The View From 400 Feet Deserves a Dinner to Match
Minutes from The Orlando Eye at ICON Park. Family-owned Italian, 35+ years, 3,00
A Sunset Ride, Then a Sunset Dinner
The Orlando Eye (now called The Wheel at ICON Park) gives you a panoramic view of Central Florida from 400 feet up. On a clear evening, you can see all the way to Cape Canaveral. It is one of the signature experiences on International Drive. But when the capsule returns to earth and you step back onto the pavement, the dining options at ICON Park are a letdown compared to the ride you just experienced.
Why Not Stay at ICON Park for Dinner?
Ciao Italia Ristorante is about 10 minutes south, and it delivers a dinner experience worthy of that sunset view. The Navarra family has been cooking authentic Italian food at this location since 1991. Every pasta is handmade. Every sauce is prepared fresh. The dining room is elegant but comfortable, and the service makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit.
The best strategy is to ride The Orlando Eye around sunset, then head to Ciao Italia for dinner. The wheel takes about 22 minutes, which means if you catch a 6:30 or 7:00 PM ride, you can be seated at Ciao Italia by 7:30 or 8:00. That gives you the full evening experience: the view, then the food.
Start with the bruschetta or the calamari. Move into the risotto pescatore or the veal marsala. Finish with homemade tiramisu or gelato. Share a bottle of wine. It is the kind of evening that people remember long after the vacation photos have been filed away.
The Orlando Eye is one of the most popular date-night activities on International Drive, and Ciao Italia is the ideal place to continue the evening. The atmosphere is romantic without being stuffy. The lighting is warm. The wine list is curated. And the food speaks for itself. If you are looking for a date night restaurant in Orlando, this combination is hard to beat.
You can. But the restaurants at ICON Park are built for convenience and tourist traffic, not for quality. They serve a purpose for people who want to grab something quick before heading to the next attraction. But if dinner is the main event, not an afterthought, a short drive to Ciao Italia transforms the evening.
“One of the finest Italian restaurants in Orlando. Absolutely worth the visit.”
“Handmade pasta that you can taste the difference. Zagat rated and deserving.”
From ICON Park, head south on International Drive toward SeaWorld. Ciao Italia is at 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando, FL 32821. Free parking. Open nightly 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Reservations: (407) 354-0770.
“Rode the Eye at sunset, then came here for dinner. Perfect Orlando evening.”
“One of the finest Italian restaurants in Orlando. Absolutely worth the visit.”
