Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
341
Latin Quarter
This two-level restaurant/nightclub offers you a chance to absorb the
salsa-and-samba culture of 21 Latin nations in an Aztec-, Inca-, and Mayan-influenced
setting. It's filled with the music of the merengue, the mambo, and the tango, along with
a bit of Latin rock thrown in for good measure—be prepared to move your hips. The
surprisingly intimate atmosphere features mountainous architecture and waterfalls sur-
rounding the dance floor; you'll feel like you're dancing in a Mayan temple. The sound
system is loud enough to blow you into the next county; but before that happens, you can
check out the club's Latin American art gallery. Open daily 5 to 10pm.
&
407/224-3663.
NASCAR Sports Grille
This recently redone (and renamed) NASCAR-licensed
eatery is a must for race car and sports enthusiasts alike. Table-side plasma screens (you
pick the programming), high-tech simulators and games, and a huge plasma wall create
what Universal calls an “outdoor tailgating experience.” An upgraded menu features such
favorites as ribs, pasta, sandwiches, and more. Open daily from 11am to 11pm or later.
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407/224-3663.
NBA City
If you're a fan of the NBA, then this one's a must. Hoops and memorabilia
hang from the walls, and TV monitors play seemingly every game on the airwaves. The
mixed menu ($5
-
$20) ranges from steaks and chicken to fish, pasta, and sandwiches.
Fans will love it, but if you're looking for better-than-average food and aren't a basketball
junkie, look elsewhere. Open daily from 11am to midnight (last seating at 10:30pm),
later on Friday and Saturday (last seating 11:30pm).
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407/363-5919.
Pat O'Brien's
Just like the French Quarter—home to the original Patty O's—drinking,
drinking, and more drinking are the highlights here. Creole treats and sandwiches (most
$8-$10) take up only a page or two of the menu—the rest is filled with wild alcoholic liba-
tions. Enjoy the piano bar or the flame-throwing fountain while you suck down the drink
of the Big Easy, a Hurricane. Although you can order a soft drink, Pat O'Brien's primarily
promotes the hard stuff. If your plans for the evening fall anything short of full intoxication
(unless you're the designated driver for the aforementioned planners), this may not be the
place for you. Open daily from 4pm to 2am.
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407/224-2106.
www.patobriens.com.
Red Coconut Club
When it replaced the old Decades Café, locals wondered if the
Red Coconut Club would be one more club in CityWalk's revolving lineup of lounges,
but this one looks like it's here to stay. A chic upscale interior with a retro flair, signature
martinis, and live music draw a hip crowd—something previous tenants couldn't man-
age. Open Sunday through Thursday 8pm to 2am, Friday and Saturday 6pm to 2am.
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407/224-3663.
Cover charge $7 after 9pm. Must be 21 or older to enter.
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5
HOT SPOTS IN ORLANDO
Downtown Disney and CityWalk are the biggest nighttime draws for most tourists and
some locals. However, the dozens of clubs and bars on International Drive, along Orange
Avenue, and in the rest of downtown Orlando attract most homegrown night owls,
business travelers who want to stay as far as possible from the Mickey madness, and a
small number of enterprising tourists who venture north at night. These places can be
located on the map “Downtown Orlando Nightlife” on p. 343.
Club Firestone
Theme nights (Latin night, ladies night, and more) draw a diverse
crowd and keep the dance floor busy. This is a serious club with dark lighting, three
cavernous rooms—each with its own style and high-energy sounds. Orlando's biggest
