NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT

Thornton Park

Stroll the streets of this hip yet quaint downtown area and discover why it’s been dubbed “Orlando’s most stylish district.”

BY TERRY WARD

Zou Zou Boutique For all its fantastical fun, Orlando offers travelers more than theme park thrills. Experience the city’s alter ego in Thornton Park, just east of the gorgeous Lake Eola. Replete with brick streets, sprawling oak trees and turn-of-the-century bungalow homes, this downtown neighborhood is popular with trendsetting locals. And no wonder: The leafy, lakeside enclave is awash with dining, shopping and nightlife.

Dexter’s Start your day at Aroma Coffee and Wine Bar (407-426-8989), a bungalow that’s been converted into a cozy spot for sipping espresso, with a tropical patio that conjures the spirit of Key West.

After a healthy dose of caffeine, get even more energized by the prospect of expanding your wardrobe. Ladies should slip into Zou Zou Boutique (www.zouzouboutique.com) for ultra-feminine dresses, handmade jewelry and big name brands, or Marie-France (www.marie-franceinc.com), which carries reasonably priced yet trendy styles (think “Sex and the City”-esque dresses and designer look-alike bags and shoes). Men can get their style fi x at Urban Body (www.urbanbody.com), where the shelves are fi lled with brands like Ben Sherman and 1921 Denim.

If you’re strolling in Thornton Park on a weekend, refuel at Dexter’s (www.dexwine.com; 407-648-0620), a bar and restaurant that serves hearty omelets, malted waffles and fruity mimosas during weekend brunch. (It’s also open for lunch during the week.)

Urban Think! Another midday meal option is Wildside BBQ Bar & Grill (407-872-8665), famous for its Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich. Come back on a Friday or Saturday night for live music. If you’re in town for business, impress your client with lunch at Hue (www.huerestaurant.com; 407-849-1800), where the scene is decidedly South Beach. Beautiful people come for inventive American cuisine and cocktails served amid sleek furnishings.

Once you’re satiated, curl up on a comfy chair in Urban Think! Bookstore (www.urbanthinkorlando.com), a bibliophile’s paradise with an in-shop vegetarian teahouse that also sells beer and wine. Visiting bookworms will love the Florida author section and the local artwork that decorates the walls.

Hungry for more? Finish your day off at Graze (www.grazeorlando.com; 407-650-0038), one of the area’s newest hotspots. Get grazing platters to share or full entrées, depending on your mood—but no matter what you order, after a day in Thornton Park, you’ll be feeling utterly content.