Kelly's Guidebook
Food scene
Great Latin inspired menu. Consistently tasty. Various seating arrangements available. I like to make a reservation for this place. Service has always been top notch.
44 locals recommend
Nineteen61
215 E Main StGreat Latin inspired menu. Consistently tasty. Various seating arrangements available. I like to make a reservation for this place. Service has always been top notch.
Hey, if you’re keen on New Orlean’s cuisine, this place with scratch your itch.
47 locals recommend
Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille
101 N Kentucky AveHey, if you’re keen on New Orlean’s cuisine, this place with scratch your itch.
Good coffee, salads and sandwiches. Easy place to have a conversation.
41 locals recommend
Black & Brew
205 E Main StGood coffee, salads and sandwiches. Easy place to have a conversation.
If you’re a fan of garlic, be bold and order a “Dean’s Special”! I’ve never gotten anything bad from there. They have good iced tea too.
Subs 'n Such
1008 Florida Ave SIf you’re a fan of garlic, be bold and order a “Dean’s Special”! I’ve never gotten anything bad from there. They have good iced tea too.
I really like their salads. Many others like their chicken tenders and home made dipping sauces. Inside and outside seating.
7 locals recommend
LoveBird Almost Famous Chicken
2101 Florida Avenue SouthI really like their salads. Many others like their chicken tenders and home made dipping sauces. Inside and outside seating.
This is just a great old diner. Think traditional home cooking. Everything from fried chicken, burgers, salads, shakes and pies.
8 locals recommend
Reececliff Family Diner
940 Florida Ave SThis is just a great old diner. Think traditional home cooking. Everything from fried chicken, burgers, salads, shakes and pies.
If you’re into beautiful food, this is the place. The baked goods are truly wonderful. The drawback is that they are only open on Wednesday and Saturdays. So, if find yourself there, order enough pastries to get you through until they open again. 🤓.
37 locals recommend
Born & Bread Bakehouse
1113 Florida Ave SIf you’re into beautiful food, this is the place. The baked goods are truly wonderful. The drawback is that they are only open on Wednesday and Saturdays. So, if find yourself there, order enough pastries to get you through until they open again. 🤓.
Five Guys
2641 Florida Avenue SouthBecause sometimes you just need a double cheeseburger with crispy fries…
Starbucks
4720 Florida Ave STexas Cattle Company
735 E Main StNever have I ever had a bad steak from here! Enjoy.
So many choices! Pizza, Japanese, Sushi, BBQ, Home made Ice Cream and a full bar. Something for everyone here.
34 locals recommend
The Joinery
640 E Main StSo many choices! Pizza, Japanese, Sushi, BBQ, Home made Ice Cream and a full bar. Something for everyone here.
Outside dining, there’s usually live music too. The food is good, the wine is better. 😉
27 locals recommend
Patio850
850 S Tennessee AveOutside dining, there’s usually live music too. The food is good, the wine is better. 😉
I’ve always enjoyed this place. Good food and wine. Many times there is live music as well. Inside and outside dining.
25 locals recommend
Red Door Lakeland
733 E Palmetto StI’ve always enjoyed this place. Good food and wine. Many times there is live music as well. Inside and outside dining.
So many helpful places and so close too! Walk out the front door and turn left. You’ll dead end into Southgate Plaza. Publix (they have a deli soup and salad bar and Pub-Subs), Office Depot, Tuesday Mornings, Beall Outlet and Ace Hardware!
Southgate Shopping Center
So many helpful places and so close too! Walk out the front door and turn left. You’ll dead end into Southgate Plaza. Publix (they have a deli soup and salad bar and Pub-Subs), Office Depot, Tuesday Mornings, Beall Outlet and Ace Hardware!
Elena's Cuban Cafe
2246 East Edgewood DriveBest Cuban food for the price. They just started using Door Dash recently too.
Sightseeing
Frank Lloyd Wright’s “Child of the Sun” project. That is the name he gave the largest collection of his work, the campus of Florida Southern College.
28 locals recommend
Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth DrFrank Lloyd Wright’s “Child of the Sun” project. That is the name he gave the largest collection of his work, the campus of Florida Southern College.
Why is Lakeland so focused on swans? It’s because of this lake. Queen Elizabeth II gifted the swans to Lakeland decades ago and they continue to reside there.
36 locals recommend
Lake Morton
Lake Morton DriveWhy is Lakeland so focused on swans? It’s because of this lake. Queen Elizabeth II gifted the swans to Lakeland decades ago and they continue to reside there.
Hollis Garden
702 E Orange StEvents
Various Lakeland/Polk county happenings.
This is a fantastic BBQ competition. People come from all over to compete and eat. This event is usually held at Lakeland Linder Airport.
Pigfest Lakeland, Florida
4175 Medulla RoadThis is a fantastic BBQ competition. People come from all over to compete and eat. This event is usually held at Lakeland Linder Airport.
Right off Lake Morton sharing a parking lot with the library. Each year on Mother’s Day weekend, various artists from all over the world set up around Lake Morton. MayFaire by the Lake is something you won’t want to miss if you’re in town.
58 locals recommend
Polk Museum Of Art
800 E Palmetto StRight off Lake Morton sharing a parking lot with the library. Each year on Mother’s Day weekend, various artists from all over the world set up around Lake Morton. MayFaire by the Lake is something you won’t want to miss if you’re in town.
This isn’t just any air show. Go once, you’ll see it’s kind of in its own class. So much fun to be had there! Absolutely riveting too. You’ll never be bored, that’s for sure.
SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo
This isn’t just any air show. Go once, you’ll see it’s kind of in its own class. So much fun to be had there! Absolutely riveting too. You’ll never be bored, that’s for sure.
Typically every Saturday morning. Go get some fresh local fruits, veggies, eggs, honey, soaps and other home made goods. On Kentucky Ave., downtown.
18 locals recommend
The Downtown Farmers Curb Market
117 N Kentucky AveTypically every Saturday morning. Go get some fresh local fruits, veggies, eggs, honey, soaps and other home made goods. On Kentucky Ave., downtown.
Depending on the night, you can get some decent live music.
8 locals recommend
The Pink Piano - Live Music Wed. thru Sat. Available For Private & Special events Sun. thru Tues.
1015 Florida Ave SDepending on the night, you can get some decent live music.
I haven’t been for a bit, but this is a good live music venue. Check their schedule online and see what’s going on.
7 locals recommend
Union Hall
1023 Florida Ave SI haven’t been for a bit, but this is a good live music venue. Check their schedule online and see what’s going on.
Bars and Night Life.
Want something to do? I’ll give you the run down.
Revival
119 S Kentucky AveSmoking is permitted in this establishment. Many times there is live music here.
13 locals recommend
Molly McHugh's Irish Pub
111 S Kentucky AveSmoking is permitted in this establishment. Many times there is live music here.
City advice
Getting around
Patience, Dear one.
As with everything in life, approach traveling on Florida Ave. with patience. Be aware that most people in Florida are here from some place else. People that live in Chicago drive differently than people from Derby, KS, and all of them are sharing the road with you. And just in case that wasn’t challenging enough, the city of Lakeland has installed extended curbs through the Dixieland area taking the traffic down to two lanes (one going north, one going south) and a middle turning lane. Long story short, pay attention to the signs and you’ll be ok.
Getting around
Parking for MayFaire by the Lake
I always park at First United Methodist Church at 72 Lake Morton Drive. The Boy Scouts charge a fee (usually 5 to 10 dollars if I recall), but well worth the proximity.