The Best Cocktail Bars in Orlando: How Orlando’s Cocktail Scene Grew Up

There was a time when I wasn’t particularly impressed with Orlando’s cocktail scene.

There. I said it.

When I first started getting more serious about cocktails, Orlando wasn’t necessarily the first city that came to mind when I thought about great drinking destinations.

Chicago? Absolutely.

Miami? Of course.

New York? That’s almost too easy.

But Orlando?

Orlando was the city of theme parks, tourist bars, chain restaurants and drinks served with something neon attached to them.

And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with any of that—sometimes you absolutely need a frozen drink on vacation—I wanted something more.

I wanted a real cocktail bar.

A place where the drink mattered.

A bartender who actually knew what they were doing.

A menu that made me want to try something I’d never had before.

And over the years, I’ve watched Orlando’s cocktail scene change dramatically.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of the bars that helped make that happen, and today I can say something I wouldn’t have said years ago:

Orlando has a legitimate cocktail scene.

And it’s getting better.

Here are five Orlando cocktail bars and cocktail-focused destinations I’d recommend putting on your list.

The Courtesy

If we’re talking about Orlando’s modern cocktail scene, I have to start with The Courtesy.

The Courtesy was one of the places that changed my perception of what Orlando could be as a cocktail city.

Walking into a dedicated cocktail bar and realizing that the focus was actually on the cocktails was a welcome change.

The drinks were thoughtful.

The atmosphere felt intentional.

And there was a level of attention to the craft that I wanted to see more of around Orlando.

But what I remember most about The Courtesy isn’t necessarily one particular drink.

It’s the experience they’ve created around cocktails.

Their cocktail classes have always stood out to me.

There’s something about learning how a cocktail is built that makes you appreciate it differently when you order one later.

And then there are the holiday-themed takeovers.

Those are the kind of things that turn a bar visit into an event.

And that’s something The Courtesy understands particularly well:

A cocktail bar can be more than somewhere you go to get a drink.

It can be an experience.

The Courtesy continues to emphasize education, seasonal cocktails and Florida-inspired ingredients as part of its program. (thecourtesybar.com)

My Take

If you’re interested in cocktails beyond simply ordering one, The Courtesy should be near the top of your Orlando list.

Take a cocktail class.

Try something from the seasonal menu.

Ask the bartender what they’re excited about.

And if there’s a holiday takeover happening, I’d absolutely make an evening out of it.

Best for: Cocktail enthusiasts, date nights, cocktail classes and anyone who wants to experience a serious cocktail bar.

Otto’s High Dive

Then there’s Otto’s High Dive, and this is where Orlando’s cocktail scene starts getting really fun.

Located in the Milk District, Otto’s has a Cuban-inspired identity and a serious appreciation for rum and tropical cocktails.

And that’s important because rum deserves more respect than it sometimes gets.

When people hear “rum cocktail,” they often think of something frozen, overly sweet and served with a giant garnish.

Nothing wrong with that.

But rum can be incredibly complex.

Otto’s understands that.

They currently have an excellent cocktail menu, and the drink that stood out most to me was the Todi Bird Cake.

It’s one of those cocktails that sticks in your memory because it has personality.

And that’s what I want from a cocktail menu.

I don’t necessarily want to order the same drink I could get at 500 other bars.

I want something that feels like this bar.

This neighborhood.

This bartender.

This menu.

Otto’s does that.

The Cuban influence, rum focus and tropical inspiration give the place an identity that’s distinctly different from a traditional cocktail lounge. Current Orlando coverage continues to include Otto’s among the city’s standout bars. (theinfatuation.com)

My Take

If you think you don’t like rum, go to Otto’s before making that decision.

And if the Todi Bird Cake is still available when you visit, that’s where I’d start.

Best for: Rum cocktails, tropical drinks, dinner and drinks, and anyone looking for a cocktail bar with personality.

Sunroom

If Otto’s shows you what a rum-focused cocktail bar can do, Sunroom shows you how much fun a tropical cocktail bar can be.

Located in Mills 50, Sunroom has a completely different energy.

It’s colorful.

It’s tropical.

It’s casual.

And it feels like a place where you’re supposed to actually hang out.

That’s one of the reasons I like it.

Not every great cocktail bar needs to be dark and serious.

Sometimes you want a great drink in a place that feels like you’re already on vacation.

And Sunroom does that well.

One of the best reasons to check it out is the happy hour, which runs Sunday through Thursday until 8 p.m. and offers drink specials.

That’s an easy way to turn an ordinary weeknight into a pretty good night out.

And Mills 50 makes the location even better.

You can start at Sunroom, grab a few drinks, get something to eat and then continue exploring the neighborhood.

That’s one of the things I like most about Orlando’s current cocktail culture.

You can actually build a night around cocktails.

Current local coverage continues to highlight Sunroom for its tropical cocktail program and Mills 50 location. (theinfatuation.com)

My Take

If you’re looking for great cocktails without the formality of a traditional cocktail lounge, Sunroom is an easy recommendation.

And if you’re going Sunday through Thursday, take advantage of happy hour.

Best for: Tropical cocktails, happy hour, casual dates and starting a night out in Mills 50.

D.B.A.

D.B.A. occupies a different spot on the Orlando cocktail spectrum.

It’s the kind of place that works when you want a good cocktail but don’t necessarily want the evening to feel like a formal cocktail experience.

And I think every good drinking city needs places like that.

Not every night needs to be an occasion.

Sometimes you just want a comfortable bar, a good drink and somewhere you can actually have a conversation.

That’s the appeal of D.B.A.

It’s relaxed without ignoring the cocktails.

The bar has become part of the broader Mills 50 drinking scene, where you can easily turn one cocktail stop into an entire evening out.

Current Orlando bar guides continue to include D.B.A. among the city’s recommended drinking destinations. (theinfatuation.com)

My Take

D.B.A. is a good choice when you want cocktails without the pretense.

It’s a neighborhood bar that happens to take its drinks seriously.

Best for: Casual cocktails, conversation, dates and a relaxed night out.

Mathers Social Gathering

And then there’s Mathers Social Gathering, which takes the experience in a completely different direction.

Mathers is about atmosphere.

Located inside the historic Phoenix Building downtown, the bar leans heavily into a vintage, speakeasy-inspired aesthetic.

Dim lighting.

Cocktails.

Entertainment.

A little mystery.

A little theatricality.

It feels like a place where you’re supposed to dress up a little and make an evening out of it.

And that’s something I think Orlando has gotten much better at.

Creating nightlife experiences that feel intentional.

Mathers isn’t simply saying:

“Here’s a cocktail.”

It’s saying:

“Here’s your night.”

The venue continues to offer themed programming and events, including its Whiskey Wednesday programming. (mathersorlando.com)

My Take

If you’re planning a date night, celebrating something or just want to make a night out of going for cocktails, Mathers is worth considering.

It’s a very different experience from Otto’s or Sunroom, and that’s exactly why it belongs on this list.

Best for: Date nights, special occasions, vintage atmosphere and experience-driven nightlife.

Orlando’s Cocktail Scene Isn’t Just Downtown Anymore

This might be the biggest difference between Orlando’s drinking scene today and the one I remember years ago.

There isn’t one single cocktail district.

And I think that’s a good thing.

You can find interesting bars spread across the city.

Winter Park gives you destinations like The Courtesy.

Mills 50 has become one of the city’s strongest neighborhoods for cocktails and nightlife.

The Milk District gives you Otto’s and its rum-driven Cuban personality.

Downtown Orlando offers places like Mathers along with plenty of other nightlife options.

And that’s before we even get into hotel bars, resort cocktails, rooftop bars, speakeasies and the beverage programs attached to Orlando’s growing restaurant scene.

The city has options.

Now it’s just a matter of figuring out which one fits your night.

Orlando Doesn’t Need to Become New York

This is something I think about when I look at how much Orlando’s cocktail scene has changed.

Orlando doesn’t need to become New York.

It doesn’t need to become Miami.

And it definitely doesn’t need to pretend it’s New Orleans.

Those cities already have their identities.

Orlando’s advantage is that it can create its own.

Florida citrus.

Rum.

Tropical flavors.

International influences.

Tourism.

Neighborhood bars.

Resorts.

Theme parks.

And a constant stream of people coming into the city looking for something fun to do.

That’s actually a pretty interesting cocktail culture to build.

And we’re seeing more bars embrace it.

So Where Should You Start?

If you’re new to Orlando’s cocktail scene, I’d start with The Courtesy.

Not just because of the cocktails, but because of the role the bar has played in Orlando’s cocktail culture.

Take a class if you can.

Check out a seasonal menu.

See what they’re doing.

Then head over to Otto’s High Dive and order something rum-forward.

If the Todi Bird Cake is still available, that’s my personal recommendation.

Want something tropical and relaxed?

Go to Sunroom.

And if you’re going Sunday through Thursday, take advantage of the happy hour.

Looking for something more laid-back?

Try D.B.A.

And if you want the evening itself to feel like an experience, make your way downtown to Mathers Social Gathering.

Five bars.

Five different personalities.

And that’s really the point.

The Intoxicology Take

I started Intoxicology because I like discovering places like these.

Not just because I enjoy cocktails—which I obviously do—but because I enjoy everything that surrounds them.

The bar.

The bartender.

The atmosphere.

The people.

The story.

The neighborhood.

The drink itself.

And Orlando has gotten a lot more interesting in that regard.

Years ago, I was looking around the city wondering where the serious cocktail bars were.

Today, I have a much harder problem:

There are too many places I want to try.

And that’s a pretty good problem to have.

So if someone tells me Orlando doesn’t have a cocktail scene anymore, I’ll happily disagree.

Because I’ve watched it grow.

I’ve had the drinks.

I’ve sat at the bars.

And I’ve seen enough to know that Orlando has earned its place on the cocktail map.

Now the fun part is figuring out which drink you should order first.

Cheers.