Where to Eat Near Convention Center Orlando

Skip the Convention Food. Eat Here Instead.

You know what is near the Orange County Convention Center? Chains. Hotel restaurants. Overpriced buffets. Convention food courts that charge fifteen dollars for a lukewarm sandwich. You deserve better than that after a long day on the exhibit floor.

Ciao Italia is 5 minutes from the OCCC. It is a family-owned Italian restaurant that has been making everything from scratch since 1991. The pasta is homemade. The sauces are fresh. The bread comes out of the oven warm. Over 4,000 reviews from convention attendees, tourists, and Orlando locals who all found it the same way — looking for a real dinner after a long day. The private dining room seats up to 60 guests, so if you are organizing a team dinner or corporate event after your conference, one call handles everything. Group menus are available.

• 5 minutes from the Orange County Convention Center
• Private dining room seats up to 60 guests
• Group menus for team dinners and corporate events
• Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, bread baked daily
• Family-owned and operated since 1991
• Italian wine list and beer selection
• $13 kids menu with gelato included
• Free parking lot right in front
• Walk-ins welcome, open nightly 5-10 PM
• 4,000+ reviews from guests like you

Why Convention Groups Keep Coming Back

Organizing dinner for a convention group is stressful. You need a place that can seat everyone, serve the food on time, keep the bill reasonable, and not embarrass you in front of clients. Ciao Italia has been handling convention group dinners for over 35 years. The private dining room seats up to 60 guests in a dedicated space. Group menus simplify ordering. The wine and beer selection pairs with everything on the menu. And the food — homemade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb — is the kind of dinner that makes people remember your event for the right reasons.

Convention attendees who visit the theme parks during their trip can show their SeaWorld, Aquatica, or Discovery Cove ticket and save 10% on dinner. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome. Open nightly 5-10 PM. 6149 Westwood Blvd, Orlando. (407) 354-0770.

About Dining Near the Convention Center

The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in the United States. Every year, it hosts hundreds of trade shows, conferences, expos, and corporate events that bring millions of attendees to Orlando. When those long days on the show floor end, everyone needs a place to eat.

The dining options immediately surrounding the OCCC are limited. Most are hotel restaurants with inflated prices and uninspired menus, or fast-casual spots designed for speed rather than quality. Finding a genuinely good dinner near the convention center takes a little local knowledge.

Ciao Italia Ristorante is 5 minutes south of the OCCC on Westwood Boulevard, just off International Drive. The Navarra family has operated this restaurant since 1991, serving handmade pasta, fresh seafood, veal, lamb chops, and authentic Italian cuisine every night. It is the dinner convention attendees remember.

The private dining room seats up to 60 guests with group menus available for corporate dinners and team events. Free parking eliminates the hassle of convention center garages. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended during major shows.

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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