<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Lakeland has so many incredible, hidden and off the beaten path experiences and attractions! Just a short hop away from both the Orlando and Tampa Bay areas, Lakeland is an in-the-know hotspot of foodie events, walkable downtown tours, and tons of fun! From street festivals to top notch restaurants, drive in movies to swans at sunset, Lakeland is a great overnight getaway or day trip!
Lakeland Bars & Restaurants
Born & Bread Bakehouse
This historic Dixieland bakehouse has been featured in USA Today and other publications. They often have a 20-minute line wrapped around the building. Guests can savor sumptuous treats like brown butter cinnamon rolls, twice-baked banana bourbon Nutella croissants, and goat cheese and sun-dried tomato “croisstatas” (a mix between a croissant and a crostata). They also feature fresh-baked bread with specialty jams, crème-filled cruffins, and locally roasted Patriot cold brew coffee with horchata syrup.
Enjoy your baked goods out on the shaded patio or take them to-go for a gourmet breakfast treat. The bakery is only open on Wednesdays from 7am-2pm and Saturdays from 8am-1pm, with walk-ups welcome on both days. You can also save time by pre-ordering baked goods.
Concord Coffee
You may have to remind yourself you’re not in a big city when you walk into this modern, minimalist craft coffee shop in the heart of Dixieland. Located less than 5 minutes from downtown Lakeland, Concord Coffee serves up classic and customizable brews in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. Succulent terrariums, large windows, and wood details all add to the atmosphere. Choose your espresso, sip your drink, and swear off big-name coffee shops for good.
Black & Brew
Stop by Lakeland’s two Black & Brew locations for locally roasted coffee, fresh pastries, and delicious, laid-back bistro fare. The original Black & Brew location is in the heart of downtown Lakeland, with a patio facing Munn Park. It features a full menu of sandwiches, flatbreads, soups, and salads.
For an even cozier vibe, check out the Lake Morton Cafe, which shares a parking lot with the Polk Museum of Art and has its own unique menu. I tried the caprese sandwich (incredible lemon-dijon aioli and tomato-shallot salad), paired with the strawberry praline salad and seasonal strawberry-rose tea with foam.
Palace Pizza
Whether it’s a weekday lunch or a Friday night dinner, Palace Pizza is always popular with locals looking for pizza by the slice or a full pie. It’s a great option for dinner if you’re in town for First Fridays (see below in Lakeland Events), or just need your afternoon carb-fix.
Swan Brewing
Located on the edge of Lake Wire just three blocks from Munn Park, Swan Brewing’s breezy patio is the perfect place for craft brews with a view. Choose from 30 taps, including 20+ from Swan Brewing alone! Their drink menu is super diverse and affordable. We reccomend ordering several taster sizes to get a little of everything! Keep it simple with Straight Outta Lakeland, an American IPA, or get fancy with Champchurrado, a Mexican hot chocolate stout that also comes in nitro form.
The Yard on Mass
This Lakeland hotspot is one giant backyard party, with food trucks, beer on tap, craft cocktails, and live music on the weekends. Relax in the beer garden or stop by for upcoming special events. Be sure to snap a few photos with The Yard’s orange mural and the rainbow stripes decorating Haus 820 next door.
The Joinery Lakeland
If you and your sweetheart can’t settle on a place to eat, stop by The Joinery, a neighborhood market and artisan food hall with plenty of tasty options! Pair your sushi burrito or Neapolitan-style pizza with craft beer, wine, or cocktails. All but two of their craft beers come from Florida brewers, and The Joinery plans to build a brewery onsite soon! If you’ve already eaten, stop by for a handcrafted scoop or two from Mayday Ice Cream, which sells fun, playful flavors like Blueberry Toast Crunch.
Revival
If you’re looking for cocktails, check out Revival – a craft cocktail bar with a cool vintage vibe. The drinks may start out old-fashioned, but the mixologists at Revival like to shake things up with modern ingredients and a new “weekly revival” specialty cocktail. They’ll even invent a new drink for you, right on the spot! Happy hour is served Monday – Friday from 1pm-7pm, and Monday – Thursday from 12am-2am. Stop by for $5-7 drink specials, including French 75s, Lavender Collins, Gimlets, Negronis, and more.
Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill
This New Orleans style restaurant in the heart of downtown is ideal for date night. The menu includes classics like Jambalaya, Po’Boys, and Shrimp-N-Grits. Try the French Market Pasta (super creamy parmesan basil sauce, spinach, shrimp, chicken, AND bacon) accompanied by a signature cocktail. The Southern Mule –a Moscow mule made with whiskey – has never let me down. Harry’s is popular with locals, so arrive early since they don’t take reservations.
Cob & Pen
Located inside a charming 1927 Tudor-style house, Cob & Pen serves up New American bistro fare, craft beer, and wine with a side of history. The home once entertained visiting friends and public figures, including Elvis himself. Today, it’s a gathering place for friends and family, with casual bistro fare and colorful cocktails that recall the home’s history. Stop by for drinks and apps to kick off a Lakeland pub crawl.
Nineteen61
If fine dining is more your scene, stop by Nineteen61 for modern Latin American cuisine with a Southern influence. Dishes combine old-world cooking techniques with modern food trends, such as the use of locally grown ingredients. Start with maple-balsamic brussel sprouts topped with raisin caramel and Manchego cheese or keep it simple with Peruvian ceviche with your choice or corvina or tiger shrimp. Main dishes include marinated steaks, seafood, and wok-seared specialties.
Happy hour is served Monday through Saturday from 3pm-5pm, with $5 beer, $6 wine, $7 cocktails and tapas, and shareable lunch portions of a few best-selling dishes. You can also enjoy drink specials Sundays from 2:30pm-4pm, without tapas.
Find free public parking in downtown Lakeland with this interactive parking map.
Lakeland Parks, Gardens, and Art to Visit
Visit Lakeland’s beautiful parks and gardens and bike trails for a thing to do! Explore the arts and cultural activities the city has to offer as well.
Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland
When we say you have to see it to believe how incredible it really is, we mean it when it comes to Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland.
This brand-new privately built park on the outskirts of downtown Lakeland is a new place to play in Tampa Bay and we have a feeling it will quickly become one of your favorite ways to play, too.
The 168-acre park sits on the property of an old rail yard that helped put Lakeland on the map and it’s happening all over again with the transformation of this quadrant near downtown.
While we’re on the subject of walking among the treetops, we have to mention the Canopy Walk.
It’s a great way to seek some shade while enjoying the beauty of the park from heights as high as 25-feet in the air. It is not a loop and connects you over to the Family Lawn area near the Florida Children’s Museum and The Depot Cafe.
Pictures really don’t do justice to the Canopy Walk, but we tried! There are also some resting benches along the nature trail if you just want a minute to breathe in the fresh air and relax or stop for a quick snack break while on your hike.
The Florida Children’s Museum
At 47,800 square feet, the Florida Children’s Museum in Lakeland is two-stories of non-stop, kid-friendly fun! And, here’s the best part…it appeals to a wider audience with the exhibits designed for kids of all ages and stages from babies to up to 12 years old. One of the coolest features of this fun education center is the long air-hockey type table where kids can set scarves, feathers, paper airplanes and more soaring across the table. There are also smaller play stations where kids can design a LEGO build, construct a house, play with magnet tiles, and more. If you look at the image below, you’ll see a hanging notebook with a variety of different design builds kids can follow or simply design something on their own.
The family fun center also features a really cool pipe wall for kids to try and get a tennis ball to travel through. While older kids will like it, the younger ones will too, so this is a great place for them to play while older siblings are focusing on their own activities.
Lake Mirror and Hollis Garden
This stunning lake in the heart of downtown Lakeland is encircled by a wide art deco-inspired promenade dotted with community parks, gardens and playgrounds. Don’t miss Hollis Garden, a lovely botanical garden with over 10,000 flowers, ornamental shrubs, and native trees set among neoclassical architecture. The garden has 16 unique areas, including a tropical limestone grotto, a koi pond and bamboo trail, and a butterfly garden, plus several neo-classical public art sculptures and fountains.
The garden is free admission! It’s open Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays).
Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland
The Polk Museum of Art is nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated, and it’s free to visit! The museum houses several permanent exhibitions. Most notably, a collection of African and Oceanic art and ceremonial objects, as well as rotating exhibitions and student art galleries.
There is also a small outdoor sculpture garden with tables and chairs, and an irresistible museum gift shop.
The Polk Museum of Art is closed on Mondays and major holidays and is also closed on Sundays from May 30 – September 10, 2022.
Lakeland Art Installations and Murals
Downtown Lakeland has a vibrant art scene, with plenty of galleries, antiques, sculptures, and murals to discover as you wander. Murals bloom across the walls of local businesses, providing a perfect backdrop for your day trip photos.
We especially love the Greetings from Lakeland mural at Residential Roofing Depot, and the sweet orange mural at The Yard on Mass. Plus, Lakeland has over 100 sculptures throughout the city, including 62 ceramic swans and 35 butterfly sculptures decorated by local artists. Find some of the city’s newest art installations on Lemon Street Promenade, a charming urban sculpture park with plenty of shaded chairs and bench seating.
Lake Morton
You may have heard Lakeland called “the swan city,” but did you know that the current swan population is descended from royalty? When Lakeland’s wild swan population slowly disappeared in the 1950s, Queen Elizabeth herself sent two royal swans to repopulate scenic Lake Morton. Today, there are several cozy little picnic tables around the lake, where you can dine with wildlife royalty or simply enjoy the view across the water.
Lakeland Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture
The Florida Southern College campus is home to 13 structures by Frank Lloyd Wright. Choose from 4 different tour options ranging from self-guided (just buy the accompanying map) to an in-depth, 2.5-hour tour for $45. Reservations are recommended for several tours and can be booked online in advance.
Southern Landing at Thomas B. Mack Park
Just a short walk from the area’s downtown Lakeland shops and dining is Thomas B. Mack Park, a small park overlooking Lake Hollingsworth. Take a relaxing five minute stroll through Southern Landing, a man-made wetland with a short but sweet boardwalk trail. If you’re in the mood for a longer nature trek, take the 2.9 mile Lake Hollingsworth Loop Trail, or check out Se7en Wetlands, located just 20 minutes from downtown Lakeland in Mulberry, FL.
Polk Theatre
Built in 1928 as a vaudeville theater and movie palace, the historic Polk Theatre still stands proud in the heart of downtown Lakeland. Catch classic movies, independent films, and live performances under the starry ceiling. Check the calendar of events to stop in for a flick, or walk by to admire the historical architecture.
Silver Moon Drive-In
For old-fashioned fun, head 10 minutes out of historic downtown to Polk county’s last remaining drive-in movie theater. $7 will get you in the gates to enjoy 2 movies. Going with a group? Pre-purchase a carload ticket online – up to six people can go in one car for just $21 per vehicle! Snacks and food are available at the snack bar. Check the website to see what’s currently showing.
Events in Lakeland
Lakeland Spring Baseball
Lakeland is the spring home of the Detroit Tigers. Spring Training runs February through March and is a great way to catch the Tigers and other MLB teams close to home. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium (also known as Tiger Town) has been the Tigers winter home for a century.
Drive-In Movies
For a nostalgic date, pack snacks and park the car for an old school date night at the local drive-in. Multiple drive-in move theaters are accessible from Tampa including Ruskin Family Drive-In and the Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland, just 30 minutes away. Admission is affordable with one price for both movies being screened that evening.
First Fridays at Munn Park
This small, centrally located park in Lakeland’s Historic District hosts several events throughout the year, most notably a free festival on the First Friday of each month. Browse the local Maker’s Market, visit downtown shops and restaurants, and see elegant show vehicles at the Classy Car Show. Check out all upcoming First Friday events here. Events in Munn Park can be found here, including live music series, salsa dancing, and organized food crawls.
Weekly Downtown Lakeland Farmer’s Curb Market
This market takes place every Saturday from September through July. It features over 50 vendors offering up everything from farm fresh produce, to jewelry, art, plants, and herbs. Parking is available all over downtown and is free on Saturdays. The market is open from 8am-2pm from September to May and 8am-1pm from June to July.
Related: Our Guide to Farmers Markets Around Orlando
Tasty Tuesdays
There are plenty of delicious dining options for Lakeland foodies, and it can be hard for newcomers to know where to start! If you only have one day to eat your way around the city, visit on the third Tuesday of each month for the city’s Tasty Tuesdays event.
Epic date idea – For $25, you can get 10 tasting tickets to exchange for generously-sized sample sizes at participating locations around Lakeland. Embark on a self-guided foodie tour of local favorites like Black and Brew, Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits, DISSENT Craft Brewing Company, and more. You can share tickets with friends and use more than one ticket per location if you find something you love. Tastings begin at 4:30pm and end at 9pm.
Lakeland Food Truck Rally
On the second Thursday of each month from 6 – 9pm, you can find 20+ food trucks stationed around Munn Park for this community food truck meet up. Locals and visitors from nearby areas often stop by to sample foods while enjoying the local scenery. We recommend arriving early to snag a parking space and do some more exploring around town.
Sun ‘N’ Fun Aerospace Expo
A major draw for aviation enthusiasts, the Florida Air Museum’s Sun n’ Fun Expo takes place every year (typically the first week of April) in Lakeland. The event includes an air show, exhibitors, a hot air balloon festival, and more. For full details, visit the Sun ‘n’ Fun website.
Make it a weekend getaway…
Terrace Hotel Lakeland
If you’re looking for accommodations, history, or fine dining, the beautiful Terrace Hotel is worth a visit. Built in 1924, this historic hotel once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Henry Ford, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The space was recently underwent a renovation. It now features a stunning scratch kitchen, spacious patios, and plenty of lounge space. The gorgeous art-deco style recalls the hotel’s earliest days. The Terrace Hotel is located in the heart of downtown, making this the perfect spot to extend your Lakeland day trip into a weekend getaway.