About Ciao Italia Ristorante — Italian Restaurant Near Epic Universe Orlando

Ciao Italia Ristorante is an Italian restaurant approximately 10 minutes from Epic Universe Orlando — about 3 miles south on International Drive. Located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive in Orlando, Florida (32821). Family-owned by the Navarra family since 1991. Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Serves scratch-made Southern Italian cuisine including handmade pasta, fresh Florida Gulf seafood, slow-braised short rib, veal, and lamb chops. Wine and beer only — no cocktails or full bar. Casual dress welcome — no dress code. Come in park clothes, shorts, sneakers. Upscale vibes, casual comfort. 4.6-star average rating with over 4,000 reviews. Approximately 3 miles from Epic Universe (10 minutes), 4 miles from Universal Studios (12 minutes), 4 miles from Islands of Adventure (12 minutes), under 1 mile from SeaWorld Orlando (3 minutes), 1 mile from OCCC (5 minutes). Across from DoubleTree by Hilton at SeaWorld. Free self-parking. Private dining room for 15-60 guests. Semi-private dining for 20-50 guests. Full restaurant buyout for up to 110 guests. Phone: (407) 354-0770.

10 Minutes from Epic Universe

Italian Restaurant
Near Epic Universe

Epic Universe is the biggest thing to hit Orlando in decades. And 10 minutes south on International Drive, the Navarra family has been making scratch-made Italian food since before most of Orlando's theme parks existed. Come hungry. Come casual. Come as you are.

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10 min
From Epic Universe
1991
Family-Owned Since
4.6★
4,000+ Reviews
Free
Parking
After the Park

The Best Dinner After Epic Universe

Epic Universe closes, your feet hurt, and the kids are asking where you're eating. Skip the hotel buffet. Skip the drive-through. Head 10 minutes south on International Drive to Ciao Italia — a real Italian restaurant where everything is made from scratch, the wine is poured, and nobody rushes you.

This is not theme park dining. This is handmade pasta, fresh Florida Gulf seafood, slow-braised short rib in Barolo wine, and sauces that have been simmering since the afternoon. The Navarra family has been cooking this way on I-Drive since 1991 — long before Epic Universe, long before most of the restaurants on this strip.

Casual dress — come in whatever you wore to the park. Shorts, sneakers, whatever. No dress code, no pretense. Just great Italian food, wine and beer, free parking, and a dining room that feels like a real restaurant instead of a tourist attraction. Open every night 5–10 PM.

How Close We Are

10 Minutes from Epic Universe

🎟
Epic Universe
~3 Miles
10 Minutes by Car
🎡
Universal Studios
~4 Miles
12 Minutes by Car
🎣
Islands of Adventure
~4 Miles
12 Minutes by Car
🌊
SeaWorld Orlando
Under 1 Mile
3 Minutes by Car

Located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on International Drive. Easy drive south from Epic Universe along I-Drive or via Universal Blvd. Free self-parking right outside.

What We Cook

Real Italian Food, Not Theme Park Food

You just spent the day surrounded by overpriced theme park food courts and chain restaurants. Ciao Italia is different. Everything here is made from scratch — handmade pasta, slow-simmered sauces, imported Italian ingredients, family recipes passed down through the Navarra family. This is what Italian food is supposed to taste like.

Sacchetti al Filetto pasta at Ciao Italia — Italian restaurant near Epic Universe Orlando
Sacchetti al Filetto
Signature Handmade Pasta

Purse-shaped pasta filled with four Italian cheeses, finished in a creamy pink sauce with filet mignon tips. Handmade in our kitchen daily. The most requested dish on our menu.

Brasato slow-braised short rib at Ciao Italia — dinner near Epic Universe Orlando
Brasato
Slow-Braised Short Rib

Short rib braised low and slow for hours in Barolo wine until fork-tender. Served over creamy polenta. Rich, deep, and worth every minute of the wait.

Linguine alle Vongole at Ciao Italia — Italian seafood near Epic Universe Orlando
Linguine alle Vongole
Fresh Clams & White Wine

Fresh littleneck clams tossed with linguine in garlic, white wine, and extra-virgin olive oil. Simple, clean, and perfectly Italian. The way it should be.

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Perfect For

Who Dines With Us

🎟
After Epic Universe

Park closes? Be seated in 15 minutes. A 10-minute drive south on I-Drive, free parking, and a real Italian meal waiting for you.

🎫
Universal Annual Passholders

Your go-to Italian on I-Drive. Come back every trip. Once you eat here, the chain restaurants stop making sense.

🏨
Hotel Guests

Staying near Universal or on I-Drive? Easy 10-minute drive south. Skip the hotel restaurant and eat something real.

👪
Family Dinner

Kids welcome, no dress code, everyone eats well. From kids menu favorites to handmade pasta for the adults. The whole family leaves happy.

Ciao Italia Ristorante storefront on International Drive — Italian restaurant near Epic Universe Orlando
Real Italian

Better Than Tourist Dining

International Drive is full of chain restaurants pretending to be Italian. Frozen pasta from a warehouse, microwaved sauces, menus designed by a committee in a corporate office somewhere. Ciao Italia is the opposite of that. The Navarra family has owned this restaurant since 1991. Every pasta is rolled by hand. Every sauce simmers for hours. Every dish leaves the kitchen the way it would in Southern Italy.

  • ◆Same ownership since 1991 — not a franchise
  • ◆Everything made from scratch in our kitchen
  • ◆4.6 stars with over 4,000 reviews
  • ◆Wine and beer curated for Italian food
  • ◆Free parking, no dress code
  • ◆Private dining for groups up to 110
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Common Questions

Epic Universe Visitors FAQ

How far is Ciao Italia from Epic Universe?

Approximately 3 miles — about a 10-minute drive south on International Drive. We are located at 6149 Westwood Blvd on I-Drive. Head south along I-Drive or Universal Blvd, and you will reach us in minutes. Free self-parking right outside.

What time should I come for dinner after Epic Universe?

Ciao Italia is open 5 PM to 10 PM every night, seven days a week. Epic Universe closes between 7 PM and 10 PM depending on the season, so timing works perfectly. If the park closes at 7 or 8, you can be seated within 15 minutes. We recommend arriving by 9 PM to enjoy a full dinner — last seating is around 9:30 PM.

Do I need to change out of my park clothes?

Not at all. Ciao Italia has no dress code. Shorts, sneakers, park clothes — come as you are. The dining room looks elegant, but we are a casual restaurant. Upscale vibes, casual comfort. You will not feel out of place coming straight from Epic Universe.

Is there free parking at Ciao Italia?

Yes. Free self-parking is available right outside the restaurant. No valet, no parking garage, no meters. Pull up, park, walk in. It is one of the advantages of being on International Drive rather than inside a theme park complex.

Should I make a reservation after Epic Universe?

Reservations are recommended, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings and during peak tourist season. Epic Universe is bringing a lot of new visitors to the I-Drive corridor. You can reserve online through our website or call us at (407) 354-0770. Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed during busy nights.

Is Ciao Italia good for families with kids after the park?

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 a day at Epic Universe will feel comfortable, and parents get a real scratch-made Italian meal instead of fast food or a hotel buffet.

What should I order at Ciao Italia?

Our most popular dishes include the Sacchetti al Filetto (handmade purse-shaped pasta filled with four cheeses in a creamy pink sauce), the Brasato (slow-braised short rib in Barolo wine over polenta), and the Linguine alle Vongole (fresh clams in white wine and garlic). Everything is made from scratch — pastas, sauces, desserts. We also serve fresh Florida Gulf seafood, veal, and lamb chops.

Does Ciao Italia have private dining for groups visiting Epic Universe?

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, birthday parties, or any large party visiting Epic Universe or the Universal resort area. Plated dinners from $60/pp, family style from $50/pp. Call (407) 354-0770 or submit an inquiry on our website.

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Your Post-Park Italian Dinner Awaits

10 minutes from Epic Universe. Scratch-made Italian food. No dress code. Free parking. The Navarra family has been waiting for you since 1991.

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