confirm the bands still pack the room.

A bright, plant-filled Mills 50 favorite for classics like the Army-Navy and balanced highballs. Highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler and named Best Happy Hour by Orlando Weekly, it’s where bartenders pour with precision minus the pretense.

By day a global furniture store; by night a wine and beer bar amid carved teak and antiques. The Community Paper and Orlando Weekly note frequent live sets in this Ivanhoe Village original—equal parts design den and evening hangout.

Audubon Park’s craft-beer pioneer turned brewery just celebrated 20 years, noted by Orlando Weekly and Bungalower. Expect an encyclopedic tap list, house brews, and occasional music pop-ups drawing Orlando’s beer nerds and musicians alike.

Milk District creatives Mary McGinn and Matt Duke run this tiny, personality-packed bar featuring Florida beers, BYO-vinyl Thursdays, and experimental electronic nights. Orlando Weekly covered its seventh birthday and the community it nurtures.

An LGBTQ-owned Ivanhoe Village institution with multiple rooms, drag shows, dancers, and theme nights all week. Its own listings and neighborhood organizations highlight community collaborations, from charity events to all-night happy-hour Wednesdays.

A third-floor, vintage-styled lounge in a 19th-century building with a dress code, burlesque nights, and polished classics. Featured by Eater and lauded by Orlando Weekly readers for standout Old Fashioneds, it’s downtown’s swankiest nightcap.