World Equestrian Center Unveils New Rooftop Dining Experiences and Continued Expansion

Posted on 1.28.26 4:44 PM
Saga CommunicationsThe World Equestrian Center officially open the fourth floor of the Equestrian Manor for dining at the brand-new Italian restaurant, Genevieve's, and pan-Asian restaurant, The White Willow on the evening of Jan. 28. Amber Battillo/352today

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala continues to broaden its footprint as a lifestyle and hospitality destination with new dining experiences, rooftop entertainment and additional retail development now underway across the property.

Following the recent opening of The Equestrian Manor, a four-story dining, hospitality and event venue, WEC is rolling out rooftop restaurants, weekend entertainment and large-scale retail expansion–signaling continued growth beyond equestrian sport.

New Dining Experiences at The Equestrian Manor

The Equestrian Manor adds more than 300,000 square feet of dining, event and gathering space to the WEC Ocala campus. The venue features four chef-driven restaurants across multiple floors, as well as event spaces designed for weddings, meetings and private functions.

On the ground floor, guests can already visit the Polo Pony, an elevated American tavern, alongside an expanded location of Emma’s Patisserie, known for its European-inspired pastries and confections.

Opening the evening of Jan. 28 for dinner service, two rooftop dining concepts debut on the fourth floor of The Equestrian Manor: Genievieve’s, an elevated Italian restaurant offering indoor and outdoor seating with an indoor bar, and The White Willow, a pan-Asian restaurant and bar featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as indoor and outdoor bar spaces and panoramic views of the property.

Reservations for both restaurants are recommended through OpenTable, though walk-ins are welcome. Floors two and three of The Equestrian Manor are dedicated to event and venue spaces, accommodating gatherings ranging from corporate meetings to weddings and receptions.

Two tarts sit next to each other in a white box. One tart features raspberries displayed in circles with a white powder on top. Underneath is a bread base and a yellow dish to hold the desert. The other pastry is pink and rose shaped with a rose cream poking from the top. Underneath the rose is a cracker on top of a yellow dish to hold the pastry.
Red, yellow and pink macarons are line up in a pink box on a marble counter. Behind the pink box is a white cover with a gold pattern on it.
A pastry shop features velvet rope to form a line in front of a display case with a variety of pastries. Small chandeliers hang above the display case.
A pastry in the shape of a flower sits atop a cracker with a small, yellow dish underneath. A golden fork stabs into the pastry.
The entrance to a restaurant features large, wooden facade with two check-in books on either side of the large, open doors. Further on the sides of the doors are golden horse heads with one looking down and the other neighing. inside the restaurant are guests sitting at a bar area as one guest walks around.

Rooftop Entertainment and Weekend Programming

As part of the expansion, WEC will introduce new weekend nightlife elements. The White Willow and Polo Pony will host DJ programming on Friday and Saturday nights, blending dining with music and social experiences.

Saturday evenings at the World Equestrian Center also frequently feature Grand Prix show jumping events, which are traditionally free and open to the public, though some premium experiences or special seating areas may require paid admission.

The entrance of a restaurant has closed doors with window stickers that read, "Genievieve's." A large, cursive G window sticker is above the name.
An entrance to a restaurant features wallpaper with vibrant, green plants on them. A green, semi-circle hostess stand with a small device behind it stands in the center of the wall. A chandelier with white, faux flowers on it hangs above the hostess stand.

A Growing Destination Beyond the Arena

The Equestrian Manor’s debut comes after WEC was named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places in 2024, further solidifying its reputation as a national destination.

All restaurants within The Equestrian Manor will be open to the public, with flexible buyout options available for private events.

Shoppes on 80th Underway

Beyond dining, WEC’s expansion continues with construction now underway on the Shoppes on 80th, a large-scale retail development expected to bring additional shopping and lifestyle offerings to the Ocala area.

Once completed, the Shoppes on 80th will further position the World Equestrian Center as a year-round hub for locals and visitors alike–blending sport, dining, entertainment, retail and community events into a single destination.

Additional announcements regarding opening dates for Shoppes on 80th are expected in the coming months.