Go Live! at Pointe Orlando

Debbie’s Villas Blog 50: Live at Pointe Orlando

Go Live! at Pointe Orlando

Dating back to 1997, the Pointe has been a go-to for I-Drive restaurants like Maggianos Little Italy, Taverna Opa, Capital Grille and The Oceanaire, as well as a mixture of entertainment options such as the IMAX cinema multiplex, Main Event games centre, Monkey Joe’s children play area and Funny Bones comedy club.

The dining scene took a major hit in 2020, though, as Covid-19 caused closures up and down I-Drive and many venues did not open again when the worst of the pandemic was over. For anyone walking through the upstairs area at the Pointe, it was a sad and derelict sight.

Happily, that has all been addressed in recent months after a prolonged re-build process, and the results are a vibrant new bar and restaurant complex spread across much of that first floor section. Welcome to Live! at Pointe Orlando.

What is the new section all about?

In simple terms, the brand new Live! element of the complex is an upscale drinking, dining and dancing proposition, with fully six elements that are all new to Orlando and add a really novel touch to I-Drive’s nightlife scene.

All six are part of the Live! Hospitality & Entertainment Group, who have created a number of entertainment-rich destination centres across the country, including cities such as Kansas City, St Louis and Atlanta. The Pointe fits their profile perfectly, hence the addition of a group of venues under one umbrella rather than creating stand-alone choices.

Included in the six are individually owned businesses that work directly with the Live! Group to provide multiple options that fit into this lively nightlife-centric approach, as well as adding to the Pointe’s existing restaurant choices.

The end result is an eye-catching – and quality-conscious – range of options for a night out, including a dynamic sports bar, a chic celebrity-style restaurant, an exclusive lounge/nightclub, a distinctive gentleman’s-club-style bar and the pure fun of a country and western-themed live music venue.

With a total of 73,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, it all adds up to a wonderfully flamboyant and colourful range of options for food and beverage, with a real party atmosphere that appeals to locals and visitors alike. Let’s take a look at all six new options:

PBR Cowboy Bar

Are you ready to try mechanical bull riding while also enjoying great music and line dancing in this extensive venue that promises “an authentic country experience, marrying an electric combination of ‘Cowboy cool’ and big-time entertainment”? It features their signature Buckle Bunny servers, two expansive bars, VIP tables with bottle service, and the centrepiece mechanical bull that challenges all-comers to tackle the experience of rodeo riding in best cowboy style. It is the 15th Cowboy Bar in America and adds the country music backing of stars such as Luke Bryan, Old Dominion and Justin Moore. Just be ready for some raucous fun and games from 7pm-2am Thursday-Saturday, with its outside bar open Sunday-Thursday 5-10pm.

Sal’s Pizza

This is another novel idea that adds to the appeal of the four upstairs venues. This walk-up pizza window is open daily when you just want to grab a slice to go with your beer or other libations. Part of an Italian restaurant chain based in Boston, Sal’s dates back to 1990 and serves up classic flavours from a true Sicilian family background. Best of all, for those in the upstairs bar area, you can use your mobile phone to order pizza for delivery to your seat in the bar.

Surf Bar

Get set for a retro surf experience – and lots of cute seaside theming – in this vivid celebration of beach bar chic. It offers a ‘Retro Cool, Retro Dance’ vibe that goes well with its range of signature cocktails and monthly themed parties, including its ‘Bridal Wave’ events for bachelorette groups on the first Friday of every month. From Sunday to Wednesday, its hours are a relatively sedate 5-10pm, but on Thursday, Friday and Saturday it really ups the ante and goes full party steam ahead from 7pm to 2am. With patio style and its fun throwback musical offerings, this is the place where the cool kids hang out at the weekend.

Houndsmen Lounge

Our favourite for a super-cool bar experience that feels like a posh private club, the Houndsmen is ideal for those with a thirst for distinctive craft cocktails and premium brands of whisky, vodka and rum, among a highly tempting drinks menu. Belly up to the bar or choose one of the laid-back booths or tables for that sophisticated evening out (Thur-Sat 7pm-2am), with the classic décor of low lighting, dark woods and leather affording it that true country club feel.

Sports & Social

For the full American sports bar experience, this really takes some beating, as it takes the whole sports fan idea and kicks it up several notches with a hugely immersive big-game atmosphere. It uses clever sound and lighting effects to highlight key events on the 25ft-high state-of-the-art video screen behind the huge bar, and adds in-bar games and competitions to keep things lively. Even better, the food is way above average for sports bar fare, including Truffle Mushroom Flatbread, Miso Glazed Salmon Bowl, Parmesan Stuffed Arancini and delicious Tacos, as well as standards such as burgers, salads, chicken wings, nachos and fish and chips. Their signature Sweet Bay Fries are pretty good, too.

Palm Beach Club

Perhaps the jewel in the crown, the most recently opened element features a beautifully chic indoor/outdoor bar-restaurant that is the brainchild of international DJ and producer DJ Kygo and his Palm Beach Crew company. The central bar is a feature in its own right, while the entire back wall is given over to a smart video screen that has the look of a beach paradise. With its own array of individual hand-crafted cocktails (we heartily recommend the Caribbean Smoked Old Fashioned!) and a delicious California coastal cuisine menu featuring the likes of Wagyu Dumplings, Shrimp Toast, Thai Snapper and fresh sushi, this is a real culinary adventure and ideal for a special occasion dinner or just a real splurge (5pm-midnight Sun-Thur, 5pm-2am Fri and Sat). Its separate rooftop lounge is another venue dripping with that sophisticated nightclub vibe from visiting DJs and boasting a dazzling lighting display.

It’s also worth pointing out that the five main elements of Live! at Pointe Orlando provide free parking in the multi-storey car park, so don’t forget to get your parking ticket validated before you leave.

Have you seen the new-look Pointe Orlando yet? Give us your thoughts about it on our Facebook, X and Instagram pages.