6 Best Bars in Central Orlando, Orlando

Beloved by locals, The Social is a great place to see touring and area musicians. Up to seven nights a week, you can sip trademark martinis while listening to anything from indie rock to rockabilly to music mixed by DJs. Fans love the venue because the stage is low, the bands are close, and the enthusiasm is high. Hours vary, and there is usually a cover.

On a clear, starry night it's nice to retreat from the crowded street-level drinking establishments to this spot atop The Social music club. Surrounded by some of Orlando's tallest buildings, it exudes hip, trendy vibes that are just right for those looking to dance to a DJ outdoors. Ladies' nights, theme events, and even yoga classes are offered.

A rare Imperial Grand Bösendorfer piano takes center stage at what might be the city's classiest gathering spot. The highly civilized (but not stuffy) lounge attracts a cross section of trendy Orlandoans, especially the after-work crowd, among whom conversation and camaraderie flow as smoothly as the champagne, beer, wine, and cocktails. And, with its location across from the performing arts center, it's a draw pre- and postconcert. Call in advance for the schedule of jazz combos and solo pianists who perform in the lounge. Many are among the area's finest and most talented musicians.

Here since 1987, this pub just a few miles east of Downtown has become a neighborhood institution. It's an atmospheric place to get a hand-drawn pint, play a game of darts, and have a (still) smoky chat. The tap lineup covers 10 imported beers and ales and quadruples that number in bottled selections, while the kitchen prepares fish-and-chips, cottage pies, and Scotch eggs. Darts leagues, comedy nights, and weekly pub quizzes make it feel like a piece of old London.

Wall Street Plaza is a complex of seven distinct, themed venues. Choose the Wall Street Cantina for Mexican fare, the Hen House ("The World's Smallest Bar-dello") for craft beers, Hooch for an outdoor bar, the Shine dance club for its "moonshine warehouse" look, the Monkey Bar martini lounge, the outdoor WaiTiki Bar, or Sideshow for a party scene. With a calendar packed with events, this is considered Party Central for many in the Downtown crowd.

In the middle of the funky Mills 50 neighborhood, one of the city's oldest bars (circa 1954) is a hangout for a cross section of cultures and ages. Some would say it's a dive—even in its cleaned-up state—but that doesn't matter to the students, bikers, lawyers, and barflies who land here. Just grab a stool at the bar to take in the scene and down a cold one.