Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen: The Lake Nona Favorite Locals Recommend Over Restaurant Row

When out-of-town friends ask where to book dinner near Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row, I usually steer them to Lake Nona for one reason: Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen nails the kind of shareable, easygoing meal that lets a group try a lot without overthinking it. It’s set in Lake Nona Town Center at 6967 Lake Nona Blvd, close to Orlando International Airport, with free parking in the Town Center garages so you’re not starting the night with a parking chase. Happy hour runs weekdays 3–6 pm, and weekend brunch goes 10 am–3 pm both Saturday and Sunday, which gives you flexibility if you’re building a day around theme parks, golf, or a conference schedule.

Chroma is open most of the day, which matters when a meeting ends early or the kids’ naps run late. Current hours are Monday–Wednesday 11 am–10 pm, Thursday 11 am–11 pm, Friday 11 am–midnight, Saturday 10 am–midnight, and Sunday 10 am–10 pm. Reservations are accepted and helpful for peak times, but I’ve also had good luck with a walk-in at the bar if I’m flexible on seating. If you’re trying to fit in one more ride on the way back from the parks, that later Friday and Saturday close time helps.

When should you go to Chroma, and how does it fit a real itinerary?

If you’re staying near International Drive or Sand Lake Road and want a less touristy dinner, target weekday happy hour or a late Saturday slot after 8. The happy hour window is 3–6 pm Monday through Friday, which lines up nicely with a lighter meal before a show or a game. For weekend warriors, Chroma’s 10 am–3 pm brunch means you can start late and still make it to an afternoon activity without rushing. It’s also a solid airport-day choice, since Lake Nona sits close to MCO and you can leave luggage in the car without stressing about meters; parking in Lake Nona Town Center garages is free.

Chroma plays well with groups because the whole menu is built around social plates and flexible portions. If your crew includes both adventurous eaters and folks who just want fries and a burger, you can cover both without detouring to another spot. And if you’ve got a split itinerary, Park Pizza & Brewing Co. sits a short walk away at 6941 Lake Nona Blvd, open daily at 11 am and late on weekends (to 1 am Friday–Saturday), so one part of the group can peel off for house-brewed beer and pizza while the rest linger over dessert at Chroma.

What to order like a local at Chroma

Start with shareables

Order a spread and let the table graze. The Avocado Fries $13.79 are a crowd-pleaser with jalapeño ranch that leans creamy instead of fiery. If you want seafood to pass around, the Crab + Artichoke Dip $20.39 arrives bubbling with parmesan gratin and grilled bread sturdy enough for real scoops. Tuna fans go for the Tuna Tartare $20.69 with avocado, pistachio oil, and wontons that stay crisp. Vegetarians at my table often claim the Roasted Beet + Goat Cheese $17.89 plate early, so get two if that’s your group.

Small plates with “big dinner” energy

Chroma’s slider game is deep, which is handy when you’re splitting bites. The house Chroma Sliders $17.89 layer white cheddar with bacon-onion jam and a secret sauce that leans savory-sweet. For something different, the Lamb Sliders $16.79 cut through with mint-feta aioli and pickled onion. Seafood eaters do well with Fish + Chips $21.79 made with North Atlantic haddock, and the noodle-lovers at my table always angle for the Crispy Pork Belly Pad Thai $23.69 when we want a little heat and crunch alongside the citrusy sauce.

Greens and grilled things

Salad isn’t a consolation prize here. The Prime Skirt Steak Wedge Salad $29.49 eats like a full entrée, with blue cheese, bacon, crispy shallots, and a cool herb-buttermilk dressing. If you lean fish, “The Greek” lets you add grilled salmon skewers to olives, chickpeas, and feta and runs from $20.09 depending on how you build it. Sides are worth space on the table too: Brussels Sprouts $12.69 land with a miso-caramel gloss and togarashi; Patatas Bravas $10.49 bring garlic aioli and San Marzano sauce; and the Hand-Cut Fries $9.39 are simple and exactly right with sliders.

For the splurge

If you’re celebrating, the Josper-roasted ribeye 30 oz $83.09 comes off a charcoal grill-oven that keeps a high, even heat and a deep sear. It’s set up for sharing and pairs well with the coal-roasted carrots finished in coriander honey for $10.19. I tend to build a “family-style steakhouse” by adding a salad and two sides for the table, which keeps the check predictable while giving everyone a generous taste.

Brunch and kids

Weekend brunch runs 10 am–3 pm. Expect a rotation of sweet and savory items alongside daytime cocktails and coffee. Families are welcome, and there’s a short kids list anchored by Chicken Tenders + Fries $9.99, a Slider + Fries $9.99, and a Cheese Flatbread $9.99. We’ll often order an extra side or two and split a dessert so nobody leaves cranky.

Save room for dessert

Two easy winners: the Butterscotch Bread Pudding $10.79 with salted caramel ice cream and the Mixed Berry Cheesecake $10.79. They’re shareable, but if your table hates decisions, just get both. The chocolate crowd has its own lane with a Chocolate Mousse $10.79 set over pecan praline cream.

Is Chroma a better fit than Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row options?

It depends on the night. If your group wants small plates and a flexible check, Chroma makes the math easier than a traditional steak and seafood house. If you’re chasing wine on tap with a big, see-and-be-seen dining room on Sand Lake Road, Sixty Vines scratches that itch. For a classic “power dinner” with live lounge music, Ocean Prime is the Sand Lake standby. Here’s a quick, apples-to-apples look at three real choices locals actually use.

If your plan includes a long wine chat, Sixty Vines’ bar-and-lounge happy hour with dollars off select pours is a smart pre-dinner stop before you head to a show. If you want a single stop from spritz to dessert, Chroma’s all-day hours and bar seats make it easy to settle in. For a dressed-up evening with a dedicated “lounge hour,” Ocean Prime is the Sand Lake icon that still checks all the business-dinner boxes.

Getting there and parking in Lake Nona Town Center

Lake Nona Town Center is purpose-built for an easy night out, with garages that don’t nickel-and-dime you. Parking in the Town Center garages is free, and the walk to Chroma is short and well signed. That’s a relief if you’re coming from a convention day on I-Drive and want a break from meters. If someone in your group needs a stroll before dinner, the Town Center is dotted with public art and a central plaza, and Park Pizza & Brewing Co. and Boxi Park are a short walk if you want to extend the evening.

Chroma participates in the Tavistock Restaurant Collection’s Preferred Guest program. If you eat at Park Pizza & Brewing one night and Chroma the next, the points stack. It’s not the reason to pick a place, but for repeat visitors or locals who end up in Lake Nona often, it’s worth the 90 seconds it takes to sign up.

How long is the wait, and where should you sit?

On Fridays, the bar fills first around the back-half of happy hour. If you want elbow room for shared plates, ask for the patio or a high-top if one’s available. For families, inside seating close to the open kitchen keeps kids engaged, and you won’t be the only table with strollers at brunch. If you’re marking something special, the restaurant occasionally promotes a tableside Parm to Table truffle fettuccine experience you can book in advance; it’s a fun pick for a celebratory night when you want a bit of showmanship without committing to a prix fixe.

For larger parties, call ahead or use the reservation platform so they can set you in a semi-private nook. If you end up splitting the group, that’s not a failure. I’ve had half the crew park at Chroma for small plates while the others grabbed a round at Park Pizza and then rejoined us for dessert. It keeps the energy up and avoids the “one person ordered a steak and now everyone’s waiting” lull.

Quick takeaways to plan your meal

• Hours: Mon–Wed 11 am–10 pm, Thu 11 am–11 pm, Fri 11 am–12 am, Sat 10 am–12 am, Sun 10 am–10 pm. Brunch Sat–Sun 10 am–3 pm.
• Happy hour: Weekdays 3–6 pm, a good slot for lighter eats before a show or game.
• What locals order: Chroma Sliders $17.89, Crispy Pork Belly Pad Thai $23.69, and Brussels Sprouts $12.69. Save the $83.09 Josper-roasted ribeye for a shared splurge.
• Kids covered: Chicken Tenders + Fries, Slider + Fries, and Cheese Flatbread are each $9.99.
• Parking: Lake Nona Town Center garages are free; no meter stress on arrival or departure.
• Nearby swaps: Sixty Vines on Sand Lake Road pours 60 wines on tap with happy hour Mon–Fri 3–6 pm. Ocean Prime serves dinner nightly on Sand Lake with a lounge hour 5–7 pm and live music Wed & Fri.
• Loyalty: Preferred Guest points earn across the Tavistock Restaurant Collection, including Chroma and Park Pizza & Brewing Co. next door.

Reader Q&A

Is Chroma on Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row?

No. Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen is in Lake Nona Town Center at 6967 Lake Nona Blvd. If you specifically want Restaurant Row, look at Sixty Vines or Ocean Prime on West Sand Lake Road. If you’re open to Lake Nona, Chroma gives you free garage parking and an easy walk to other spots before or after dinner.

What time is happy hour at Chroma?

Chroma’s happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm. If you’re coming from attractions or a conference day, it’s a comfortable window for a late afternoon snack and a drink without committing to a full dinner hour.

Does Chroma offer brunch, and what are the hours?

Yes. Brunch runs on weekends from 10 am to 3 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. If your group sleeps in after a park day, you still have a generous runway to make it a leisurely meal.

Is Chroma kid-friendly, and are there dedicated kids’ items?

Yes. There’s a short kids menu with staples like Chicken Tenders + Fries $9.99, a Slider + Fries $9.99, and a Cheese Flatbread $9.99. Plenty of sides and shareables also work well for younger palates.

If you want one dinner that keeps a mixed group happy, start at Chroma for shareables and a few plates that travel well across the table, then decide whether you’re walking to dessert or calling it a night. If you crave a wine-first scene or a more traditional steak-and-seafood lounge hour, use the comparison above and pick Sixty Vines or Ocean Prime instead.

Published: September 25, 2026 · Reviewed by the Visit Orlando editorial team