Guidebook for Lakeland

Amanda
Guidebook for Lakeland

Drinks & Nightlife

Great brewery in downtown Lakeland! Located on a lake and features 30 taps of great craft beer, live music, games, and food trucks! Hours 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
17 locals recommend
Swan Brewing
115 W Pine St
17 locals recommend
Great brewery in downtown Lakeland! Located on a lake and features 30 taps of great craft beer, live music, games, and food trucks! Hours 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Historic Tudor home that was converted into a pub/restaurant. Lots of craft beer wine and cider options plus fun lawn games and tasty food make this a fun hangout place! Sunday brunch is amazing! Highly recommend their shrimp and grits!
37 locals recommend
Cob & Pen
1221 Florida Ave S
37 locals recommend
Historic Tudor home that was converted into a pub/restaurant. Lots of craft beer wine and cider options plus fun lawn games and tasty food make this a fun hangout place! Sunday brunch is amazing! Highly recommend their shrimp and grits!
An ultra-premium upscale Jazz and cigar lounge, located downtown. Elegant ambiance and atmosphere. Check their calendar for bands/events.
6 locals recommend
Lakeland Loft
108 S Tennessee Ave
6 locals recommend
An ultra-premium upscale Jazz and cigar lounge, located downtown. Elegant ambiance and atmosphere. Check their calendar for bands/events.
Next Level Craft Cocktail Experience in a swanky atmosphere
19 locals recommend
Revival
119 S Kentucky Ave
19 locals recommend
Next Level Craft Cocktail Experience in a swanky atmosphere

Parks, Nature, & Sightseeing

One of Central Florida's best places to enjoy biking, birding, fishing, hiking or searching for alligators! Named after a cattle ranch that once existed on the property. The scenic 1,267 acre reserve offers a lake & lots of trails, plus a discovery center for kids. The Reserve is open daily, year-round. Pets are not allowed.
98 locals recommend
Circle B Bar Reserve
4399 Winter Lake Rd
98 locals recommend
One of Central Florida's best places to enjoy biking, birding, fishing, hiking or searching for alligators! Named after a cattle ranch that once existed on the property. The scenic 1,267 acre reserve offers a lake & lots of trails, plus a discovery center for kids. The Reserve is open daily, year-round. Pets are not allowed.
Beautifully maintained Garden on Lake Mirror. A relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Take a walk around the lake, kids can play at Barnett Park.
50 locals recommend
Hollis Garden
702 E Orange St
50 locals recommend
Beautifully maintained Garden on Lake Mirror. A relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Take a walk around the lake, kids can play at Barnett Park.
Cool boardwalk through the oak trees, a great spot for a picnic or bike ride.
Peterson Park
3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd
Cool boardwalk through the oak trees, a great spot for a picnic or bike ride.
Great spot for kids, awesome playground!
20 locals recommend
Common Ground Playground
1000 E Edgewood Dr
20 locals recommend
Great spot for kids, awesome playground!
Come see the famous architecture!
13 locals recommend
Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center
840 Johnson Ave
13 locals recommend
Come see the famous architecture!
See the iconic Lakeland swans!
Lake Morton Drive
Lake Morton Drive
See the iconic Lakeland swans!
Amazing new massive park for the whole family! Such a beautiful park! Has a children’s museum, sooo many trails and a boardwalk, and fun areas for kids to play as well as a bar for adults and food and ice cream too! Truly a must do in Lakeland.
Bonnet Springs Park
400 George Jenkins Blvd
Amazing new massive park for the whole family! Such a beautiful park! Has a children’s museum, sooo many trails and a boardwalk, and fun areas for kids to play as well as a bar for adults and food and ice cream too! Truly a must do in Lakeland.

Food Scene

Great atmosphere in the heart of downtown. Fresh unique dishes and live bands several nights a week. Excellent brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
32 locals recommend
FRESCOS
132 S Kentucky Ave
32 locals recommend
Great atmosphere in the heart of downtown. Fresh unique dishes and live bands several nights a week. Excellent brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Western-themed steakhouse featuring tasty wood-cooked aged prime beef, plus a free steak on your birthday. Call ahead and make a reservation. Opens at 5pm
18 locals recommend
Texas Cattle Company
735 E Main St
18 locals recommend
Western-themed steakhouse featuring tasty wood-cooked aged prime beef, plus a free steak on your birthday. Call ahead and make a reservation. Opens at 5pm
Delicious cuban food, good for lunch or dinner, very close to the guesthouse.
West Caribbean Cuban Restaurant
2215 S Combee Rd
Delicious cuban food, good for lunch or dinner, very close to the guesthouse.
Delicious Italian entrees in a sophisticated atmosphere. Good place for a date. Make sure you make a reservation.
20 locals recommend
Scarpa's Italian Restaurant
1833 E Edgewood Dr
20 locals recommend
Delicious Italian entrees in a sophisticated atmosphere. Good place for a date. Make sure you make a reservation.
Delicious BBQ in an awesome historic building downtown. Features smoked meats, homemade sides and sauces, over 200 whiskeys, and handcrafted cocktails.
17 locals recommend
MOJO Federal Swine & Spirits
130 S Tennessee Ave
17 locals recommend
Delicious BBQ in an awesome historic building downtown. Features smoked meats, homemade sides and sauces, over 200 whiskeys, and handcrafted cocktails.
Highly recommend! Their taco pizza is our favorite! Amazing thin pizza, subs and salads, friendly service. Only 5 mins from the guesthouse.
J.Burns' Pizza Shop
2306 E Edgewood Dr
Highly recommend! Their taco pizza is our favorite! Amazing thin pizza, subs and salads, friendly service. Only 5 mins from the guesthouse.
Inviting downtown spot fixing up New Orleans-inspired fare- lots of yummy seafood dishes to try! We've never had a dish we didnt like here. Also have signature cocktails and a happy hour. Take a walk down to lake mirror afterwards and enjoy the scenery.
47 locals recommend
Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille
101 N Kentucky Ave
47 locals recommend
Inviting downtown spot fixing up New Orleans-inspired fare- lots of yummy seafood dishes to try! We've never had a dish we didnt like here. Also have signature cocktails and a happy hour. Take a walk down to lake mirror afterwards and enjoy the scenery.
Classic small town diner serving breakfast & lunch in relaxed surroundings. Walking distance to the guesthouse. We love their omelettes and sausage gravy.
The Egg Factory
1533 S Combee Rd
Classic small town diner serving breakfast & lunch in relaxed surroundings. Walking distance to the guesthouse. We love their omelettes and sausage gravy.
Funky chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas. Try the Holy Shiitake mushroom pizza! You will die of happiness.
22 locals recommend
Mellow Mushroom
10959 Causeway Blvd
22 locals recommend
Funky chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas. Try the Holy Shiitake mushroom pizza! You will die of happiness.
Relaxed, contemporary restaurant preparing a range of Vietnamese dishes & bubble teas. We love their curry and Pho!
Saigon Bistro
1554 Town Center Dr W
Relaxed, contemporary restaurant preparing a range of Vietnamese dishes & bubble teas. We love their curry and Pho!
Upscale fine dining Latin American restaurant downtown. Great for celebrating a Special occasion or just to treat yourself! Any dish we have ever had here is AMAZING. My personal favorite is Ropa Vieja. You will need a reservation. They also offer To-go.
44 locals recommend
Nineteen61
215 E Main St
44 locals recommend
Upscale fine dining Latin American restaurant downtown. Great for celebrating a Special occasion or just to treat yourself! Any dish we have ever had here is AMAZING. My personal favorite is Ropa Vieja. You will need a reservation. They also offer To-go.
Great pizza and Italian food downtown
31 locals recommend
Palace Pizza
114 S Kentucky Ave
31 locals recommend
Great pizza and Italian food downtown
Hip food hall with 7 vendors ranging from tacos to ramen to ice cream with a bar and amazing lake views of Lake Mirror. Highly recommend 👌🏻
34 locals recommend
The Joinery
640 E Main St
34 locals recommend
Hip food hall with 7 vendors ranging from tacos to ramen to ice cream with a bar and amazing lake views of Lake Mirror. Highly recommend 👌🏻
Amazing patio spot with amazing food and live music on weekends! Come for dinner any night except Sunday or for brunch on weekends!
The Patio-Lakeland
Amazing patio spot with amazing food and live music on weekends! Come for dinner any night except Sunday or for brunch on weekends!

Entertainment & Activities

Historic theater that plays independent films and live concerts. Check their website or Facebook for current list of events.
36 locals recommend
Polk Theatre
121 Florida Ave S
36 locals recommend
Historic theater that plays independent films and live concerts. Check their website or Facebook for current list of events.
Indoor trampoline park. Kids and adults welcome!
DEFY Lakeland (2Infinity Extreme Air Sports)
6220 US 98 N
Indoor trampoline park. Kids and adults welcome!
A fun challenge for groups
Lakeland Escape Room
308 E Pine St
A fun challenge for groups
Nice movie theater with lots of food drink and dessert items
12 locals recommend
Cobb IMAX Theater
1650 Town Center Dr
12 locals recommend
Nice movie theater with lots of food drink and dessert items
Established in 1948, it is the last remaining drive-in of Polk County, Florida
24 locals recommend
Silver Moon Drive-In Theatre
4100 New Tampa Hwy
24 locals recommend
Established in 1948, it is the last remaining drive-in of Polk County, Florida
Fun mini golf and tons of indoor arcade games for kids! Great for families or a casual date night.
9 locals recommend
Family Fun Center
4825 Florida Ave S
9 locals recommend
Fun mini golf and tons of indoor arcade games for kids! Great for families or a casual date night.
An adult arcade with full bar and tons of games! Nostalgia at its finest!
7 locals recommend
Rec Room
202 North Massachusetts Avenue
7 locals recommend
An adult arcade with full bar and tons of games! Nostalgia at its finest!
Axe throwing, pool, and also has food desserts and coffee!
10 locals recommend
Ax-Caliber Axe Venue and Coffee House
204 East Orange Street
10 locals recommend
Axe throwing, pool, and also has food desserts and coffee!

Arts & Culture

Free admission! Closed on Mondays.
58 locals recommend
Polk Museum Of Art
800 E Palmetto St
58 locals recommend
Free admission! Closed on Mondays.

Everything Else

Saturdays from 8am-2pm. Great local food, arts and crafts, veggies, plants, and handmade goods.
18 locals recommend
The Downtown Farmers Curb Market
117 N Kentucky Ave
18 locals recommend
Saturdays from 8am-2pm. Great local food, arts and crafts, veggies, plants, and handmade goods.
Amazing church with amazing friendly people! Pastor Drew and Christina Gard are the best! Our home church. 5 mins away from the cottage.
Grace City Church - Lakeside Campus
1736 New Jersey Rd
Amazing church with amazing friendly people! Pastor Drew and Christina Gard are the best! Our home church. 5 mins away from the cottage.

Shopping

Great outdoor shopping mall. Lots of store options and restaurants, as well as a movie theater.
Lakeside Village Blvd
Lakeside Village Boulevard
Great outdoor shopping mall. Lots of store options and restaurants, as well as a movie theater.
For my thrift girlies- this is an amazing high end clothing thrift with a bonus- they are also a ministry that helps young girls build confidence. I love knowing my money is going to an awesome company with a mission. This is by far my favourite place to shop and I’ve found some amazing pieces here!
Top Buttons Boutique
For my thrift girlies- this is an amazing high end clothing thrift with a bonus- they are also a ministry that helps young girls build confidence. I love knowing my money is going to an awesome company with a mission. This is by far my favourite place to shop and I’ve found some amazing pieces here!
Rafa natural is natural soaps candles and body products! Love their products!
Rafa Natural
244 N Kentucky Ave
Rafa natural is natural soaps candles and body products! Love their products!