Private Dining Near the Convention Center in Orlando

Private Dining That Feels Like Home

Planning a private dinner near the Orange County Convention Center should not mean settling for a hotel banquet room with fluorescent lighting and rubber chicken. Ciao Italia Ristorante offers private dining near the Convention Center in Orlando in a setting that feels nothing like a conference. It feels like walking into an Italian family's home.

The Navarra family has been hosting private dinners at their restaurant on Westwood Boulevard since 1991. The private dining room seats up to 60 guests, and a full restaurant buyout accommodates up to 110. Whether it is a client appreciation dinner, a post-conference celebration, or a corporate awards night, the food is made from scratch and the service is personal.

What Private Dining Looks Like Here

Private dining at Ciao Italia is not a curtained-off corner of the main dining room. It is a dedicated space where your group has its own area, its own service team, and a menu tailored to your event. The Navarra family works directly with hosts to build a prix fixe menu from their kitchen's best dishes.

Think handmade pastas like Pappardelle with Wild Boar, fresh seafood like the Risotto alla Pescatora, and classic preparations like Vitello Piccata. Dessert is made in-house, including a tiramisu that has been on the menu for over three decades. Wine pairings are available, and the staff can recommend selections from their Italian-focused list.

Why Convention Planners Choose Ciao Italia

Convention planners choose Ciao Italia because it solves three problems at once. First, the location is close to the OCCC without being in the middle of the International Drive tourist corridor. Second, free self-parking means no one has to deal with valet or garage fees after a long day. Third, the food is genuinely good, not the kind of catered Italian food that tastes like it came from a warming tray.

The restaurant is at 6149 Westwood Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32821, open seven days a week from 5 PM to 10 PM. For private dining inquiries, call (407) 354-0770 and speak directly with the Navarra family.

About Dining Near the Convention Center

The Orange County Convention Center draws business travelers from around the world. Medical conferences, tech expos, home shows, food industry events — the OCCC calendar is packed year-round. And every one of those events creates thousands of people searching for dinner nearby.

What most of them find is disappointing. The restaurants closest to the convention center tend to be chains or overpriced hotel lounges. The food is adequate but forgettable. After a full day of networking and presentations, adequate is not good enough.

Five minutes south on International Drive, Ciao Italia Ristorante has been the go-to dinner spot for convention attendees since 1991. Family-owned, scratch-made, and consistently excellent. The Navarra family is in the kitchen every night preparing handmade pasta, fresh seafood, sauteed calamari, and Italian classics that have earned over 4,000 reviews and 9 awards.

Group dinners are a specialty. The private dining room accommodates up to 60 guests, with menus designed for corporate entertaining. Pair the meal with selections from the Italian wine list and beer menu. Free parking for all guests.

How to Get to Ciao Italia from the Convention Center

From the Orange County Convention Center, head south on International Drive for about 2 miles. Turn right onto Westwood Boulevard. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd on your right, with free parking in front. The entire drive takes about 5 minutes, even during convention traffic.

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