Places

Here are places to go in Florida that may be of special interest to Middle Eastern dancers and enthusiasts. While they don't all necessarily feature dancing, they do offer something of Middle Eastern culture. They are organized alphabetically by town within each region.

[Panhandle] [North] [Central] [Southwest] [Southeast]

Remember that schedules are subject to change, so it's a good idea to confirm before you go, especially for restaurants with dancers.

If you know of information that should be added or updated in this list, please let me know.

Panhandle

Tallahassee. Sahara Greek and Lebanese Cafe at 1241 East Lafayette Street (west of the intersection of Lafayette and Magnolia) features dancers on Friday and Saturday. 850-656-1800. Reservations suggested on the weekend.

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North

Jacksonville. Amsterdam Lounge, 11380 Beach Blvd., is a hookah lounge that has bellydancing. 904-997-6062.
Jacksonville. The Casbah Cafe, 3628 St. Johns Avenue, has belly dancing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. 904-981-9966.
Jacksonville. Mandaloun, 9862 Old Baymeadows Road, is a Mediterranean restaurant that has belly dancing. "Classy dining with a full bar and very family-oriented." 904-646-1881.
Jacksonville. Taverna Yamas, 9753 Deer Lake Court, has belly dancers. 904-854-0426.

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Central

Clearwater. The Mirage, a Persian/Mediterranean restaurant at 2284 Gulf-to-Bay, has dancers Friday and Saturday nights, 4 shows between 8 and 10pm. 727-724-3604.
Clearwater. Mythos Greek Taverna, 13575 58th & Ulmerton, features an international DJ, belly dancing shows Friday and Saturday, and a monthly hafla bellydance showcase. 727-538-4273.
Indialantic. Skewer's Mediterranean Grille, 144 4th Ave., has a dancer on Saturday nights between 6:30 and 10:00pm. 321-727-8944.
Orlando. Café Tu Tu Tango, 8625 International Drive, has dancers on Fridays at 8, 9, and 10.
Orlando. Cedar's Restaurant serves Lebanese cuisine and has dancers and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 407-351-6000.
Orlando. The Olympia Restaurant, 8505 E. Colonial Dr., has dancers Fridays and Saturdays. "You can get up and do Greek line dancing." 407-273-7836.
Orlando. The Universal Buffet has dancers on Fridays and Saturdays. 407-673-5100.
Orlando. Universal Islands of Adventure has A MAGI dancers performing with the Modern Mystics band playing techno Mid-Eastern/Far Eastern tunes; multiple shows daily in the Lost Continent area, next to Fire Eater's Grill.
Orlando area. The Ali Baba Restaurant, 1155 W. S.R. 434, Suite 105 in Longwood, offers a Persian and Middle Eastern buffet, and belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights (usually 3 shows nightly). Each Thursday is a Dancer's Showcase Night, hosted by A MAGI Productions. 407-331-8680.
Orlando area. The Arabian Nights Dinner Show is mainly about horses, but also features A MAGI Productions performers for its pre-show daily.
Orlando area. The Moroccan pavillion at Epcot in Disney World has a wonderful restaurant that features dancers all day long. There is also regular entertainment in the courtyard, as well as some nifty shopping.
Ormond Beach. Imagine That ...a bead store.
Seminole. Greek Village Restaurant, 11125 Park Blvd Ste 117, has bellydancing Friday and Saturday nights in season. 727-393-6669.
St. Petersburg Beach. St. Petersburg Nights, 6800 Sunset Way, has dancing regularly and is a popular location for haflas.
Tampa. Acropolis Greek Taverna, 1833 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City features a live Greek band and has belly dancing shows Friday and Saturday. 813-242-4545.
Tampa. Byblos Cafe, 2832 South Macdill Avenue, is a a Lebanese restaurant and market that serves Mediterranean and Lebanese food and has dancers every Friday and Saturday. 813-805-7977.
Tampa area. Garden of Eden is an Italian and Lebanese Mediterranean restaurant on Hwy 19 in Hudson. The have a belly dancer on Friday nights.
Tampa. House of Shri Ganesh is a vendor located at the International Flea Market in Tampa. They sell costumes, jewelry, henna, and other fashions from India.
Tampa area (Temple Terrace). Meridian Hookah Lounge, 11401 N 56th St, Suite 20. Late night bellydance show Thursdays. $10 entry includes all-you-can-smoke shisha, no alcohol.
Tampa. The Phoenicia restaurant, 11154 30th St., has dancers once or twice a month. 813-866-0336.
Tampa. Busch Gardens has an African theme. The front section has a Moroccan theme, and regularly features a snake-charming dancer. Some of the rides have a somewhat Egyptian theme.
Tarpon Springs. Known as "Florida's Mediterranean Village" because of its substantial Greek community and flavor, this town northwest of Tampa can be a destination in itself. "You can spend an entire weekend here, with waterfront shops, sponge boat tours of the lagoons, lovely Victorian homes, and mouth-watering Greek food." Visit their website at http://www.tarponsprings.com/.
Vero Beach. Greek Village Taverna, 4116 Atlantic Blvd., has dancers every Friday and Saturday night. 772-299-4646.
Winter Haven. Bliss, 228 Ave. C, offers an alternative nightclub every Tuesday night from 8:30pm-midnight. Live world beat music in a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment. Contact Hozuhni.

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Southwest

Ft. Myers. Plaka Greek Restaurant II, 15271 McGregor Blvd., has dancers Fridays and Saturdays. 239-433-5404.
Naples. Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro, 847 Vanderbilt Beach Road (Pavillion Shops) has dancing on Saturdays in the off-season. 239-594-5557.
Port Charlotte. Starchild New Age Books & Gifts is a full service/product line metaphysical store with a Middle Eastern dance section.
Sarasota. Dina's Greek Family Restaurant on Bee Ridge Road has dancing every Friday and Saturday night at 6 and 7:30pm. 941-926-4461.

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Southeast

Bal Harbour (North Miami area). Moroccan Nights restaurant 9555 Harding Ave., features dancing. 305-861-6555.
Boca Raton. Anatolia Mediterranean Nights, 507 SE Mizner Blvd., has live music and dance on Friday nights. 561-361-5783.
Boca Raton. Basha Grill Mediterranean Fusion, 1745 NW 2nd Ave., features bellydance shows on Friday and Saturday nights. 561-394-9898.
Boca Raton. Meza Mediterranean Bar and Grill, 690 Yamato Rd. Bay 7, 561-998-7787, has belly dancing shows and other live entertainment on weekends.
Boca Raton. Modca Grill is a Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurant at 887 E Palmetto Pk Rd. with belly dancing shows on Saturday.
Boca Raton. Mykonos, 6897 SW 18th St., features dancers Friday and Saturday nights. 561-338-3646.
Boca Raton. Taverna Helios, 297 E Palmetto Pk. Rd., is a Greek restaurant with belly dancers on Friday and Saturday.
Coral Gables. Uva restaurant and lounge, 2626 Ponce De Leon Blvd., has dancers Friday and Saturday nights. 305-476-8111.
Coral Springs. Mythos, 2864 N University Dr., is a Greek restaurant that features Middle Eastern entertainment. 954-345-9559.
Delray Beach. Christina's, 65 NE Second Avenue, Suite 610 (in the courtyard next to Kyoto Restaurant), has dancers on weekends.
Delray Beach. King Tut's Hookah Lounge, 660 Linton Blvd., occasionally has dancing. 561-860-1244.
Delray Beach. Taverna Eros, 8 E. Atlantic Ave., has dancers Thursday thru Saturday. 561-272-8220.
Ft. Lauderdale. Alpatra Restaurant, 17 S. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd., has belly dancing and hookahs as well as Latin nights and other types of entertainment. 954-761-2290.
Ft. Lauderdale. Ferdos Grill, 4300 N. Federal Hwy., has dancing on Saturday nights, 8 and 9:30pm in season. 954-492-5552.
Ft. Lauderdale. Off the Hookah, 300 SW 1st Ave. (Las Olas Riverfront), has belly dancing and other types of enteratinment. 954-761-8686.
Ft. Lauderdale area. The Muvico Paradise 24 movie theatre, on Sheridan just west of I-75, is designed like an Egyptian temple. They even have the Nile river running through the lobby in mosaic tile.
Hollywood. A La Turca, 2027 Hollywood Blvd., is a Turkish restaurant with entertainment on weekends and sometimes also during the week. 954-925-5900.
Hollywood. El Baraka Moroccan restaurant, 715 S 21st Ave, features dancers on Saturday nights. 954-926-1105.
Hollywood. The Goddess Store, 2017 Harrison Street, sells bellydance clothing and new age items. It also offers classes in belly dance, Middle Eastern drumming, yoga, and other dance forms.
Lake Worth. All Seasons restaurant, 6661 Lake Worth Rd., serves Lebanese and continental cuisine and features belly dancers on Saturday nights. 561-439-8980.
Lake Worth. Hookah House, 802 Lake Ave., a lovely Oriental Lounge that serves beer, wine, soda, tea, coffee and tapas. It has belly dancing late nights on Fridays and some Saturdays.
Lauderdale by the Sea. Athena by the Sea, 4400 Ocean Drive (A1A and Commercial), is a Greek restaurant that has music and belly dancing on weekends. 954-771-2900.
Miami. Dancewear Republic, a vendor of flamenco and other dancewear (expanding into bellydance), has a showroom in Miami.
Miami. The Egyptology Society of Miami meets each month at the Miami Museum of Science.
Miami. BAGCI International Trade House Inc. has a store at the Radisson Merchandise Mart. They are importers of belly dance and other women's apparel, music, jewelry, accessories, and home decor.
Miami area. The Maroosh Mediterranean Restaurant in Coral Gables has dancing Friday and Saturday. "The food is really great! The place is very nice, too; nice ambiance, decor, etc. and the service is tops." 305-476-9800. Reservations recommended.
Miami Beach. Cafe Miro, 448 Espanola Way in South Beach, has a Middle Eastern night every other Sunday, 8pm, $10 cover. Live music and dancing. 305-532-5505.
Miami Beach. D'Vine is a cyber lounge with Eastern music, Eastern food choices, and sishas. 910 Collins Ave; phone 305-534-1414.
Miami Beach. Hakan Turkish Grill is a restaurant with Turkish TV, music, and belly dancing. 1040 Alton Rd in South Beach. 305-534-9557.
Miami Beach. Layal Arabian Nights, nightclub and restaurant in the Versailles Hotel, 3425 Collins Ave; phone 305-531-9989. Arabic dance, belly dance, and music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
Miami Beach. Luna Designs, in South Beach, sells assorted belly dance supplies, home decor, and custom jewelry.
Miami Beach. Touch restaurant, 910 Lincoln Rd. (on the Lincoln Rd. Mall), features belly dancers nightly, Euro house music, live percussion Thursday-Saturday nights. 305-532-8003.
Pompano Beach. The Festival (indoor) Flea Market, on Sample Rd. just east of the Turnpike, has Aegean Arts and Souvenirs as well as a variety of other interesting import shops, clothing boutiques, jewelry shops, and more.
Royal Palm Beach. Nayla Mediterranean Grill, 11051 Southern Blvd., has dancers Thursdays-Saturdays.
West Palm Beach. Leila, 120 S. Dixe Hwy, is a Middle Eastern restaurant that has dancing and/or live music on weekends. 561-659-7373.
West Palm Beach. Vangelis' Greek Taverna, 319 Clematis Street, has entertainment that occasionally features dancing. 561-655-4681.
Weston. El Meson, a estaurant featuring food and wines from Spain, is located between Arvida parkway and Weston road and has a bellydance show on Thursday evenings. 954-217-9780.

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