Cañonita, the Mexican restaurant that has been on the Grand Canal inside The Venetian in Las Vegas for about 25 years, is celebrating its grand opening at Lake Nona West, and Lake Nona is marking it with a run. The community's calendar lists the Margarita Mile, a one-mile run or walk from the restaurant, for Thursday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m., billed as a celebration of Cañonita's grand opening.

The restaurant is part of the Tavistock Restaurant Collection. The center it joins was built by Tavistock Development Company, the developer of Lake Nona, the 17-square-mile community in southeast Orlando, Orange County, Florida, beside Orlando International Airport.

The first restaurant signed at Lake Nona West

Tavistock named Cañonita in May 2025 as the first restaurant confirmed for Lake Nona West, the 405,000-square-foot open-air shopping center on 54 acres along Lake Nona Boulevard near Boggy Creek Road. At the time, the developer described the restaurant as bringing recipes from Mexico City with a modern style, and said the Lake Nona location continued the brand's growth beyond Las Vegas.

Cañonita shares the center with a Target anchor of about 149,000 square feet, along with Nordstrom Rack, Barnes & Noble, Homesense and Total Wine & More. Tavistock added Drybar, Just Salad, Gloss Nail Co. and Kilwins in April 2026, and said its retailers would open in phases.

The center also carries a public art program by Chalk & Brush, the Miami studio founded by artist Cinthia Santos, which is painting 30 murals across its buildings and walkways, drawing on native plants, wildlife and the communities of the area. A 20-stall fast-charging hub for electric vehicles, run by Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging and open to any EV driver, sits on site.

The Margarita Mile

The November 19 event is built around Orlando's run clubs, though anyone can join. Runners and walkers meet at Cañonita at Lake Nona West for a one-mile course. Finishers get a complimentary margarita or a mocktail and an offer for free chips and guacamole, and live music follows at the restaurant. Lake Nona asks participants to reserve a spot through the link on its event page.

More on the Lake Nona calendar this week

The run lands in a full week at Lake Nona's public spaces:

  • Festivals of Speed, Sunday, November 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Nona Town Center: more than 100 exotic and luxury cars, an artisan market and a live DJ.
  • Lake Nona Farmers Market, Wednesday, November 18, 5 to 8 p.m., Laureate Park Village Center: farmers, artisans and makers, on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
  • Art Aftr Dark, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. for four hours, Lake Nona Town Center: Orlando Local Makers sets up handmade goods and food, with no cover charge.

Getting there

Lake Nona West's address is 5959 Lake Nona Blvd. in Orlando. The center sits on Lake Nona Boulevard near Boggy Creek Road. Cañonita's Lake Nona hours and reservations are posted through the Tavistock Restaurant Collection and the center's directory.

Sources