Daytime attractions. Evening dinner and drinks. All walkable at ICON Park, Red Line Stop 14.
International Drive is one of the most active tourist corridors in the United States. Stretching roughly eight miles through the heart of Orlando, it is lined with hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail — with something available at every hour of the day.
The best way to experience I-Drive is to anchor your day at ICON Park. Everything is concentrated there: a 400-foot observation wheel, an aquarium, interactive museums, thrill rides, live music, and Vincenzo Cucina Italiana for dinner. It is the one spot on I-Drive where you can spend an entire day without moving your car.
This guide covers what to do during the day, how to plan your evening, how to get around without a car, and where to eat when you are ready for a real Italian dinner.
ICON Park is where most visitors should start. SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is inside the plaza — an immersive walk-through experience with sharks, rays, turtles, jellyfish, and hundreds of sea creatures. It typically takes one to two hours and is a hit with kids and adults alike.
Museum of Illusions is one of the most photographed spots on I-Drive — an interactive experience full of optical illusions, Infinity Rooms, and trick photography that works for all ages. Madame Tussauds is on-site as well, with celebrity wax figures and themed rooms.
For thrills, the Orlando StarFlyer — a 450-foot swing ride that is the tallest in the world — is in the plaza and visible from I-Drive. The Wheel, the 400-foot observation wheel, is best ridden in the late afternoon or evening when the Orlando skyline catches the light and the theme park fireworks become visible in the distance.
Further along I-Drive, WonderWorks and Ripley's Believe It or Not are both worth a visit for families looking for more interactive experiences. Both are within a short drive or trolley ride from ICON Park.
We did the aquarium, The Wheel, and then dinner at Vincenzo all in one day without moving the car once. The food at Vincenzo was the highlight — the short rib pappardelle is something special. Perfect I-Drive day.
The Williams Family, Nashville • Google
At 5 PM, Vincenzo opens and the evening begins. Happy hour runs Monday all night and Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM — $4 bottled beers, $7 wines by the glass, $10 craft cocktails. The bar is a full Italian craft bar: Espresso Martinis, Negronis, Aperol Spritzes, martinis, wine, and beer.
Dinner at Vincenzo is the centerpiece of any evening on I-Drive. The kitchen is a scratch operation: handmade pasta, braised short rib, USDA Black Angus Prime steaks from Creekstone Farms, fresh Florida seafood, and house-made desserts. The Lobster Ravioli, Short Rib Pappardelle, and Homemade Gnocchi are among the most ordered dishes every night.
After dinner, Tin Roof — a live music bar inside the ICON Park plaza — is steps away. They have live bands most evenings, making it easy to extend the night without going anywhere. The Wheel is also open late for an evening ride with Orlando lit up below.
Dinner at Vincenzo on International Drive
Handmade pasta. USDA Prime steaks. Fresh seafood. Homemade desserts. Open nightly at 5 PM at ICON Park.
The I-Ride Trolley is the best way to get around International Drive without renting a car or paying for rideshare every time. The Red Line runs from Pointe Orlando at the north end down to SeaWorld at the south, covering almost all major hotels, restaurants, and attractions on I-Drive.
Stop 14 on the Red Line is ICON Park — where Vincenzo is located. Rides are $2 per trip, and the trolley runs approximately every 20 minutes from early morning until 10:30 PM daily. If you are staying at a hotel on I-Drive, there is a very good chance the trolley stops nearby or directly in front of your property.
For convention attendees staying near the Orange County Convention Center, the trolley connects to ICON Park in minutes. And for visitors coming from Universal, Epic Universe, or SeaWorld, ICON Park is well within a short trolley ride or direct rideshare along I-Drive.
Vincenzo also offers complimentary valet every evening for guests who drive. Between the valet and the trolley, getting to and from dinner is always easy.
Took the I-Ride Trolley from our hotel to ICON Park and had dinner at Vincenzo. $2 each way and walked right into the restaurant. Genuinely one of the best Italian meals I have had in Florida. The gnocchi and the tiramisu are worth every penny.
Michael, Boston • OpenTable
International Drive is full of restaurants — but most of them are chains, hotel cafes, or tourist traps with average food at inflated prices. Vincenzo is different. It is a family-owned Italian restaurant with a real kitchen, real hospitality, and food that people talk about after the trip is over.
The Navarra Group opened Vincenzo in 2014 and has been building it into one of the most consistently reviewed restaurants in Orlando ever since. With 4,000+ reviews on Google, OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and Yelp, it is not a hidden gem — it is a well-known destination for travelers who want something better than a chain.
No dress code. Kids welcome. Shorts and vacation clothes are always fine. Complimentary valet every evening. Happy hour Monday all night and Tuesday through Friday 5 to 7 PM. Kids menu for ages 10 and under at $13 with a beverage.
When you are planning your day on International Drive, dinner at Vincenzo is the right move. Everything else fits around it.
ICON Park is the best hub on International Drive. It has The Wheel (400-foot observation wheel), SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, Museum of Illusions, Madame Tussauds, the Orlando StarFlyer, Tin Roof live music venue, and Vincenzo Cucina Italiana for dinner — all in one walkable plaza. It is the most efficient and enjoyable way to spend a day or evening on I-Drive without renting a car or moving between locations.
The I-Ride Trolley is the best way to get around I-Drive without a car. The Red Line runs from Pointe Orlando at the north end to SeaWorld at the south. Stop 14 is at ICON Park — where Vincenzo is located. Rides are $2 per trip and the trolley runs every 20 minutes. It covers most major hotels, restaurants, and attractions on International Drive.
Vincenzo Cucina Italiana at ICON Park (I-Ride Red Line Stop 14) is consistently rated among the best restaurants on International Drive. It is a family-owned Italian restaurant with handmade pasta, USDA Black Angus Prime steaks, fresh seafood, craft cocktails, a kids menu, and complimentary valet. It has 4,000+ reviews on Google, OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. Open nightly 5 to 10 PM.
Handmade Italian at ICON Park. I-Ride Stop 14. Complimentary valet. Open nightly at 5 PM.
Or call (407) 745-4030
Vincenzo Cucina Italiana is an independently owned Italian restaurant on International Drive at ICON Park in Orlando. Menu items, prices, and availability subject to change. Happy hour Mon all night, Tue-Fri 5-7 PM. Kids menu for ages 10 and under. Reservations recommended. 20% gratuity automatically added to all parties. I-Ride Trolley information subject to change — verify current schedule at iridetrolley.com.
