Orlando Florida, September 4, 2025
News Summary
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining returns to mark its 20th anniversary, featuring over 160 restaurants offering prix-fixe menus for $40 and $60. Running from August 15 to September 30, diners can enjoy a diverse culinary experience while supporting local charities, including the REED Charitable Foundation. The event also highlights new restaurants and MICHELIN Guide honorees, showcasing the best of Orlando’s dining scene. Reservations are recommended, and menus cater to various dietary needs.
Orlando — Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining returns for its 20th anniversary, running from August 15 to September 30, 2025, with a record participation of more than 160 restaurants and prix-fixe three-course menus priced at $40 or $60 per person (tax and gratuity not included). A portion of proceeds from meals sold during the event will benefit the REED Charitable Foundation, focused on closing the literacy gap for children, with $1 donated for every $40 meal and $2 donated for every $60 meal.
Key details and immediate impacts
This year’s celebration marks two decades since the inaugural Magical Dining event. Organizers report a record-setting roster of participating establishments, including 24 new restaurants on the list and 15 restaurants recognized by the MICHELIN Guide. Several restaurants will feature a special 20th-anniversary dish as part of their prix-fixe menus. Participating venues span major Orlando neighborhoods such as Winter Park, Restaurant Row, Downtown, and areas near Disney.
Reservations can be made through the event website, where diners can filter options by location, price tier, and dietary preferences. Menus include a range of cuisines and provide choices for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners. Additional hospitality options are available via Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights program, which pairs special hotel and staycation offers with the dining experience.
Charitable contributions and community support
The initiative has an established charitable track record, having raised nearly $3 million for local charities since its launch in 2009. Last year’s event contributed $352,218 to organizations focused on sustainable community efforts. In addition to donations to the REED Charitable Foundation tied to meal sales, Visit Orlando will allocate a $3,000 contribution to a local nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commission districts to support educator training programs.
How donations are calculated
- $1 donated to charity for every $40 meal sold.
- $2 donated to charity for every $60 meal sold.
Event logistics and participant information
The event features more than 160 participating restaurants offering prix-fixe three-course menus. Diners choose between two price tiers—$40 or $60—excluding tax and gratuity. Many participating restaurants will offer distinct menu items tied to the anniversary, and the overall selection aims to encourage diners to visit restaurants they might not normally choose due to budget or occasion.
Menus and reservation options are designed to be user-friendly: online filters allow diners to sort by neighborhood, cuisine type, price tier, and dietary restrictions. The inclusion of new restaurants and MICHELIN Guide-recognized venues underscores an effort to showcase both emerging and acclaimed local culinary talent.
Purpose and history
Magical Dining was created to promote Orlando’s restaurant scene while enabling patrons to support local causes through their dining choices. The inaugural event provided a chance for guests to experience restaurants that might otherwise be out of reach for some diners. Over 20 years, the program has grown in size and charitable impact, maintaining a focus on community support alongside culinary promotion.
This year’s expanded participation and targeted community contributions reflect ongoing efforts to blend tourism, local business support, and philanthropy. The charitable components—donations tied to meal purchases and district-level nonprofit contributions—are intended to benefit literacy, educator training, and sustainability-related programs within the region.
What diners should know before attending
- The event runs from August 15 to September 30, 2025.
- Menus are available at two price points: $40 and $60 per person (tax and gratuity not included).
- Reservations are recommended and can be filtered by location, price tier, and dietary preferences on the event site.
- A portion of proceeds benefits local charities, including a donation model tied to meal prices and additional community grants.
- Participating restaurants will offer a variety of cuisines and accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
FAQ
When does Magical Dining take place in 2025?
The event runs from August 15 to September 30, 2025.
How many restaurants are participating?
More than 160 restaurants are participating this year, including 24 new additions and 15 recognized by the MICHELIN Guide.
What are the price options for the menus?
Menus are offered as three-course prix-fixe meals priced at $40 or $60 per person, not including tax and gratuity.
How does the charity donation work?
For every $40 meal sold, $1 is donated to charity; for every $60 meal sold, $2 is donated. This year’s donations will benefit the REED Charitable Foundation and other local nonprofits, with additional $3,000 contributions allocated to a nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commission districts.
Where can I make reservations?
Reservations can be made through the Magical Dining website, where users can filter participating restaurants by location, price tier, and dietary preferences.
Are there options for special diets?
Yes. Participating restaurants offer a variety of cuisines with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available.
Quick reference: Event features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 15 – September 30, 2025 |
| Restaurants | More than 160 participating; 24 new; 15 MICHELIN Guide-recognized |
| Price tiers | $40 and $60 prix-fixe three-course menus (tax & tip extra) |
| Charity | $1 per $40 meal; $2 per $60 meal; nearly $3M raised since 2009; $352,218 raised last year |
| Community grants | $3,000 to one nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commission districts |
| Accessibility | Menus include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options |
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Additional Resources
- Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Announcement
- Click Orlando: Magical Dining with 160 Restaurants
- My News 13: Magical Dining’s 20th Anniversary
- Orlando Date Night Guide: Magical Dining Overview
- Wikipedia: Orlando
Author: STAFF HERE ORLANDO WRITER
ORLANDO STAFF WRITER The ORLANDO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOrlando.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Orlando, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival, Megacon Orlando, and Central Florida Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando, plus leading businesses in leisure and hospitality that power the local economy such as Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, and Universal Orlando. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
