Food

Dining in Lakeland is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Whether you’re hosting at home or bringing your team to a sports bar, we’ve got a game plan that will have your guests naming you the MVP.
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Born & Bread made the shortlist for the Outstanding Bakery category, becoming the first in the Lakeland area to be recognized by the prestigious James Beard Awards.
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Enjoy two ham-packed days of world-class BBQ, family-friendly activities, and community giving.
Shaken or stirred? Either one works, as long as it’s zero-proof. Check out this list of alcohol-free cocktails — mocktails — in Swan City.
With a Victorian vibe and shaved snow desserts, Vampire Penguin could become your newest downtown haunt.
We hear readers’ hopes for future Lakeland eateries all the time. Now, we’re compiling them all into a restaurant wishlist to see which foodie dreams come true.
What were the top things you ate, drank, and did in 2025? We’re sharing editor and reader picks for you to try in the new year.
From airport news to real estate, these are the top stories our readers loved most this year.
More from LALtoday
This annual festival celebrates all things aviation. Save this guide to admission, activities, and aviation fun.
Students can now order food online, and an AI-powered food delivery robot will bring it directly to their location. Would you like to see this tech in another part of Lakeland?
Let us plan your nightly entertainment with movies, live music, and stage shows, plus the perfect places to grab a bite.
In response to a statewide water shortage, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is enacting water restrictions for Polk County and surrounding areas.
Polk County Public Schools just broke ground on Junior Achievement’s innovative new Discovery Center where students will get hands-on business experience.
When it comes to hyperspecific food festival themes, Central Florida has the recipe down pat.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Wellness
Get your steps in and find a sense of sisterhood with this group that meets weekly for walks along Lakeland’s most picturesque trails.
Get a rare look inside some of Lakeland’s most historic homes on this walking tour of the Lake Morton neighborhood.
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.