Everything you need to know about Universal CityWalk Orlando

One of the coolest new things at Universal CityWalk is the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center. Not only does the store have apparel, toys, and other souvenirs that can get you hyped and ready for the newest Orlando theme park, but it’s also got the scale model of the entire park right in the middle of the store. I love looking at the model because it’s so detailed, all the way down to the little flags and decorations around each of the five portals that will make up Epic Universe.

You and your crew don’t have to jet to the French Quarter to let the good times roll. There’s a rendition of the famous Bourbon Street cocktail hub Pat O’Brien’s in CityWalk. The restaurant and bar serves Cajun classics like crawfish etouffee, shrimp po boys, jambalaya, and (of course) Hurricanes, a rum-filled concoction invented at the original Pat O’s in Louisiana. At night, the venue transforms into a lively dueling piano bar starting at 5 pm.

Channel your inner Axl Rose or Lady Gaga at CityWalk’s Rising Star, a multi-level bar offering the ultimate attention-seeking experience: singing karaoke with a live band. The high-tech setup features strobe lights, fog machines, and other special effects, and the full band boasts a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and a pair of backup vocalists to ensure your time in the spotlight is just like your favorite artist. If you want a chance at taking the stage, be sure to arrive early. The queue for wannabe singers fills up quicker than the line to get backstage at a Stones concert.

For a culinary journey reminiscent of the most famous confectionary depicted on the big screen, skip over to The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen. The themed restaurant is accented with steampunk furnishings and an outlandish milkshake menu that will satisfy any sweet tooth (there are also salads, steaks, burgers, and flatbreads on the menu, too). And don’t forget to say hi to the characters roaming around, including an old-timey robot named Jaques. For a taste of the ambiance without a sugar rush, head to the upstairs bar for an Old Fashioned.

If your family and friends are looking for something fun to do at Universal, try your best to break out at Universal’s Great Movie Escape. The separately ticketed escape room features two games themed to Jurassic Park and Back to the Future. In the Jurassic Park: Escape game, you’ll find yourself in a genetics lab trying to escape the terrifying Indominus Rex. I like the Back to the Future: OUTATIME game the best, where you’ll partner with Doc Brown to track down Biff to get back a new time travel device.

Escape the heat (and the crowds) to watch one of Hollywood’s latest productions inside CityWalk’s high-tech multiplex. Universal Cinemark was recently overhauled to add 4K digital projection and luxury reclining seats with extendable footrests. For a VIP-style viewing, book reserved seating in an XD theater, which has state-of-the-art sound and a floor-to-ceiling screen. Snacks and drinks come via the full bar and concession stands in the lobby.

It’s always five o’clock at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, the Orlando outpost of the singer’s laidback restaurant chain. Everything you’d expect is on offer: margaritas, key lime pie, and cheeseburgers in paradise. The best spot to waste away is at the bar surrounding a giant volcano that spews neon green margarita mix into a giant blender every 30 minutes. Tacky? Absolutely. But the drinks are stiff and the Volcano Nachos are delicious.

Voodoo Doughnut, the beloved shop that started its empire in Portland, has a funky spot in the heart of CityWalk. In addition to serving the chain's signature doll-shaped treats with pretzel stakes, there’s a Universal-exclusive doughnut called the Universal Orangesicle: a yeast doughnut filled with Bavarian cream and topped with citrus frosting and chocolate pearls.

Modeled after a charming lakeside escape, Bigfire Restaurant offers a menu filled with smoky items like brook trout dip, campfire chili, and cowboy ribeye. Be sure to leave a little room for dessert—there's more on the menu, but really, your only option is tableside s'mores. Trust us.

Looking for a cool lounge at CityWalk to dance the night away at? Then head to Red Coconut Club, where a lush lounge is paired with a pinch of tiki for a cool vibe. The bar is known for its signature drink, aptly named The Red Coconut, which is a mix of coconut rum, cherry brandy, allspice bitters, lime and pineapple juice, and topped with grenadine. And if you’re heading here during Halloween Horror Nights, you may find yourself at the Dead Coconut Club, which has a spooky feel and a new menu.

There’s nothing better than a hot dog from the ballpark. At Hot Dog Hall of Fame, you can stuff your face with famous hot dog creations from around the country. The quick service eatery’s most Instagrammable dish is a two-foot-long Vienna frank that’s served on a baguette and comes in its own carrying case with giant handles. For the less ravenous, there are scads of city-inspired creations, such as the New York, a Sabrett all-beef dog with sauerkraut and yellow mustard, or the Milwaukee, a bratwurst sausage topped with grilled onions and spicy brown mustard on a hoagie roll. The creativity extends to the atmosphere with stadium-style seats and giant screens broadcasting big games

At CityWalk, you can chill out in a recreation of Bob Marley’s Kingston, Jamaica home without needing a passport. Inside Bob Marley—A Tribute to Freedom, you’ll find a legit restaurant and bar serving traditional Jamaican fare like jerk chicken, beef patties, and oxtail stew. Art, photographs, and other memorabilia from the Marley family spotlight the international superstar’s influence on culture. At night, live bands perform on an outdoor stage in the cool courtyard.

Who needs an entire theme park when you can shoot for a hole-in-one underneath flying saucers, through a giant worm, and across a graveyard? At the unapologetically goofy Hollywood Drive-In Golf, a pair of 1950s–movie-themed courses are populated with over-the-top obstacles and effects. Choose between the spooky Haunting of Ghostly Greens or the sci-fi Invaders from Planet Putt. You can also play all 36 holes as a double feature. It’s best to tee off at night when special neon lighting illuminates the paths.