1. Primrose Lanes
Located in the Milk District
Primrose Lanes is one of those places where pretty much everyone can find something fun to do. It works just as well for a group of friends as it does for a family. You can bowl, roller skate, play games, do karaoke, watch a game, or just stop in for a drink and something to eat.
The food is scratch-made, the atmosphere is relaxed and fun, and I love that you don’t really need a plan when you go. You can make an entire night of it or just stop by for a beer or cocktail. I also love working with the team at Primrose Lanes on my tours. They’re genuinely great people and always make my guests feel welcome.
2. Kaya
Located in the Mills 50 District
I love Filipino food, and Kaya has quickly become one of those restaurants I find myself wanting to visit again and again. I love that they take Filipino dishes and flavors and do something a little different with them, while still sharing the traditions and stories behind the food.
One of my favorite things about eating at Kaya is that the servers take the time to explain the dishes and the traditions behind them. And then there are the desserts and pastries. Their executive pastry chef does a phenomenal job, especially with the pastries served during Kapé Kaya on Saturday mornings. Between the food, the people, and those pastries, Kaya has definitely become one of my favorite places in Mills 50.
3. Sticky Rice Lao Street Food
Located in the Mills 50 District
Sticky Rice has been one of my Mills 50 favorites for a long time. It’s a small, casual, hole-in-the-wall kind of place, which is part of what I love about it. I love finding places like this and being able to tell other people about them.
The lemongrass beef jerky is one of my favorites, and I get it every single time I go. If you’ve never tried Lao food before, this is a great place to explore it, order a few things, and find your own favorites.
4. Equilibre Healthy Foods & Cafe
Located in Ivanhoe Village
Equilibre is a tiny cafe in Ivanhoe Village that you could easily drive past without realizing what you’re missing. Everything is fresh and scratch-made, and somehow they can make a beautifully plated, enormous triple-decker sandwich and one of the best quiches I’ve had in the same little kitchen.
They usually have several different quiches available each day, most are gluten-free options, along with fresh fruit smoothies and juices made in-house, coffee, sandwiches, and other goodies. And if you’ve never had Brazilian carrot cake, here’s your chance. I also have to mention the wonderful ladies who work there. They’re another group of people I’ve gotten to know through Wandering Palm, and I love bringing guests in to see them.
5. Ziggie’s Pizza
Located in Ivanhoe Village
I’m from Chicago, but I’m not such a pizza snob that I won’t admit when someone outside Chicago makes a really good pizza. And Ziggie’s makes really good pizza.
Their thin-crust pizzas are dangerously easy for one person to finish by themselves. I may or may not be speaking from experience. Ziggie’s Stardust is my personal favorite, but I also love the Killa Beez.
Ziggie’s is connected to Topher Tap Room, which is under the same ownership, so pizza and a beer is an easy choice. I’m also a fan of their house-made sangria. Great pizza, great drinks, and, once again, great people. There’s a reason this is another place I love bringing my tour guests.
6. Ten10 Brewing
Located in Ivanhoe Village
First things first: Ten10 has some of the best pretzels in Orlando. They use spent grain from the brewing process to make them, and they’re phenomenal. I’ve even had guests from Germany on my tours give the pretzels their approval, so I feel pretty confident about this recommendation.
Of course, there’s also the beer. Ten10 brews its own beer and has a scratch kitchen, so it’s a great place to settle in for a beer and something to eat. It’s casual, local, and another one of those places where the people are a big part of why I enjoy coming back.
7. Crocante Restaurant
Located just outside the Milk District
Crocante is one of those places to go when you’re hungry. Their Puerto Rican-inspired menu is definitely meat-forward, and I mean that in the best possible way. There are plenty of hearty dishes, great drinks, and lots of bold flavors.
It’s located just outside the Milk District, so while it isn’t technically within the district, it’s close enough that I wanted to include it. If you’re looking for a big, flavorful meal and some great Puerto Rican food, Crocante is definitely worth the short trip outside the neighborhood.