When it comes to family dining on vacation, it’s not just about the food, it’s about the whole experience. From dining with dinosaurs to sipping on wizardly potions, you’ll be spoiled for choice of themed restaurants in Orlando and Central Florida. From upscale eateries to downtown diners, the Orlando dining scene has something for everyone.
Both in the parks and out and about, there’s an unlimited choice of themed dining in Orlando. From galactic gastro to jaw dropping desserts, you’ll have the whole family saying “let’s do that again!”
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Themed Restaurants in Orlando
Disney World
T-REX Cafe – Disney Springs
Theme: Prehistoric Dining
Why We Love It:
The moment you step inside T-Rex Café, you are greeted by a prehistoric wonderland that makes you feel like you’ve been transported millions of years into the past where you feast among the giants of the Earth. And did we mention erupting volcanos and meteor showers?
This jaw-dropping Jurassic restaurant is one of the most elaborately themed restaurants in Orlando. You’ll be be chowing down in the company of wooly mammoths, animatronic dinosaurs, a giant undulating octopus and a 15 foot tall T. Rex. Plus Triceratops, Stegosaurus and other prehistoric creatures. These animatronics move, roar and interact with their environments.
The giant indoor volcano erupts every 20–30 minutes. Lights dim and the ground rumbles as fiery red lights and sound effects simulate a volcanic explosion.
And just when you think things have settled down, a meteor shower lights up the sky. Every so often, the restaurant experiences a simulated celestial event with flashing lights, booming sounds and a dramatic drop in lighting.
Themed Dining Areas:
- Ice Age Room: An icy cool cavern home to woolly mammoths and a family of saber-toothed cats.
- Fern Forrest: This room offers a more tranquil vibe where you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery, hanging vines and friendly herbivores.
- The Sequoia Room: An ancient, forested world with towering trees and life-sized dinosaurs where you’ll feel like you’re dining in a prehistoric jungle.
- Coral Reef Room: A visually stunning underwater area with giant aquariums filled with colorful tropical fish and animatronic prehistoric sea creatures.
Food: Dino fans will love the funky fun and the mouth-watering menu items featuring American cuisine with offerings such as Supersaurus Sampler, Boneyard Buffet and Meteor Meatloaf.
Leave some room for the Cosmic Key Lime Pie or Abrictosaurus Apple Crisp, or share the Chocolate Extinction with the table.
Bonus Fun: If you have a budding paleontologist in your family, head over to the Paleo Zone to dig around for fossils and treasures. Or create your own pet dinosaur at the Build-A-Dino store.
This restaurant isn’t owned by Disney, so if you call Disney for a reservation and they are full, try calling them directly, they often have more tables available: Call 407-828-8739.
T-Rex Cafe is also part of the Landry’s Select Club.
Where: T-Rex Restaurant, Disney Springs MarketPlace
Web: T-Rex Restaurant
Rainforest Café – Disney Springs & Animal Kingdom
Theme: Jungle Adventure
Why We Love It:
As you step into this lush, tropical rainforest complete with animatronic elephants, gorillas and birds, you’ll also get a thunderstorm every 30 minutes. The lights dim, the sound of distant thunder rumbles and flashes of lightning illuminate the room. It’s one of the most unique themed restaurants in Orlando.
The vibrant and lively environment, filled with waterfalls and exotic fish tanks, creates a fun, immersive dining experience for both kids and adults. You’ll be dining in the heart of a tropical jungle, without the bugs and humidity!
Life-size animatronic elephants flap their ears and trumpet, gorillas beat their chests and tropical birds squawk from towering trees. Saltwater aquariums are filled with vibrant fish, adding a splash of color and calm to the wild surroundings.
And don’t forget to look up! The ceiling is designed to resemble the night sky, complete with twinkling stars. It gives you a magical, twilight feel where you can escape the hot Florida sun.
Themed Dining Areas:
- Gorilla Gathering: Sit amongst these animatronic gentle giants as they interact with each other and occasionally communicate with diners!
- Elephant’s Oasis: The family of elephants flap their ears and let out the occasional trumpet
- Aquatic Alcove: For a more serene dining experience, sit amongst the giant aquariums.
- The Banyan Bar: You can enjoy food or just a drink at the bar, sitting on the funkiest bar stools you’ll ever see!
Food:
American cuisine offering an array of appetizers and entrées.
The Awesome Appetizer Adventure features a selection for all to share. For main course try a Beastly Burger, Mojo Bones or Anaconda Pasta. Four people can share the Sparkling Volcano for dessert, or there’s the Tribal Cheesecake and more on offer.
There’s a large kids menu, making it ideal for picky eaters, Choose from an array of entrées, sides and desserts. The kids menu features Jurassic Chicken Tidbits, Gorilla Grilled Cheese Delight and Python Pasta to name just a few. There’s plenty more!
Bonus Fun:
Head to the Rainforest Café Retail Village for an array of merchandise, ranging from plush animals and t-shirts to jungle-themed kitchenware. There’s educational wildlife books, toys and games for young explorers.
The Wild Bunch Characters – you can meet the mascot characters that are featured on all Rainforest merch.
You can book online on Disney’s website: Disney Springs | Animal Kingdom. Rainforest Café isn’t owned by Disney, so if Disney reservations are full, try calling them directly, they often have more tables available: Call 407-939-3463 for either location.
Rainforest Cafe is also part of the Landry’s Select Club.
Themed Restaurants in Orlando
Universal
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
Theme: Steampunk Sweet Shop
Why We Love It:
This eatery is a visual spectacle, a culinary adventure and a chocolate lover’s dream all wrapped up in an imaginative steampunk setting. And the visual journey starts before you even step foot through the door. From the outside, the restaurant looks like a giant, whimsical chocolate factory straight out of a steampunk novel, complete with towering smokestacks, grinding gears, rotating cogs and gleaming piping.
Once inside, no matter your age, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store. This 19th-century themed, Steampunk-inspired full service eatery oozes atmosphere and offers a great menu, both sweet and savory.
The open-concept kitchen lets you see chocolatiers crafting decadent creations, while the scent of freshly made chocolate fills the air.
For anyone who has ever dreamed of winning a golden ticket and touring Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is about as close as you can get.
Food:
The name might suggest an all-dessert menu, but Toothsome features a full menu of savory dishes, offering everything from gourmet burgers to artisanal flatbreads. They effortlessly blend classic comfort food with creative gourmet twists.
Toothsome’s desserts are legendary. Towering milkshakes, rich cakes and handcrafted chocolates push the boundaries of indulgence.
Bonus Fun:
You can talk chocolate with proprietor Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her faithful robot companion, Jacques. She’ll regal you with tales of her travels and her father. She traveled the globe learning how to infuse chocolate into recipes and opened Toothsome to share them all with you.
Any chocolate lovers in the family? The candy store inside the restaurant is drool worthy. There are over 30 different types of truffles daily 25 different kinds of chocolate macaroons. Plus an assortment of steampunk-inspired merchandise.
Where: City Walk, Universal Orlando
Web: Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
Themed Restaurants in Orlando: Mythos Restaurant
Theme: Mythical
Why We Love It:
If you’re heading to Islands of Adventure, stop by Mythos, one of the most impressive themed restaurants in Orlando.
With its dramatic rocky façade, this themed restaurant looks like it was carved by ancient gods themselves. The exterior features waterfalls cascading over jagged cliffs, with weathered stone stone-carved faces of mythical creatures and mystic hero’s, all set against the beautiful lagoon of Islands of Adventure.
Once inside, it feels like you are dining in a mysterious ancient cavern, complete with high ceilings, stone pillars and flowing water features. Soft lighting reflects off the stone walls and large windows offer panoramic views of the lagoon and Incredible Hulk Coaster in the distance. The décor is filled with subtle nods to ancient mythology, from carved reliefs of mythical gods and creatures to murals depicting legendary stories.
Food:
This isn’t your typical theme park fare. The menu that fuses Mediterranean, Asian, and American flavors. It offers something for adventurous eaters and those looking for familiar favorites. It’s a dining experience fit for the gods!
Appetizers feature items such as the Mezze Platter, Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread and Spanakopita Dip.
Main courses include Souvlaki Couscous Bowl, Pad Thai, Mythos Signature Lamb Burger and much more. There are also vegetarian & vegan options and a variety of choice from the kids menu.
Where: Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando
Menu: Mythos All Day Menu
Web: Mythos Restaurant
Themed Restaurants in Orlando
With Entertainment
Medieval Times Dinner Tournament
Theme: Medieval Jousting and Feasting
Why We Love It:
You’ll take a trip back to the Middle Ages for a feast of fit for a king and experience the age of knights and epic jousting battles. This immersive dinner show has it all: Armored knights on horseback, thrilling sword fights and a royal court presiding over the festivities.
Six knights in shining armor represent different regions of the kingdom, each with their own color-coded banners and coats of arms. The knights compete in jousting matches, hand-to-hand combat and sword fights – all performed with authentic weaponry and realistic choreography.
Dinner is served inside they walls of an 11th century styled castle, whisking you back to the bygone era of medieval Spain. The best part? You get to eat with your hands – because nothing says medieval like tearing into roasted chicken sans utensils.
Kids will love chowing down while watching the Knights of the Realm battle it out to be crowned the Kings Champion. Adults will appreciate the exceptional horsemanship and falconry. Between battles, beautiful Andalusian horses perform elegant dressage routines. The falconry demonstration features a falcon soaring through the arena,
Food:
Dinner is a four-course feast with garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, sweet buttered corn and herb-basted potato. And a feast isn’t complete without dessert. Vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options are also available. Beer and spirits are available from the bar.
Bonus Fun:
Audience participation is the name of the game. Seated in sections and given a colored flag and crown based on the color of your knight. It’s your job to cheer on your knight as they compete for honor and glory. Your knight will interact back too.
Where: 4510 W Vine St, Kissimmee, FL 34746
Web: Medieval Times Dinner Tournament
Pirates Dinner Adventure
Theme: Swashbuckling Pirate Show
Why We Love It:
Ahoy, mateys! At Pirates Dinner Adventure, you’ll experience an action-packed, family-friendly dinner show that combines thrilling stunts, live-action sword fights and a hearty pirate feast. The action happens aboard a life-sized pirate ship set in a giant indoor lagoon, complete with acrobatics, sword fights and a dramatic rescue mission.
This high-energy spectacle is filled with action, comedy and interactive fun. The storyline blends pirate lore, romance and treachery, keeping all ages entertained.
The show features skilled stunts that include sword fights, high-flying aerial acts and rope swings across the lagoon. Pirates dive into the water, climb the ship’s rigging and engage in intense battles. The acrobatics are impressive, with performers leaping from the ship’s masts and executing flips and twists mid-air. Pyrotechnics, fog effects and lighting tricks create dramatic cannon fire and explosions that simulate battles at sea.
The level of audience interaction is one of the highlights of the show. All ages are encouraged to join the crew, helping with challenges, waving flags and even participating in the show. Kids will love being part of the action, whether they’re sworn in as honorary pirates or helping to hoist the sails.
Food:
A hearty three-course meal designed to satisfy even the hungriest of swashbucklers is served up during the show. The menu offers classic comfort foods with options for various dietary preferences. Hearty entrées include Roasted Half Chicken, Pork Loin with Gravy or Vegetarian Pasta Primavera. A kids menu features options like macaroni and cheese or chicken tenders.
Finish off with a dessert of Chocolate Brownie or a slice of key lime pie, served with a dollop of whipped cream.
Bonus Fun:
Pre-Show Entertainment & Drinks: Arrive early to enjoy the pre-show festivities in the Pirate’s Tavern, a lively bar and lounge area where you can grab a drink and mingle with pirates before the main event. Enjoy live music, comedic skits and even some pirate trivia to get you in the swashbuckling spirit.
Where: 6400 Carrier Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Web: Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
Orlando Accommodation
If you are visiting to check out the amazing themed restaurants in Orlando, we’d love to welcome you to one of our cozy Orlando Vacation Homes. An awesome alternative to hotels for comfort, space and privacy!
