Anyone who tells you that Central Florida lacks a strong food scene is very mistaken. Orlando is comprised of different neighborhoods each with their own character and their own unique food scene. One of the more upscale food scenes in Central Florida can be found on Park Avenue in Winter Park. It’s one of my favorite places to enjoy a leisurely afternoon or evening. A recent addition to the Park Avenue scene leans a little more casual and offers a selection of tastes not easily found in this glammed up district. Atlantic Beer and Oyster brings the best of a cozy seaside tavern to the sunny sidewalks of Park Avenue.
Getting there
On President’s Day we decided to do something different. Being a weekday it offered my husband and I a chance to enjoy Happy Hour, and being a non-major holiday my beloved SunRail was up and running. We hopped on board and headed for the Winter Park SunRail station.
Upon disembarking the SunRail we headed North up Park Avenue (when getting off the SunRail and facing Park Avenue you will need to head left up Park Avenue to reach Atlantic Beer and Oyster (ABO). One of the distinct characteristics of Park Avenue is the handful of charming courtyards and alleyways that are tucked behind the main drag of the avenue. ABO is located in one of these courtyards, nestled behind The Yellow Tug Boat children’s shop.
Entering the courtyard to reach ABO makes the destination all the more attractive; easily accessed but a haven from the often bustling, busy boulevard.
Happy Hour
As you can probably tell from the photo above, the Happy Hour at ABO is quite impressive and a good deal. Beer and wine are only $5 and for something stronger, and a little more adventurous, oysters shooters are $3. Husband and I decided to kick off the afternoon with a round of shooters before sipping on some cold, refreshing draft beer. The happy hour oysters were impossible to resist so we slurped back half a dozen. These particular oysters were pulled from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Southern oysters are typically sweeter while Northern and Pacific Northwest oysters tend to have a cleaner, crisp taste.
Satisfied with our dive into the deep end, we relaxed with our beers before our next happy hour special. We chatted with our fellow patrons; the venue is cozy without being cramped, lending to a social atmosphere. The deep, dark, weathered wood furniture and fixtures feel as though the salty air has seeped in, even though the nearest ocean is an hour away. Golden glowing Edison bulbs are a natural fit, and act more as an accent rather than a luminary thanks to the few skylights in the roof, letting in the Florida sunshine.
We wrapped up our Happy Hour by splitting the ABO Burger. Normally the ABO Burger is $15, so at $5 it is a steal during happy hour. It was fantastically satisfying. Juicy, tender beef, covered in melted cheese, the toppings are fresh, and the house seasoned fries were addicting! Even if you are not an oyster person, I recommend a trip to ABO for the ABO Burger and a cold draft beer.
358 North Park Avenue,
Winter Park, FL 32789
Ph: (407) 636-7021
Monday-Friday: 3pm-10pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am-11pm
thisfloridalife.com 
I left Florida for Panama 8 years ago and they don’t serve oysters here! Ahhh! Whenever I go back to Orlando, I order raw oysters. I will have to make the drive to Winter Park to try those shooters. Thanks!