Places to Eat by Universal Studios Orlando

Real Italian Food After Universal Studios

CityWalk has restaurants, but they come with CityWalk prices and CityWalk crowds. If you want places to eat by Universal Studios that are not inside the Universal bubble, Ciao Italia Ristorante is where Orlando locals go. A family-owned Italian restaurant at 6149 Westwood Blvd, about 12 minutes south on International Drive.

The Navarra family has run this restaurant since 1991. Everything is made fresh daily: the pasta, the bread, the sauces. No corporate kitchen, no frozen entrees, no tourist markup. Just real Italian food from a real Italian family.

The drive from Universal to Ciao Italia is straight down International Drive. Free parking lot right in front. Most nights you can walk in without a wait.

• 12-minute drive from Universal Studios via I-Drive
• Homemade pasta, bread, and sauces daily
• Kids menu $13, includes gelato dessert
• Free parking lot right in front
• Walk-ins welcome, open 7 nights a week
• Family-owned and operated since 1991
• Casual, welcoming atmosphere
• 10% off with SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove tickets

Skip CityWalk, Eat Like a Local

Universal CityWalk restaurants are designed for volume. High prices, crowded dining rooms, and menus built for speed. Ciao Italia is the opposite. A quiet neighborhood restaurant where the owner knows your name by dessert.

The dining room fits families, couples, and groups comfortably. There is no rush to turn your table. The staff treats you like a guest, not a ticket number.

If you are staying at one of the Universal hotels, the drive is even shorter. Cabana Bay, Aventura, Endless Summer, and the new Helios Grand Hotel are all within 10 minutes of Ciao Italia.

About Dining Near Universal Studios

Universal Studios Orlando is one of the most visited theme parks in the world. Between Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the new Epic Universe, the resort draws millions of visitors each year. Most of them eat at CityWalk or the hotel restaurants.

But International Drive runs right through the middle of everything. Ciao Italia sits in the heart of I-Drive, between Universal and SeaWorld. It is the kind of restaurant that regulars protect and tourists discover by accident.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from Universal Studios

Head south on Universal Boulevard, which becomes International Drive. Continue south past the Convention Center area. Turn right on Westwood Boulevard. Ciao Italia is on your left. About 12 minutes, 7 miles. Address: 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando FL 32821.