Ka La Rooftop and hookah lounge — Restaurant in Orlando

Ka La Rooftop Grill offers a sophisticated dining experience that masterfully blends modern elegance with laid-back vibes. Perched atop the AC Hotel in Downtown Orlando, this rooftop restaurant brings panoramic views of the city skyline and Lake Eola, making it an ideal destination for sunset dinners or evening celebrations. The ambiance is effortlessly chic—think sleek furniture, ambient lighting, and a mix of lounge seating and formal dining. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or planning a romantic date night, Ka La sets the perfect mood with a soundtrack of chill beats and a warm breeze cutting through the Florida heat.

The menu at Ka La Rooftop Grill leans into global inspiration while staying grounded with fresh, local ingredients. Standouts include their tapas-style appetizers like crispy Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze and the tuna tartare served with plantain chips. For entrees, the grilled skirt steak and pan-seared salmon are cooked to perfection and come with creative sides that go beyond the ordinary. Each dish is artfully plated, balancing flavor and aesthetics without trying too hard to be trendy.

Drinks are where Ka La truly shines. Their cocktail menu is curated with flair, offering both innovative house creations and well-executed classics. The “Sunset Sangria” is a must-try—refreshing, slightly floral, and dangerously smooth. For those preferring zero-proof options, the mocktail list is just as thoughtful, which is a huge plus for younger guests or non-drinkers in the group. Wine and craft beer selections are also varied enough to pair well with most dishes.

Service is attentive but unintrusive, with staff who seem genuinely enthusiastic about the menu and ready to recommend favorites. The vibe overall is friendly yet polished—you never feel rushed, even when the restaurant is bustling. The staff maintains a good balance between efficiency and hospitality, which adds to the relaxed yet upscale atmosphere. If you’re lucky enough to grab a seat by the edge of the rooftop, the views alone are worth the reservation.

In all, Ka La Rooftop Grill is a standout among Orlando’s rooftop dining options. With its tasteful décor, impressive menu, and unbeatable views, it manages to feel both exclusive and welcoming. While prices can lean on the higher side—especially with drinks—it’s a worthwhile splurge for special occasions or a stylish night out. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Ka La is a rooftop experience that lives up...

Where do I start… from starting at valet to ending at valet… everything was terrible. Valet did not know how to park/work a Tesla. We explained how to, they still left the car unlocked. Upon returning in the evening to retrieve the car, valet left the key to retrieve all keys unlocked but left the Tesla key ON TOP of the valet tickets, unsecured. We easily took our key and walked away as there was no valet around.

When we went upstairs to inquire about our reservation we confirmed in the morning to sit inside due to the weather, the hostess apologized and said she didn’t know who we talked to… ok, so we sat down outside and noticed we needed heaters and blankets, so we went back to the hostess and talked to a different hostess who indicated that the owner we talked to in the morning “does it all the time”… great. We sit down, then a server comes up finally as we were getting up to order a drink at the bar… we’re told no blanco tequila or CLUB SODA. And with our table size, they can only do 3 checks… ok. How does a full service bar have no basic tequila or club soda? The serve saw my frustration as I laughed but asked as if I was upsetting her for laughing in frustration after back to back issues. No empathy - just made it seem like I was an issue when she went out of her way to ask me what was wrong.

We almost walked out but then the owner who “does this all the time” appeared and magically made a table meant for inside happen. He also admitted that his team mis sat the wrong table and we were to be inside but not outside. They still under-sat our table and made a table for 14 so we were uncomfortable and tight in this small space. New server comes and tells us he can split more than 3 tabs… as there were multiple couples.

A few of us were already hesitant to order food based on my experience already and I felt my food would not be treated the same. In the end, I had hair in my lamb. It was baked in a piece of lamb. The “manager” disappeared when we had all these issues. We noticed him sitting with friends, drinking and smoking hookah while we continued to experience issues.

I will never recommend this...

Where do I begin... from valet to the very end, the experience was awful. The valet had no idea how to park or operate a Tesla. Despite us explaining how to do it, they left the car unlocked. When we returned in the evening to pick it up, they left the key to retrieve all keys unlocked, but the Tesla key was just placed on top of the valet tickets, unsecured. We were easily able to take our key and walk away with no valet in sight.

When we went upstairs to confirm our reservation to sit indoors due to the weather, the hostess apologized and said she didn’t know who we had spoken to earlier. Fine, so we sat down but quickly realized we needed heaters and blankets. We went back to the hostess, and another hostess mentioned that the owner, who we had spoken with in the morning, "does this all the time." Great. Then, as we were about to order a drink at the bar, the server told us they didn’t have blanco tequila or club soda, and that for our table size, they could only do 3 checks. How does a full-service bar not have basic tequila or club soda? The server seemed upset when she saw me laugh out of frustration after dealing with one issue after another.

We nearly left, but then the owner who "does this all the time" showed up and somehow managed to make an inside table available. He admitted that his team had seated us at the wrong table and that we should have been indoors. Even then, they still under-sat us, making us feel cramped in a small space. A new server came over and told us he could split more than three tabs, which was a relief since we were several couples.

At that point, I was already hesitant to order, given how everything had been going. When the food arrived, there was hair in my lamb. Meanwhile, the “manager” had vanished and was later spotted hanging out with friends, drinking and smoking hookah, while we continued to deal with problems.

I would never recommend this...