Explore the Historic City of Mount Dora
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Mount Dora Florida is a small lakeside community of 11,000 residents, yet the city of Mount Dora attracts thousands of visitors each year.
It lies just 35 mins drive north west of Orlando in Lake County. Perfect for a day trip or even spending a few nights in one of the Victorian B&Bs; or hotels.
The main attractions of the town are its historic homes dating back to the 1800s, its picturesque lakeside location and its many specialist shops, galleries, boutiques and antique fairs. Mount Dora Florida is host to many festivals throughout the year including:-
- Annual Arts Festival
- Annual Antiques Fair at the flea market
- antique boat show
- the ‘Lighting of Mount Dora’ at Christmas time
- 4th July Parade
Click here to view a Mount Dora Map
Mount Dora Florida: Dining
Pisces Rising
Serves fresh seafood and steaks on a beautiful lakefront location. There are two levels for indoor dining. You can enjoy some of art work from local artists and watch the chefs create dishes in the open kitchen area. You can also have a drink or dinner on the Key-West style deck overlooking the lake.
239 w 4th Avenue in Downtown- Lunch 11:30 to 3:30 daily
- Dinner Sunday – Thursday 5pm to 9pm
- Dinner Friday & Saturday 10pm
- Phone 352-385-2669
- Visit the website for Pisces Rising in Mount Dora Florida.
Goblin Market
Mount Dora Florida, City of Mount Dora, Goblin Market This charming restaurant is housed in a beautifully renovated warehouse and includes two intimate, book-lined dining rooms. An eclectic and diversified menu complemented by an extensive wine list is served daily for lunch and dinner. Make sure to reserve ahead of time!
311-B North Donnelly Street, 352-735-0059.
Cecile’s French Corner
Specializing in authentic French cuisine and French wines, this restaurant features homemade breads, cheese platters, crepes, and French specialties on their menu plus offers both inside and outdoor dining. They are open daily for lunch and dinner.
237 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 1, 352-383-7100
Mount Dora Florida: Tea Rooms, Coffee & Cake Shops
Upper Room Café
Located in the Historic Renaissance Building, 352-205-4645, This cafe offers awesome cheesecakes, incredible quiches, and super salads. 411 North Donnely Street, Suite 212-214.
Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe
Try the signature Florida dessert of Key Lime Pie at Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. You can also find souvenirs and gifts to bring home.
- Open Monday – Thursday 10am to 5pm
- Friday & Saturday 10am to 6pm
- Sunday Noon to 6pm,
- 111 E. 4th Avenue, 352-385-0693 Visit the Key Lime Website
Java Republic
This quaint and charming coffee shop provides a wide variety of gourmet coffees, espresso juices, and light fare such as sandwiches, soups, and salads. They are open daily for lunch and early dinner. 140 West Fifth Avenue, 352-735-5950.
La Cremerie
Mount Dora’s first and premiere gourmet coffee shop, this coffee house serves an extensive menu of fine coffee products, delicious drinks, and snack foods in a European style atmosphere. They are open Monday through Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner.
425 North Donnelly Street, 352-735-2125.
Windsor Tea Room
This English restaurant and garden shop is Mount Dora Florida’s original tearoom which serves traditional English pub fare complemented by a great selection of English teas, English beers, and wines. It is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday for dinner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 42 West 4th avenue, 352-735-2551.
Cupcake Delights
Mmmmm delicious homemade cupcakes! 30 different varieties are sold here, the flavors are rotated on a daily basis – around 14 types can be found on any one day. The best thing about the store, is that all the cakes are handmade, even the buttercream and cream chesse toppings are made from scratch.
112 E 5th Ave, Mt Dora, 352-383-2200
Mount Dora Flea Market
Mount Dora Flea Market is voted one of the Top Ten flea markets in the US!
The City of Mount Dora is where you’ll find this weekly event.
You’ll find new and used goods at bargain prices.
There are two markets at this one location run by Renniger’s. There’s the Antique Center & the Flea & Farmers Market.
Antiques Center
Open Saturday & Sunday 9am-5pm. 180 shops are located in the main (fully air conditioned) building. Items on offer include art, furniture, coins, books, pottery, dolls, art deco items, jewellery, collectables and much more.
Antique Fairs – 3rd Weekend of Every Month
Aside from the annual extravaganza, there are monthly Antique Fairs. These open on the 3rd weekend of the month. For these special fairs, 200 additional vendors set up under outdoor pavilions. These extra stalls will be open at 7.30am – that’s an hour and a half earlier than the indoor stores. Those in ‘the know’ will get there extra early to bag a great parking space, but more importantly get to browse around the goods before everyone else does!
Flea Market & Farmers Market
Open Saturday & Sunday 8am-4pm. This is the place to find everything else besides antiques! You’ll find fresh meat and seafood, candies, homemade honey, groceries, spices and herbs, plants, tools and equipment, carpets, furniture, gifts….and much more.
Rennigers Antique Extravaganza
This annual event is placed firmly on the calendar of antiquing enthusiasts. It attracts visitors in their thousands from across America. The antique event is held on the 3rd weekend of November, January and February.
Whether you’re buying or selling antiques, Rennigers is the place to come – in fact it’s the largest antiques fair in the South.
It attracts around 1500 vendors and some days can see 40,000 visitors! It’s definitely not a ‘run-of-the-mill’ event. Parking and entry is FREE.
The Twin Markets are located to the north-east of the city of Mount Dora.
Antique Center Address
- 20651 US 441,
- Mount Dora, FL
- 32757
- Tel: 352-383-8393
Mount Dora Flea Market & Farmers Market Address
- 20651 US 441,
- Mount Dora, FL
- 32757
- Tel: 352-383-3141
Mount Dora Arts Festival
The Mount Dora Arts Festival is a FREE 2-day event that takes place throughout the quaint historic streets of Downtown Mount Dora, Florida.
This small historic town on the shores of Lake Dora, lies just 35 mins drive north-east of Orlando. It’s art festival is a great day out for family and friends.
This annual event draws as many as 300,000 visitors. This 2-day festival has taken place every February since 1975 and it’s the premier outdoor arts festival in the region.
The historic streets of Downtown will showcase 285 artists from across the country and around the world. The number of artists is limited to around 285 each year. This prevents there being just too many stalls to see!
There’s a wide variety of mediums including pottery, clay, oils, acrylics, watercolor, photography, sculpture and much more. There’s even hands on activities for kids inside the Children’s Tent. Kids can try face painting, clay pottery, wire sculpting and painting, there’s even pottery for toddlers. Local musicians on stage in Donnelly park provide a pleasant musical ambience to the event.
Mount Dora Arts Festival Tips
Here are some top tips to enjoy the arts festival:-
- Planning your day can save a lot of headaches! This show opens from 10am to 5.30pm. This event draws big crowds, so plan to arrive early in the day (10am) or late in the afternoon (3pm) if you don’t enjoy crowds of people. As always with big events – good weather means larger crowds – after a spot of rain is always the best time!
- Restaurants will be busy during the festival so why not bring a picnic or get a lunch to go at the local Publix supermarket? A great place to picnic is Donnelly Park where you can enjoy the musicians on stage. For a more peaceful picnic spot there’s Lake Dora shore at Simpson Cove.
- Please note that no dogs are allowed. Unfortunately this is the policy, so be prepared and leave your animals at home.
- Parking, in a word, is difficult. The best option is to leave the car and bicycle into downtown or drive to one of the shuttle bus locations at Mount Dora High School and Christian Home and Bible School. Shuttle buses charge a small fee. If you arrive early, you may be able to find parking within walking distance.