Which resort is Walt Disney World’s greatest meals resort? This can be a enjoyable and not-so-hotly-debated subject amongst WDW diehards, and there are two candidates that ought to instantly come to thoughts: the flagship Grand Floridian Resort with its surplus of Signature Eating places plus the one Michelin-starred restaurant at Walt Disney World, and Animal Kingdom Lodge with its adventurous eats and extra numerous assortment of choices.
These are the simple picks, and it’s laborious to argue that Grand Floridian is not #1. Perhaps it’s not the highest decide for a lot of households (ours included), however with a extra goal evaluation, it’s troublesome to contend the rest surpasses the Grand Floridian. Then there’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which takes second-place because of Jiko, Boma, Sanaa, The Mara, Victoria Falls Lounge, and surprisingly good pool and Membership Stage meals.
Third place is the place issues get extra fascinating, with contenders together with Wilderness Lodge, Yacht & Seashore Membership, Up to date Resort, and perhaps Disney’s Riviera Resort. That final one has a extremely well-rounded lineup that makes it a contender. However there’s one other darkish horse contender…
The one non-Deluxe with a viable declare to being one in all Walt Disney World’s greatest meals resorts is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. That is arguably the #3 decide for resorts with the strongest restaurant rosters at WDW. “Arguably” is doing a little heavy lifting right here, as I don’t really suppose it’s #3, however it’s distinctive. Right here’s the eating lineup:
- Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood
- Maya Grill
- Cafe Rix
- Rix Bar & Grill
- Three Bridges Bar & Grill
- El Mercado de Coronado
- Siestas Cantina
- Laguna Bar
- Barcelona Lounge
- Dahlia Lounge
- Chronos Membership Stage (not a restaurant, however nice meals service)
That’s a variety of eating places! Essentially the most, by far, of any Reasonable Resort as a result of it serving as the first conference heart resort. And I believe a part of the temptation in rating Coronado Springs because the #3 eating resort in all of Walt Disney World is amount, versus high quality. There are a variety of eating places, however a number of of them are pretty middling. Coronado doesn’t have the identical top-to-bottom lineup power as GF or AKL.
Nonetheless, there are additionally a number of all-stars, together with my go-to Three Bridges Bar & Grill and the Michelin-recognized Toledo. We’ve drawn an honest quantity of consideration to each, as we additionally view these as hidden gems. Alternatively, we’ve given far much less consideration on the weblog to Dahlia Lounge, the secondary standout rooftop restaurant in Gran Destino Tower.
Dahlia Lounge is the luxury rooftop lounge subsequent door to Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood, the aforementioned Michelin-recognized restaurant on the highest ground of Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
The 2 are distinct eating choices, every with their very own entrances, versus Dahlia Lounge serving because the bar for the desk service restaurant. However they’re additionally shut sufficient that you would be able to seize a drink at Dahlia and take it over to Toledo when your desk is prepared–a typical apply.
As with the remainder of Gran Destino, Imagineering went with a deep lower for themed design and stylistic sensibility of Dahlia Lounge.
Each the bar and tower as a complete are based mostly on the collaboration and friendship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali. This in the end resulted within the quick movie Destino, which was lastly accomplished and launched in 2003. There’s additionally Dali & Disney: Destino, a e-book that’s actually fascinating and delightful.
Imagineering credit the surrealist animated quick for the visible model of the tower, which it claims is “a whimsical, magnificent visible feast, numerous in its design and execution.” The foyer pays homage to the Catalan Modernism model, and there are flashes of famed Spanish architect Gaudí all through the resort.
Dahlia Lounge might be the area with essentially the most overt Salvador Dali inspiration in Gran Destino Tower.
The model is described by Walt Disney World as “surrealist flights of fancy,” with whimsical shapes and colours and mesmerizing décor & particulars, equivalent to dandelion chandeliers and steel bell accents.
Ceiling coffers comprise swirling patterns harking back to flowing hair. Architecturally, Spanish modernism prevails, mirroring the final look of Gran Destino Tower.
Dahlia Lounge has a extremely cool and distinct look.
The spotlight is undoubtedly the bar itself, which warmly evokes shifting sands and melting mirrors that mirror again off the floor-to-ceiling home windows all through. There are different deeper cuts, together with the wall columns and extra that I’m in all probability lacking.
Suffice to say, Dahlia Lounge is fashionable and complicated and undoubtedly seems like one of many extra “grownup” lounges at Walt Disney World.
We regularly make a degree of claiming how, opposite to well-liked opinion, a lot of the lounges at Walt Disney World are really very family-friendly. Other than character meals, our younger household often prefers lounges for meals!
Lounges are an amazing in-between possibility if you need one thing greater than counter service, however usually are not certain when you can “commit” to a fully-fledged desk service meal. Lounges provide a quicker turnaround time, and if the state of affairs begins to, ahem, deteriorate, it’s simple to get out earlier than issues explode.
This is the reason we’ve develop into large on lounges. And it’s why there’s a rising variety of bar evaluations versus Signature Eating places.
There are exceptions to the final rule that the majority lounges at Walt Disney World are family-friendly.
Affordable minds might differ on this, however I’d say that Dahlia Lounge borders on being one in all them. This isn’t to say that it’s not family-friendly. If you happen to take your youngsters right here proper at 5 pm (and even 7 pm!), you’re nearly assuredly going to have a stunning expertise that’s completely applicable to visitors of all ages.
It’s the ultimate few hours of the night which are extra questionable, when Dahlia Lounge takes on the character of no matter group is on the Coronado Conference Heart (if there’s one). I point out this partly for households to plan accordingly, and partly as a result of nearly all of my meals at Dahlia Lounge within the final 3 years have been on my own, coming again to Coronado after a late night time within the parks. I often eat right here after 11 pm.
Though the model remains to be surrealist, Dahlia Lounge type of shape-shifts and takes on the persona of the prevailing occasion visitor profile within the later night hours.
Oftentimes, it’s a “convention-bro” vibe. A bunch of dudes in Patagonia vests who work in medical gross sales, IT or no matter. On different events, I’ve seen cheer mothers and dads. I swear one time was karate mother and father. My favourite was throughout Jersey Week, and I imply that sincerely–all the way down to earth of us from the Backyard State convey a enjoyable vitality to late nights at Walt Disney World!
Happily, that is escapable–assuming you wish to escape it. On the night when many of those images had been taken, the bar space was fairly busy after I first arrived and had a “convention-bro” vibe. In the meantime, the lounge seats on the entrance and the balcony exterior had been all pretty quiet and uncrowded. I nonetheless wouldn’t have taken our toddler up there at ~11 pm, however I’m guessing most of you aren’t debating ‘the place at Walt Disney World to dine together with your toddler at 11 pm?’ within the first place. Until you’re West Coasters!
One of the best seating space of all at Dahlia Lounge is exterior.
This is among the greatest views in all of Walt Disney World, with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the foreground and the remainder of DHS and EPCOT additionally in view. However you may see much more off within the distance; it’s an amazing location for taking within the sweeping vista at nightfall or the night.
The out of doors balcony is pretty simple, and the massive home windows provide views again into the principle lounge so that you’re nonetheless having fun with a little bit of that refined and surreal stylization, simply in a setting that’s typically quieter and extra peaceable. What I like most concerning the out of doors deck is the seating, which is snug and comfortable; a few of the tables, chairs and bench seating inside (and it’s typically a combination) are a bit awkward. At the very least, when you’re making an attempt to eat.
Turning to meals, Dahlia Lounge has a wide range of small-plate tapas choices, any of which may function a meal.
This menu has been nearly utterly overhauled since Dahlia Lounge first opened, with a lot of the modifications geared toward including extra bar-friendly and crowd-pleasing delicacies. It’s nonetheless formidable, however not fairly as a lot because the mussels, head-on prawns, roasted beets, and (our favourite) savory churros beforehand served right here.
This being a lounge, there’s additionally a prolonged drink menu.
This contains specialty cocktails crafted by mixologists, a wine checklist highlighted by Spanish wines, and scorching drinks. There are additionally a few non-alcoholic drinks.
Truthfully, I’m shocked there’s not an extended checklist of ‘zero-proof’ cocktails. I attended a presentation by the Walt Disney World culinary group (at Toledo!) earlier this yr, throughout which they mentioned how zero-proof cocktails are a giant rising space of emphasis.
For one specific late night time meal at Dahlia Lounge, I ordered the Dahlia Sliders: Beef with Chorizo Spice, Crispy Serrano Ham, Manchego, and Candy Pepper Relish on a Brioche Poppy Seed Bun.
These sliders have been on the menu for over a yr, however they modified sooner or later inside the previous couple of months (they weren’t this fashion again in March). The sauces are completely different, as is the accompaniment.
Most curiously, the value of those additionally decreased. Final time I ordered them, they had been $17. Now, they’re $14. Is that this a case of Disney Deflation?!
Eh, I don’t find out about that.
The $3 value lower has been accompanied by a corresponding lower in beef patty measurement. They now cowl about two-thirds of the bun and aren’t fairly as thick. Personally, I most popular the upper value and extra meat.
This wasn’t a one-off, both. The night time after having this meal, I joined pals at Dahlia who ordered the sliders and theirs had been similarly-sized.
These sliders are nonetheless excellent. Even with an unfavorable bread-to-meat ratio, the flavour shines by way of and the toppings present a little bit of distinctive pizzazz. They’re not as juicy as earlier than, however nonetheless tasty, and satisfying as a meal or shareable.
Nonetheless, it’s value mentioning that Coronado Springs can be dwelling to the aforementioned Three Bridges Bar & Grill, which itself is dwelling to one of many Greatest Burgers at Walt Disney World. If pressured to decide on, I’m choosing that each single time. These are excellent and unlikely to disappoint, whereas that burger is one thing I crave. As I sort these phrases, my mouth is beginning to water–one thing that even images of the sliders couldn’t accomplish.
The sliders at the moment are served with house-made chips. These are unusual; good filler is about the most effective I can say.
Whereas the sliders are sufficient for a standard particular person meal, I additionally ordered the Calamari: Crispy Calamari, Candy Pepper Confit, and Roasted Garlic Aïoli. That is presently priced at $16.
If I’m being trustworthy, I don’t know why I ordered the calamari for the aim of this evaluation. Within the historical past of this weblog, I doubt we’ve ever had a destructive calamari evaluation. It’s a kind of guilty-pleasure consolation meals dishes that I like, and that is no completely different.
The preparation right here was glorious, with the correct amount of breading, texture & consistency, and tenderness to the meat. The roasted pepper and aioli are what make this dish distinctive, and so they fulfilled that function effectively. My solely disappointment is that there’s no more making this distinctive, or punching it up–seasoning or one thing. The calamari is arguably a bit an excessive amount of of a crowd-pleaser.
This can be a excellent portion for $16, and I’d be inclined to order this once more over my earlier go-to (these sliders) now that they’re smaller.
As famous above, I’ve made a number of late night time visits to Dahlia Lounge, typically coming again after a protracted day within the parks or with pals and with out my digital camera. Accordingly, I’ve received a few fast hits. The primary of those is the Jamón Croquetas; these little crispy consolation meals are scrumptious, with an amazing taste and texture–however the portion (3 of them) is just too small.
The Heat Churros are the must-order at Dahlia Lounge. These are the perfect churros in all of Walt Disney World. Even when you go only for these, Dahlia Lounge is completely well worth the detour. I really feel sort of foolish for not ordering them with my current meal, however I used to be already pushing my luck making an attempt to eat two tapas (mission completed–and I may’ve polished off the churros, in hindsight). I assumed I may discover a file photograph of them in my archives, however alas, no such luck. I’ll treatment that with my subsequent go to and replace accordingly.
Lastly, as talked about above, I returned to Dahlia Lounge the very subsequent night time with pals. One of many new-to-me issues they ordered was the Bocadillo: Mushroom Steak marinated in Beet Juice, Pickled Onions, Arugula, and Grain Mustard Plant-based Mayonnaise on a Toasted Baguette served with Smoked Paprika Chips.
This was one thing all of us actually wished to love, as the concept for a plant-based dish is an efficient one…however this simply is just not it. The Bocadillo jogged my memory of one thing I had at Galactic Grill in Disneyland some time again, and a comparability to meals in Tomorrowland is one you by no means wish to see. That is simply making an attempt too laborious to make a plant-based sandwich stand-in for one with meat, and it falls quick. There’s additionally an odd, disagreeable medley of flavors between the beet juice and plant-mayo that dominates.
On the plus aspect, the bread could be very, excellent. I ended up having a number of bites because of that scrumptious bread pulling me in, and it was nearly sufficient to beat the substance of the sandwich. Even so, nobody in our social gathering who tried the Bocadillo would advocate it. I miss the outdated sandwich Dahlia Lounge used to serve. Nice bread and scrumptious meats–better of each worlds!
Finally, Dahlia Lounge is among the higher hidden gem eating places at Walt Disney World. It’s a spot I discover myself typically with pals or on late nights on my own after getting back from the parks throughout solo analysis journeys after I’m staying at Gran Destino Tower. It’s a lounge each of us take pleasure in, though we’ve but to do it as a household of three.
There’s a motive Dahlia Lounge ranks moderately extremely on our checklist of the 25 Greatest Bars at Walt Disney World! The issue for me is that, as a lot as I take pleasure in Dahlia Lounge, there are two options at Coronado Springs that I personally favor. Three Bridges Bar & Grill stays my favourite for lounge meals, and late night time solo meals; what it lacks within the rooftop view it makes up for by being alongside the waterfront. For rooftop eating places, Dahlia can not compete with Toledo; it’s simply in a category of its personal.
Dahlia Lounge nonetheless has a variety of its personal promoting factors, from the menu to the subtle setting to the sweeping views of Walt Disney World. As a vacation spot for visitors not staying at Coronado Springs (or having their very own car for simple transportation), it in all probability works greatest as a companion expertise to Toledo. Whilst a standalone night time out paired with stops round Gran Destino and stroll across the Coronado grounds, this underrated lounge has a ton going for it.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for the whole lot it’s essential to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever dined at Dahlia Lounge because the new menu debuted? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any ideas on the menu, service, seating, refined setting, or the rest lined right here? If you happen to’ve but to dine right here, is that this restaurant in your ‘checklist’ of locations to strive at Walt Disney World? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
