The Jacaranda Hotel

I originally came here two months ago for a «Ladies Luncheon» and about 2 dozen of us descended to take part in their lunch buffet. The hotel itself is beautiful and was decorated for the holiday season in truly grand style.
A live piano player in the lobby added to the ambiance… it was very nice.
We went today for Valentine’s Day and even though our reservation was «Lost» (and we weren’t the only ones. While waiting, we heard three other parties denied immediate seating due to «No reservation» even though they made them) we were seated within 20 minutes.
The lobby was pretty full and the Hostess was very busy, so it was noisy and hard to hear the piano player. The dining room was also VERY busy, but the buffet line moved quickly and was full of delicious items. There was even a beef carving station in addition to baked and fried chicken, pork, salad, soup (Autumn soup, kind a vegetable soup) rolls, potatoes and veggies.
The dessert table had three sugar free items to choose from and about a dozen different kinds of pastries, cakes, brownies and cheesecakes to choose from.
Buffet was $ 12.49 each plus beverage cost. …it’s less for weekdays… and the service (removing plates, drinks etc) was superb.
I would have given 5 stars but for the botched reservation issue causing a bit of stress. Make your own reservations, confirm them and GO! It’s very good and the hotel is a real piece of history!

Old school Sunday Brunch in Central Florida at it’s very best. Specifically it’s called the Grand Buffet and it’s a whopping $ 12.49! The word «Grand» can be a little deceiving depending on your past experiences. If you have ever been to a big city hotel Sunday Brunch you know that some are indeed grand with grand prices to match. Over the years I’ve paid $ 25, $ 35, $ 45 and even more for these extravaganzas! I’d call this a very good buffet brunch in a grand setting.
Speaking of the setting and the ATMOSPHERE this hotel has been around since the 1920s so you’re likely to be sitting in the large high-​ceiling ballroom that is really quite beautiful. Classy is another word I would use but you can still dress Florida casual and shorts are no problem.
A surprise here is that the hotel also houses a culinary school and these kids are learning their craft and they do a damm good job. Today my party of three enjoyed EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE! I would put these kids up against a 5 star restaurant wait staff any day.
The soup today was Chicken Pablano and it was mildly spicy, slightly thickened and tasty. A neighboring table offered up hot rolls.
Next up is the salad bar. It’s the basics with I’d say about twenty items but its fresh and gets the job done.
The hot entrée station is interesting. As items are depleted they are often replaced with something different. I get it. They are giving these budding chefs a chance to cook different things! Today I saw roast pork, meatloaf, a couple of different Italian dishes, killer mashed potatoes and gravy and lots of different veges. There was also a carving station with a very nice ham. This is not gourmet food but more like very good home cooking. As expected, there is a standard desert table with probably a dozen choices. Just a note; there is no alcohol available here.
I remind you once again. A grand atmosphere, exceptional service, very good home style cooking and $ 12.49! Four stars!

Aging historic hotel.
Pluses: wired internet, best pool ever and (mid week in June) no other hotel guests. Everyone is super friendly.
Minuses: this place was a big deal in the 1920s and now it is what is left of a hotel housed in the same building with student dorms. Things work and they are mostly clean, but everything is old and dated.
For young children, being allowed to operate the manual elevator and decent cable TV made it an overall win. If your spouse is at all picky, keep looking.

A beautiful historic hotel with the best buffet in town. MI snowbirds Jim and DeLauna.

Should really be 0 stars. This hotel is old, musty, and moldy. Linens were not cleaned and there was hair and dirt found between the sheets. If you are looking to contract a disease this is the hotel for you.

Sunday, 10−5−14 our Riding Club, Southern Cruisers Polk County 346 planned a ride here. !6 of us ate the Sunday Grand Buffet. It was a Great time for all of us and the Food and Service were top notch. Soup, Salad Bar, Dinner and desert complete with drink for $ 12 on linen table service cannot be beat. The Fried chicken was probably the best I have ever had, lightly breaded and moist, delicious to say the least and the Dessert table had 7 kinds of dessert for the trying. We will defiantly be back again. Thanks for treating our group to a Great Time and wonderfull food and service. –BBQ-​346 SCRC

Nice enough folks, but rooms are very stark and maid service is pretty rough to say the least. Our coffee pot was never emptied, bed not made, towels are pretty thin, our shampoo disappeared if left out (they don’t provide any). OK stay for the price I suspect, but wouldn’t go back. Stayed in March 2014.
It’s Old Florida, that’s for sure. If you like basic, this is the place. Restaurant across the street is good, not so much at the Hotel. At least not for us. Sunday Buffet was akin to a low end buffet at Vegas. Desserts were a disaster. Dry bread pudding and tasteless pies. Maybe just a bad day for them.

This beautiful restaurant in a historic hotel serves an extensive buffet. The many selections are prepared by the culinary students studying at the nearby college, and they do a terrific job. The staff is friendly and efficient, too. The décor, high ceilings, and large windows make a pleasant atmosphere. You’d imagine this linen tablecloth establishment might be expensive, but it’s not and diners can dress casually. In continuous operation since 1926, you might think the Jacaranda would be run down, but it’s a piece of living history. Pictures of Babe Ruth, George Burns, and many other celebrities adorn the walls of the lobby along with lovely antiques.

A sweet find in the middle of Florida
We stay in hotels over half the year on business. We generally choose a chain hotel for cleanliness and consistency, But driving through Avon Park, we stopped to check out The Jacaranda Hotel and ended up spending two lovely days and nights. The hotel is a mix of antiques and upgrades. Always working on the hotel, the staff is happy to show you around and tell you about it’s history. It has been a hotel in continuous operation since 1926. That, in itself is an amazing accomplishment! The sunny dining room is a lovely lunch and dinner buffet with a pianist who plays the old tunes and a staff that is attentive. We stayed in one of the front suites with a door that opened up onto the second floor balcony porch and spent evenings sitting outside. If you are looking for something a little different, clean, welcoming and charming, look no further than the Jacaranda Hotel.