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Orlando Nightlife
Orlando Offers Hot Spots for Cool Evenings
Orlando is home to a thriving nightlife scene with options for everyone
looking to extend their daytime fun. From ultra-hip bars and high-energy
dance clubs to laid-back pubs and multi-venue entertainment complexes,
Orlando offers several distinct areas to live it up once the sun goes
down.
Downtown Orlando
Beyond the theme park attractions lies the city of Orlando. With an
abundance of nightclubs, restaurants and bars, downtown Orlando comes
alive at night with the sounds of an urban metropolis. Orange Avenue,
Church Street, Magnolia Street, Central Boulevard and Pine Street offer
a host of nightlife options. On Church Street, the main attraction is a
tri-level complex featuring different bars on each floor. On the ground
floor, Chillers, which takes its name from the specialty frozen drinks
with funky names it serves, features a DJ spinning the latest in Top 40
music. On the mid-level, Big Belly Brewery provides a laid-back
atmosphere with big barrels of peanuts as bar food. Latitudes, a rooftop
bar that often features live reggae music, boasts a great view of the
Orlando skyline. Club Paris Orlando offers a coveted VIP section and a
hot dance floor in the historic Church Street area.
Wall Street Plaza on Orange Avenue features a multitude of bars, each
with a different flavor. Wall Street Cantina offers outdoor seating for
a relaxing place to have a cocktail, listen to music and people-watch.
Dance it up in the attached One-Eyed Jacks, featuring an oversized bar
and a stage for brave music lovers to step up and dance. Just next door,
the Loaded Hog provides an intimate setting with small two-person
booths. Across the plaza, The Globe is a relaxed coffee shop serving
unique appetizers and authentic sushi. From The Globe, guests hear the
music from neighboring Slingapours and Tuk Tuk, two attached nightclubs
that alternate between nights with live music and a DJ spinning the
latest in hip hop, house and techno. The Waitiki Retro Tiki Lounge
offers island-style beverages and live music. The Monkey Bar is a sleek
martini bar with outdoor lounge chairs and a bird’s eye view of Wall
Street Plaza.
Also on Orange Avenue, The Social invites guests to enjoy nightly live
music by local bands. Sky60, a rooftop bar, has a California cool style
that lets visitors relax in small cabana-style booths and offers a great
view of the Orlando skyline. Room 3 Nine is the place to “see and be
seen” when looking for hip, casual fun in a relaxed, lounge-style
atmosphere. If you prefer a more rustic environment, check out The
Lodge. Reminiscent of a ski-resort lodge, this bar on Orange Avenue
features live music every Monday. Located in nearby trendy Thornton
Park, The Beacon is new to Orlando's hip nightlife scene - offering a
small plate menu, tasty cocktails in a distinctly cosmopolitan
atmosphere.
Visitors seeking comic relief enjoy the humorous offerings of the Improv
Comedy Club & Restaurant, located on Church Street, where headlining
comedians share the stage with up-and-coming talent. Nearby, the SAK
Comedy Lab has proven itself as a training ground for new comedians and
has graduated many famous alumni, including Wayne Brady.
International Drive
By day, International Drive is a bustling street with not-to-be-missed
attractions, shopping and restaurants. By night, the bright lights of
I-Drive shine for an evening of vast entertainment options. Pointe
Orlando, a large shopping and entertainment complex down the street from
Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, is a one-stop shop for
nighttime entertainment. Begin the evening at one of the many
restaurants, including The Capital Grille, Maggiano's Little Italy or
Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe and Emporium, followed by a wine tasting at
The Grape. Then end the night at BB King's Blues Club (opening in
early-2007), offering fantastic Southern cooking and live music nightly.
Looking for some laughs? Try Dottie's Orlando Comedy Theater, Orlando's
newest comedy club, features "The All Star Comedy and Variety Show"
which stars a rotating cast of comedians, magicians, impressionists,
singers and jugglers. On Thursday - Sunday nights, Dottie's features a
later, "adults only" show that explores the current state of
relationships between men and women and the impact of pop psychology in
Tommy Blaze's hilarious "I Love You, Now Shut Up." Dottie's offers beer
and wine as well popcorn, pizza, nachos and fruit and cheese plates.
GLO Lounge Orlando offers a glowing ambiance along with its tasty
cocktails and billiard tables, while Destiny Nightclub is the area's
newest - and largest - nightclub. Howl at the Moon Orlando promises a
howlin' good time, as patrons sing their favorite oldies and rock 'n
roll hits along with the club's dueling piano players.
Several other hot spots dot International Drive. Backstage at the Rosen
Plaza Hotel, dubbed Orlando’s “original” dance club, features live bands
and DJs playing hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today. The Lucky
Leprechaun Irish Pub offers a friendly atmosphere with imported brew and
cider specialties and televised Celtic Football games. Bahama Breeze is
a restaurant and bar with a large outdoor area that serves up an endless
menu of tropical drinks and appetizers along with the sounds of steel
drums. And, don't miss The Cricketers Arms, a relaxed pub featuring
British fare with 17 beers on tap and nightly entertainment.
Walt Disney World
Long after the theme parks have closed for the evening, the nightlife
options at Walt Disney World are still going strong. At night, guests
can club hop at Downtown Disney®, a shopping, dining and entertainment
complex with a big city feel in the heart of Walt Disney World. Downtown
Disney Pleasure Island (P.I.) offers seven clubs for the price of one.
Dance the night away at 8Trax, the BET Soundstage Club, Mannequins Dance
Palace or Motion. Enjoy live music at the Rock ‘n Roll Beach Club. Be
part of the tale at the Adventurers Club. Have a good laugh at The
Comedy Warehouse. Or, share a pint and some authentic Irish food at
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant. Enjoy a sophisticated dinner or take
in some live blues at Downtown Disney West Side. Sample the wood-fired
pizza at Wolfgang Puck Grand Café or get some Latin flavor at Bongo’s
Cuban Café. For those with music in mind, enjoy an evening in the bayou
at House of Blues, which hosts big-name rock stars and rising local
bands.
Disney’s Boardwalk is a waterfront village with the charm and excitement
of the 1930’s Mid-Atlantic Coast. Atlantic Dance Club guests sway to the
hottest Top 40 dance tunes, while a stop at Jellyrolls unveils guests
singing along to the comedic dueling pianos. Stroll around the
Boardwalk, play one of the carnival games or have your future told.
Universal Orlando® Resort
Universal Orlando Resort’s theme parks thrill guests by day, but when
night falls the thrills get even bigger at Universal CityWalk, an
entertainment complex that offers a wide variety of dancing and dining
options. CityWalk is home to the world’s largest Hard Rock Café and Hard
Rock Live Orlando, showcasing some of the biggest musical acts in the
business as well as up-and-coming local bands. Other venues offering
live music include Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, a relaxed restaurant
and bar paying tribute to everybody’s favorite parrothead with specialty
margaritas and nightly Jimmy Buffett music. CityJazz’s live music
includes funk, R&B, soul and rock ‘n’ roll in a setting displaying
musical antiques and personal belongings of jazz legends. Bob Marley – A
Tribute to Freedom transports guests to a re-creation of Marley’s home
in Jamaica with its live reggae performances in an open-air gazebo and
authentic Caribbean cuisine. Celebrate Mardi Gras year round at Pat
O’Brien’s, an exact replica of the famed bar in New Orleans that serves
up its famous Hurricanes. Dancers can lose themselves in the groove with
the thumping beats, light shows and sophisticated themed rooms. At Latin
Quarter, guests are exposed to authentic food and entertainment from all
21 Latin American nations. The newly opened Red Coconut Club is a
two-story upscale cocktail lounge with a hip feel, offering signature
martinis and an extensive wine list. Next door to Hard Rock Live, NBA
City offers an upstairs bar with excellent fare and oversized leather
couches to relax after a day in the parks or have a cocktail before a
concert. Race fans won't want to miss NASCAR Sports Grille - a tribute
to stock car racing.
Orlando Comedy Clubs Will Leave You in Stitches
When was the last time you laughed 'til you cried? Smiled so wide your
face hurt? Roared until you got side stitches? If you can't remember,
perhaps it's time for a healthy dose of comedy at one of Orlando's
comedy clubs.
At Downtown Disney Pleasure Island, enjoy a six-acre nighttime
entertainment complex that offers shopping, dining and themed
nightclubs. Within Pleasure Island's seven nightclubs is the 290-seat
The Comedy Warehouse. Every night, the "Who, What & Warehouse" Improv
Company players deliver top-notch, family-friendly improvisational
comedy - never presenting the same show twice.
At Universal CityWalk, enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife, including
Bonkerz Comedy Club at CityJazz. Every Thursday through Saturday, enjoy
national comics. Each Sunday, become entranced by Comic Hypnotist Doug
MacCraw as seen on Comedy Central and America's Funniest People.
While Hard Rock Live, also located at Universal CityWalk, is best known
for rock concerts, it also books some of America's top comedians. Dave
Chappelle, Ron White, Wanda Sykes, Lewis Black and Carlos Mencia are
just a few of the performers who have graced their stage.
SAK Comedy Lab has been an Orlando comedy institution since 1991. This
200-seat theatre located in downtown Orlando showcases some of the best
and brightest improvisational comedians in the country. Its most famous
alumnus is Wayne Brady, talk show host and former star of ABC's "Whose
Line is It Anyway?"
Specializing in improv comedy, SAK offers several clean comedy shows
Tuesday through Saturday. The "Duel of Fools" show features two teams of
SAK's top comics who battle for laughs and score points from the
audience judges. These seasoned professionals duke it out in a
high-energy improv comedy competition every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday night. On Tuesdays, enjoy the "Lab Rat" Show, featuring
graduates from SAK University Improv classes competing in a series of
short scenes, songs, and games based on audience suggestions. Wednesdays
are "Generation S" night, in which SAK's rising stars strut their stuff
in an improv show.
If you're looking for a truly memorable vacation experience, the SAK
comedy team will devote an entire scene to a family member, friend or
loved one, based on questions that you answer ahead of time. You'll even
receive a videotape to commemorate the experience.
Downtown Orlando is also home to the Orlando Improv, part of the largest
comedy circuit in the country, and the only area club booking "A-list"
acts. The Improv chain jumpstarted the careers of well-known comedians
including Robin Williams, Chris Rock, David Spade and Central Florida
native and Saturday Night Live alumnus Darrell Hammond, to name a few.
Big names who have appeared at the Orlando Improv include Hammond, Dave
Attell, Richard Jeni and Dave Chappelle. Tuesdays are Apollo Night, with
visiting comics from "BET Comic View," "HBO Def Comedy Jam" and
"Showtime at the Apollo."
While you're enjoying the comedy show, choose from a full menu of
appetizers, entrees and desserts. Ticket prices vary per performance.
For a schedule or to buy tickets, click here or call 321-281-8000, ext.
5. You must be 21 or older to attend.
New to the International Drive area - and Orlando's comedy scene - is
Dottie's Orlando Comedy Theater. Breaking away from the traditional
comedy club format of one headliner and two opening acts, "The All Star
Comedy & Variety Show" presents a rotating cast of headliner acts that
includes comedians, magicians, impressionists, singers and jugglers.
Performances are Tuesday - Sunday at 7:30 p.m. This show is suitable for
ages 12 and up. Dottie's is also presenting Tommy Blaze's one-man show
called "I Love You, Now Shut Up," a hilarious look at the problems
facing men and women today and the explosion of pop psychologists in
America. Performances are Thursday - Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and you must be
18 years of age or older to attend this "adults only" show. Dotties's
Comedy Theater serves beer, wine and soda as well as a full menu of
appetizers, Panini sandwiches, pizza and dessert.
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