If you’ve been looking at the ‘Entertainment’ section of our site, you might have already read up on some of Florida’s shopping malls, and started planning where to go first! However, shopping in Florida isn’t only found under an enclosed roof: there are plenty of markets, boutiques and little nooks and crannies of shopping gold just waiting to be discovered. We’ve got the lowdown on some prime areas to explore in Orlando, just to start you off on your journey of shopping discovery…
Fabulous Foods…
The Fresh Market
This fresh food store is located on Dr Phillips Boulevard, and carries deli products, cheeses, meats, fresh seafood, bakery goods, dairy, handmade chocolates, fine wines and much more in-season produce, so if you’re a committed foodie then this is for you. The Fresh Market is set out like a traditional European outdoor food market, but all under one roof, making it easy for you to find what you’re looking for and discover new foods. If you’re self catering in one of our villas, branch out and enjoy cooking by being adventurous in the kitchen and try some interesting foods from a store like this one rather than relying on the supermarket all the time. Deli foods in particular can introduce you to lots of different foods and flavours with the minimum of preparation time, so why not give it a go?
903 Mills Market
An exciting downtown Orlando deli-market, 903 sells innovative high quality deli products and also offers a dining experience (including kids’ menu for the under-twelve’s) of great quality meats, wraps, and salads, with many vegetarian options, and meal deals. Located on Mills Avenue and Gore Street, this delicatessen is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is worth a visit any time of day.
Whole Foods Market
If you try to eat organic, try this on for size: the Whole Foods Market specialises in natural, organic produce, and has stores in both Orlando and Miami Beach, with sixteen stores in total across Florida. Don’t be put off by a large chain, Whole Foods pride themselves on great, healthy produce as well as nutrition aids and health products, with bakery, cheese, grocery, meats, seafood and fine wine departments that are stringent in their quality standards, claiming to shun all artificial preservatives or additives, focusing on totally natural food.
Sumptuous Styling…
Zou Zou Boutique
Selling themselves as a ‘chic boutique’, Zou Zou is a perfect fashion haven, stocking high fashion lines such as Rebecca Taylor, Nanette Lepore and Ella Moss in an intimate and quirky space which drips with glittering accessories and jewellery. Set in Thornton Park, the boutique is perfectly placed in one of Orlando’s most fashionable districts, on the west side of Summerlin Avenue. Quietly browse, chat to the girls and compare pieces with your friends, this is a perfect setting for a leisurely shopping experience – just try to resist handling the bags on display!
Etoile Boutique
An Aladdin’s cave of beautiful handmade jewellery and clothing by local designers and silversmiths, Etoile is located on Robinson Street. They specialise in one-off items, rare finds and handmade goods, so if you’re looking for something unique and like the idea of supporting new design talent, this is the boutique for you. They are against mass marketing and mass production, so you can be safe in the knowledge that it is unlikely you will bump into someone else wearing the same outfit as you, and set huge store by good craftsmanship.
Stalhi Celebrity Fashion Boutique
“Be famous for your style!” say Stalhi. This boutique is a fashion emporium of impressive proportions, selling more labels than you can shake a hanger at, offering styling to emulate your favourite celebrities by looking at pictures or magazines. This may be Florida, but you can still come over all Hollywood! If you’re a shopaholic or a fashion follower this is the place you need to make a space for in your schedule – hours of browsing, trying and buying await, with the help of personal shoppers and stylists – so leave any shopping slackers at home!
Marie-France
Cutting-edge fashions are meticulously selected, sorted, judged and re-selected for a hallowed place in the high fashion Marie-France Boutique, on Washington Street. Here their signature line of jewellery takes centre stage amongst the avant-garde shoes, accessories and of course clothing, offering high fashion looks from top to toe, beret to stiletto. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with daily deliveries of new stock in limited supply, this store carries the most up-to-the-minute items it possibly can, and prides itself on staying at the very top of the fashion game.
Merrigan’s Boutique
Comfy and cute, but stylish and timeless, Merrigan’s offer classically tailored labels for men and women seven days a week. With an emphasis on comfort whilst looking great, Merrigan’s is the boutique for the serious shopper who won’t suffer for fashion but also refuses to skimp on style. Friendly, with an inviting atmosphere, the store is a relaxed little gem on Broad Street, and has a particularly great selection of good quality designer jeans by labels such as 7 For All Mankind, Anlo Jeans, Rock & Republic and Paige Premium Denim. Dedicated to making the shopping experience as enjoyable for sceptical husbands as their wives, this boutique is ideal for couple shopping.
Lulu Belle Baby Boutique
“Hip clothes for trendy kids and chic moms-to-be!” they declare. Offering the latest styles in maternity wear, baby clothes and toddler togs, Lulu Belle stock a huge range of clothing and accessories, nappy-bags and toys for children up to fourteen years old, and fashionable styles for expecting or new mothers. Located on Broad Street, in the Baldwin Park neighbourhood, Lulu Belle is a lovely boutique with friendly staff that make shopping with young children a breeze.
Thrift Shopping
It’s hard to describe thrift shopping as anything other than second-hand markets, however there are some real finds to discover depending on how lucky you are: vintage, retro clothing and collectable paraphernalia are all thrift shopping gold, and in Orlando this could mean anything, from vintage designer labels to collectable Disney toys. The best flea markets are found in Magic Mall on Colonial Drive, International Drive Flea Market, and Makkah Bazaar on Palm Parkway. ‘Flea World’ describes itself as ‘America’s largest flea market’, and runs every weekend, but we’d recommend 192 Flea Market in Kissimmee if you’re looking for cheaper souvenirs, including Florida t-shirts and Disney mementoes.
White House – Black Market
High fashion and high quality at low prices… not an outlet store… White House – Black Market is located in many of Orlando’s shopping malls, and feels like a mall within a mall. Yes, we said no malls, but this store is a bit different. Like a department store sent to rule over all others, they specialise in ensuring your clothes fit you and flatter your figure, and offer chic, high-fashion looks for ‘real women’ without breaking the bank.
There are some amazing activities to explore in Florida, aside from the 
Warner Bros Entertainment and Universal Orlando Resort (Universal Studios) have joined forces to create the world’s first Harry Potter based theme park. Based on the best-selling series of children’s books by Scottish author JK Rowling, the Harry Potter films shot to the top of box office lists, and now the magical world will soon become a reality as Harry and friends are brought to life in the new Orlando attraction.