Universal Citywalk - A Guide

Universal CityWalk is filled with dining and shopping opportunities as well as plenty of nightclubs and other elements of the nightlife. The entire area covers 30 acres and is usually open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Even better, there is no fee to visit Universal CityWalk, though some clubs do have a cover charge. To avoid these fees, guests can purchase a CityWalk Party Pass for just $8.95 that will get them into all of the clubs for free. Those wishing to also catch a movie can purchase the CityWalk Party Pass plus a movie for $12.

Park guests automatically pass through the Universal CityWalk when they walk from the parking garages to the parks. It is at this point that guests should take note of which spots they would like to return to later when done visiting the parks.

When it comes to dining, there are plenty of restaurants to select from. These include:

Big Kahuna Pizza – Offers individually sized pizzas that are baked fresh every day.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company – Features an amusing menu that includes items such as “Bucket of Boat Trash,” which is actually lobster, deep fried shrimp, and mahi mahi. Also includes memorabilia from the movie Forrest Gump, including reproductions of storyboards, shoes, costumes, script pages, and more. Offers a casual family-dining atmosphere.
Cinnabon – Featuring the fresh and hot cinnamon rolls the chain is known for carrying.
Emeril’s – Founded by the famous chef of the same name, this restaurant offers a more elegant dining experience. Reservations are suggested for this restaurant choice. Includes a full bar and a wine gallery on the second floor, which displays 12,000 bottles of wine. Also offers a cigar bar with a wall-sized humidor and an aperitif bar.
Galaxy Bar – Offers specialty drinks as well as beer in a patio-like atmosphere.
Hard Rock Café Orlando – This well-known restaurant chain offers burgers, ribs, chicken breasts, and more in the midst of a great deal of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. This Hard Rock Café is the largest in the world and also offers a full bar and merchandise, such as leather jackets, t-shirts, and pins, for sale.
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville – Provides a laid back atmosphere with live entertainment every night as well as a number of lunch and dinner choices, including conch fritters, key lime pie, and calamari. Of course, frozen drinks are on the menu as well. The main room is decorated to replicate one of Jimmy Buffet’s South Florida waterfront concerts and the restaurant also includes three bars: Land Shark Bar, The Volcano Bar, and the 12 Volt Bar. Jimmy Buffet, Margaritaville, and Parrothead memorabilia can also be purchased at the restaurant.
Latin Quarter – Brings the music, art, dance, cuisine, and overall culture of all 21 Latin nations – including South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico - to life. Offers authentic food - such as plaintains and flan, black beans, yellow rice, and pork - and décor that was inspired by Mayan, Aztec, and Incan architecture.
Motown – Offers nightly entertainment, authentic Motown memorabilia, and great food.
NASCAR Café – Offers a NASCAR-themed family dining experience. This is the only eatery that has officially been sanctioned by NASCAR and offers steaks, barbecue, roasted sirloin, chops, salads, and more. It also offers a gaming area and a NASCAR shop where memorabilia may be purchased, as well as NASCAR memorabilia such as Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s Monte Carlo.
NBA City – Offers a basketball-themed family dining experience and has been voted as Orlando’s Best Theme Restaurant. 10 foot by 15 foot projection screens help bring the sport action to life as they show some of the favorite moments in basketball history.
Pastamore Ristorante and Market – An Italian family-style, or a la carte, restaurant that includes pizza, steaks, and grilled chicken. The kitchens are open air, which makes it possible for guests to watch the chefs as they prepare the meals.
Starbucks – Features specialty coffee, blended drinks, tea, and bakery items.
St. Augustine Sausage – Offers hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken wings, beer, soda, and more.

There are just as many shopping opportunities as dining opportunities at Universal CityWalk. These include:

All Star Collectibles – Offers sports collectibles as well as memorabilia and gifts.
Captain Crackers – Deemed as the “World’s Funnest Toy Store” for its wild and crazy offerings.
Cartooninversal – Offers a number of souvenirs and apparel featuring a variety of popular cartoon characters.
Cigarz at CityWalk – Features a full bar as well as opportunities for purchasing cigars and accessories.
Dapy – Offers novelty items, such as lava lamps, and other trendy gifts.
Elegant Illusions – Offers replica designer jewelry and gems
Endangered Species Store – Offers gifts, clothing, and more that has been decorated with rare and exotic animals.
Fossil – Retailer of Fossil apparel, watches, and sunglasses.
Fresh Produce – Offers clothing for men, women, and children all in colors found naturally in fruits and vegetables.
Glow – Offers a number of things that glow, illuminate, and reflect – ranging from apparel to décor for the home.
Quiet Flight Surf Shop – Offers all sorts of accessories for surfing and the beach, as well as beach wear and even custom surfboards.
Silver – Offers silver accessories and jewelry for both men and women.
Universal Studios Store – Sells memorabilia, including souvenirs, t-shirts, and more decorated with Universal theme park images as well as images from television shows and motion pictures.

Of course, Universal CityWalk is also filled with nightlife opportunities. Here, guests can enjoy:

Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom – Provides live music every night coupled with authentic Jamaican cuisine. Guests can soak in the heritage, music, and lyrical imagery of Marley within this open air verandah and courtyard. Includes video clips, photos, and artifacts.
CityJazz – Features live music every night, whether it be funk, soul, R and B, or rock.
The Groove – A dance club featuring the latest, modern dance music as well as state of the art lights, sound, and video coupled with colorfully themed bars.
Hard Rock Live – Located next to the Hard Rock Café, Hard Rock Live hosts both national and local musical acts.
Pat O’Brien’s – A replica of the New Orleans watering hole that includes the original Patio and Flaming Fountain as wall as a Piano Bar with Copper Top Pianos.
The Red Coconut Club – One of the newest hotspots in Orlando, the Red Coconut Club offers a swanky environment in a resort with a n upscale feeling. It features signature drinks as well as an extensive menu offering appetizers such as sesame chicken skewers and coconut shrimp. Live bands provide the entertainment, paying favorites from the 60s and the 70s as well as contemporary tunes with a twist. After midnight, the party continues with a DJ.
Universal Cineplex – Features stadium seating, twenty screens and projection systems, and state-of-the-art sound systems.
The streets of Universal CityWalk also offer dancers, street performers, and drink vendors.

Universal CityWalk offers plenty to do and see while getting satisfying your appetite for food as well as for entertainment.