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. The Casbah Cafe, 3628 St. Johns Avenue, has belly dancing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. 904-981-9966.
Jacksonville Beach. The Casa Marina restaurant, 691 First Street North, features a monthly Greek Night, which includes a special Greek menu, Greek and Middle Eastern music, and belly dancing. 904-270-0025.

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Central

Clearwater. Acropolis Greek Taverna, 13575 58th & Ulmerton, features an international DJ and has belly dancing shows Friday and Saturday. 727-538-4273.
Clearwater. Mezza, 2325 Ulmerton Road, has Lebanese food, with dancer Fridays dinner and late-night party. Select Saturdays with live band. 727-571-3400.
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.
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. Sunset Restaurant and Lounge, 6800 Sunset Way, has a bellydance show the 2nd and last Tuesdays of the month. "American food, but a great dance floor and a stage, dj booth, lights, projection screen, full bar & restaurant. Sometimes you can catch a dancer there Sat nights for their Serbian/Bosnian crowd as well!" 727-367-7302.
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. The Bahasa Lounge, 2408 West Kennedy Blvd., is a nightclub with an Eastern flavor. Wednesday night is International Night and features dancers. 813-251-3329.
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. 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. Jackson's Bistro, 601 South Harbour Island Drive. Upscale restaurant and bar, introduces late-night Fantasy Fridays, featuring three rooms with DJs playing hip-hop, techno, and more, with midget fire-breather, fire poi, and bellydancer. 813-277-0112.
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. Zaeem Palace, 3333 S. Westshore Blvd., is a restaurant that serves fine Middle Eastern food and has dancers Fridays and Saturdays. 813-832-1188.
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. Zorba's, a restaurant/nightclub at 506 Athens Street in the heart of the scenic sponge docks, has a Middle Eastern dancer Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, along with a live Greek band, and of course Greek cuisine. 727-934-8803.
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/.
Treasure Island. Karim's Bistro at the Thunderbird Beach Resort offers, once a month on Sunday, a 12-course meal featuring Continental, Mediterranean, and Moroccan Cuisine, along with live belly dancing. 1-800-FOR-BIRD or 727-368-9548.
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

Bonita Springs. Zorba's Greek Restaurant, Sunshine Plaza has dancing Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 8pm in season. 239-992-5005.
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 first and third 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. Thursday evenings are a Belly Dance Showcase (student dancers invited to perform) hosted by Ansuya. 305-861-6555.
Boca Raton. Basha Grill Mediterranean Fusion, 1745 NW 2nd Ave., features bellydance shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Also a Cleopatra Ladies Night every Wednesday, with live international DJ and belly dance show, hosted by Jessica. 561-394-9898.
Boca Raton. Mykonos, 6897 SW 18th St., features dancers Friday and Saturday nights. 561-338-3646.
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 has dancers on weekends. 954-345-9559.
Delray Beach. Christina's, 65 NE Second Avenue, Suite 610 (in the courtyard next to Kyoto Restaurant), has dancers on weekends.
Ft. Lauderdale. Ferdos Grill, 4300 N. Federal Hwy., has dancing on Saturday nights, 8 and 9:30pm in season. 954-492-5552.
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.
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, 438 Española Way 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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