Dance Clubs & Nightclubs

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.

Other Places to Party -- Other downtown hot spots include Chillers, the Big Belly Brewery, and Lattitudes, 33 W. Church St. (tel. 407/939-4270) -- three separate clubs located in a single trilevel building that are all geared to the young-adult crowd with an atmosphere that's very casual. Another nighttime complex lined with clubs and bars is Wall Street Plaza (www.wallstplaza.net), a "meet market" on Wall Street that's home to the Globe (tel. 407/849-9904), a European patio cafe; Slingapours (tel. 407/849-9904), a dance club with an indoor and outdoor patio for relaxing; Waitiki (tel. 407/849-0471), a retro Tiki lounge and restaurant; the Monkey Bar (tel. 407/849-0471), a hip martini lounge and cocktail bar; One Eyed Jacks (tel. 407/648-2050) and the Loaded Hog (tel. 407/649-1918), both party bars; the Tuk Tuk Room (tel. 407/849-9904), a cocktail and sushi lounge; and the Wall Street Cantina (tel. 407/420-1515), a bar that serves mean margaritas.

Gay & Lesbian Nightspots

You can get all sorts of useful information on events from Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Services of Central Florida, 946 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 (tel. 407/228-8272; www.glbcc.org). Gay Orlando Network (www.gayorlando.com) and the Gay Guide to Florida (http://gay-guide.com) also feature a lot of nightlife entries.

Lounging Around

Some of Orlando's most unique nightlife is located in its hotels. Even locals head to some of these places after dark. Consider any of the following and their parent hotels:

Rix at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort (tel. 407/939-3806; www.disneyworld.com), a surprisingly sophisticated un-Disney-like lounge, serves up gourmet appetizers and signature drinks in a chic and trendy Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere. Todd English's bluezoo bar at the Walt Disney World Dolphin (tel. 407/934-1111; www.thebluezoo.com) serves up classic cocktails in a hip and chic atmosphere. At Disney's Grand Floridian (tel. 407/824-3000), a pianist and band alternate playing time from 3 to 9:45pm in the lobby. Outer Rim at the Contemporary Resort (tel. 407/824-1000) is a trendy nightspot and close to the monorail. Kimono's sushi bar in the Walt Disney World Swan (tel. 407/934-3000) offers karaoke after 8:30pm, while the entertainment is purely visual at the Mist Sushi & Spirits in the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld (tel. 407/351-5555), which overlooks the huge atrium, glass elevators, and the new trendy interior.

The Lakeview Restaurant in the Regal Sun Resort (tel. 407/827-6534) offers a solve-it-yourself mystery dinner show on Saturdays at 6 and 9pm ($50 adults, $15 kids 3-9). Auggie's Jammin' Piano Bar has dueling pianos at 9pm nightly at the Gaylord Palms (tel. 407/586-0000). Sit back and relax (in velvet chairs, I might add) at the Velvet Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel (tel. 407/503-3700), where you can down cocktails while surrounded by rock-'n'-roll memorabilia and music.

Unsportsmanlike Options

Disney's BoardWalk has a few options for folks searching for off-the-field nightlife. Street performers sing, dance, and do a little juggling and magic most evenings on the outdoor promenade.

Atlantic Dance (tel. 407/939-2444 for limited recorded information) features top-40 and '80s dance hits Tuesday through Saturday. It's open to everyone 21 and older (though most of the clientele tend to be of the business-traveler variety). Hours are from 9pm to 2am, and admission is free.

The rustic saloon-style Jellyrolls (tel. 407/939-5100) offers dueling pianos and a boisterous crowd. Strictly for the over-21 set, it's open daily from 7pm to 2am, though it's busiest on weekends. There's a $10 cover.

If you're looking to hoist a pint, the Big River Grill & Brewing Works (tel. 407/939-5100) serves microbrewed beer as well as steaks, ribs, chicken, fish, sandwiches, and salads. Prices range from $9 to $29. It's open Monday through Thursday from 11:30am to 1am; Friday through Sunday from 11:30am to 2am. It's near Atlantic Dance.

Disney's BoardWalk can be a cheap night out if you enjoy strolling and people-watching (and if you stay out of the restaurants and clubs). It has something of a midway atmosphere reminiscent of Atlantic City's heyday.