The New Year is here, Orlando magazine readers. I don’t know about you, but when a new year rolls around, I like to start it out by immersing myself with positive vibes and affirmations for the next 12 months—setting a target for how I want to feel for the next 365 days. And one of the easiest ways to kick that off is by being surrounded by beautiful things and people.
I’m not talking about going to Playalinda, y’all. I’m talking about architecture and good design and how it can boost your mood, improve your focus and enhance your overall mental well-being. Couple that with an amazing meal and you’ve got it made, boo.
Here’s a roundup of some beautifully designed spots in Central Florida that can help you shift your state of being and embrace a new you in 2024.
Photos by Roberto Gonzalez
Seito Sushi wows from every angle.
Seito Sushi
Delicious and James Beard-recognized pan-Asian fare aside, Seito Sushi in Baldwin Park is a real Orlando treasure. The interior is intimate and sexy, and very contemporary. Its sister restaurant on Sand Lake Road is no ugly duckling either with its flower-encrusted
Hanami Lounge full of rich velvets and wood. Good Salt Group, the restaurant ownership team, really gets how a good restaurant design can impact and lengthen a dining experience.seitosushi.com
Terralina Crafted Italian
Don’t sleep on Disney Springs, they know what’s up. This award-winning Italian restaurant is perfectly housed within a building that could easily be plopped on a Roman hillside. The dining room features lots of raw wood and tile and cute tchotchkes straight out of a Barefoot Contessa fan fiction novel. There’s even a cute little fireplace if you don’t want to down a plate of pasta and would rather just grab some wine with your friends. terralinacrafteditalian.com
Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill
This cute little corner of the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa serves up trendy steak and seafood dishes with a stylish, editorial ambiance. They have outdoor seating, but I prefer a spot at the bar for prime people watching to help wash down my local snapper. jwmarriottorlandobonnetcreek.com
The H in Dr. Phillips is the place to be and be seen in Orlando.
The H in Dr. Phillips
This bespoke Turkish steakhouse is just one major flex by the owners and the Dr. Phillips neighborhood. It’s known for its rockstar menu of dry-aged steaks prepared tableside and decadent craft cocktails as much for its intricate canopy of stained wood beams that make you feel you’re in Big Bird’s New York loft apartment nest after he made it big in hip-hop. Wear something nice so you blend in with the imported tile and wood cabinets and Orlando Magic basketball players. thehorlando.com
Tori Tori is a beautiful spot to hang out and enjoy some amazing local fare.
Tori Tori
In case you missed it, I named Tori Tori as Best Bar Food in our recent Dining Awards issue. So you know the menu is killer. But what you may not know is that the interior is absolutely gorgeous, with high exposed ceilings, sleek mirrors, sexy tilework, and the perfect amount of lighting to make you feel like you’re in a Housewives episode. They offer a menu of craft cocktails, sake, affordable wine and beer options, and lots of meats on sticks. toritoripub.com
The Glass Knife
This trendy little patisserie and café in Winter Park is known for its upscale pastries, brunch, and chic interior, all inspired by the owner’s mother’s collection of Depression-era glass knives. The entire space was designed as a tribute to her and feels like the inside of a jewelry box or gay genie lamp with star-lined terrazzo flooring, and plenty of gold, black, and pink accents. theglassknife.com
Highball & Harvest
Located in the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando Resort, Highball & Harvest is a Southern-inspired concept that showcases locally sourced ingredients, and tasty handcrafted cocktails. The design was inspired by Florida’s agricultural roots and its early railroad system that lends itself for lots of brick, wood, and metal—it’s very Chip and Joanna Gaines, but I can’t recall if there are any shiplap accent walls. The terrace area overlooks the golf course so wear something that shows your ankles if you’re looking to bag a rich husband. highballandharvest.com
Kres Chophouse
There’s something about the glowing red and black interior of this downtown stalwart that makes me crave rare red meat. Like Gary Oldman in a Bram Stoker adaptation. The high ceilings and elegant decor seamlessly match with the Art Deco exterior of the landmark 1930s building, and the service is always impeccable. There’s a reason it’s always full of Orlando’s most powerful people, and it’s not just because it’s so close to City Hall. kresrestaurant.com
The Ravenous Pig
Winter Park’s favorite award-winning gastropub is undergoing some extensive renovations right now, led by South Florida design firm, Anna Woodman Interior Design, and Blankenship Architects. So while I can’t speak to the finished product, and I’m sure it’ll be super pretty, I can tell you that the beer garden is one of the best in the region. Filled with bold red umbrellas that pop atop the fresh green of the astroturf, there’s something refreshing and inspiring about the design of this space that makes you want to drink too much and laugh a little bit louder than usual – especially at the people who are lined up and waiting for a table because they forgot to make a reservation. theravenouspig.com
AVA MediterrAegean occupies this high-traffic corner of Winter Park’s Park Avenue.
Ava MediterrAegean
This trendy Mediterranean Mecca has successfully carved out a spot for itself on Park Avenue in spite of a pandemic and high expectations—as it was replacing the storied Luma on Park. But they rose to the challenge with an elevated dining experience wrapped in an immersive design package inspired by early Bronze Age Cycladic cultures like the Minoans, with swooping earth-toned walls and ceilings, warm intimate lighting, and the random olive tree overhead. avamediterraegean.com
Susuru
Chef Lewis Lin’s retro Japanese izakaya has kids lining up around the block at the Disney Springs-adjacent restaurant, serving up ramen and yakitori in authentic Japanese Showa-era collectibles. You’ll find yourself gazing deeply into the eyes of an adorable Godzilla toy while seated on a retrofitted sake barrel. The interior is playful, tasteful, and extremely well done. Just like the food. susuruorl.com
The Wellborn
This historic home-turned-trendy nightlife/wedding destination is one of the crown jewels for downtown Orlando. It’s tucked away under the 408 highway with a beautiful and intimate courtyard filled with beautiful people talking about their beautiful people problems over beautiful cocktails. It’s lush and full of plants and fun things to look at with an approachable menu of small plates and desserts. Sit on the second-story patio and pretend you’re Ernest Hemingway. thewellbornorlando.com