Orlando’s reputation for soulless chain hotels used to be well-deserved – in the 1980s and 90s. Then, hotels were designed as little more than a place to sleep after long days of navigating theme parks such as Disney World and Universal Studios. Nowadays, Orlando, Florida , is home to luxury names such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf Astoria, among a growing trend for smart-casual resorts and even experimental experiences, such as the alcohol-free Ette Hotel.
Deluxe brand Fairmont Hotels will arrive in 2025, joining a collection of high-end stylists that have also helped raise Orlando ’s proliferating foodie profile. On a culinary level, the city may not offer as much as New York or other major cities, but it is now home to Michelin-rated restaurants . But don’t worry if you have fussy little eaters in tow, as it’s still the US , and the golden M is never too far away.
While there is still a strong family focus in Orlando, there is also a distinctly grown-up approach, making for excellent romantic possibilities for you and your significant other. A hotel that doesn’t serve alcohol? They’re joking, right? No, it’s the brainchild of CEO Alex Ekbatani, who believes his zero-alcohol policy is cool and catchy, and guests are better served by the wildly imaginative mocktails from “cocktail professor” Jarl De Vries. Allied to the cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Akira Back at the super-trendy Salt & The Cellar restaurant, it makes for a spell-binding co.