Lake Nona's newest neighborhood restaurant, Cañonita now open in Lake Nona
Hand-selected Mexican details, monarch butterfly influences and three distinct dining settings define Tavistock Restaurant Collection’s
newest restaurant, designed by Anna Woodman Interior Design.
Anna Woodman Interior Design brings a vibrant, Mexican-inspired vision to Lake Nona with the opening of Cañonita, a walk-in-friendly neighborhood Mexican restaurant and bar from Tavistock Restaurant Collection. The monarch butterfly is at the heart of Cañonita’s story, inspired by its fall migration through Florida to Mexico. That connection comes to life through Mexican-inspired interiors, bold Mexico City flavors and a warm welcome for friends and neighbors.
With roots in Las Vegas, Cañonita arrives at Lake Nona West building on the local following of Cañonita Street Taqueria at Boxi Park. The full-service restaurant pairs bold Mexican flavors with a distinctive tequila selection in a colorful, nature-inspired setting designed for everyday lunches, after-work happy hours and big-table celebrations.
Located at 5947 Lake Nona Blvd., the 9,321-square-foot restaurant encompasses a bar and lounge, main dining room and covered patio with a butterfly-themed bar. Woodman’s design combines weathered woods, organic textures and hand-selected Mexican décor to create a welcoming space rooted in culture, nature and connection.
“Our goal was to create a space that feels authentic, layered and full of discovery,” Woodman said. “We wanted guests to feel transported while still creating a restaurant that feels completely at home in Lake Nona. Every element, from the hand-selected pottery to the trees and lighting, was thoughtfully chosen to tell a story and create a memorable experience.”
The Design
The experience begins with custom macramé tassel pendant lights suspended at varying heights above the entry. Neutral-toned macramé accented with vibrantly colored tie-offs creates a playful welcome, introducing the colors, textures and handcrafted details found throughout the restaurant.
Authentic Mexican décor and pottery were sourced by Woodman and her team, complemented by pieces hand-selected in Mexico by the Tavistock team. Artwork and artifacts were curated in partnership with Local Arts in Orlando, a longtime Tavistock collaborator known for creating customized visual experiences for restaurant and hospitality projects.
Two oversized oak tree limbs serve as defining architectural elements. One extends above a portion of the bar, while the second sits within the main dining area, visually connecting the spaces and bringing the feeling of nature indoors. Woodman collaborated with longtime design partner Nature Maker, based in California, to develop the custom elements, selecting oak for its connection to Mexico.
Suspended approximately 9 feet, 6 inches above the finished floor, each tree was engineered to hang from the ceiling with concealed structural support. Integrated accent lighting highlights the branches and complements decorative pendant fixtures throughout the bar and dining areas. The structures were shipped disassembled from California and assembled on site with the project’s general contractor and engineers.
Three Distinct Experiences
Cañonita’s layout offers three settings for gathering, each with its own character and connection to the restaurant’s broader design story.
The bar and lounge feature a panelized heritage mural and a glowing back bar displaying the restaurant’s tequila selection, creating a focal point for cocktails and conversation.
In the main dining room, 10-person tables accommodate group celebrations. Custom tree elements, colorful artwork and natural textures carry the design narrative into the dining experience.
The covered patio and butterfly bar overlook green space, extending the restaurant’s social energy outdoors. Designed for year-round gathering, the space brings the monarch butterfly inspiration into focus while offering another setting for casual meals, happy hours and gatherings.
The project brings together Anna Woodman Interior Design, which led the interior detailing and aesthetic, material selections and custom elements; Interstruct, which served as general contractor; and Interplan LLC, which provided architectural services.
Cañonita is located within Lake Nona West, a 405,000-square-foot, open-air shopping and dining destination along Lake Nona Boulevard featuring public art and outdoor gathering spaces. The walk-in-friendly restaurant offers dine-in service, takeout and delivery. For more information, visit https://canonitalakenona.com/
Anna Woodman Interior Design is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. For more information, visit https://annawoodmaninteriordesign.com/.
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