South African Wine at Jiko
When it comes to a happy hour beverage, a night out with your spouse or some friends, or — let’s face it — a margarita at the stroke of noon…there are a few spots in Walt Disney World that get the job done better than others!
FYI — The Disney Food Blog offers a full list of bars and lounges — complete with descriptions of each place — in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book.
Now, let’s take a tour of our Top Ten Disney World bars and lounges — these are the places that really make us want to get up and dance. 😉
Don’t forget to check out our list of Honorable Mentions at the end! Many of these spots offer the standard Disney Parks bar and lounge menu should you be interested.
Top Ten WDW Bars and Lounges
1. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace
We were so excited when Trader Sam’s came to the east coast, and it has proved itself to be every bit as fun and exciting as its Disneyland counterpart. Located at Polynesian Village Resort, Trader Sam’s transports you to the tropics and slings some funky attitude along with its awesome drinks. Step into the whacky Grog Grotto, where some of the drinks come with a show.
Shrunken Zombie Head Red Velvet Rum Cake
And the appetizer menu isn’t half bad either! For one-of-a-kind ambience and some of the coolest bartenders around, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto can’t be beat!
Trader’s Sam’s Tiki Terrace is located outside and around the corner from the Grog Grotto, but the same drink and food menus are available here. The Spiky Pineapple is particularly refreshing!
Spikey Pineapple
So if you’re looking to experience Trader Sam’s but want to do so al fresco, Tiki Terrace has you covered!
2. La Cava del Tequila
Nestled in the twilit atmosphere of the Mexican pavilion in Epcot, La Cava del Tequila is popular with tequila and margarita fans. Try the Avocado Margarita while perusing the limited appetizer menu. See our margarita reviews here and a pic of the tequila flight here!
Due to its cozy and dark location, La Cava makes a great place to escape the heat and bright sunshine while touring World Showcase. However, it gets crowded quickly, so to ensure that you get a table, head over to La Cava at opening time — noon!
La Cava Bar
3. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Fans of the Indian Jones franchise have got to visit Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs. The bar is packed to the gills with movie references and props. And the menu pays homage after homage to the films too! Order a Cool-Headed Monkey or a Fountain of Youth, sit back, and relax.
Fountain of Youth
And definitely plan to soak up the booze with some terrific bar food! The Air Pirate’s Everything Pretzels come with cheese fondue! Need we say more?
4. Territory Lounge
Located at the Wilderness Lodge (and just a boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom), Territory Lounge lets you spend a quiet evening in the Pacific Northwest. Here guests can dig into one of the best appetizer menus on property!
Sharp Cheddar Beer Fondue
5. River Roost Lounge
Located at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, this little bar offers more than you’d ever believe! Fun drinks and a small appetizer menu at River Roost are greatly complemented by the performances of Yee-haa Bob Jackson, a ragtime improv pianist whose shows are always a hoot!
Ye-Haa Bob
Become part of Bob’s dedicated following after just one evening here…
6. Tutto Gusto
is a terrific wine cellar — conveniently tucked into the Italy Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase! Stone walls and a fireplace make you feel like you’re ensconced in an exclusive (96-seat) wine bar, where sophisticated pours await.
Italian Wine Flight
But it’s not just about wine here. In fact, you can find a drink to tickle any fancy, and the menu of pastas and appetizers is really delicious. If you’re looking to escape the World Showcase crowds, unwind at Tutto Gusto.
7. Brown Derby Lounge
The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a fabulous addition to the already very popular Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant. The Lounge has a bit of indoor and outdoor seating, lots of delicious drinks (including margarita and martini flights!), and some of the classic menu items from the restaurant!
Margarita Flight
The best part about the Brown Derby Lounge? No ADR needed! You can walk right up and gain access to some of the best food in Hollywood Studios!
8. Jellyrolls
While Jellyrolls isn’t for everyone, if you love music from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, and especially if you love dueling piano improv, it’s going to fit the bill for you!
An entertainment spot on Disney’s Boardwalk bringing you non-stop dueling pianos, the bar at Jellyrolls plays second fiddle to the fun. Arrive early to get a table; it’s standing room only by about 9pm each night. By the way, there’s a drink special every night that’s served in a giant red plastic cup. Order that. And bring plenty of $1 and $5 bills to slide onto the piano with your request for your favorite Billy Joel, Journey, or Beastie Boys song.
Oh, and save me a seat!
Jellyrolls at Disney’s Boardwalk
9. Forbidden Lounge
The Forbidden Lounge at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs has leapt quickly onto this list — and with good reason. It’s a fantastic opportunity to sample some of world-renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s pan-Asian cuisine, including tuna poke and hamburger sliders.
Side View of Building and Mural
10. Tambu Lounge
Travel to the South Seas and stop by the Polynesian Resort’s Tambu Lounge. Located adjacent to ‘Ohana, Tambu Lounge shares that island vibe. The bartenders are great, and sipping a Lapu Lapu served in a fresh pineapple is always memorable!
Lapu Lapu at the Tambu Lounge
This is a great place to grab a drink before heading out to the beach to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks (or to spend a little time before your ‘Ohana or Kona Cafe ADR!)!
Honorable Mentions
So many lounges, so little non-touring time to sit back and relax! If you find yourself near any of these lounges, put down your itinerary and treat yourself to a beverage.
Don’t forget the light-up ice cube…
- The dark and intimate Crew’s Cup Lounge is a relaxed location with good food from a menu that offers more than just appetizers (boneless buffalo wings!!!! — it’s the little things that matter most, really, isn’t it?). Best of all, you can usually find a table here!
- Mizner’s Lounge in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort offers laid-back elegance and the chance to hear live entertainment in the Grand Floridian lobby.
- Nomad Lounge, attached to Tiffins restaurant at Animal Kingdom, offers guest a bit of adventure with their drinks and eats. Enjoy reading the travel banners overhead — and nosh on some awesome apps!
Did we miss any? What’s your favorite hang-out at WDW? Let us know in the comments below. 🙂Just a reminder — look for a full list of bars and lounges, complete with descriptions of each place and recommended drinks, in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book.Jellyrolls photo credit
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Michael — We love Top of the World! Great suggestion!! I didn’t include it because it’s not available to everyone and I wanted to be sure our top choices were accessible. 🙂
Great list! Where would you rank the recently opened Tutto Gusto wine bar?
Believe it or not, the bar at the wilderness campground makes some great drinks, and you can get the appetizers from the attached trails-end restaurant. A great boat ride over and back a pleasant wilderness surroundings make this a great place to spend some time.
It is not a trip to EPCOT without having Karl pour you a pint at the Rose and Crown.
Rose and Crown in Epcot!
The Rose & Crown is without a doubt the best bar at Disney and the fact that it is not included in this list is a sham.
Yak and Yeti has awesome drinks and bar food.
California Grill bar at the top of the Contempory… Clinta (yes the “a” does belong at the end of his name), makes an amazing Dirty Martini along with many other awesome drinks.
Victoria Falls at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, really great Rum concoctions!
Mizner’s Lounge, part of your honorable mentions, is always great!
And… The Lounge at The Blue Zoo in the Dolphin was amazing! Great bar food too!
A good list AJ! I like Mizner’s as it reeks of old money and our bartender was a treat!
The Lapu Lapu at the Tambu is bangin! I’m looking forward to trying a Zombie there on October.
The Tune In is one of my personal favorites.
Any previews of Trader Sam’s?
I can’t believe there was no mention of the Rose & Crown, fun place day or night!
Rose & Crown is a tie for #1 with Cava del Tequila on my Top Ten list! I also like High Octane Refreshments at DHS and the Cookes of Dublin Patio (although you did mention Raglan Road. Personally, though, the beer may be good, but I think the food is poor at Big River Grille.
I’m looking for a great bar to watch my Eagles kill the Jets this september 27th. I’ve heard the ESPN bars are a circus. Looking for a place that will have the volume on and have people who actually care about the game. Being that we’ll be in Disney I’ll do my best not to curse.
Any ideas anyone?
This definitely needs to be updated with Trader Sams and Jock Lindsey’s!!!!
Ive been to about 1/2 of the list and will make every effort to have a drink at the rest. One of my favorites is The Gurgling Suitcase at OKW. The Turtle Crawl is amazing.
just re-read this article and realized I’ve been to everyone of the bars and lounges (is that a bad thing?) except for Crew’s Cup. I will make it a point to go there on our next trip!
Does Territory Lounge still serve the fondue? Last year I couldn’t find anybody in the hotel who knew what I was talking about.
Susan — It’s still showing on the menu, and we had it during our last visit. Sometimes they change up how it’s made — either with beer or wine. Currently, it’s a Pinot Gris fondue.
Ogas Cantina has dome old hands running it at WDW. Fun, and very high octane.