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Universal CityWalk is Universal Orlando Resort's one-stop destination for fine dining, shopping, and musical entertainment. The sheer variety of food alone is staggering: 26 eateries cook almost anything visitors could imagine (and quite a few things they couldn't). Familiar favorites such as pasta, pizza, tacos, and burgers are well-represented. But no visitor to CityWalk should leave without trying its more cutting-edge offerings, from authentic Caribbean food, to a sushi-burger hybrid called "burgushi," to a giant chocolate factory. Once your taste has been sated, CityWalk has plenty for your other senses, including live music and shopping. We check out just a few highlights from this lively scene.
- By AAA Staff
- June 8, 2018
Get a taste of can't-miss restaurants & entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort's CityWalk
Dining
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
The name neatly sums up the red-meat-and-fish innovation that makes this one of CityWalk's most popular eateries. The Cowfish specializes in both burgers and sushi, so guests hankering for a high-end brioche burger can dine with friends longing for a fresh plate of sashimi.
The can't-miss main event is when the two themes come together as "burgushi" (as in "burger sushi"). This includes the "Prime Time" filet and lobster roll, which redefines surf and turf by putting seared filet mignon atop a savory lobster sushi roll; and the All-American Bacon Double Cheeseburgooshi, which splits classic cheeseburger ingredients into surprisingly satisfying roll slices, each one like eating an entire mini cheeseburger.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Margaritaville is impossible to miss thanks to the enormous flying boat out front. (Named Hemisphere Dancer, it's a real Grumman Albatross that Jimmy Buffett flew around the Caribbean.) The interior decor is a loving tribute to island escapism, complete with music videos of Buffett's hits.
The theme carries on through the menu with tropical dishes like conch fritters, fish tacos, coconut shrimp, and Cuban sandwiches. Visitors seeking a unique taste of Florida should try the Florida grouper sandwich, which combines the mild but hearty fish (available grilled for health-conscious diners) with a caper aioli and coleslaw.
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium leans heavily into its chocolate factory theming (a certain children's book may come to mind) but there's a lot more going on behind the whimsical exterior. To be sure, there's an enormous variety of mouth-watering options: chocolate factory gears, chocolate pretzels, even chocolate-covered bacon, plus an array of colorful truffles in adventurous flavors like raspberry caramel, birthday cake, and passion fruit. But Toothsome is also a full-service restaurant with European flair, best exemplified by the crepes and quiches served all day long. Kick back with a banana and Nutella crepe or a croque monsieur and immerse yourself in a steampunk vision of the Industrial Revolution.
Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
Looking for a change of pace? Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom serves just that with traditional Caribbean cooking travelers have likely never tried. One such highlight is ackee and saltfish, widely considered Jamaica's national dish. Salt cod is combined with the ackee, a fleshy fruit originally from Africa, and sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and pepper to create a dish that is at turns creamy and salty. Other dishes include oxtail stew and jerk chicken. If that's not enough to make you feel you're in Jamaica, keep in mind that the restaurant is a replica of Marley's home in Kingston.
Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
To enter Antojitos is to be transported to a neon vision of Mexican culture—it's worth taking a stroll just to appreciate the wall and ceiling art. As at almost any Mexican restaurant, familiar comfort fare like burritos, tacos, and tortilla chips with guacamole are satisfying and close at hand.
For those interested in street food, Antojitos has three excellent options: cochinita tacos, which feature traditional slow-cooked achiote pork; savory chicken tamales; and crispy pork gorditas, whose thick corn dough sides are ideal for delivering the included salsas and sauces.
NBC Sports Grill & Brew
Is there a sporting event somewhere in North America? Chances are it'll be on at least one of NBC Sports Grill & Brew's nearly 100 HD televisions. If that's not enough sports, there's also a phone booth that allows patrons to call into NBC Sports Radio when it's on the air to give their opinion on anything in sportsdom.
Meanwhile, the menu elevates traditional sports bar food. Order the descriptively named Large Warm Soft Pretzel, for example, and it's just that: enormous (the pretzel is carried in a special harness), piping hot, and delectably doughy. The burger selection, another highlight, includes a Smokehouse Stack with a beef patty, beef brisket, and smoked pork.
Voodoo Doughnut
If you're a doughnut lover, save room for dessert (or, failing that, breakfast) and head to Voodoo Doughnut. Feeling overwhelmed is normal for first-timers; there are more than 50 varieties, from tried-and-true classics like glazed and chocolate, to variations like Portland Cream (a Bavarian cream with frosting eyeballs), to off-the-wall creations like Mango Tango (a mango jelly doughnut with Tang drink frosting) and the stabbed-with-a-pretzel-stick Voodoo Doll, which bleeds disconcertingly red raspberry jelly when eaten.
Entertainment
Blue Man Group
Orlando has had its very own Blue Men in residence at Universal CityWalk since 2007, so visitors can enjoy their unique blend of comedy, concert, and dance party before or after dining. Expect to do more than just watch—Blue Man Group performances lean heavily into audience participation, both by plucking individuals from their seats and by getting the whole audience involved with props.
An even more interactive option is the VIP Experience. It includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the theater, the chance to play a Blue Man Group instrument, VIP show seating, and a private meet-and-greet with a Blue Man.
Hollywood Drive-In Golf
This colorfully modern 36-hole miniature golf course is easy to miss for resort guests getting to CityWalk via water taxi; it's tucked away past the AMC Universal Cineplex and underneath the walkway to the shuttle bus area. It's a polished and enjoyable experience split between two 18-hole courses based on vintage horror flicks and “little green men” science fiction films. Invaders from Planet Putt golfers face green aliens, robots, and flying saucers, while The Haunting of Ghostly Greens (more tongue-in-cheek than genuinely frightening) navigates graveyards and a haunted house. The courses are open until 2 a.m. every day, and the neon lights make nighttime play a special treat. Best of all, there's a 10 percent admission discount for AAA members buying in-person.
Live music any way you want it
Many of the restaurants feature musical performances in the evening, including Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom (reggae, of course), Pat O'Brien's (dueling pianos), and the Red Coconut Club (recent hits, oldies, and Latin music).
The Red Coconut Club has a dance floor, but head to the Groove for a multilevel dance club. For more of a concert experience, see who's playing at the Hard Rock Live stadium at the Hard Rock Cafe. There are also outdoor performances by the water at the Lagoon Stage. Feeling brave? Be your own entertainment at CityWalk's Rising Star karaoke club, where you can sing along with a real band and backup singers Tuesday through Saturday evenings. (Note that the Red Coconut Club, the Groove, and CityWalk's Rising Star have age restrictions.)
AMC Universal Cineplex 20
Much of Universal Orlando Resort is themed around movies, so why not take one in at CityWalk? Twenty screens ensure that all the latest releases are on offer, and the seating is modern and comfortable.
AAA members can save up to 41 percent on AMC admission by buying AMC Yellow Tickets online through AAA. This CityWalk discount isn't available at the box office, so make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time. (California members should be aware that AMC Yellow Tickets purchased online for use in Florida aren't valid at California AMC locations.)
Shopping
Official Universal gear
There are lots of places to buy official clothing, toys, gifts, and other merchandise in Universal Orlando's theme parks, but items tend to be spread out according to theme, with the Jurassic Park merchandise in the Jurassic Park area and so on. The Universal Studios Store at Universal CityWalk is a convenient one-stop shop with a wide selection of the most popular items, so visitors can take their pick without having to hop from shop to shop—and without having to carry their souvenirs around the park all day.
Other clothes & gifts
CityWalk is no slouch when it comes to apparel shopping. Those looking for outfits to match Orlando's laid-back resort atmosphere can check out The Island Clothing Co. and Quiet Flight Surf Shop, two boutiques that specialize in sporty summer wear. There's also Fresh Produce, a women's boutique for comfortable warm-weather outfits and swimwear.
For gifts, P!Q offers an unbeatable selection of art, figurines, books, and curiosities—perhaps you know someone who would appreciate a fantastical mounted felt creature head? Nearby, vintage-style leather retailer Fossil offers more upscale gifts like watches, belts, handbags, and wallets with classic flair.
Book a travel package through AAA & enjoy exclusive benefits
AAA members receive exclusive pricing and special benefits when they book a Universal Orlando Resort vacation package through AAA, including activity credits, priority seating, in-park discounts on food and merchandise, and more. Packages can be booked online or at a AAA branch.
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