Café Tu Tu Tango has been on my radar for a while. It’s one of those places you hear about constantly when you live in Orlando. The kind of brunch café that seems to come up in every “you have to try this” conversation. Located right on International Drive, Café Tu Tu Tango is known for its eclectic vibe, artsy décor, and a menu full of small plates and creative cocktails.
What really caught my eye, though, was their bottomless brunch: $35 per person for unlimited small plates. Mr. Garlic and I are big fans of an all-you-can-eat, tasting-style brunch. Give us variety, and we’re in.
Jump to:
From the outside, the restaurant looks like a funky little spot tucked inside a pueblo-style building just off the road. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the moment we stepped inside, I realized this place is a lot (in the best way). It’s colorful, chaotic, and alive.
If you’re a local, tourist, art lover, or foodie looking for an interesting brunch experience on International Drive Orlando, Café Tu Tu Tango is 100% worth checking out. (But if your style is more plain and quiet, maybe skip it, or at least bring earplugs.)
Arrival, Atmosphere, & First Impressions:
I booked our brunch at Café Tu Tu Tango online through their website, which redirected me to OpenTable. Super easy. That said, if you’re thinking of visiting, definitely make a reservation. This cafe in Orlando, FL is popular. When we arrived, the parking lot was already packed, and Mr. Garlic had to loop around a few times while I ran inside to check us in.
The moment I walked through the front door, I think I audibly said, “whoa.” Walking in is a total visual overload in the best way. Every inch of the space is splashed with color. Walls covered in paintings, collages, and quirky bits and bobs. The narrow front corridor was crowded with people waiting for tables, but the staff kept things moving quickly. I was checked in and seated within a few minutes.
We chose to sit on the outdoor patio, which had hanging glass bottles, mosaic accents, wooden tables, and various styles of plastic chairs. A little funky, and very charming. Before we ordered, I took a quick lap around the inside of the restaurant to soak it all in. There was a man painting portraits near the back, a live fortune teller in the corner, a belly dancer performing for a table, and behind them all? A taco and waffle station.
It was loud, energetic, and absolutely chaotic in the best possible way. Music played, families laughed, friend groups clinked glasses. It felt a bit like you were at a party hosted by your most eccentric artist friend.
Both Mr. Garlic and I grew up in Memphis which has a huge art scene (and I even went to art school there) so this kind of wild, creative energy felt right at home for us. If you’re looking for a calm, quiet brunch, maybe not. But if you want an immersive experience that’s equal parts meal and art exhibit, Café Tu Tu Tango delivers.
The Brunch Menu: Tapas, Tacos & Endless Options
So let’s talk about the main event, the brunch menu. The Café Tu Tu Tango menu is built around small plates, or tapas-style dishes, meant to be shared. If you’re only in the mood for one or two items, you can order à la carte for a set price. But if you’re here to brunch like we were, the real draw is the bottomless brunch for $35 per person.
With the bottomless option, you can order as many small plates as you want from a menu of over 20 items. These range from dips and international-inspired small plates to sandwiches, flatbreads, and more. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure spread that’s perfect whether you’re a picky eater or someone who loves trying a little bit of everything.
(Find the current Cafe Tu Tu Tango menu here)
And then there’s the taco and waffle station, included with the brunch and located at the back of the restaurant where you can help yourself to unlimited tacos and waffles.
The menu also features clearly marked gluten-free and vegetarian options, which I really appreciated. It’s not an overwhelming list, but there are enough to have an enjoyable meal.
If you’re here for the Orlando brunch drink scene, you can add on bottomless brunch drinks for $25 which includes unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys. Or, if you’d rather keep it light, there’s a brunch drink menu with an artist-themed cocktail, five flavors of mimosa, and a few draft beers.
Cafe Tu Tu Tango's menu is the kind that rewards curiosity and a desire for variety. Whether you’re there for a boozy brunch, want to try five kinds of flatbread, or just want an excuse to eat waffles while watching a live belly dancer, this menu and location have you covered.
Everything We Ate and Drank (And Yes, It Was a Lot)
To kick things off, I ordered a Mango Mimosa ($8). It came in a standard flute, a pretty, fluorescent orange, and tasted mostly like mango juice with just a hint of champagne. It was refreshing, but a little on the light side both in pour and in booze. A solid 6/10, but after that, I switched over to the bottomless brunch cocktail menu (more on that in a second).
While I sipped, Mr. Garlic made his first trip to the taco station, coming back with one steak and one al pastor taco. Each one is assembled fresh. The meat is served hot by a staff member, and the toppings (he went with cheese, onions, cilantro, salsa verde) are self-serve. I grabbed a chicken taco with baja sauce and sour cream on my first round.
We both agreed: the tacos were very salty (and we love salt), but otherwise flavorful and fresh, not soggy or sitting-out-too-long. Our rating: 6.5/10. Fun to customize and return for more, but definitely not for the weak when it comes to salt.
Second Round: Cuban Benedict and Shrimp & Grits
We kicked things off from the Cafe Tu Tu Tango brunch menu with:
- Cuban Style Pulled Pork Benedict – Poached egg, jalapeño mornay, crispy English muffin
- Shrimp & Grits (GF) – With roasted tomatoes and corn relish
The Cuban Benedict was a decent portion (a little bigger than my palm), and loaded with toppings. The English muffin was crisp (I couldn't quite tell if it had been toasted or pan-fried), the pork was salty and a bit spicy, the poached egg was cooked well, and the buttery hollandaise had a hint of cilantro. Our rating: 6.5/10. Very tasty, a good portion size, but again, a little too heavy on the salt. Otherwise a solid choice.
The Shrimp & Grits were buttery, creamy, and gluten-free, with perfectly cooked shrimp, but a bit under-seasoned overall. Our rating: 5.5/10. Still very enjoyable, just missing that punch.
Third Round: Bottomless Bubbles and Cuban Sliders
By this point, I switched to the bottomless mimosas ($25) and I loved how they did it. You’re served a full glass of champagne with all 5 flavored syrups on the side. You can try as many flavors as you want (and they keep refilling the champagne). My favorite was the Sparkling Passionfruit. Rating: 8/10. Fun to try all of the flavors, and totally worth the price.
Food-wise, this round we shared the Cuban Sliders made with capicola, Genoa salami, pulled pork, pickles, Swiss, and cilantro forward mojo sauce on buttery toasted buns. They were greasy in the best way, savory, melty, and oh so delicious. Our rating: 8/10. Intense on the stomach, but absolutely worth it. I’d order them again in a heartbeat (even if I have to pay for it later!).
Fourth Round: Mediterranean Assortment
For this round we decided to go with:
- Chilled Mediterranean Spinach Dip (vegetarian)
- Beef Kebab
- Turkish Sausage Flatbread
The Spinach Dip came with a variety of breads for dipping (always a plus). It was creamy, chilled, and a nice mix of veggies and cheese. Our rating: 6/10. Solid, would get again if craving something cool and creamy.
The Beef Kebab came as two small skewers on a bed of garlicky toum. Mr. Garlic loved this one rating it 9.5/10. I gave it a 7/10. Definitely one to get if you like rich, meaty, Mediterranean flavors.
The Turkish Sausage Flatbread was large and crisp, topped with spiced sausage, fresh tomato-onion relish, cilantro sauce, and feta. Super fresh and flavorful. Our rating: 6.5/10. Very good, but not necessarily something we’d go out of our way for next time. That said, I would like to try some of the other flatbreads.
Finale: Magical Monkey Bread
By this point we were so full, but we couldn’t resist ending on something sweet. We ordered the Monkey Bread (vegetarian, with dulce de leche, golden raisins, and pecans) and it totally stole the show.
Crispy edges, nutty caramel flavor, tender pull-apart center. Topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, it was everything monkey bread should be. Even stuffed, I wanted to keep eating it (and I'm not even a sweets person). Thankfully, our server boxed it up for us to go (and it reheated perfectly in the air fryer). Our rating: 9/10. Honestly, I’d come back just for this. So good.
Final Thoughts: Is it Worth the Hype?
So, is Cafe Tu Tu Tango worth the hype? Honestly… yes. It exceeded our expectations. Mr. Garlic and I have eaten our way across the country (and a good bit of the world), and while we’ve had plenty of memorable meals, this one stands out for its unique brunch experience, strong execution, and creative, artsy energy.
The food? Genuinely good. Especially impressive considering the sheer volume being served during brunch. Every dish we tried ranged from tasty to downright dang delicious, and the $35 bottomless brunch price felt more than fair given the variety and how much we tried. Add in bottomless mimosas, a taco and waffle station, live entertainment, and walls covered in art, and it becomes more than just a meal, it’s an experience.
We’ll absolutely be back. On our return list: the Cuban sliders, that monkey bread (still thinking about it), and maybe another go at the bottomless mimosas.
If you're visiting Orlando, especially anywhere near International Drive, and you love art, tapas-style dining, or want a brunch that’s anything but basic, give this place a shot.
Final Rating: A solid 7.5/10. Funky, flavorful, and just plain fun. We left full, entertained, and already thinking about our next visit.
Know Before You Go:
- Location: In the heart of International Drive, surrounded by restaurants, shops, hotels, and attractions. Busy area, but mostly walkable with sidewalks and crosswalks nearby.
- Proximity to Parks:
- ~10 minutes (3 miles) from Universal Orlando
- ~15 minutes (7 miles) from Walt Disney World property
- Reservations: Highly recommended. Walk-ins are accepted, but you may wait during peak times. Book through OpenTable or their official website.
- Parking: On-site lot available (rare for I-Drive!) Can fill up during brunch hours, so arrive early if you have a reservation.
- Best Time to Go: Always popular, but slightly less crowded during Orlando’s 'off-season' (August–September).
- Must-Try Brunch Dishes: The Cuban Sliders and Monkey Bread were our absolute favorites.
- Gluten-Free Friendly: Several items marked GF on the menu, including Shrimp & Grits, Butter Chicken, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Always inform your server of allergies and double-check the current menu online.
Planning a brunch on I-Drive? Save this post, share it with your foodie friends, and don’t forget to make a reservation (Cafe Tu Tu Tango gets busy fast!)
What dish caught your eye first? Have you been before, or is it on your Orlando brunch bucket list? Let me know in the comments what you’d try, and what spots you’d love to see us review next!
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