Derek & Sarah’s Guidebook
Food scene
Buster's Bistro
300 Sanford AveExcellent European beer list and amazing frites!
Wonderful Greek food. We recommend the pizza, garlic knots, gyros, and eggplant parmesan.
10 locals recommend
Zorbas Greek Food
115 E 1st StWonderful Greek food. We recommend the pizza, garlic knots, gyros, and eggplant parmesan.
Awesome German food with a traditional German band that plays Thursday-Sunday nights. Very popular, so you may have a wait at peak days/hours.
74 locals recommend
Hollerbach's Willow Tree Café German Restaurant
201-205 E 1st StAwesome German food with a traditional German band that plays Thursday-Sunday nights. Very popular, so you may have a wait at peak days/hours.
Pizza is decent and they have a full bar. What makes this place nice is that you can eat outside overlooking the marina.
11 locals recommend
Sanford Pizza Company
350 E Seminole BlvdPizza is decent and they have a full bar. What makes this place nice is that you can eat outside overlooking the marina.
Best donuts ever. We recommend the square glazed, but they have many fancy donuts as well.
8 locals recommend
Donuts To Go
1414 W 1st StBest donuts ever. We recommend the square glazed, but they have many fancy donuts as well.
Jimotti's Restaurant
2545 S French AveExcellent Japanese ramen and sushi.
Market-like space filled with small eateries that are almost all delicious. We highly recommend Salvatores subs, Greenery Creamery (delicious dairy and dairy-free ice cream), and Dixie Dharma (vegan fare).
11 locals recommend
Henrys Depot
212 W 1st StMarket-like space filled with small eateries that are almost all delicious. We highly recommend Salvatores subs, Greenery Creamery (delicious dairy and dairy-free ice cream), and Dixie Dharma (vegan fare).
Excellent Southern soul food and a friendly owner. Try the chicken and waffles!
6 locals recommend
Shantell's
503 Sanford AveExcellent Southern soul food and a friendly owner. Try the chicken and waffles!
El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant
406 Sanford AveSome of the best Mexican food in Central Florida.
Bars and drinks
Extensive whiskey menu and craft cocktails at this eclectic, hip bar.
18 locals recommend
The Imperial at Washburn Imports
116 E 1st StExtensive whiskey menu and craft cocktails at this eclectic, hip bar.
An excellent Irish bar with traditional pub food and robust beer and whiskey selection.
The Sullivan-A Public House
116 East 1st StreetAn excellent Irish bar with traditional pub food and robust beer and whiskey selection.
There are many great breweries in downtown Sanford, but this one is our favorite. Some very unusual beers, including the coffee sour called Sourmanjaro.
11 locals recommend
Deviant Wolfe Brewery
121 W 1st StThere are many great breweries in downtown Sanford, but this one is our favorite. Some very unusual beers, including the coffee sour called Sourmanjaro.
Large courtyard, extensive drink selection, and live music many nights.
23 locals recommend
Tuffy's Bottle Shop / Lounge
200 Myrtle AveLarge courtyard, extensive drink selection, and live music many nights.
Local shopping
Quirky used book and record store with a nice selection in historic downtown Sanford.
Maya Books and Music
204 E 1st StQuirky used book and record store with a nice selection in historic downtown Sanford.
Fun gifts including clothes, jewelry, and barware in a general store-themed shop.
8 locals recommend
Magpies Modern General Store
215-217 E 1st StFun gifts including clothes, jewelry, and barware in a general store-themed shop.
More German gummy bears and other German groceries than you will ever find outside of Germany. Really cute during the Christmas season.
11 locals recommend
Hollerbach's Magnolia Square Market
117 Magnolia AveMore German gummy bears and other German groceries than you will ever find outside of Germany. Really cute during the Christmas season.
Entertainment
The Pinball Lounge (inside the Oviedo bowling center) is a 20-minute drive from our home. It has a bar, bowling alley, and more than 40 pinball machines from the 1960s to today.
The Pinball Lounge
376 East Broadway StreetThe Pinball Lounge (inside the Oviedo bowling center) is a 20-minute drive from our home. It has a bar, bowling alley, and more than 40 pinball machines from the 1960s to today.
Historic theater that has local productions as well as classic movie nights.
23 locals recommend
Wayne Dench Performing Arts Center
201 Magnolia AveHistoric theater that has local productions as well as classic movie nights.
Theater West End
115 W 1st StHigh-quality theater productions in an intimate, local venue.
Sightseeing
We recommend all visitors spend some time in historic downtown Sanford. 1st Street and the surrounding area is full of charm and excellent restaurants and shops. The historic district neighborhood is filled with old houses and Spanish moss-covered oak trees. We think walking up Magnolia, Palmetto, Elm, and Oak Avenues are lovely.
Sanford Main Street
230 E 1st StWe recommend all visitors spend some time in historic downtown Sanford. 1st Street and the surrounding area is full of charm and excellent restaurants and shops. The historic district neighborhood is filled with old houses and Spanish moss-covered oak trees. We think walking up Magnolia, Palmetto, Elm, and Oak Avenues are lovely.
Beautiful state park that features tubing and other recreational activities during summer months. Visit during winter months for manatee watching. Get there early to avoid a wait to enter the park.
407 locals recommend
Blue Spring State Park
2100 W French AveBeautiful state park that features tubing and other recreational activities during summer months. Visit during winter months for manatee watching. Get there early to avoid a wait to enter the park.
Neighborhoods
We recommend all visitors spend some time in historic downtown Sanford. 1st Street and the surrounding area is full of charm and excellent restaurants and shops. The historic district neighborhood is filled with old houses and Spanish moss-covered oak trees. We think walking up Magnolia, Palmetto, Elm, and Oak Avenues are lovely.
50 locals recommend
Sanford
We recommend all visitors spend some time in historic downtown Sanford. 1st Street and the surrounding area is full of charm and excellent restaurants and shops. The historic district neighborhood is filled with old houses and Spanish moss-covered oak trees. We think walking up Magnolia, Palmetto, Elm, and Oak Avenues are lovely.
About 45-minutes from Sanford, historic Mount Dora has many cute shops, restaurants, and is near the Renninger's Antique Market.
215 locals recommend
Mount Dora
About 45-minutes from Sanford, historic Mount Dora has many cute shops, restaurants, and is near the Renninger's Antique Market.