Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

06/12/2026

Mount Dora showed up in full force last night for Salt & Ember Restaurant ’s official ribbon cutting.

The restaurant has already been welcoming guests at 322 N. Alexander Street, and last night’s turnout made it clear people were ready to celebrate one of downtown’s newest places to dine.

Inside, Salt & Ember has a raw bar, fresh seafood, prime steaks, craft cocktails, wine, a lively dining room and bar, and a tropical patio for outdoor dining.

On the menu, guests will find oysters, lobster, tuna tataki, filet, ribeye, porterhouse for two, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch dishes like Bananas Foster French Toast and Surf & Turf Benedict.

For anyone planning time in downtown Mount Dora, Salt & Ember adds another reason to make a full afternoon or evening of it, whether that means brunch, happy hour, patio drinks, dinner, or a night out after exploring town.

Open 7 days a week
Happy Hour daily from 4–6 PM
Brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM–3 PM

One more local shoutout: thank you to our Chamber member Merch Tent Media for capturing the night on video. Their work gives people a better feel for the room, the turnout, and the atmosphere than a photo alone ever could.

Merch Tent Media is based here in Mount Dora and helps businesses with video, content, branded merchandise, promotional products, and more.

06/12/2026

Mount Dora’s historic Train Depot has welcomed people into town for more than a century. Now, the Visitor Center inside it is getting a refresh!

Over the next four weeks or so, the Mount Dora Visitor Center will undergo a major renovation to create a more welcoming first stop for the visitors discovering our town every day.

While work is underway (starting June 14), we’ll remain open as usual, temporarily relocated right next door inside the Train Depot’s Baggage Room. Same historic building, just a different entrance.

This project is made possible thanks to a grant from the Mount Dora Community Trust, with renovation work completed by Cat 6 Roofing & Construction.

We’re sharing a few “before” photos now because this transformation is worth getting excited about. Come see us in our temporary spot during renovations — and get ready for the after.

06/10/2026

We’re launching something new for Mount Dora’s food scene. 🍽️

Mount Dora has always been a place where people make plans around a meal — dinner downtown, lunch with friends, drinks on the patio, a favorite spot you keep coming back to, or a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try.

Now, we’re bringing that energy together for the first-ever Mount Dora Area Restaurant Week, happening Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, August 2.

For one week, participating restaurants will offer special prix fixe-style lunch and dinner menus, with lunch menus capped at $30 and dinner menus capped at $50 (in addition to the regular menu and specials). It’s a new summer dining promotion designed to celebrate our local restaurants and give residents and visitors another reason to explore the area’s food scene.

Our initial restaurant lineup has been announced, and the list is still growing. Restaurants interested in participating can contact the Chamber to join the fun.

Read more about the first round of participating restaurants and event details: https://www.mountdora.com/news/details/mount-dora-area-chamber-announces-first-ever-mount-dora-area-restaurant-week

Want menu announcements, new restaurant additions, and reminders sent your way? Stay in the loop here:
https://forms.gle/stctEFDAJv448dp98

06/08/2026

The ground is shaking in Central Florida today with reports of an earthquake off of Cuba!

At the Mount Dora Visitor Center, we saw the effects firsthand and we resolved to quickly rebuild.

Check out our recovery progress, then give us a visit for a free map of Downtown Mount Dora!

06/08/2026

Did you miss the Spring Ice Cream Stroll & Pup Walk?

Good news: we’re doing it again this fall. 🍦🐾

This spring, more than 550 people came out as downtown Mount Dora filled with ice cream, local stops, happy pups, and a whole lot of energy.

Huge shoutout to Mystic Ice Cream, Scoops on 5th, and Waffles & Cream for the incredible ice cream lineup — and to DogTuff for helping make the Pup Walk such a hit.

Now the Mount Dora Ice Cream Stroll and Pup Walk - Fall '26 returns Sunday, October 11 from 3–5 PM in downtown Mount Dora, featuring a self-guided tasting tour with across local businesses, plus dog treats and pet-friendly touches along the way.

Want to be the first to know when tickets go on sale?

Join the waitlist here: https://tally.so/r/yP1gY8

06/07/2026

Florida’s beaches get plenty of attention, but some of the state’s best day trips happen inland.

Mount Dora has the kind of downtown people are always looking for: walkable, local, full of personality, and just steps from the water.

Donnelly Street anchors the experience, with restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, galleries, and museums all close enough to explore at your own pace. From there, Lake Dora is right nearby, with Gilbert Park, boat tours, lakefront views, and plenty of reasons to keep wandering.

Add in the festivals, holiday events, art shows, and long-running traditions that fill the calendar, and it is easy to see why Mount Dora’s "Main Street" keeps standing out.

Come for lunch. Stay for the shops. Walk toward the lake. Make a day of it.

Florida's small towns are home to unforgettable main streets, from coastal fishing villages to charming inland downtowns rich in history.

06/05/2026

There’s something especially special about starting your day with breakfast on 4th Avenue.

Cody's on 4th has been part of downtown Mount Dora since 2011, serving homemade breakfast and lunch favorites from its café at 111 E. 4th Avenue.

Breakfast is served until 11 a.m., with options like crustless quiche, cheese grits casserole, biscuits and gravy, French toast casserole, smoked salmon sandwiches, baked goods, and breakfast sandwiches.

For lunch, Cody’s keeps things fresh and comforting with salads, sandwiches, soups, daily specials, and homemade touches throughout the menu — including their soups, salad dressings, quiches, and desserts.

And yes, the carrot cake has a reputation for a reason.

Whether you’re grabbing coffee before shopping, meeting a friend for lunch, or easing into a downtown morning, Cody’s is an easy stop to add to the day.

Find Cody’s on 4th at 111 E. 4th Avenue in downtown Mount Dora. They’re open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with breakfast served until 11 a.m.

06/04/2026

Olde Mount Dora Carriage Company oldemountdoracc is bringing old-world charm to downtown Mount Dora — and they are not horsing around.

Established in 2022, Olde Mount Dora Carriage Company offers clean, quiet, electric carriage rides through historic downtown Mount Dora. Their Victorian-style, eco-friendly carriages give guests a unique way to take in the city’s architecture, lakefront views, local landmarks, and small-town character.

The company’s fleet includes Royellou, Dora Ann, and Beauclair — each name tied to Mount Dora history, from the town’s original name to the local legend connected to Lake Dora and neighboring Lake Beauclair.

They offer several ways to ride, including guided Mount Dora tours, seasonal Halloween and Christmas Light Tours, premium experiences, private carriage rentals, and gift cards. Some rides focus on local history and landmarks, while others are built for date nights, weddings, family outings, visiting guests, and special celebrations.

For June, they are offering 25% off one of their best tours: Champagne at Sunset.

This private half-hour ride around lovely historic Mount Dora includes a bottle of sparkling, souvenir cups, music, and a stop at the iconic lighthouse and Lake Dora for a photo. Even better, they print and frame the photo on the spot, so guests leave with an actual keepsake from the evening.

Use promo code SUNSET25 all June for 25% off Champagne at Sunset.

Book or learn more at mountdoracarriageco.com.

06/04/2026

A Mount Dora day trip does not have to stop at Mount Dora.

Just a few minutes away, Tavares, America's Seaplane Capital, has its own lineup of lakefront dining, boat days, creative stops, local flavor, and easy weekend fun.

Cruise Lake Dora aboard the Dora Queen, an 80-foot New Orleans-style paddlewheel boat with music, cocktails, lounge-style seating, and wide-open lake views.

Get hands-on at Swanky Planks Designs & DIY, where workshops, parties, Take & Make kits, open craft bar days, hat burning, door hangers, suncatchers, and creative projects make it a fun stop for families, friends, groups, and anyone who wants to make something of their own.

For food, BTW brings the burgers, tacos, waffles, and comfort-food personality.

Puddle Jumpers delivers the classic Tavares lakefront experience: casual dining, Lake Dora views, seaplanes, seafood, burgers, specialty drinks, and live music.

Over on Lake Eustis, Fish Camp brings local flavor to the waterfront with Central Florida cuisine, local craft beer, and favorites like coconut shrimp, Florida burgers, and fresh seafood.

And for a longer stay, Fisherman's Cove Resort offers lakeside lodging, RV sites, marina access, and an easy base for exploring Tavares, Mount Dora, and the surrounding area.

Mount Dora may be our name, but “area” is part of it for a reason. From downtown Mount Dora to the lakefront in Tavares, there’s a whole lot to explore right here in our corner of Central Florida.

Click the photos below to learn more about each business.

06/02/2026

Gold In Art Jewelers Mount Dora has been part of downtown Mount Dora for 40 years — and that makes this family-owned business more than a place to buy jewelry. It makes them part of the story of downtown itself.

Located at 420 N. Donnelly Street, Gold In Art is known as Mount Dora’s oldest merchant. Their Mount Dora store is the flagship location, with a second store in Lady Lake that opened in 2009, and the business now spans three generations of family.

Inside, the work ranges from custom jewelry design and repairs to cleanings, free watch battery replacement, engagement rings, wedding bands, gifts, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

They are also a place where old jewelry can become something new again. A ring tucked away in a drawer, a family piece that needs repair, a stone that needs resetting, or an idea for something custom can all become part of the conversation.

That is what makes a long-running local jeweler different. It is about the trust that comes from decades of helping people mark anniversaries, engagements, birthdays, holidays, family milestones, and everyday moments worth remembering.

Stop by Gold In Art Jewelers at 420 N. Donnelly Street in downtown Mount Dora and visit a true local staple.