Top 9 Orlando Hotels for Christmas Dining

Christmas dining at these fabulous Orlando hotels is worth the splurge

**Post is updated for 2017 and as new information is received. Bookmark this post for future reference.**

Whether you call Orlando home or you’re visiting the City Beautiful this Christmas holiday, these Orlando hotels will fill your hearts with cheer and your stomachs with the tastiest holiday treats. We are lucky to have so many wonderful hotels in town that don’t hold anything back to wow their guests. These hotels offer the best value, overall high quality cuisine, creative menus and entertainment to make your Christmas celebration extra special. They are listed in alphabetical order as they are all tops. Some are a splurge, but if you want to indulge then this is where to do it!

1. The Alfond Inn at Rollins College

Chef Jason Klingensmith serves his a la carte menu at Hamilton’s Kitchen featuring old world favorites and seasonal sweets in this beautiful Winter Park boutique hotel, named one of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s best hotels in Florida. Before or after your feast at The Alfond Inn Hamilton’s Kitchen, enjoy the museum quality art collection around the property and a stroll on nearby Park Avenue with beautiful holiday decorations and Central Park festivities.

Also, don’t miss their popular “Get Your Jazz On” Holiday Style event on December 22, complete with snow machine, spiked warm cider and Christmas Tunes, from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. Enjoy unlimited select wine, beer, spirits and seasonally blended cocktails and smoking lounge featuring Phenom Cigars be available. Chef will be serving his famous roasted pig, roasted chicken, vegetarian selections. Complimentary valet parking. Online tickets $50 per guest, VIP tickets $65 per guest. 300 East New England Ave, Winter Park FL. 407-998-8090

2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

There’s something about the Victorian charm of this property that makes it my favorite Disney hotel. 1900 Park Fare Restaurant serves the Supercalifragilistic themed brunch, complete with a visit from Mary Poppins and other Disney characters. Enjoy Mickey waffles, made-to-order omelets, carved ham, sushi and a bounty of desserts that will leave you in heaven for days. After brunch, walk around and enjoy the decorations, the jazz music in the lobby and the life-sized gingerbread house display, which takes over 400 hours of baking, is a definite Must See. The elegant holiday decorations make the day feel even more special. Grab some treats like gingerbread cookies and chocolate peppermint bark to take home. Hop on the monorail and visit the new Frozen Gingerbread ice castle display at The Contemporary Resort. If you still have room, the blue raspberry cake Frozen gelato is worth the calories. 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista FL. 407-939-5277

3. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

Orlando’s only Five Diamond Resort, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, is the place to be if you want to celebrate the season in style. Ravello, a modern Italian casual restaurant, offers a Christmas Day brunch buffet from 11am – 6pm, with everything from house made charcuterie, crab legs, oysters, carved roasted leg of lamb, lobster benedicts, to seafood risotto. It’s a Mediterranean foodie dream. Capa, the 17th floor rooftop steakhouse with Spanish influenced cuisine, offers a Christmas Day a la carte dinner menu plus a chateaubriand prime rib special. Seating from 4pm-10pm. Enjoy the spectacular view, especially at night with all the Disney fireworks and relax in the lap of luxury for a few hours. For more information visit their website. 10100 Dream Tree Blvd, Golden Oak FL. 407-313-7777

4. Gaylord Palms

Gaylord Palms offers two wonderful holiday dining options. Villa Flora, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, offers a plentiful selection of antipasti, seafood paella, made-to-order pastas and table-side sangrias in addition to all the breakfast goodies. If you prefer a more upscale, farm to table menu, visit MOOR opened in 2015 to delight Gaylord Palm guests and locals alike. After the feast, the fun starts with your stroll through ICE! with Peanuts and friends in more than two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures, slip and slide on four thrilling slides and GO snow tubing in the eight-lane, 18 inch hill covered 1.5 million pounds of snow, admire the 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree and more than 2 million twinkling lights. It’s fun for the whole family. 6000 West Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee FL. 407-586-2000

5. Hilton Orlando & Waldorf Astoria Bonnet Creek

Celebrate Christmas Eve with the Italian dinner tradition of Feast of the Seven Fishes at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek’s La Luce, serving modern Italian cuisine by Napa Valley chef Donna Scala. This a la carte menu includes a variety of dishes inspired by traditional family recipes for all the fish lovers out there. Regular menu also available. On Christmas Day, check out Harvey’s Bistro Dinner buffet including seven featured seafood dishes, from 5pm-10pm.

Next door at the adjacent Waldorf Astoria, you’ll find Oscar’s Brasserie serving Christmas Day dinner buffet with large selection of holiday favorites for the whole family. For a splurge, famed Bull & Bear is serving a four course holiday dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On select days, get your picture taken with Santa and 100% of the proceeds go to Give Kids The World. Enjoy S’mores by the fire pits and live entertainment nightly at Peacock Alley. As an extra bonus, Waldorf Astoria introduces Bar du Chocolat, a decadent selection of chocolate treats hand crafted by their world-class pastry team for your enjoyment, on select days.

^ Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando FL. 407-597-3675
^ Waldorf Astoria Orlando 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando FL. 407-597-5500

6. Hyatt Regency Orlando

Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse’s popular Christmas Day brunch includes all the traditional favorites plus raw bar with oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, stone crab claws and sparkling wine. Napa Restaurant’s a la carte menu inspired by California cuisine is another great option. 9801 International Drive,Orlando FL. 407 345 4570. Afterwards, head next door to Pointe Orlando for various entertainment options including Regal Cinemas for the latest Christmas movies.

7. Loews Universal Orlando Resorts

Universal Orlando Resorts offer a variety of Christmas day buffets to choose from. Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort adds island flair to holiday favorites juniper berry roasted turkey, Palmetto Creek ham and stuffed quail. Entertainment features visits from Santa, face painter, balloonist, islands musicians and hula dancers. If you want a casual rock & roll vibe and All American menu, The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel buffet includes New York sirloin, roasted spiced leg of lamb, maple glazed country ham and sage butter basted turkey. For a more elegant, Italian inspired affair, Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel features herb-crusted strip loin of beef, pineapple rum glazed ham, chilled seafood. Entertainment includes Universal characters, strolling musicians, face painter, balloonist and a kids holiday crafts table. Afterwards, hop on a boat ride to Universal City Walk for various entertainment options.

^ Loews Royal Pacific Hotel 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando FL. 407-503-3463.
^ Loews Hard Rock Hotel 5800 Universal Blvd, Orlando FL. 407-503-3463;
^ Loews Portofino Bay Hotel 5601 Universal Blvd, Orlando FL. 407-503-3463

8. Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Grande Lakes Resort

Spend Christmas Eve at the home of one of Florida’s most acclaimed chef’s, Norman Van Aken, Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton and see why he is named the father of new world cuisine with this seasonal four-course menu. On Christmas day, dine in southern elegance with farm-to-fork dishes and live entertainment at the newest Ritz-Carlton eatery,Highball & Harvest. If you prefer an extensive buffet, adjacent JW Marriott’s Citron has you covered with all the traditional items including carved ham, turkey, seafood stations, champagne and wine bar plus a visit from Santa. Grande Lakes Orlando maintains an extensive sustainability and conservation home-grown effort including collaboration with Whisper Creek Farms as well as their on-site Primo Garden. If you get a chance to tour the garden, take it. 4012 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando FL. Norman’s 407-393-4333. Highball & Harvest 407-393-4648.

9. Rosen Hotels & Resorts

The culinary teams at Orlando’s independent hotel chain, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, know how to put the wow into the holidays with the most extensive holiday brunch buffets you will find in Orlando. This is “Where Christmas Happens” with a variety of delicious dishes. Rosen Centre’s Café Gauguin, Rosen Shingle Creek Café Osceola and Rosen Plaza Ballroom are a foodie paradise, perfect for those who want lots of options. Do you want fresh-made sushi (my favorite), all types of seafood, carved lamb, an incredible antipasto display, a variety of salads, eggs benedict, waffles, omelets or pasta made to order? You can have it all. Don’t forget to save room for flowing chocolate fountains and award-winning desserts. Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek include unlimited champagne and mimosas for an added value.

^ Rosen Centre Hotel 9840 International Drive, Orlando FL. 407-996-2385
^ Rosen Shingle Creek Resort 9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando FL. 407-996-3663
^ Rosen Plaza Hotel 9700 International Drive, Orlando FL. 407-996-0256

Bonus: If your Looking To Go Out of Town!

Tampa’s upscale food-centric Epicurean Hotel is hosting a Christmas feast worthy of a drive. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a three course menu awaits at Elevage restaurant. Choose Filet mignon, Grilled Ham Chop, Venison Strip Loin or Roasted King Salmon. Don’t miss the wine bottle christmas tree in the lobby for perfect foodie Christmas pictures. For more info, visit their website. 1207 South Howard Avenue, Tampa FL. 813-999-8700

There is no better way to celebrate the Christmas holiday than sharing great food and drinks with family and friends around the table. GO make reservations (highly encouraged) and have a Merry Epicurista Christmas!

Cheers!

GO Epicurista!

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