If you remember The BANDBOX as Central Florida’s first spirit-free speakeasy, its Spring 2026 return is going to feel familiar and very different at the same time. It is one of the most iconic sober date ideas in Orlando! I have been following The BANDBOX on Instagram since their original concept, and when they announced they were coming back, my little sober heart leaped in my chest. But alas, things are going to be quite different this time around.
What Is The Bandbox?
The BANDBOX is a Florida-born social concept that originally launched as Central Florida’s first completely spirit-free speakeasy, designed to give guests a true night-out experience without alcohol. Known for its welcoming, thoughtfully designed spaces, live music, and creative drink programming, The BANDBOX quickly became a gathering spot for people who are sober, sober-curious, or simply looking for alternatives to traditional bars.
The original BANDBOX located in Ivanhoe Village was quite tiny. And many fans were saddened to see it close, but stayed hopeful for its return.
New BANDBOX Locations
- New Smyrna Beach (BANDBOX Café & Taproom) – Opening Spring 2026
- Tampa (Seminole Heights) – Planned for Fall 2026
- Orlando (Mills 50 district) – Expected Fall 2027
The new BANDBOX Café & Taproom is opening just a few blocks from the beach on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, expanding to nearly 3,000 square feet with live music, games, events, and a full food partnership with DaKine Hawaiian Kitchen. Think coffee by day, music and hang-out energy by night, and a coastal, mid-century modern vibe that leans more beach house than hidden speakeasy.
BANDBOX’s expansion doesn’t stop at the coast. A Tampa location is planned for Fall 2026, with a new Orlando iteration expected in Fall 2027, bringing back a version of the speakeasy concept many locals loved.
This next chapter may not feel the same as the original, but for couples looking to explore date night beyond traditional adult beverages, it’s still a space worth knowing about.
What’s new (and what’s changing)
The headline shift is the menu. BANDBOX is no longer exclusively non-alcoholic. Alongside its alcohol-free favorites, the new location will also offer beer, wine, draft non-alcoholic cocktails, and CBD/THC beverages.
As someone who is sober, this is where I have mixed feelings.
For many people, the point of sobriety is complete clarity: no alcohol, no THC, no CBD, no substances at all. When a space that once felt fully safe and singular in that mission expands into those categories, it can change how comfortable it feels. That doesn’t make the evolution wrong—it just makes it different.
From a business standpoint, the expansion makes sense. The non-alcoholic space has grown dramatically since BANDBOX first opened in 2022, and many guests today fall somewhere between sober, sober-curious, and occasional drinkers. Offering more options opens the door to a broader audience.
That said, if you are fully sober, I’d gently encourage some inward judgment about whether this updated format feels right for you. Comfort matters, especially in social spaces.
An Alternative Date Night
From a date-night perspective, BANDBOX still does something special. It creates a unique experience.
My own sobriety journey didn’t come with pressure for my husband to follow suit. Over time, he did. And now we’re both mostly alcohol-free, with the very rare occasional sample-size sip tied to my job covering Orlando date ideas and events. Spaces like BANDBOX make it easier for couples to meet each other where they are, whether that’s mocktails, coffee, kombucha, or something else entirely.
Add live music, trivia, paint nights, open mics, and a game room, and this becomes a low-pressure, conversation-friendly option for friends or date night. Welcome back, BANDBOX.
