Key Takeaways
- What: Universal CityWalk Orlando, the dining, nightlife, entertainment, and shopping destination at Universal Orlando Resort
- New: Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, with 100% beef hot dogs and Italian ice
- Coming Soon: Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries
- Parking: Florida residents park free after 6:00 PM on non-event nights
- Entry: No theme park admission ticket is needed to walk into CityWalk
- Reservations: Full-service restaurants book through the Universal Orlando Resort App or 407-224-FOOD (3663)
OPEN Brief: If you want a full list of what is at Universal CityWalk Orlando, this OPEN guide has every restaurant, entertainment venue, nightclub, dessert stop, and shop, with the who, what, and where for each. Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is new. Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries are coming soon. Florida residents also get free parking after 6:00 PM on non-event nights.
What Is at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando is a dining, nightlife, entertainment, and shopping destination at Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal CityWalk Orlando has an escape room attraction, two mini-golf courses, a movie theater, and the Hard Rock Live concert venue. The lineup also covers quick-service and sit-down restaurants, themed nightclubs, dessert counters, and souvenir shops. Guests can enter Universal CityWalk Orlando without a theme park admission ticket.
The value here is range. You can build a full evening around one destination, from a movie to dinner to a late set at a club. OPEN also keeps a full Universal CityWalk hub with our latest coverage. For the complete lineup, see the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
What Is New and Coming Soon to Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is new, while Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries are coming soon to Universal CityWalk Orlando.
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is the newest addition on the quick-service side. Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries are on the way, but OPEN has no confirmed opening dates for either one. OPEN tracks new CityWalk projects on our Permits & Construction Tracker, so check back as filings and announcements land.
What Is Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is a new quick-service stop at Universal CityWalk Orlando serving hot dogs, loaded fries, and Italian ice.
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice serves 100% beef hot dogs covered in creative toppings. The loaded pop fries come in two versions: Cheese-Chili-Chives and Cheese-Bacon-Ranch-Chives. Authentic Italian ice covers the sweet side of the menu.
Hot dogs are portable, so Fat One’s works as a fast bite while you walk CityWalk. You can read more about the lineup in the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
What Is Category 10 at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Category 10, tied to Luke Combs, is coming soon to Universal CityWalk Orlando.
Category 10 is marked as coming soon at Universal CityWalk Orlando. OPEN does not have a confirmed opening date, menu, or exact location for Category 10 yet. OPEN will update this guide when Universal shares those details.
What Is Five Guys Burgers and Fries at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Five Guys Burgers and Fries is coming soon to Universal CityWalk Orlando as a new burger stop.
OPEN does not have a confirmed opening date or exact location for Five Guys Burgers and Fries yet. Until it opens, burger fans have other options at Universal CityWalk Orlando, including Burgushi at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar and the bar food at NBC Sports Grill & Brew.
Is Parking Free for Florida Residents at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Florida residents get free parking at Universal CityWalk Orlando after 6:00 PM on non-event nights.
The free parking window starts at 6:00 PM and applies on non-event nights only. Guests who do not qualify can buy daily parking before they arrive to simplify entry.
Because the offer skips event nights, check the calendar before you plan an evening at CityWalk. OPEN tracks Central Florida happenings on our events page. Parking purchase details are covered in the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
What Entertainment Venues Are at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando has an escape room attraction, a movie theater, two mini-golf courses, and the Hard Rock Live concert venue.
Universal’s Great Movie Escape, Universal Cinemark, Hollywood Drive-in Golf, and Hard Rock Live cover the entertainment side of the lineup. Universal Cinemark and Hard Rock Live both have full bars for adults. Here is what each venue offers.
- Universal’s Great Movie Escape: An immersive, interactive problem-solving adventure that puts you inside the action of popular films. The experiences include Back to the Future: OUTATIME and Jurassic World: Escape.
- Universal Cinemark: A movie theater with stadium seating and luxury recliners. Movie snacks and a full bar are available.
- Hollywood Drive-in Golf: Two mini-golf courses: The Haunting of Ghostly Greens, a slightly spooky haunted house theme, and Invaders from Planet Putt, an alien invasion theme. Guests can play one course or both.
- Hard Rock Live: A concert venue that hosts musical acts and comedians passing through Florida. An attached full bar serves adults.
All four venues are at Universal CityWalk, so pairing a show or a movie with dinner takes no extra travel. The Discover Universal CityWalk guide has more on each venue.
What Nightlife Is at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando nightlife includes Pat O’Brien’s, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, CityWalk’s Rising Star, and Red Coconut Club.
The nightlife lineup mixes dueling pianos, a Jamaican courtyard, live-band karaoke, and a two-floor nightclub. Adults must be 21 or older with valid identification to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.
- Pat O’Brien’s: A New Orleans-style bar with dueling pianos and Cajun food. The signature order is the Hurricane, a tropical rum drink, paired with a Po’Boy sandwich.
- Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom: An open-air courtyard filled with Bob Marley memorabilia, photos, and music. The Taste of Jamaica appetizer includes veggie and beef patties, jerk wings, and yucca fries, and tropical cocktails are on the menu.
- CityWalk’s Rising Star: Karaoke with a live band, where you sing while friends, family, and the crowd cheer you on.
- Red Coconut Club: A nightclub with two floors for music and dancing. A themed overlay changes depending on the time of year.
Each venue delivers a different kind of night, so the right pick depends on whether you want to sing, dance, or sit with a cocktail. The Discover Universal CityWalk guide covers the full nightlife lineup.
Which Full-Service Restaurants Are at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando full-service dining runs from Bigfire and VIVO Italian Kitchen to Hard Rock Cafe and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.
Reservations for full-service restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando are available through the Universal Orlando Resort App or by calling 407-224-FOOD (3663). The full-service group covers wood-cooked entrees, Italian, Mexican, sushi and burgers, and restaurants built around music, sports, movies, and the Florida Keys.
Which Universal CityWalk Orlando Restaurants Serve Signature Entrees?
Five sit-down restaurants at Universal CityWalk Orlando cover wood-cooked entrees, Italian, sushi burgers, Mexican, and steampunk desserts.
- Bigfire: Entrees cooked over different woods for a smoky flavor profile. The menu adds smoky drinks and tableside s’mores.
- The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen: A steampunk-themed restaurant with classic entrees and showstopping desserts. A walk-up milkshake counter and chocolate shop sit at the front, and limited-time menu items appear each year for National Chocolate Day.
- The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar: A colorful building with a cowfish out front and a menu that fuses burgers and sushi. Burgushi combines the two, and a bento box lets you try both.
- VIVO Italian Kitchen: Fresh bread, cheese, pasta, and pizzas made by hand each day, with cooking done in front of guests. Standout orders include the Tagliata 14 oz. New York striploin and the Spaghetti with Meatballs.
- Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food: Chips and tableside guacamole, plus live mariachi music on select nights. White Queso Dip and Mexican Street Corn lead the appetizers, and the Beef Birria tacos and Al Pastor Tacos anchor the taco list.
Book ahead for these five, since full-service tables are the ones that fill. You can compare each restaurant in the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
Which Universal CityWalk Orlando Restaurants Are Built Around a Theme?
Hard Rock Cafe, NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville each build a full menu around a theme.
- Hard Rock Cafe: The world’s largest Hard Rock, with music memorabilia in every corner of the building.
- NBC Sports Grill & Brew: A sports bar with a huge beer selection, live sports, and a foosball game at your table. The Large Warm Soft Pretzel is a solid opening order.
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: A movie-themed restaurant packed with Forrest Gump references and a wide range of shrimp preparations.
- Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville: A volcano-themed bar serving margaritas, with a menu inspired by the Florida Keys. The Margarita Flight covers several drinks in one order, and the Fish Tacos bring a Key West flavor profile.
The themed group works well for mixed crowds, since each menu is broad enough for different tastes. Details on each spot are in the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
Which Quick-Service Restaurants Are at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando quick-service options include Fat One’s, Bend the Bao, Panda Express, Bread Box, Red Oven Pizza Bakery, and Moe’s.
The quick-service group covers hot dogs, bao, Asian-inspired plates, sandwiches, stone-oven pizza, and build-your-own Southwest meals. Two drink stops and one upcoming burger chain round out the list.
- Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice (new): 100% beef hot dogs, loaded pop fries, and Italian ice.
- Bend the Bao: Bao with a twist on the Asian staple. The Kimchee Fried Chicken Bao is worth a look.
- Panda Express: Freshly made Asian-inspired meals, including orange chicken, rice, and egg rolls.
- Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches: Cold and toasted sandwiches, plus sides and sweet treats. Several vegan options include the Hot Vegan Sandwich with portobello, avocado, tomatoes, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese, arugula, truffle oil, and basil pesto on multi-grain bread.
- Red Oven Pizza Bakery: Pizza cooked in a special stone-lined oven. The Prosciutto & Arugula and the Big Eye Pepperoni are the two standouts.
- Moe’s Southwest Grill: Customizable burritos, tacos, salads, nachos, burrito bowls, and quesadillas, with chips and salsa.
- Lone Palm Airport: A waterfront drink stop marked by a seaplane near Margaritaville, with strong people-watching.
- Fat Tuesday: A walk-up bar with frozen cocktails. The Pina Colada is a crowd favorite.
- Five Guys Burgers and Fries (coming soon): Opening date and exact location are not confirmed.
Quick-service stops give you the fastest route to a full stomach, and the vegan options at Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches widen the choices. The Discover Universal CityWalk guide lists the same lineup.
Where Can You Find Desserts and Coffee at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando has dessert and coffee stops including Toothsome, Voodoo Doughnut, Cinnabon, Starbucks, and Cold Stone Creamery.
Seven stops cover milkshakes, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, coffee, ice cream, frozen yogurt, and pretzels. Here is how the lineup breaks down.
| Location | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen | Milkshakes and chocolate | A walk-up milkshake counter and chocolate shop sit at the front. The Heavenly Hazelnut leans on Nutella, and the Right Side Up Shake is a vegan pineapple upside down cake shake. |
| Voodoo Doughnut | Doughnuts | The Voodoo Doll is the signature. The Universal Orangesicle is only available at this location, and vegan options are plentiful. |
| Cinnabon | Cinnamon rolls | Fresh-baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast on the way into the theme parks or dessert on the way home. |
| Starbucks | Coffee | A morning coffee stop on the way into the theme parks. |
| Cold Stone Creamery | Ice cream and milkshakes | Unique flavors with plenty of toppings to choose from. |
| Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt | Frozen yogurt | A custom frozen treat with as many or as few toppings as you want. |
| Auntie Anne’s Pretzels | Pretzels | Sweet or savory pretzels, including a classic pretzel with hot salsa cheese and mini pretzel dogs. A good stop on the walk to Universal Studios Florida. |
The dessert lineup spreads across the day, with coffee and cinnamon rolls for mornings and milkshakes and frozen treats for evenings. Find the full list in the Discover Universal CityWalk guide.
What Shops Are at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando shopping includes the Universal Studios Store, Universal Legacy Store, Rock Shop, and dozens of kiosks.
The Universal Studios Store is the one-stop shop for Universal Orlando souvenirs. The Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company, founded by tattoo artist Carey Hart, offers tattoos along with brand merchandise. Here is the full shopping lineup.
- Universal Studios Store: Collectibles, clothes, and other Universal Orlando finds, a good stop if you skipped souvenirs in the theme parks.
- Universal Legacy Store: Merchandise celebrating some of Universal’s most beloved franchises.
- Rock Shop: Located adjacent to Hard Rock Cafe, with music-themed apparel and souvenirs surrounded by music memorabilia. An overhead art installation is part of the draw.
- Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company: A tattoo studio founded by Carey Hart. Shirts and other brand merchandise are available if you skip the ink.
- Kiosks: Dozens of kiosks scattered through CityWalk sell jewelry, gifts, hats, and more.
Plan extra time for the kiosks, since they sit between the restaurants, bars, and shops. The Discover Universal CityWalk guide covers each store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando has entertainment venues including Universal’s Great Movie Escape, Universal Cinemark, Hollywood Drive-in Golf, and Hard Rock Live, plus nightclubs, full-service and quick-service restaurants, dessert stops, and shops.
What is new and coming soon to Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is new at Universal CityWalk Orlando. Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries are coming soon, with no confirmed opening dates yet.
Do Florida residents get free parking at Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Florida residents get free parking at Universal CityWalk Orlando after 6:00 PM on non-event nights. Event nights fall outside the offer.
Do you need a theme park ticket to visit Universal CityWalk Orlando?
Universal CityWalk Orlando does not require a theme park admission ticket to enter.
Status Brief
Universal CityWalk Orlando packs entertainment, nightlife, full-service dining, quick bites, desserts, and shopping into one destination. Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice is new, Category 10 and Five Guys Burgers and Fries are coming soon, and Florida residents get free parking after 6:00 PM on non-event nights. Reserve full-service restaurants through the Universal Orlando Resort App, and check the Discover Universal CityWalk guide for the current lineup.
Follow the OPEN News Desk on X (Twitter) for real-time Central Florida entertainment updates.
