Universal Orlando’s 30-acre entertainment mall CityWalk (www.citywalkorlando.com; 407/363-8000) is found in the front yard shared by Universal’s two theme parks. It’s open daily from 11am to midnight or 2am, although booze and live performances don’t kick in until dinnertime. Drinks are strong and the liveliness is bolstered partly by regular concerts at its Hard Rock Live venue, but it’s still pretty vanilla as party zones go. There is no charge to enter the common area, so tour around before deciding whether to pay to enter any clubs. Some places open only in the evening. Many clubs only admit patrons 21 or older because drinking is permitted outdoors anywhere in CityWalk. Officially, Universal prefers it if you don’t wear super casual clothes like tank tops. Expect some offerings to be scaled back on off nights Sunday through Tuesday.

CityWalk is located at 6000 Universal Blvd. (from I-4, it’s exit 75A coming from the west, or exit 74B coming from the east).

Parking costs $26 before 6pm but is free after 6pm, excluding event nights such as Halloween Horror Nights. The latest hours and cover charges (if any are being levied during your visit) are posted in the Universal CityWalk section of the Universal Orlando Resort app.

Bob Marley—A Tribute to Freedom—You often get live music, but mostly it’s an easygoing place to kick back, eat, and listen to recorded reggae—an antidote to the high-energy clubs around it. www.universalorlando.com. 407/224-3663.
CityWalk’s Rising Star—This karaoke joint has a spin: You get a band and backup singers (Sun–Mon, just the singers). Like all karaoke, the more you drink, the more ridiculously fun it gets. Cover of about $7 might be charged after 9pm. www.universalorlando.com. 407/224-2189.
the groove—Sleek and state-of-the-art, this multilevel DJ dance club is also middle-of-the-road; DJs hold court Wednesday to Saturday. There may be a cover of $7, and it opens at 9pm. www.universalorlando.com. 407/224-2165.
Hard Rock Live—A 3,000-seat, top-of-the-line live-music arena attached to the famous burger joint is one of Orlando’s primary concert and comedy venues. The second-floor seating is spacious and has good sightlines; for some concerts, the first floor is converted to a dance floor or to standing room. www.hardrock.com/live. 407/351-5483. Ticket prices vary.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville—Live music nightly in a touristy environment that’s first about the cheeseburgers in paradise, secondly about margaritas (there are three bars), and thirdly about island music. www.universalorlando.com. 407/224-2155.
Pat O’Brien’s—It’s “an authentic reproduction of New Orleans’s favorite watering hole,” and although its Hurricane rum drinks could make you see double, there are truly two dueling pianists playing nightly. This spot is among the most popular here—the party starts at 4pm—and kids can join in. www.patobriens.com. 407/224-3663.
Red Coconut Club—A vanilla version of an ultralounge, it mixes stylish cocktails but can’t decide between Latin, dance, Top 40, and ‘80s. Still, it’s the district’s most upscale venture. www.universalorlando.com. 407/224-2425.
 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.