THE choice of venues at Orlando’s theme park nightspots has been given a dramatic boost with the phased opening of Universal Studios CityWalk entertainment complex.
It will also serve as the gateway to the company’s new Islands of Adventure theme park opening this summer as well as the original Universal Studios location.
The first six CityWalk venues to open early in the New Year included a Hard Rock Cafe, a Bob Marley restaurant/bar offering traditional Jamaican food and drink and live reggae music, and CityJazz, a 440-capacity live-music venue which includes the Down Beat Hall of Fame.
Another big music spot is Hard Rock Live Orlando featuring regular performances by top-name artists playing to an audience capacity of 2,500. Last week, Elton John made a guest appearance for a charity event.
Pat O’Brien’s Orlando is a recreation of the famous piano bar in New Orleans, capable of taking up to 600 guests, and at the NASCAR Cafe Orlando diners can sit in some of the actual cars used in the famous US racing programme of events.
Four more venues joined the CityWalk line-up last month, including Motown Cafe Orlando, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville bar and restaurant with a country and western music theme, and ‘the groove’, described as a high-energy nightclub with special effects and theme bars and lounges.
Emeril’s Restaurant completes the latest quartet, tipped to become the most sophisticated dining venue in central Florida. It features New Orlean creole cuisine and around 12,000 bottles of wine are displayed as part of the decor.
Universal Studios Escape European sales and marketing director, Jo Rzymowska, said: “Until now, central Orlando hasn’t offered holidaymakers a great deal of unusual or stimulating restaurants and bars. With CityWalk, we have brought a wealth of grand-scale, big city entertainment and prestigious names to our destination, making it one of the most vibrant places in Florida.”
As well as expanded television and film production facilities and a range of shopping outlets included in the attractions, CityWalk opens an NBA basketball themed restaurant next month featuring large video screens showing the sport’s greatest moments.
Also operational by the end of March will be a 20,000sq ft venue called the Latin Quarter highlighting music, dancing and food from over 21 Latin American countries, including Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Latin Quarter is on two levels and features restaurants, a nightclub, dance studio and Latin cultural centre. Live entertainment ranges from salsa, merengue, the latest Latin rock bands and costumed dance troupes, with a scenic Andes mountain backdrop for the main stage and waterfalls flowing around the main dance floor.