Orlando is famous for so many sights and sounds, it would take me all year to tell you how to plan fun for the family. most visitors to the City Beautiful think that Orlando is all bout theme parks and that’s it – well, theme parks are just the tip of the iceberg! Locals know that Universal Orlando CityWalk is a hidden gem.  It is a great option for those that are still looking to have fun in the sunshine state, but not have to deal with tons of people and long waits in line at the theme parks.

City Walk is also a great place to go to grab some eats. It has great sit-down restaurants, casual fare, and plenty of sweet treats. Best of all, most restaurants are family-friendly!  We have compiled a list for you of all the great places to eat at City Walk, plus as a bonus, we have thrown in the “must-do” activities when visiting City Walk.

Best Places to Eat with Kids at Universal CityWalk

Here are some great options of where to eat at Universal CityWalk with kids, as well as where to have some fun before or after your meal.

Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom

Get a slice of the Caribbean without leaving Florida. Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom is a Jamaican-themed restaurant that serves delicious island-flavored cuisine. Even the kid’s menu has an island flavor! The restaurant is a replica of Bob Marley’s home in Kingston that he shared with his wife Rita Marley and their children. The menu offerings have everything from jerk chicken to Jamaican beef patties, and anything in between. It has memorabilia, photos, and videos about his life and career. The entire family will enjoy the history, food, and most of all, the music! It is best to visit Bob Marley for lunch or an early dinner – at night the restaurant turns into an adult nightclub featuring live bands and sensational reggae artists. Bob Marley’s has some of the best food this side of the Caribbean!

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Whether you are heading over to City Walk to spend the day and then have dinner or going straight there to satisfy your hunger, you will hit the jackpot at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. After the success of the movie “Forrest Gump,” the restaurant’s popularity exploded and there are locations all over the world. The full-service restaurant has a great menu of seafood as well as great comfort food dishes too. best part of the experience eating at Bubba Gump’s? Kiddos will enjoy getting the server’s attention by flipping the iconic blue license plates telling them to “Run Forrest Run!” or the red plate telling them to “Stop Forrest Stop!” Bubba’s is open Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 11 pm and Friday to Saturday from 11 am to midnight. Once you have experienced Bubba Gump’s, it is sure to become a family staple. Bubba’s is considered one of the best CityWalk restaurants and after tasting some of their American fare, you and the whole family will agree.

Burger King Whopper Bar

If you really want to have it your way, then you want to check out the Burger King Whopper Bar. Kids, and adults too, will be able to customize their own burger and chicken sandwich with up to 20 toppings such as crispy onions and guacamole. In the end, kids will have their own unique sandwich as unique as they are.

Cold Stone Creamery

No better way to cool off any time of the day than to stroll over to Cold Stone Creamery. They serve up delicious handmade one of a kind creations so your only limitation is your imagination! The whole family can choose from so many different ice cream flavors and cones, a scoop or two in a cup, or rich and indulgent shakes. The flavors are scrumptious on their own but don’t stop there – mix in some fruit, nuts, or candy pieces to create your something your taste buds will thank you for! Cold Stone Creamery is famous for its sweet treats and brings thousands of visitors to Universal CityWalk each year. You do not have to travel far to grab a taste of your personal favorite or keep going back and trying a different flavor each time.

Hard Rock Café

The Hard Rock is one of the premier venues in Central Florida. Home to great concerts and family-friendly shows, the Hard Rock at City Walk is an awesome family day trip location. You can still visit the Hard Rock to enjoy some of their great restaurants and cafés too. The hard Rock café Orlando is one of the largest cafés around and a great option for families that want to eat some yummy Americana fare while being surrounded by awesome c artist memorabilia too. Take a tour of the hotel and see artist memorabilia like iconic outfits and musical instruments. Check out their event calendar and plan to see a show.

Hot dog Hall of Fame

Calling all foodies! The Hotdog Hall of Fame is not your regular run-of-the-mill eatery. Instead, It’s a great spot and probably one of the better sit-down restaurants at Universal CityWalk. They have every kind of hotdog from across the country that will whet any appetite. Choose from authentic New York street dogs to vegan dogs too. and the toppings? If you think you might eat it on your hotdog, they have it! The kiddos will love this place too because it is just fun.

Lone Palm Airport

Get ready to take off to Lone Palm Airport where the food and fun are abundant. Located just under the wings of Jimmy Buffet’s seaplane named the Hemisphere Dancer, the waterfront restaurant is perfect for relaxing after a full day at the parks or a great way to start the day’s events. The adults can enjoy some tasty island drinks while the little ones frolic at Parakeet Beach.

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville

Just when you thought you couldn’t have more fun in Orlando, then you find Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville – the island escape in the middle of Universal City Walk. The volcano bar flows with margaritas. The awesome live bands and cool island music adds a Caribbean feel to the restaurant that serves classic dishes with a West Indian flavor.  Live music fills the two-level outdoor seating area that overlooks City Walk. The kiddos will love the good food on the kiddie menu and hanging on the beach. The restaurant is open daily from 11 am to 10 pm; reservations are strongly recommended!

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar has brought surf and turf to a different level! Give your tastebuds a challenge – choose a juicy burger or choose fresh, delicious sushi, or try them both in the Burgushi which combines both flavors. Kids will love the bento boxes while enjoying a creamy milkshake. It is among some of the favorite restaurants at Universal CityWalk. The restaurant is open from 8 am to 1 am and has a great kids’ menu for the younger ones too.   It is definitely a dining experience the whole will not want to miss!

 Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen

You had me at chocolate! Talk about one-stop shopping when it comes to culinary sensations at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen. The entire family can enjoy dessert before the main meal or if they want to, they can eat, drink, and be merry at their own pace. The full-service, nineteenth century themed restaurant serves divine milkshakes, indulgent steak and seafood dishes, and best of all, chocolate! This dining experience will be one not soon forgotten by the entire family! The restaurant is open during park hours and reservations are strongly recommended.it is definitely one of the best places for families to visit while at universal’s CityWalk.

Things to do with Kids at Universal CityWalk

There is so much to choose from at CityWalk; if you are looking for fun things to do all in one place, then Universal City Walk is the place. It might be a little overwhelming, but fear not, we have put together a list of fun activities to do with the kiddos.

Before, or after, grabbing some eats, you can check out one of these fun activities to do at CityWalk.

City Walk’s Rising Star

If you are a budding musician, then take center stage at the City Walk’s Rising Star! This is unlike any sing-along experience you have ever had. Rising Star gives you the chance to sing karaoke with backup singers and a live band (depending on availability). You can let your inner rock star shine as you belt out tunes. Rising Star is a great place for a girls’ night out, just hanging with the guys, or a great way for the family to start or end their weekend. It is open during park hours and reservations are recommended.

Hollywood Drive – In Golf

Central Florida, actually, all of Florida is known for their gorgeous golf courses. Universal CityWalk is no exception. Hollywood Drive In Golf is definitely not a swing and a miss! Who knew mini-golf could be such big fun? It is one of the hottest spots at City Walk and for good reason. It is a great outing for families with kiddos young and old. The artificial turf sets the stage to play eighteen holes on The Haunting of Ghostly Greens or Invaders from Planet Putt. If you are feeling really courageous, do a double feature and play all thirty-six holes. Oh, and it is not your average course – the best part is the special lighting effects that will allow playing both day and night, never missing out on the fun

Universal Cinemark

Movie meet luxury when you and the family head over to the Universal Cinemark Theater. The twenty-screen theater has state-of-the-art projections and sound systems that will make your family’s movie experience one of a kind. The movies would not be the movies without great popcorn, drinks, and snacks and Universal Cinemark does not disappoint! If you and the family are looking for a little more than just popcorn, Universal Cinemark has some great choices like hot dogs, fries, and nuggets. Of course, the candy choices are out of this world!

Universal’s Great Movie Escape

There are escape rooms, and then there is Universal’s Great Movie Escape. Use your wits and skill to avoid becoming a dinosaur’s lunch in the Jurassic World: Escape or try your hand at Back to the Future: OUTATIME and stop Biff Tannen from sabotaging the timeline. The adventure is open to kiddos, tweens, teens, and everyone in between. This is a separately priced item and tickets will have to be purchased. Universal CtyWalk’s Great Movie Escape is a fun choice for a fun date night or a chance for the whole family to have some fun!

Universal Studios Store

The perfect “fit” for the park is right in the Universal Studio Store. Represent your Hogwarts house, pick up a Minions ensemble or two, or just walk around the store touching and feeling all kinds of fun things. If you decide to buy more than you can carry, you can choose to ship from the store to your home. Talk about one-stop shopping! Universal CityWalk’s Studio store has great options for families that want to take home a little piece of their adventure or want to make memories for years to come.

Voodoo Doughnut

Yummy and fun should always go hand in hand and if that is what you are craving, Voodoo Doughnut is where you need to be! Serving more than fifty types of doughnuts, Voodoo Doughnut is a cultural classic. Sweet treats are served up daily and the entire family could visit every weekend and never have the same doughnut twice. They have one-of-a-kind flavors that will have you coming back for more. Love doughnuts, but maybe not some of the ingredients? Do not worry, they have a huge vegan menu too! They are open during park hours, from 8 am to 1 am.

Not in City Walk, But You Don’t Want to Miss at Universal Orlando Resort

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Anyone ready for a train ride? If you are ready to experience an adventure straight out of your dreams, then head right over to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is spread across both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The Harry Potter series is celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary this year so there is no better time than now to visit the Wizarding World. Get onboard the Hogwarts Express, or escape from Gringotts with Harry and friends. Stroll through Diagon Alley and let the whole family get into shenanigans. Wave your magic wand and end up at the leaky Cauldron for an amazing dining experience. The quick-service restaurant will fill your belly with all things yummy. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. make sure to close out a great night with the family by visiting the gift shop or, see a wand and choose a wizard at Ollivander’s Wand Shop