I finally got a chance to visit the rooftop bar at The Citrus Hotel in Tavares, a spot my colleagues have raved about since it opened last year. 

The mix of sky, color and water felt escapist, like I could have been in Baja, Costa Rica or Miami.

That’s exactly what owner David Perry was aiming for when he designed the bar.

“We really wanted to create something unique for the area,” he says. “When you get up to the Citrus Sky Bar, it just has that South Florida rooftop vibe, like you’ve stepped into a different world.”

The bright hues, palms and string lights add to that atmosphere. And a front row seat to Lake Dora and America’s Seaplane City doesn’t hurt.

“Sometimes the seaplanes come in so close you can see the pilot’s face,” David says. “Guests get such a kick out of that because it’s something you don’t experience anywhere else locally.”

The weather occasionally presents challenges, but the whole place clicks when it cooperates.

“The drone show was incredible from the rooftop as the weather was perfect that day, and even though it rained during the Fourth of July fireworks, people still stayed to watch because they had a place to grab a cocktail.”

David wanted the drink menu to feel as intentional as the space, so they built a full martini program and keep refining it, rounding it out with frozen and playful cocktails that match the laid-back atmosphere.

For guests of the boutique hotel, the rooftop can anchor an easy date night with dinner near Ruby Street, sunset drinks and an elevator ride home. Locals can cap a waterfront bar crawl with a view that feels like a holiday.

David is happy to be part of a larger shift downtown.

“We believe in this downtown and the direction it’s going,” he says. “The waterfront district is truly special and we’re excited to be part of its growth.” 

Photos: Nicole Hamel