Orlando’s cultural culinary scene infuses diverse flavors into our group dining experiences (Nigiri selection at Kabooki Sushi pictured).
Orlando, Cvent’s top meetings destination in the country, understands that one of the main ingredients to creating a successful meeting or convention is having diverse menu options. That’s a reason why our award-winning culinary community includes the flavors of every culture represented by our city to create a food scene that helps planners satisfy the varied palette of their attendees.
Read on to discover omakase experiences, high-end Mexican cuisine, Southern soul food dishes and more that you can serve up during your next Orlando meeting or convention.
Ready to learn more about hosting meetings in Orlando? Submit your RFP, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates from Cvent’s No. 1 meeting destination in the country. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) culinary influences can be found throughout the destination, including several MICHELIN restaurants such as the One-MICHELIN-Star Soseki Modern Omakase in Winter Park near downtown Orlando.
Discover: Orlando's Global Cultures
The MICHELIN Recommended Bar Kada is an intimate, 30-seat sake and wine lounge focusing on small plates, ancient sakes and low-intervention wines overseen by a MICHELIN Sommelier Award recipient.
Moso Nori in Winter Park, a concept by James Beard Award finalist Chef Henry Moso of the MICHELIN-recognized Kabooki Sushi, features a hand-roll bar serving a variety of temaki, sake, beer, wine and sake-based cocktails.
Moso also oversees both Kabooki Sushi locations, the original, MICHELIN Recommended restaurant in The Milk District and a second venue on Orlando’s Restaurant Row, close to Convention District. Both restaurants create imaginative dishes that blend the vibrancy of Mexican flavor, the sophistication of French preparation and the curated integrity of Japanese cuisine.
Hispanic & Latino Dining
The list of Latino and Hispanic venues is practically endless with so many takes on the popular cuisines to choose from.
Ceiba, located at Conrad Orlando, is a fine dining, rooftop experience serving Mexican cuisine with their own added touches, while keeping the dishes true to their heritage.
Rosa Mexicano at the Walt Disney World Swan features beloved classics and innovative dishes that pay tribute to Mexico's richly varied culinary regions. A private events team can host small dinner parties to 12 guests to larger gatherings of 200 people.
Walking distance from the Orange County Convention Center is KAVAS Tacos + Tequila at Pointe Orlando, featuring savory comfort food, fresh tableside experiences and recipes hand-crafted from the freshest ingredients. The 7,000 square foot venue can host groups as large as 500 people.
Orlando offers many other options for authentic Hispanic and Latino dining. Those choices include several MICHELIN Guide eateries, starting with the One-MICHELIN-Star Capa Steakhouse & Bar at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort and Papa Llama, a Peruvian eatery in our Curry Ford West Main Street district.
Black-Owned Restaurants
There are many options for attendees to experience the rich cuisine of Central Florida’s diverse African American community.
Discover: Orlando’s African American Heritage
The District GastroBar in downtown Orlando pays homage to old world American taste and cuisine — where legendary musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and B.B. King performed at the South Street Casino that once stood nearby.
For delicious Caribbean-inspired eats, foodies can enjoy Mark’s Jamaican Bar & Grill or Island Thyme Caribbean Grille in east Orlando, or Oley’s Kitchen & Smokehouse in downtown Orlando. Those looking for soul food can visit Nikki’s Place and P&D Soul Food Kitchen in downtown Orlando, and Soul Food Fantasy in Eatonville.
Barbecue and southern food fans can dine at Brick & Spoon in Maitland, and attendees extending their stay into the weekend can savor Pete’s Famous BBQ in downtown Orlando. For seafood or wings, Stonington’s Fried Shrimp in MetroWest and Altamonte Springs are ready to serve, while Chicken Fire in Orlando brings the heat with Nashville-style hot chicken.
For a sweeter option, the award-winning Sister Honey’s in downtown Orlando serves all kinds of sugary delights, including pies, cookies and pastries.
Orlando’s cultural culinary community is already mixing up incredible meals that your attendees will remember after the meeting week is over.
