Downtown nightclub innovators Barbarella decamped from their Orange Avenue locale presciently ahead of the nightlife clampdown and upped sticks to Orange Blossom Trail. Their latest move, though, is to Winter Park's ax-throwing joint The Trap, formerly the (chef's kiss) Booby Trap. Barbarella mainstays like their new-wave weekend nights and goth soiree Memento Mori are back in full swing. They've even resurrected the longtime favorite (and BOO winner in its own right) Mac & Cheese. One might say this latest move has really hit the target.
2600 Lee Road, Winter Park, instagram.com/barbarellaorlando
It began as an idea shared between siblings Hai and Kelley Truong: a late-night boba-pop up that would hybridize Asian-style cafés and European late-night café culture. Only 12 people were there on opening night last summer, but since then, Starbaby has evolved into a vibrant weekly gathering hosted at Koko, owned by Tammy Truong. Thursday nights at Starbaby, under the banyan tree, is a space for fun, friendship, art, dancing, informational meetups and community gathering. Hai Truong calls it a living, breathing art project.
620 N. Thornton Ave., instagram.com/starbabyboba
In less than nine months since opening, Quicksand has become not just a welcoming and luxurious natural wine bar but a third space for many, led by Heather LaVine of Golden Hour and her dedicated team. Thoughtfully designed and offering hundreds of wines, LaVine's bar features an inviting patio with tables large enough for game nights and cozy enough for dogs to nap underneath. LaVine collaborates with some of Orlando's best food and beverage creatives, hosting pop-ups and curating regular nights of music and food, including collaborations with Kaya and EdoBoy. Come for a glass, and you'll end up staying awhile — after all, it is Quicksand.
1903 E. Colonial Drive, quicksand.wine
If you weren't around "back in the day" when vinyl was king, this far-out listening lounge and bar is the closest thing to a time machine. Alfie's HiFi has all the accoutrements of the perfect disco: mood lighting, physical media, OG wallpaper, cocktails sure to make you feel groovy — and mirrorballs that spin in time to the LPs, of course.
1300 N. Mills Ave., alfieshifi.com
There's nothing quite like a Sunday in February (one of the only tolerable months in Florida to spend outdoors) that offers live heavy metal, metalheads, some of the best beer in the City Beautiful and — perhaps just as beautiful — no cover charge, all in one place. Each year, for the last six-ish years, that's been Sideward Brewing's Sideward Sabbath, an annual event in the Milk District generally held during Orlando Beer Week. And if you haven't had any of Sideward's surprisingly stellar food menu, don't hesitate to get a taste (pun intended) of that, too.
210 N. Bumby Ave., sidewardbrewing.com
A terrifying new entrant to the local trivia scene is the Scream Queen, who hosts a chillingly high-stakes horror quiz night at Conduit. Themes of previous nights have included "wishes gone wrong" and "love beyond death," with film clips screened (screamed?) in between for good measure. The Queen, Janecka Olen, knows the devil is in the details, so she even includes on-point photo backdrops so attendees can snap a selfie to relive the fright. With themed drinks on tap courtesy of the venue, this is a great way to get the blood pumping early in the week.
6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, conduitfl.com, instagram.com/screamqueenpodcaster
Leave it to a nostalgic hip-hop craft beer bar to dust off the tried-and-true concept of spotlighting local music on a mix CD. Delightfully time-warped Curry Ford establishment Commission Beer Chamber justified their boom-bap love local-style with the second volume in their mixtape (on CD) series. The CD was curated by Tek the Intern and My Good Phelo and could be gabbed at the bar alongside your drink.
2230 Curry Ford Road, facebook.com/thecommissionbeerchamber
The scene at Ivanhoe Village staple and LGBTQ+ haven the Hammered Lamb had a distinctly party-at-the-end-of-the-world feel to it, with folks tightly packed in, dancing, reminiscing, drinking and crying. Open since 2013, this Ivanhoe Village staple drew in Orlandoans with late night hangs, drag shows, train shots and Bloody Marys that consistently topped our Best of Orlando® Readers' Choice ballots. Beyond the party atmosphere, though, the Lamb was a safe haven for the local LGBTQ+ community, and the bar gave back to the community in kind. A mix of COVID and interminable road construction did the Lamb in, and this blurry all-day Saturday party was the best way to say goodbye — complete with familiar faces, drinks, hugs, laughs and many, many tears. "It's the end of an era," said many a regular. And they were right.
Jan. 25, 2025