This guide contains affiliate links to Booking.com. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
The best hotels near Restaurant Row Orlando sit at the east end of West Sand Lake Road, where the dining strip meets I-4 and International Drive. Only one of them, Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort, is right on the Row. The rest are on I-Drive or Universal Boulevard, about 0.6 to 1.4 miles on foot from the nearest restaurants, plus one lakeside villa resort a short drive south.
Restaurant Row sits between Universal and Disney, so a hotel here puts steakhouses, sushi bars and wine bars minutes from your room while Universal’s garages stay about 2 to 3 miles away by road. You give up walk-to-the-park convenience for a far better dinner scene.
Below are 7 hotels, closest first, with measured distances, parking, breakfast and shuttle terms from official pages checked in October 2026.
Quick answer: Book Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort if you want to walk to dinner: it’s on Sand Lake Road, with free parking, free hot breakfast, a free evening Kickback and a free Universal shuttle. On a budget, Rosen Inn International has no resort fee and $10 parking. Families who want a kitchen should look at Element Orlando Universal Blvd. or the Westgate Lakes villas.
Search hotels in any Orlando area
On this page
What and where is Restaurant Row?
Restaurant Row is the name for the dining strip on West Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area of southwest Orlando. Visit Orlando, the official tourism site, places it on Sand Lake Road, close to International Drive, the Orange County Convention Center and the major theme parks, with more than two dozen upscale and casual restaurants. Going by their addresses, most of the restaurants it names sit between Turkey Lake Road, just west of I-4, and Dr. Phillips Boulevard and Via Dellagio Way.
The names Visit Orlando highlights give you a sense of the mix:
- Steak and seafood: The H Orlando, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Ocean Prime and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, plus Norman’s from chef Norman Van Aken.
- International: North Italia, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, Chima Steakhouse, Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi, Gyu-Kaku, Seito Sushi and Kabooki Sushi.
- Wine, fondue and casual: The Melting Pot, Cooper’s Hawk, Seasons 52, Sixty Vines, The Whiskey and Keke’s Breakfast Cafe.
At the west end, The Marketplace at Dr Phillips, on Dr. Phillips Boulevard, lists a Publix supermarket, Starbucks, TooJay’s, Christini’s, Morton’s, Bosphorous and The H Orlando, with Shake Shack coming soon.
Walking or driving?
Sand Lake Road is a busy, multi-lane road with an I-4 interchange between International Drive and the restaurants. OpenStreetMap shows sidewalks along it, and the walking routes we ran on OpenStreetMap data from the I-Drive hotels follow the road. From the Rosen Inn, Seito Sushi is about a 0.6-mile walk, Ocean Prime 0.7 mile and Ruth’s Chris about 0.9 mile. The Marketplace at the west end is 1.2 miles or more from every hotel on this list, which is a long walk in Florida heat.
Walk to the east end in daylight; for a late dinner at the far end, a rideshare is easier. For weekend dinners, reserve a table ahead.
How we chose
We started with hotels within about 2.5 miles of the Sand Lake Road and Turkey Lake Road corner and kept those whose fees, parking and shuttles we could confirm on official pages in October 2026, or on archived copies where brand sites blocked us (Hilton, June 2026; Marriott’s Element and Castle pages, May 2026). Westgate Lakes is here for groups who need villas. We don’t assign scores.
Distances are routes, not straight lines. Drives come from OSRM, an OpenStreetMap-based router. It currently won’t send cars across I-4 on Sand Lake Road, so the I-Drive hotels’ trips to the restaurants are walking routes from OpenStreetMap’s foot router (routing.openstreetmap.de), which cross the interstate on Sand Lake Road. Universal figures go to the main garages, Epic Universe to its guest parking entrance, and Disney to the Disney Springs garages and the EPCOT lot.
Hotels near Restaurant Row Orlando compared
| Hotel | To Restaurant Row | Breakfast | Self-parking | Universal shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drury Inn & Suites near Universal | On it; 0.3 mi walk | Free, hot | Free | Free, scheduled |
| Rosen Inn International | About 0.6 mi walk | Paid buffet | $10 a night | Free, scheduled |
| Embassy Suites ICON Park | About 0.8 mi walk | Free, made to order | $24.50 a day incl. tax | Free or paid (sources differ) |
| Hotel Landy | About 1 mi walk | Not included | $35 a day | Free, daily |
| Element Orlando Universal Blvd. | About 1.1 mi walk | Free, hot | $24 a day | None listed |
| Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection | About 1.4 mi walk | Not included | $35 a day | None listed |
| Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa | About 1.6 mi drive | Not included | Free | Free, reserve on site |
“To Restaurant Row” means the nearest restaurants at its east end (Seito Sushi or Ocean Prime). Fees are at the time of writing, before Orange County’s 12.5% hotel tax, so confirm them when you book. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
1. Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort
At 7301 West Sand Lake Road, the Drury is the only hotel on Restaurant Row itself. Seito Sushi is about a 0.3-mile walk, Ocean Prime 0.35 mile and Ruth’s Chris about 0.5 mile, and the Marketplace about 1.2 to 1.3 miles.
Drury’s page lists a free hot breakfast (6 to 9:30 am weekdays, 7 to 10 am weekends) and the free 5:30 Kickback, served 5:30 to 7 pm with hot food, beer, wine and mixed drinks, plus a paid Kitchen + Bar from 5 pm. The 238 rooms are kings, two-queen rooms and two-room suites with a sofa sleeper, all with a microwave and refrigerator.
- Why stay: You can walk to dinner, and free breakfast, the Kickback and free parking offset one big night out.
- Getting there / to the parks: Drury offers a free scheduled shuttle to all Universal parks, including Epic Universe; reserve at the Universal ticket center in the lobby. By road it’s about 2.5 miles to Universal’s garages, 7.5 to 8 to Disney Springs and 12 to the EPCOT lot. Epic Universe is roughly 4.5 miles via Sand Lake Road and I-Drive (our walk-plus-drive estimate, since the router won’t cross I-4 there; its detour is 6.3 miles). Drury’s own figures (2 miles to Universal, 7 to Disney Springs) are shorter.
- Good to know: Parking is free during your stay. Standard rooms sleep up to 5 and suites up to 6. Rollaways cost $15 a day plus tax, and Pack ‘n Plays are free. Pets are $50 a day plus tax (two pets, 80 pounds combined). The outdoor pool and whirlpool are open 9 am to 10 pm. Check-in is 3 pm and checkout 11 am.
Best for: Food-focused couples and families who want to walk to dinner and ride a shuttle to Universal.
See prices and availability at Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort
2. Rosen Inn International
Rosen Inn International is at 7600 International Drive, on the north side of Sand Lake Road at the I-Drive corner. It’s the no-frills value pick on this list. Seito Sushi is about 0.6 mile on foot, Ocean Prime about 0.7 mile along Sand Lake Road (roughly 15 minutes) and Ruth’s Chris about 0.9 mile, past the I-4 interchange.
Rosen says it never charges a resort fee. You get two seasonally heated outdoor pools, a wading pool, a playground and a 24-hour arcade. The Fountain View Café’s breakfast buffet runs 6:30 to 10:30 am, and one child 5 or under eats free per paying adult. Deluxe rooms have two doubles or a king, a mini-fridge and a microwave; the two-double room sleeps 4 in its beds, or 5 with a paid rollaway.
- Why stay: No resort fee, cheap parking and a free Universal shuttle leave more of your budget for Restaurant Row.
- Getting there / to the parks: The free scheduled Universal shuttle needs an advance reservation at the lobby desk. Departures run from 7:15 to 11:30 am, and returns from 5:15 to 8:30 pm. Disney transportation is paid. By road it’s about 2.6 miles to Universal’s garages, 4.1 to Epic Universe, 9.3 to Disney Springs and 13.4 to the EPCOT lot.
- Good to know: Gated self-parking is $10 a night per car, tax included, capped at $50 a stay. Dogs are welcome with no breed or size limits, in ground-floor rooms, under the hotel’s dog policy. There’s no airport shuttle; Rosen suggests rideshare.
Best for: Budget travelers and families who’ll spend more on dinners than on the room.
3. Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando International Drive ICON Park
This all-suite hotel is on Jamaican Court, just off International Drive, south of Sand Lake Road and next to ICON Park. Seito Sushi is about 0.8 mile on foot, Ocean Prime about 0.9 mile and Ruth’s Chris about 1.1 miles. Our guide to hotels near ICON Park covers the I-Drive side of this neighborhood.
Its management company announced on September 29, 2026 that a full renovation is finished: 246 one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, an atrium with a circular bar, an indoor/outdoor pool, The Cascades Lounge and E’terie, a 24-hour grab-and-go shop. Breakfast is free and made to order, and there’s a free evening reception.
- Why stay: A separate living room, free cooked breakfast and an evening reception, a walk from ICON Park and the Row’s east end.
- Getting there / to the parks: The sources disagree about the shuttle. The September 2026 announcement lists a free shuttle to Walt Disney World, Universal and Epic Universe. Hilton’s page, captured in June 2026, called it a paid shuttle that also serves SeaWorld. Confirm the cost and schedule with the hotel. By road it’s about 2.7 miles to Universal’s garages, 3.8 to Epic Universe and 9 to Disney Springs.
- Good to know: Hilton lists self-parking at $24.50 a day including tax and no valet (October 2026). Up to two dogs or cats were allowed, with a non-refundable fee of $75 for 1 to 4 nights or $125 for 5 nights or more. Check-in was 4 pm.
Best for: Families who want a suite and free breakfast, with dinner on the Row a walk or short ride away.
Compare rates for Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando International Drive ICON Park
4. Hotel Landy Orlando Universal Blvd., a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Hotel Landy is a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel at 7800 Universal Boulevard, just north of Sand Lake Road. The nearest Restaurant Row restaurants are about a mile west on foot, and Ruth’s Chris about 1.3 miles. It’s also the closest hotel on this list to Universal: about 2 miles by road to the garages.
Marriott’s page describes a heated pool and hot tub, a bocce court and a fitness center, with Orly’s Market for Starbucks coffee and grab-and-go meals, Émilie Bar & Lounge and Liquid Sunshine poolside. Rooms include kings, double queens and Skyline View rooms with Keurig coffee makers and mini-fridges; the Junior Suite adds a living area with a sleeper sofa.
- Why stay: A stylish, design-led hotel with no resort fee and a free Universal shuttle, a short ride from Restaurant Row.
- Getting there / to the parks: As a Universal Partner Hotel, Landy advertises a complimentary daily shuttle to Universal plus ticket and merchandise discounts at its lobby planning center. By road it’s about 2 miles to Universal’s garages, 3.8 to Epic Universe, 9.2 to Disney Springs and 13.3 to the EPCOT lot.
- Good to know: Marriott lists no resort fee, self-parking at $35 a day and valet at $50. Up to two pets of up to 100 pounds each are allowed for $100 a stay. Check-in is 4 pm. Marriott says in-room Wi-Fi is complimentary for Bonvoy members who book direct, so check what your Booking.com rate includes.
Best for: Couples and small families splitting time between Universal and dinners out.
5. Element Orlando Universal Blvd.
Element is Marriott’s long-stay brand, and this one is at 8278 Universal Boulevard, which Marriott describes as steps from ICON Park. The nearest Restaurant Row restaurants are about 1.1 to 1.2 miles on foot, so most guests will drive or take a short rideshare to dinner.
Every studio and one-bedroom suite has a fully equipped kitchen, and the hotel’s photos show a full-size fridge, cooktop and dishwasher. Breakfast is free, with a hot item from the chef’s station, served 6:30 to 9:30 am weekdays and 7 to 10 am weekends. The heated saline pool is open year-round from 8 am to 9 pm.
- Why stay: Free breakfast and a full kitchen, so you can save Restaurant Row for one or two special dinners.
- Getting there / to the parks: Marriott lists no theme park shuttle. By road it’s about 2.5 miles to Universal’s garages, 3.3 to Epic Universe, 8.8 to Disney Springs and 12.8 to the EPCOT lot.
- Good to know: At last check, self-parking was $24 a day and valet $30. The minimum check-in age is 21. One pet up to 30 pounds is allowed for $50 a night, capped at $150. Marriott lists no EV charging here.
Best for: Longer stays and families who’ll cook some meals.
See prices and availability at Element Orlando Universal Blvd.
6. Castle Hotel, Autograph Collection
You can’t miss the Castle: a white, turreted Marriott Autograph Collection hotel at 8602 Universal Boulevard, which Marriott places near International Drive and Pointe Orlando. It’s the farthest of the I-Drive-side picks from Restaurant Row, about 1.4 to 1.5 miles on foot to the nearest restaurants, so plan on a short drive or rideshare.
Marriott lists a minimum check-in age of 21. The Guild Restaurant & Bar off the lobby serves all meals, with dinner until 10 pm and drinks until 11 pm, and there’s a Reign Pool Bar. The heated outdoor pool, with a whirlpool beside it, was open 9 am to 10 pm.
- Why stay: A character-filled boutique base for couples mixing Restaurant Row dinners with I-Drive nights.
- Getting there / to the parks: Marriott advertises no theme park shuttle. By road it’s about 2.9 miles to Universal’s garages, 3 to Epic Universe, 8.5 to Disney Springs and 12.6 to the EPCOT lot.
- Good to know: At last check, self-parking was $35 a day and valet $45, with EV charging. Up to two dogs of up to 40 pounds are allowed ($150 for the first and $50 for the second). Check-in is 4 pm. We found no resort fee on Marriott’s overview, but confirm in the rate details before you pay.
Best for: Couples and adult groups who want atmosphere over amenities.
7. Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa
Westgate Lakes is a lakefront timeshare resort at 9500 Turkey Lake Road that rents studios and one- to four-bedroom villas by the night. It’s south of Restaurant Row on the same side of I-4: about 1.6 to 1.8 miles by road to the Sand Lake Road corner (roughly 4 to 5 minutes without traffic) and 2.8 miles to the Marketplace. Our full Westgate Lakes Resort review covers villa sizes, the water park and fees.
Every villa has a kitchenette or a full kitchen, and Westgate lists seven heated outdoor pools and Treasure Cove, a pirate-themed water park. Water park tickets cost extra on most rates; our review found $25 per person per day at the time of writing.
- Why stay: Room for big groups, kitchens and free parking, with Restaurant Row a few minutes up Turkey Lake Road.
- Getting there / to the parks: Registered guests can book a free shuttle to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk and Epic Universe through the concierge or front desk after check-in. By road it’s about 4.2 miles to Universal’s garages, 5.7 to Epic Universe, 3 to SeaWorld, 6 to Disney Springs and 10 to the EPCOT lot.
- Good to know: The resort fee is $29.99 plus tax a night. Self-parking is free for cars and small to mid-size SUVs. At last check, check-in was 4 pm, checkout 10 am and the minimum age 21. Westgate also promotes discounted resort-preview packages that require a sales presentation; you don’t have to book one.
Best for: Large families and groups with a car who want villa space near Restaurant Row.
How to choose a hotel near Restaurant Row
- You want to walk to dinner: Drury is the only hotel on the Row; from the Rosen Inn or Embassy Suites the east end is roughly a 12- to 20-minute walk.
- Universal is the main event: Drury, Rosen Inn, Hotel Landy and Westgate Lakes all list free Universal shuttles. For hotels inside Universal or within walking distance of its gates, see our guide to hotels near Universal Studios Orlando, and for the newest park, hotels near Epic Universe.
- You want breakfast included: Drury, Embassy Suites and Element include it. Our list of hotels near Universal with free breakfast has more options.
- Disney days too: None of these seven is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list, and none lists a free Disney shuttle. With a car, Disney Springs is about 6 to 9 miles away, and standard theme park parking at Disney was $35 a day at last check.
- Shopping and I-Drive nights: Pair Restaurant Row with our guides to the best hotels on International Drive and hotels near the Mall at Millenia, northeast of here.
Still choosing an area? Our guide to where to stay in Orlando compares the main bases.
Frequently asked questions
What is Restaurant Row in Orlando?
It’s the dining strip on West Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips area, mostly between Turkey Lake Road (just west of I-4) and Dr. Phillips Boulevard. Visit Orlando counts more than two dozen restaurants there, from steakhouses like Ruth’s Chris, Morton’s and Ocean Prime to sushi bars, a fondue restaurant and wine bars. It’s a few minutes from International Drive and Universal.
Can you walk to Restaurant Row from International Drive?
Yes, from the north end of I-Drive. OpenStreetMap shows sidewalks along Sand Lake Road, and from the Rosen Inn at 7600 International Drive, Ocean Prime is about 0.7 mile, or roughly 15 minutes on foot. You’ll cross the busy I-4 interchange, though, and the far end near Dr. Phillips Boulevard is 1.5 miles or more away. A rideshare is easier after dark.
What is the closest hotel to Restaurant Row in Orlando?
Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort, at 7301 West Sand Lake Road. Seito Sushi is about a 0.3-mile walk and Ruth’s Chris about 0.5 mile. The hotel includes free parking, a free hot breakfast and a free 5:30 Kickback with food and drinks every evening, plus a free scheduled shuttle to Universal’s parks.
How far is Restaurant Row from Universal Orlando?
The east end of the Row is about 2.5 miles by road from Universal’s main parking garages, via Turkey Lake Road and Hollywood Way. That’s usually under 10 minutes without traffic. Epic Universe is farther, roughly 4 to 6 miles depending on your starting point and route. Several hotels nearby run free Universal shuttles, so you can skip Universal’s parking fee.
Is Restaurant Row close to Disney World?
Closer than the north end of International Drive, but not next door. From Drury, at the east end of the Row, it’s about 7.8 miles by road to the Disney Springs garages and 12 miles to the EPCOT parking lot, mostly via Central Florida Parkway and I-4. None of the hotels on our list is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list, so plan to drive or book paid transportation.
Do hotels near Restaurant Row have a shuttle to Universal?
Several do. Drury, Rosen Inn International and Hotel Landy advertise free scheduled Universal shuttles, and Westgate Lakes offers a free one you reserve after check-in that also serves Epic Universe. Embassy Suites’ sources disagree on whether its shuttle is free or paid. Element and the Castle Hotel list none. Always check times and reservation rules at the front desk.
Bottom line
If dinner is the highlight of your Orlando day, Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort is the hotel to beat near Restaurant Row, with free breakfast, an evening Kickback, free parking and a Universal shuttle. Rosen Inn is the budget pick, Element and Westgate Lakes suit cooks and big groups, and Hotel Landy and the Castle add style. See current rates at Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort.
Sources checked in October 2026: Visit Orlando: Restaurant Row, The Marketplace at Dr Phillips store directory, Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando Resort, Rosen Inn International amenities, Disney Early Theme Park Entry (US page, archived August 28, 2026)