They say that Mount Dora is a charming laid-back, relaxing getaway just an hour northwest of Orlando, that offers you the pleasure of an Old Florida country getaway. Antiques & Charm await in Mount Dora, Florida. That sounded just what we were looking for. Lakes, country inns, shops, gourmet restaurants, all are within walking distance in downtown Mount Dora. Antique enthusiasts from across the country descend on Mount Dora as it has many shops in the area. Mount Dora is well known for its small-town southern charm. The downtown area overlooks Lake Dora.
But First, Coffee
You can learn much about a town by stopping into the local convenience store or barbershop. The folks that work at these locations know everything about the area because people talk. Coffee shops produce the same results. Now, I am not talking about your local Starbucks, it has to be a coffee shop that has been in the area for a while. So, to begin our weekend in Mount Dora, we stopped in at the “Cutest little coffee shop in Mount Dora”. The Village Coffeepot located in the historic downtown area has been serving up its brew for over thirty years. This small shop in the heart of downtown is where folks stop in and share stories and meet friends.
The Village Coffeepot also offers gourmet coffee and espresso, Cuban coffee lattes, cappuccino, and homemade ice cream and gelato. You can even stay for lunch and order a gourmet sandwich and a cup of soup.
Talking with folks here at the Village Coffeepot gave us ideas on what to do in the Lake County area. They had some good restaurant suggestions, places to visit if you love nature and Lake Dora, the best place to hang your hat for the night, and where the many antique shops were that brought us to Mount Dora for the weekend. Antique shops are scattered throughout the area they say, but if you are looking for the largest, head over to Renningers.
Renninger’s Antique Shopping
Brenda and I both love to shop at antique stores, thrift stores, and yard sales. As Forrest Gump would say, “You never know what you’re going to get”. We were in awe as we arrived at a twin shopping complex with two huge buildings on 117 acres. One building was dedicated to a Flea Market and the other to Antiques. We decided to visit the antique side.
There are many vendors in the main building but what caught our eye was an area just to the side that looked as if it were an old street. It is called the Street of Shops. The area looked like an old town lined with oak trees. Wood buildings and gravel walkways led us from store to store. This is what I meant when I said that Antiques & Charm await in Mount Dora, Florida.
The shops specialized in different antiques from furniture, old radios, jewelry, vintage advertising signs, and old toys. You could spend the entire day here and never see the same thing twice. It is probably the largest market I have ever been to.
Renninger’s Mount Dora Markets are just 30 minutes north of Orlando, FL, on U.S. 441, just north of Route 46. Antiques Center Open Fridays 10 to 4, Saturdays & Sundays 9 to 5. Farmers & Flea Sat. & Sun 8 to 4
There is a food court available to grab a snack or some lunch, but we decided to head back into downtown Mount Dora and grab a burger at The Frog & Monkey.
Lunch at The Frog and Monkey
After spending the morning antique shopping, it was finally time for lunch. We saw a sign on Donnelly Street that pointed us to the Frog and Monkey. We followed the sign to the rear of a building and arrived at a back door where we proceeded down a flight of stairs. The restaurant is located in the basement of the Renaissance Building. I felt like I was arriving at a speakeasy and was prepared to be asked for a password to get in. When we arrived, we discovered a pub atmosphere and had a seat at the bar.
We had heard that the Frog and Monkey Restaurant & Pup makes delicious hamburgers. In fact, they are known for having the best burgers in Lake County.
As I was sitting at the bar, I was wondering why there are doors in the restaurant labeled “Morgue” and “Autopsy Room.” There are reports that ghosts call this pub home. Bright orbs have been videotaped moving around the room. The pub is on the Mount Dora ghost tour.
The Frog and Monkey is located at 411 N Donnelly St, Mount Dora, FL
A walk after lunch at a Mount Dora Park
A peaceful walk by the water at Palm Island Park was the cure I needed for eating too much lunch. A wooden boardwalk takes you around part of Lake Dora through live oak, cabbage palms, and cypress trees. It was nice to get out and relax in nature. There are a few shade pavilions to get you out of the sun if it becomes too hot.
The beautiful walk was a great way to see lots of area wildlife. There were plenty of ducks, shorebirds, turtles, and other critters in their natural habitat. We did not see an alligator, but be sure that they are lurking around here too.
The walk takes you about a mile to complete in a figure-eight loop, so it’s not really long. There are also a few footpath trails just off the boardwalk that can be explored.
There are some picnic tables by the water scattered around as the park is a perfect place to have a picnic lunch.
You can look across the lake and see the famous Mount Dora lighthouse. It is actually in the park just next to Palm Island. We will head over there next.
Address: 411 S Tremain St, Mount Dora
Admission: Free
Mount Dora Lighthouse
The Mount Dora Lighthouse is just a short walk from downtown and is one of the best-known landmarks in Mount Dora. At 35 feet tall, it is small compared to other lighthouses in Florida, but it is a working beacon guiding boaters on Lake Dora to the boat ramps and the Mount Dora Marina.
The lighthouse sits on Grantham Point next to Gilbert Park and Palm Island Nature Preserve.
Welcome to The Lakeside Inn Mount Dora
It was finally time to check in at The Lakeside Inn. Built in 1883 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Inn is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the State of Florida. The Lakeside Inn is a grand old hotel with a front porch full of rocking chairs and a beautiful view of Lake Dora. Folks gather to watch the sunset with a glass of wine on the front porch or on the beautifully manicured lawn that slopes down to the lake.
The Lakeside Inn is located in the heart of historic Mount Dora and is beautifully kept.
The location makes it an easy walk to shops and restaurants. The room that we stayed in was small but clean. There was room for only one nightstand and only one chair. The staff was very friendly and professional. If you like beautiful sunsets, lovely grounds, and an inn with character, then you will want to stay at The Lakeside Inn.
A visit to Lakeside Inn is like stepping back in time… to a time of simple pleasures, shared and enjoyed, with family and friends. It is Old Florida at its best. It is the perfect Central Florida getaway.
Places to eat dinner in Downtown Mount Dora
Mount Dora is known for its small-town charm, antique shopping, and restaurant choices. From breakfast served all day to renowned award-winning cuisine, here are some of Mount Dora’s hidden restaurant treasures you should check out for dinner.
Pisces Rising is a celebration of Florida cuisine. Lovingly wrapped around a Florida cracker bungalow-style home built in the 1920s, the restaurant overlooks Lake Dora and the setting sun.
In historic downtown Mount Dora, the Goblin Market has been charming to locals and tourists since 1996. The restaurant features three intimate, book-lined dining rooms, as well as a beautiful bar and lounge.
The Olive Branch Mediterranean Italian Grille & Bar
Casual fine dining in downtown Mount Dora. Serves Italian and Mediterranean dishes in a beautiful setting that has lake views and indoor/outdoor seating.
Situated in a converted home built in 1921, This restaurant now serves delicious gourmet dishes with locally grown ingredients. “1921 Mount Dora” is a restaurant and bar located in the picturesque, historic community of Mount Dora.
The taste of Havana is just around the corner. Enjoy the tropical flavors and culture of Cuba right here in Mount Dora. The freshest ingredients are used in traditional steak, seafood, chicken, and pork dishes.
Many restaurants in the downtown area require reservations, especially if events are happening on the weekends. I have linked websites to my restaurant suggestions to help you do so.
Evening Stroll browsing at Downtown Mount Dora Shops
Save some time after dinner for a walk around downtown. The town takes on a whole new look in the evening.
Sunday Morning in Mount Dora
We were up early Sunday morning and had a casual and relaxing breakfast on the veranda at the Lakeside Inn with a morning view of the lake. After breakfast, we visited the Village Market and took one last walk downtown. With everything within walking distance, it made it easy to explore on foot.
Our time was up in Mount Dora, but there were two more stops to make before heading home.
Mount Dora, VW Bug Spider
If you ride by the corner of Highland Street and 3rd Avenue in Mount Dora, you can’t miss the new eye-catching spider sculpture. Built by John Henns and unveiled in January 2020, this arthropod is painted an ominous all-black. This daddy-longlegs is mounted right next to the road and ready to strike. This made a nice Halloween display when we drove by in October.
Last Stop: Long & Scott Farms
Our visit to Mount Dora was in late October, so we decided to stop at Long & Scott Farms to pick out a pumpkin. With temperatures at 88 degrees in Florida, we closed our eyes and tried to imagine that fall was in the air.
They have a corn maze here that is very popular but at $12 a person. I thought the price was pretty steep. Then you had to pay an extra $4 for a hayride. So, we skipped the corn maze and went straight for the pumpkins.
Their Country Market has lots of seasonal fruit & veggies for sale, along with other local items like honey, jams, etc.
We had a lovely weekend visiting Mount Dora. I am glad we visited during a weekend when it was less crowded. Mount Dora has many festivals throughout the year that draws lots of visitors. We just happened to visit on a normal weekend. It made it easy to get a seat at a restaurant and move around freely downtown. It was a great weekend to get away, simply relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you enjoyed your visit to Mount Dora and would like an idea of where to go for your next perfect three-day weekend, then check out my post on The Perfect Three Day Weekend in Stuart, Florida.
Have you visited Mount Dora or other places in Florida similar? Comment below and tell me about your favorite places. I’m always ready to get on the road to check em out.
