Hourglass District
Orlando's coolest small-scale mixed-use revival, half a mile from downtown.
The Hourglass District sits just southeast of downtown Orlando along Curry Ford Road, named for the hourglass-shaped intersection at Curry Ford and Crystal Lake. Over the last decade the corridor has transformed from overlooked strip commercial into a dense cluster of independent restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops that attract diners from across Central Florida. Residential blocks behind the commercial strip are mid-century bungalows and ranch homes on oversized lots. Prices are still reasonable compared with Thornton Park or College Park for what you get.
The Vibe
Eclectic, creative, and walkable without being crowded. Think neighborhood brewery on a Thursday, chef-driven new restaurant on a Saturday, and a mile to a local park. The design bent is modern, not traditional.
Best Fit For
- •Young professionals and couples who eat out often
- •Buyers who want character homes under downtown prices
- •Investors looking at a submarket still on an upward curve
- •Anyone trading a larger suburban footprint for proximity and walkability
Typical Homes
Predominantly 1950s and 1960s brick ranch and concrete-block bungalows on generous lots. Some homes have been renovated thoughtfully with modern kitchens and open floor plans; others are still original and present opportunity. Newer infill builds appear on deeper lots and corner parcels.
Walkability
The Curry Ford commercial strip is a true walk-to destination from most of the residential blocks. The residential streets themselves are quiet and navigable by foot or bike, though you will drive to most errands outside the district.
Food & Coffee
- •Foxtail Coffee Hourglass flagship
- •Sette Italian Bistro, Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa, Bites & Bubbles for dinner
- •Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company's Hourglass taproom
- •Se7en Bites for weekend brunch and baked goods
Landmarks & Anchors
- •The Curry Ford and Crystal Lake intersection (the eponymous hourglass)
- •Hourglass Lake and Gaston Edwards Park nearby
- •Lake Como and its K-8 school
- •Proximity to Lake Eola (15-minute bike ride)
- •Orlando Executive Airport (adjacent, rarely impactful for residents)
Schools
Served by Orange County Public Schools. Elementary is typically Lake Como (a K-8). Boone High School is the usual high school for the area. Verify current zoning with OCPS for specific addresses, especially with magnet and choice programs.
Commute
Downtown Orlando is 5 to 10 minutes by car. The medical district is 10 minutes. Orlando International Airport is 15 minutes via 408. You can bike to Lake Eola in about 15 minutes on local streets.
Alex's Take
Hourglass is still appreciating faster than the Orlando average. Renovated homes sell quickly, and fixer-uppers on oversized lots move to investors and end-users looking to customize. If you want character under downtown pricing, this is one of the last in-town submarkets where the math still works, though the window is narrowing.
Fair Housing: School assignments and demographics are descriptive, not prescriptive. Home buyers should evaluate areas against their own criteria and verify school zoning, HOA rules, and other particulars with the appropriate authorities. We do not steer buyers toward or away from neighborhoods on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status.
Tour Hourglass District With Alex
Want a real-world look? Alex will map out what is currently available, set up a morning or afternoon to walk the neighborhood with you, and structure offers around your financing.