In 1965 Walt Disney held a press conference in what’s now called South Eola to announce his company would open a theme park in Central Florida. It’s fitting that the announcement, which transformed the region’s economy, took place there, as South Eola is a neighborhood that blends Orlando’s past and present. Early Orlando settler Jacob Summerlin helped develop the area in the late 1800s, and its oaks and brick streets date back a century or more. Meanwhile, modern condo buildings tower over the downtown neighborhood, and trendy businesses operate out of their ground floors. South Eola Neighborhood Association President David Wessman lived in the neighborhood in the ‘90s before he moved to Boston, and when he returned to the neighborhood a decade ago, he found a much livelier community. “It's built up so much since then,” Wessman says. “For the urban neighborhood we are, you don't lose the fact we have two parks and lots of tree-lined streets. You don't lose any of the charm.”
South Eola, a neighborhood that blends Orlando’s past and present.
Lined with brick paved streets, South Eola exudes charm while being surrounded by modern condos.
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Coffee shop with a recording studio
A resident can walk from one end of South Eola’s commercial sector to the other in 5 minutes. Along the way, they might pass people enjoying cocktails on the patio of The Stubborn Mule or waiting in a long line for ice cream scoops from The Greenery Creamery. Though it’s small, the neighborhood is dense with restaurants and cafes. Wessman says one of the most unique is Bynx Orlando. The laid-back coffee shop also sells records, hosts live music and even runs a recording studio in the back. “The singer of the band might be running the door, and then go up on stage,” Wessman says. Locals can walk to the neighborhood Publix, the only grocery store in the downtown area. Orlando Regional Medical Center offers emergency care, specialist appointments and other medical service about a mile away; the hospital has the only Level One Trauma Center in Central Florida.
Bynx Orlando in South Eola is a highly popular coffee shop.
Bynx Orlando allows local artists to showcase their music at shows in South Eola.
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Up-and-coming businesses at the Orlando Farmers Market
Lake Eola Park hosts some of the region’s best-attended weekly and annual events. Produce vendors and small businesses set up around the lake every Sunday for the Orlando Farmers Market. The market has been a launch pad for neighborhood businesses such as Indeu Apothecary, a maker of plant-based skincare products that started as a table at the farmers market before opening a brick-and-mortar shop. Lake Eola Park is the site of Florida’s biggest annual pet festival: Paws in the Park. Dogs compete in dock diving and costume contests during the February event. In October, more than 200,000 people gather around Lake Eola for Come Out With Pride, one of the nation’s largest Pride festivals.
People love to shop at the vendors at the Farmers Market at Lake Eola.
Grab some tasty food at one of the vendors at the Farmers Market at Lake Eola.
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Walking one of Orlando’s oldest parks
Lake Eola Park has served as Orlando’s central green space since the 1880s. The mile-long trail around the lake is known for its skyline views, families of swans and a fountain that glows during nightly light shows. Besides a walk or jog around the lake, locals get active at the park with romps at the playground or trips across the water on rentable, swan-shaped pedal boats. Dogs can frolic on the other side of South Eola at Constitution Green, home to downtown’s only off-leash dog park. Theme park fans are within 20 miles of Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.
Steeples rise a block from Lake Eola Park on Rosalind Avenue, home to three of Orlando’s oldest congregations. First United Methodist Church Orlando, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and Downtown Baptist Orlando all formed in the 1800s. Many support nonprofits helping people downtown who are homeless. For example, First United Methodist Church Orlando serves as a host congregation for Family Promise of Greater Orlando, providing a place to stay and meals for families experiencing homelessness. Also on Rosalind Avenue is St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Orlando, one of the only Greek Orthodox churches in the city.
A jogger running the boardwalk of Lake Eola Park in S Eola.
One of many pieces of art on the boardwalk around Lake Eola Park in S Eola.
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Condo living in downtown
Towers in South Eola rise as high as 275 feet. Most residents rent from one of the apartment complexes, while condos are the most common living spaces for homeowners. The compact living quarters, walkable layout and abundance of trendy hangouts make South Eola a common landing spot for young professionals, Wessman says. However, that’s not all. South Eola Neighborhood Association Vice President Sandi Ketcham moved there with a teenage son and a young daughter, and she says the neighborhood was ideal for her family. “In walking distance, there’s the library, Lake Eola Park and events,” she explains. “The kids could go out and socialize without driving, and they could get a job nearby.” Condos usually start around $200,000 for one-bedroom units, climbing to $500,000 for two-bedroom homes. Luxury community units begin in the $600,000s; penthouses occasionally sell for more than $1 million.
There are a variety of condo buildings for residents to choose from in South Eola.
Aerial view of the beautiful blue facade of Star Tower Condominiums in S Eola.
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Bus, bike and drive around Orlando
Thanks to the dense layout and variety of transportation options, South Eola is one of the least car-dependent areas in Orlando. “For the first six months we lived here, we would Uber to Target, but otherwise we'd walk, and we didn't have a car,” Wessman recalls. In addition to walking, residents can catch the free Lymmo bus and ride to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts or to Inter&Co Stadium, home of the Orlando City SC soccer team. Half a mile to the west, commuters can hop on the SunRail train to travel north or south across Greater Orlando. The city is building the Downtown Loop, a 9-mile bike trail that’ll connect South Eola with dozens of Orlando neighborhoods. When locals do need to drive, they can take the nearby on-ramp to State Road 408.
State Road 408 makes travel around the city a breeze.
Travel throughout South Eola is efficient using the Lymmo Bus service provided for free.
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Edgewater High teaches the next generation of educators
Neighborhood kids are zoned to Orange County Public Schools, which operates more than 200 campuses and gets a grade of A-minus from Niche. Ketcham, who raised two children in the neighborhood, says the local public schools are some of the best in Orlando. Children can attend Lake Como School, a B-rated school that teaches kindergarten through eighth grade. Teens can take classes at Edgewater High School, graded a B-plus. Students can apply to the Center for Future Educators at Edgewater High, a magnet program focused on preparing students for careers in teaching. A couple of blocks from South Eola, kids can get a private education at The Christ School, graded an A.
Edgewater High School features highly rated sports programs for Lockhart students to enjoy.
Edgewater High School students can enjoy plays and shows using the Auditorium.
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Orlando addresses downtown crime
South Eola’s CAP Index Crime Score is 7 out of 10, higher than the national average of 4. The most common crimes are larceny, burglary and motor vehicle theft. The CAP Index Crime Score is even higher in the neighboring Central Business District at 9 out of 10. The city government adopted laws in 2023 and 2024 meant to curb crime associated with the neighborhood’s bustling nightlife scene. They include forcing bars selling alcohol after midnight to adopt stricter security, such as hiring off-duty police officers or having metal detectors at the door, and requiring new nightclubs opening downtown to be at least 300 feet apart.
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Spacious and modern 2-bedroom, 2-bath mid-rise condo located in The Jackson, right in the heart of Orlando’s sought-after Thornton Park district. Just minutes from the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and Lake Eola Park, this downtown residence offers true urban living with walkability to restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. This unit features an open split-bedroom floor plan with polished
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,427
Median Age
42
Population Density
36 ppl/acre
Population under 18
9.8%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$102,288
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$128,682
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.9%
College Graduates
69.9%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
30.1%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
81.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
51''
Average Winter Low Temperature
52°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
76/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
96/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
65/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
