5 Best Nightlife in Universal Orlando, Florida

Modeled after the King of Reggae's home in Kingston, Jamaica (even down to the air-conditioning window units), this nightclub is also part museum, with more than 100 photographs and paintings showing pivotal moments in Marley's life. Though the place does serve Jamaican-influenced meals, (like the No Woman, No Cry Jerk Chicken Salad) most patrons are at the cozy bar or on the patio, where they can be jammin' to a (loud) live band and DJ that plays nightly. For a nice souvenir, pose by the Marley statue outside the club. Sunday is ladies' night from 10 pm to 2 am, and there is a $7 cover charge after 10 pm.

If singing is your thing, you and other hopeful (and hopeless) songbirds can really let loose in front of a live audience. You'll croon to either recorded tracks or, when available, you'll be accompanied by a live band complete with backup singers. A full bar is always on tap. Friday and Saturday are reserved for an over-21 crowd.

The Hard Rock Cafe here is the largest on Earth, which means you can see plenty of memorabilia, including such Beatles rarities as John Lennon's famous New York City T-shirt, Paul's original lyrics for "Let It Be," and the doors from London's Abbey Road studios. The food's great, too. Next door, the Hard Rock Live concert hall (The Coliseum of Rock) hosts comedians, solo acts, and internationally recognized bands that make it one of the most popular venues at Universal. A few drawbacks: the seating's not the greatest, and if you arrive at the door carrying a large purse or bags, it won't be time to rock, it'll be time to walk—about a ¼-mile back to the parking garage to stow your stuff. 

Buffett tunes fill the air at the restaurant and at the Volcano, Land Shark, and 12 Volt bars. There's a miniature Pan Am Clipper suspended from the ceiling, music videos projected onto sails, limbo and hula-hoop contests, a huge margarita blender that erupts "when the volcano blows," and live music nightly—everything that Parrotheads need to roost. Across the promenade, another full-size seaplane (emblazoned with “Jimmy Buffett, Captain”) is the setting for the Lone Palm Airport, a pleasing and surprisingly popular outdoor waterfront bar.

An exact reproduction of the legendary New Orleans original comes complete with a flaming fountain and dueling pianists who are playing for highly entertained regulars and visitors—even on weekday afternoons. Outside, the cozy and welcoming Patio Bar has a wealth of tables and chairs, allowing you to do nothing but enjoy the outdoors and your potent, rum-based Hurricanes in Orlando's version of the Big Easy.