Circo Orlando restaurant to open in 2017 on International Drive
Le Cirque has long been one of the most respected names in upscale dining, and the brand’s family of restaurants will finally be available in Orlando when Circo Orlando opens in 2017 on International Drive, next to Mango’s Tropical Cafe.
Sunshine Ventures, a Longwood-based restaurant group owned by Andrew Gross, has signed a Florida development agreement with New York-based LC International, the owners of the renowned Le Cirque, Osteria del Circo and Sirio Ristorante restaurants throughout the world. The agreement gives Sunshine the exclusive rights to develop any of the company’s current brands and any additional concepts in Central and South Florida. The first restaurant, Circo Orlando, is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2017, near Mango’s Tropical Café.
“Orlando is craving an extremely high-end Italian restaurant for both residents and its convention visitors,” Gross says. “As we’ve looked at various concepts over the past two years, the Le Cirque brands stood out for their reputation throughout the world.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Sunshine Ventures to bring Circo to Orlando, one of the most important business and leisure destinations in the world,” Carlo Mantica, CEO, LC International. “We are looking forward to bring authentic Tuscan cuisine to the many Floridians that have visited Circo regularly in all our locations.”
Circo Orlando will be located on the top floor of the new commercial development and parking facility adjacent to the $40 million Mango’s Tropical Café. Circo Orlando will reach 120-feet high towering over International Drive as its highest restaurant.
“Anytime a brand such as this chooses to come to Orlando, it is very exciting and shows we are truly transforming this area into an upscale entertainment district,” said Joshua Wallack, COO of Mango’s Tropical Café and the developer of SKYPLEX. “There is nowhere else in the world where you can ride the world’s tallest roller coaster, dine at one of the finest Italian restaurants in the world and then have a VIP experience at a world-famous dance club.”
Watch this architectural rendering for a virtual preview of Circo Orlando:
With the area’s first retractable glass roof, dining at Circo Orlando will have sweeping views from its dining area overlooking the I-Drive Entertainment District to the east and showcasing breathtaking sunsets and Walt Disney World firework shows to the west, all with seating under the stars. Also under the retractable roof, will be ’la Vetta’, the restaurant’s signature lounge. The restaurant’s menu will mirror the Circo restaurants in New York City and in Abu Dhabi, with new dishes exclusive only to Orlando.
“We are thrilled to add a world-renowned establishment like Le Cirque’s Circo to the International Drive/Convention Center area,” says George Aguel, president & CEO of Visit Orlando, the region’s tourism association. “This announcement responds favorably to the growing demand from our convention and leisure travelers for this type of high-end experience and shows how Orlando has evolved as a world-class dining destination for visitors across the globe.”
When complete, Circo Orlando will have more than 10,000 square feet of space and its being designed by The Gravity Company with offices in Orlando and Dallas. Construction costs are estimated to be approximately $3.5 million for location. Specifics and timing for additional restaurants have not been determined.
For more information, please visit on the web at CircoOrl.com or at Facebook.com/CircoOrlando. For a look at Circo Orlando’s neighbor Mango’s Tropical Cafe, watch this January 2016 episode of Attractions The Show:
