After a full day at SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove, you deserve better than a chain. Ciao Italia is under one mile away — real Italian food, scratch-made by the same family since 1991.
SeaWorld closes, you're hungry, and the kids (or you) want something better than fast food. Ciao Italia is less than a mile from SeaWorld's front gate. Drive over, walk in, sit down. No dress code — come in your park clothes. Shorts, flip flops, whatever you wore today.
What you'll get is not what you expect this close to a theme park. Handmade pasta. Fresh Florida Gulf seafood. Slow-braised short rib. Sauces that have been simmering since the afternoon. This is a real Italian restaurant, not a tourist trap — owned by the same family since 1991.
Open 5–10 PM every night, so timing works perfectly after an afternoon at SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove. Free self-parking right outside. No valet, no garage, no hassle.
Ciao Italia is located at 6149 Westwood Blvd, directly on International Drive. We are across from the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld. Free self-parking for all guests.
Every dish made from scratch in our kitchen — the same recipes the Navarra family brought from Southern Italy.
Purse-shaped pasta filled with four Italian cheeses, finished in a creamy pink sauce. Handmade in our kitchen daily. The most requested dish on our menu.
Creamy Arborio risotto with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari from Florida Gulf waters. Finished with white wine and a touch of tomato.
Short rib braised low and slow for hours in red wine until fork-tender. Served over creamy polenta. Rich, deep, and worth the wait.
I-Drive has no shortage of chain Italian restaurants. Most of them serve frozen pasta from a corporate kitchen. Ciao Italia is different — family-owned since 1991, everything made from scratch, recipes from Southern Italy.
Park closes at 7? Be seated by 7:15. Under a mile away, no reservations required for small parties — but we recommend them on weekends.
Your neighborhood Italian. Come back every visit. Once you eat here, the chain restaurants on I-Drive stop making sense.
Staying at DoubleTree, Hilton, Rosen? We're walking distance or a 3-minute drive. Skip the hotel restaurant.
Family reunion after the park? Private dining for up to 110 guests. Semi-private dining for 20–50. We handle every detail.
Under 1 mile — about a 3-minute drive. We are located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive, directly across from the DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld. It is the closest authentic Italian restaurant to SeaWorld's front gate.
Ciao Italia is open 5 PM to 10 PM every night, seven days a week. SeaWorld typically closes between 6 PM and 9 PM depending on the season, so timing works perfectly. Leave the park, drive less than a mile, and be seated within minutes. We do not take last seating after 9:30 PM.
Not at all. Ciao Italia has no dress code. Shorts, flip flops, park clothes — come as you are. The restaurant looks elegant inside, but we are casual. Upscale vibes, casual comfort. You will not feel out of place after a day at the park.
Yes. Free self-parking is available right outside the restaurant. No valet, no parking garage, no meters. Pull up, park, walk in.
Reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings and during peak tourist season. You can make a reservation online through our website or call us at (407) 354-0770. Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed during busy nights.
Absolutely. We are family-owned by the Navarra family since 1991 and we welcome families every night. We have a kids menu with Italian favorites. The casual atmosphere means tired kids from SeaWorld will feel comfortable, and parents get a real Italian meal instead of fast food.
Our most popular dishes include the Sacchetti (handmade purse-shaped pasta filled with four cheeses in a creamy pink sauce), the Risotto alla Pescatora (seafood risotto with shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari), and the Brasato (slow-braised short rib). Everything is made from scratch. We also serve fresh Florida Gulf seafood, veal, and lamb chops.
Yes. We offer a private dining room for 15–60 guests, semi-private dining for 20–50 guests, and full restaurant buyouts for up to 110 guests. Perfect for corporate groups, family reunions, or any large party visiting the SeaWorld area. Plated dinners from $60/pp, family style from $50/pp. Call (407) 354-0770 or submit an inquiry on our website.
NEAR SEAWORLD
NEAR OTHER PARKS
PRIVATE EVENTS