Lakeside Dining:



Bongo’s Cuban Café (407-828-0999; bongoscubancafe.com). Created by songbird Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, this Disney version of Old Havana seats guests on outdoor balconies that offer a great view of the lake or the bustle of Downtown Disney.  Black bean soup, Cuban steaks with grilled onions and thick black coffee go well with live Latin music.



Enzo’s on the Lake (407-834-9872; enzos.com). Made over in 1979 from a lovely secluded Italian villa-style lakefront home to a restaurant with spectacular dining room views, Enzo’s on the Lake creates simple yet sophisticated cuisine from the owner’s native Roma.



Gargi’s Lakeside Italian Ristorante (407-894-7907; gargislakeside.com). Italian specialties on a spacious patio overlooking Lake Ivanhoe near downtown Orlando.  



Samba Room (407-226-0550; sambaroom.net). Along busy “Restaurant Row,” the Samba Room’s dining room extends outdoors, serving Latin fusion creations and specialty drinks. 



Seasons 52 (407-354-5212; seasons52.com). This eatery’s pleasant patio overlooking Little Sand Lake is the perfect spot to kick back, sip one of many wines by the glass and indulge in big-taste, low-calorie flatbreads, ahi tuna, and no-guilt mini-desserts served in tiny parfait glasses.



SPICE Modern Steakhouse at Lake Eola (407-481-9533; spicesteakhouse.com) Grab a table on the patio for a prime view of Lake Eola and downtown residents out and about. The menu offers unique creations such as Sage Cider Wild Boar Chops and Guinness Fried Oysters.



Best People-Watching Spots:



Adobe Gila’s Margarita Cantina (407-903-1477; adobegilas.com). Located in Pointe Orlando, this happening spot features live music and is known for its sizzling fajitas and specialty margaritas. 



Bahama Breeze (407-248-2499; bahamabreeze.com). Fruity umbrella drinks, nightly live entertainment and plenty of tasty Caribbean-style appetizers and entrees like coconut-curry chicken keep this hot spot on busy International Drive lively throughout the evening.  



The Beacon (407-841-5444; beaconbars.com). Located in trendy Thornton Park in downtown Orlando, The Beacon is a favorite with locals for its tasty small plate meals and its unparalleled brunch.



Brio Tuscan Grille Located in Winter Park (407-622-5611; brioitalian.com) and at The Mall at Millenia (407-351-8909), this Italian-style terrace brings to mind “la dolce vita” – settle in beneath an umbrella, nibble on bruschetta and sip your drink of choice.



Cedar’s Restaurant (407-351-6000; cedarsoforlando.com). This Lebanese jewel on Sand Lake Road serves its fresh-baked pita with hummus and dips, fresh fish, quail in lemon garlic and other treats in a relaxed porch setting.  Belly dancers entertain on weekends.



Luma on Park (407-599-4111; lumaonpark.com). Chic Luma’s outdoor tables are the place to see and be seen in Winter Park.  New American cuisine is on the menu.



Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (407-224-2155; margaritaville.com).  The restaurant’s large “beach” deck is a great place to kick back and enjoy music and eats from the Caribbean, including conch fritters, Buffett’s famous “cheeseburger in paradise” and Key lime pie.



Wolfgang Puck Café (407-938-9653; wolfgangpuck.com). Tables on the terrace overlooking the lake at Downtown Disney are a great place to enjoy sushi, pasta and Puck’s famous pizzas.



Scenic Avenues:



Park Plaza Gardens (407-645-2475; parkplazagardens.com). The sidewalk café section of this Winter Park restaurant offers great people watching and a menu brimming with great tastes, such as the blue-crab cakes and the Florida snapper.  If rain threatens, the indoor French-courtyard dining room has a true outdoor feel.



Columbia Restaurant (407-566-1505; columbiarestaurant.com). An outdoor table in an Old World courtyard in downtown Celebration is a romantic spot to enjoy Spanish-Cuban specialties like paella al la Valencia and rich, creamy flan.



HUE—A Restaurant (407-849-1800; huerestaurant.com). A martini toast at one of the tables lining the sidewalk in this trendy downtown location kicks off lunch or dinner from an inventive Asian fusion menu that includes oysters with wasabi caviar, a rich chowder and hoisin roast duck.



Shari Sushi Lounge (407-420-9420; sharisushilounge.com). Just around the corner from HUE, Shari Sushi offers a pleasant streetscape view and a wide menu of sushi and sashimi, plus chef specialties like soy filet mignon.