Last Updated on January 21, 2024 by Marybeth
How many times do you catch a glimpse of a place that looks worth a stop and you just don’t? Because someone in the car with you is single-mindedly focused on the original objective. Arriving, unpacking, settling in or setting out for dinner and drinks. We’re here to help encourage that fellow traveler to make a stop or two along the way. So you get to your destination an hour-ish later? Is anyone really even tapping their foot waiting for you?
Whizzing by on the interstate, Lake Nona looks like an emerging futuristic vision with its modern cityscape, mostly due to the 17-story Wave Hotel whose shape is, yes, wavy. And boldly fun. Lake Nona Medical City is nearby, a 650-acre health and life sciences collection of research facilities and the country’s leading hospitals and educational institutions that include Nemours Children’s Hospital and the University of Florida Research and Academic Center. What makes Lake Nona worth a stop, or a day of exploring – (or more than one day! I’d like to just experience The Wave Hotel itself, and that might take days….) is the Lake Nona Town Center with its 4 million square feet of exceptional shopping, dining, public art and event venues.
You can live here! This master-planned community is the fastest growing in Orlando. Just ten minutes from the Orlando International Airport, brimming with a multitude of neighborhoods and living options – and 40% of the community is dedicated to green space – you’ll have plenty to do. Parks, nature trails, farmer’s markets, Art After Dark Friday Nights are just some of the perks. Home to the USTA National Campus, headquarters of the super cute Beep electric multi-passenger autonomous shuttle, and Lake Nona Adventure Park have all contributed to bringing Lake Nona to the forefront of visionary, innovative communities all around the country.
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But back to the food! Park at the “virtual excitement that is a garage” parking garage designed by artist and landscape architect Jefre Manual. Yes, even the parking garage here is ingenious modern art: the tower is a giant projection screen that features art displays by digital artists. Read more, including the reason behind the “metal veil of binary code”, on OrlandoArchitecture.org.
The food! I keep getting distracted by art. You might want to stay right here, in the streamlined, urban-feel walkable town center where the colorful, palm tree shaded courtyard anchors vibrant restaurant choices. Seven restaurants are within a 5-minute walk, and Boxi Park Lake Nona, a food-truck-like outdoor gathering spot complete with live music where the restaurant vendors operate out of repurposed shipping containers adds nine more options for food and drink!
Wander and explore Lake Nona Town Center
Located in the Wave Hotel, Bacan is known for its special-occasion fine dining and luxurious ambiance. Their website describes the dramatic open-theatre style kitchen and immersive dining. Bacan is only open for dinner (Sun-Fri 6-10, Sat 5-10) and as our stops have all been during the day we did not experience Bacan, but multiple reviewers rave about the food and atmosphere.
Authentic Turkish cuisine in a beautiful atmosphere. Start with the Lavas (hollow bread, amazing) and the pan-fried zucchini patties and perhaps the falafel. Various kebaps (kebabs) are offered for lunch: chicken, lamb, beef, and seafood, also with vegetarian choices.
Ultra-cool outdoor place (but with plenty of shade structures) to hang out, listen to music, bring your dog (Barxi Park!) and kids. All the food vendors operate out of bright-hued, repurposed shipping containers which adds so much to the festive vibe. Visit the website for the full list of food vendors and event schedule.
Popular for brunch (we’ve heard their Bloody Mary is the best in town) Chroma is your go-to for small plate tapas meals. Our favorites are the Crab and Artichoke Dip and the Edemame al Forno, but peruse their varied menu before you go because otherwise it might take awhile to decide!
Foxtail Coffee is a Florida company started by two friends (since kindergarten!) where each location’s space has a warm, neighborhood feel. 10 out of 10 for the artistic, cozy atmosphere, and the fact that they aren’t trying to be like that famous popular chain!
It’s just so beautiful… I borrowed that from them but it truly is. You might want to go here just to take photos. Haven Kitchen, located in The Wave Hotel is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Haven Lounge is open until 12 am. For lunch choose from appetizers, Green & Healthy, pasta, sandwiches, tacos, and burgers. We have not experienced dinner here but the menu looks similar.
Begun by two friends (sounds like a theme here) who worked together at Bahama Breeze, Island Fin Poke is now a chain with multiple locations in Florida. Voted in the Top 10 for Best Seafood on USA Today 10Best, at Island Fin you build your own bowl by choosing your base, protein, mix-ins, marinade, topping, and finishing sauce.
During the day, during the week we haven’t found Park Pizza to be overly busy nor did we need to wait but most visitors recommend making a reservation. I was delighted by their menu descriptions: Pre Pizza, Not Pizza, Pizza, Your Pizza, Lunch Sandwiches, and Post Pizza. Cocktails, and of course beer – new releases as well as lagers, IPAs, and more. Though the Pre, the Not, and the Post look intriguing we always get the Quatro Formaggi!
One mile from Lake Nona Town Center, and worth the easy walk (you can drive as well; plenty of parking right there) is Canvas Restaurant & Market. The day we visited was gray and rainy, but colorful Canvas didn’t disappoint with its warm, welcoming environment and cool, contemporary look. We chose the Blank Canvas Burger and the Sweet Tea Crispy Chicken, both were outstanding. You can choose to have breakfast, coffee, and smoothies in their cozy Market. Voted Most Scenic View on Open Table, Canvas overlooks the lake and has garden vibes outdoor seating as well.
Nowhere near Lake Nona Town Center is Nona Blue Modern Tavern. My world-traveling foodie friend and I chose this based on all the wonderful reviews, and the food did not disappoint. For me, as an aesthetics enthusiast who often selects a place just because of the atmosphere, Nona Blue was a great choice because of the food but next time I’ll stay in the Lake Nona Town Center. Having lived in Orlando for 10+ years I experienced my fill of strip shopping center destinations located by busy roads. The upscale tavern atmosphere was lovely, and the covered outdoor patio was cool that warm day. (If you choose to sit outside insist on a table away from the noisy road.) My blackened mahi sandwich was delicious and I swapped my side of fries for chilled quinoa salad. My friend was thrilled with her Baja Style Street Tacos and blue cheese cole slaw. Having the option to walk around a beautiful downtown after a meal is close to the top of my must-haves list, but my friend (who I must admit, is very particular about quality, distinctive food!) is still raving about our lunch at Nona Blue.
Back at the Town Center:
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This luxury lifestyle hotel is yes, making waves, with its 234 high-tech guest rooms, 18 artistic suites, and its “anti-resort fee” benefits you’ll get when booking direct: Technogym-powered fitness studio, 100+ complimentary fitness classes each week, complimentary valet and self-parking, complimentary access to Lake Nona Performance Club, complimentary bicycles, complimentary autonomous shuttle service, two destination restaurants, two mixology-driven bars, Living Room Lobby, sculpture garden, and more. The guest rooms are bright and modern, spacious, and the beds feature Frette Linens (I have read about this famous luxury brand, but never experienced it!) The rooms have many amenities, read more here. We just stayed for the afternoon, having lunch at Haven Kitchen and wandering around ooo-ing and ahhh-ing, taking photos and meandering through the gorgeous sculpture garden. Take a look!
Lake Nona is a 17 square mile planned community that spans both sides of the Central Florida Greeneway (SR 417.) While we’ve chosen to remain mostly in the Lake Nona Town Center for our fun stops, there are certainly many more notable restaurants and things to do around Lake Nona. Have you made a stop at Lake Nona? We’d love to hear your favorite recommendations!
