You might never have heard of one of our favorite restaurants in Disney World!

The in-park and Disney Springs restaurants tend to get a lot of love, then you have the best of the Disney World Resort hotel restaurants. But you might be overlooking some amazing spots that AREN’T Disney-owned — like Il Mulino New York Trattoria at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels.

Located at the Swan, Il Mulino is actually the second location of the original New York restaurant found in Greenwich Village. It’s an upscale restaurant that is only open for dinner and serves traditional eats from the Abruzzi region of Italy. It’s somewhat of a hidden gem since most Disney guests breeze past the Swan and Dolphin when thinking about Disney restaurants.

We have had amazing experiences at this lounge in the past and we’re pretty excited to take you through an updated review. So, let’s get started!

Atmosphere

Il Mulino can be found just off the lobby of the Swan Hotel.

The spot features both a restaurant and the Il Mulino Lounge, a wine bar with an outdoor terrace.

As we mentioned, Il Mulino serves Italian cuisine and it has a laid-back, yet elegant atmosphere.

The layout features an open kitchen so many tables have views of the work that goes into the dishes.

The easiest way to get to Il Mulino from a park is by taking a boat or walking from EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You enter the lounge area and then continue on to the restaurant. The seating is all in one room, but there are dividers to help the space feel more intimate.

When the sun goes down, the restaurant takes on a romantic feel with dimmer lighting and cozy tones.

Expect to be seated at standard tables and chairs though there is bar seating as well.

Your table will be set with reusable menus, cloth napkins, and utensils.

So, let’s eat!

Eats

Let’s take a look at the menu!

Like many Italian restaurants, the Il Mulino menu offers Antipasti and Antipasti di Mare courses.

You can also choose from a selection of Insalate, Carpaccio, and Zuppe — that’s salad, sliced meat, and soup.

For your main course, you’ll spot a WIDE variety of selections from Pizza, Risotto, and Pasta…

…to Piatti per Il Tavolo (Family-style) options and Bistecche or Steak…

…to Pollo, Carne, and Pesce. That’s chicken, meat, and fish!

Add some accompaniments to your meal with sides and desserts or Contorni and Dolci.

And, we can’t leave the kiddos out! This spot has a selection of Childrens’ Meals as well.

Don’t forget to check out the extensive drink menu!

Our meal started with a complimentary bread service featuring DELICIOUS bread. There were two different types plus oil and a plate of roasted eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, artichoke, and cured sausage.

Add grated parmesan on top and we are happy campers!

We had a few antipasto servings including the Arancini di Carne for $13.

These are Italian Rice Balls stuffed with House-made Bolognese over Spicy Marinara Sauce. We were so excited to try these!

The first thing we noticed was that the marinara had a wonderful kick to it and SO. MUCH. FLAVOR. The meatballs were not fried to be crispy but were cooked well and fork-tender. Honestly, we would’ve liked a bit more crunch but these were delicious as is.

The bolognese had good flavor but the real stars were the creamy rice balls with the stellar marinara. The serving is three large rice balls — plenty as a shared appetizer between two or three people! If you’re not a fan of spice, this dish might not be for you, but we found them very tasty!

The other part of our antipasto course was the Gamberi con Fagioli for $15.

Seafood lovers, get ready! This eat is Sautéed Jumbo Shrimp over Cannellini Beans and Pancetta.

This serving featured four jumbo shrimp with the tails still on, served over the very creamy beans with a bit of saltiness from the pancetta. We really enjoyed the way the flavors in this dish worked together. You DO need to like shrimp and beans, of course, but it’s a great combination.

The shrimp was also beautifully cooked — we were able to cut it with a spoon! It was seasoned well and was a comfortable bite but didn’t come off as anything too fancy.

From the risotto section, we ordered the Risotto con Funghi. On the menu, this dish is $29 but we were able to order a half portion for $17!

This dish is described as Arborio Rice with Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Oil.

The risotto was AMAZING. Every bite was SO rich and creamy and LOADED with delicious mushrooms. Our server offered parmesan on top which only made the dish even better. We would get this again and again. And, we especially love the option to get it as a half portion so you have room for more on the menu.

The dish was perfectly comforting and it was rich and filling. If you want something light, this isn’t for you. But, if you love a creamy risotto, it’s delicious! The mushrooms add to the amazing flavor, but you could probably eat around them if you hate ‘shrooms.

We wrapped up our main course with the Costolette di Maiale for $35.

This hearty dish is a Pork Chop with Cherry Vinegar Peppers and Mushroom Sauce.

We loved this one as well! Wow, all winners so far! The pork is served on the bone and we had ours cooked to the chef’s recommendation of medium. It was tender and smothered in a delicious sauce with a fun tanginess from the vinegar and spiciness from the peppers. The vinegar is not overwhelming but you do taste it so it might not be a favorite for those who don’t like more vinegary flavors.

The spiciness isn’t crazy either but there is a bit of a kick to each bite. If you like pork chops, try this! This is not your typical pork cut. It’s got a really fun twist to it and everything on the plate works really well together.

And finally, we have dessert! We ordered the Tartufo for $13.

Tartufo is Italian Gelato encased in Chocolate and served with Whipped Cream and Zabaglione. Ooooooh yeah.

Ours was hazelnut gelato and came with fresh berries on the side. This was such a fun dish with a more unique makeup. The hazelnut gelato was SO GOOD. Our server even told us that they rarely switch the hazelnut out because it’s so popular. Bonus! There’s a cherry in the center as a fun surprise!

The chocolate shell breaks apart easily and goes very well with the gelato. The texture was buttery and rich. If you love nutty flavors, this gelato will certainly satisfy you.

Finally, our meal wrapped up with complimentary limoncello, offered to guests of age as a digestivo. It was very tart and perfect for a clean finish.

So, should YOU eat at Il Mulino?

Nosh or Not

You SHOULD head to Il Mulino if…

• You love Italian food! We love Via Napoli in EPCOT too, but this spot might arguably have the best Italian food in Disney World.
• You’re looking to dine somewhere away from Disney crowds. This spot is easy to access with Disney transportation AND it’s tucked away from the crowds.
• You want a refined or romantic meal. Il Mulino has a very nice atmosphere and menu that could make for a great night out.

You should SKIP Il Mulino if…

• You’re hoping for a quick dinner. Il Mulino is a nice, sit-and-enjoy-it meal.
• You don’t have room in your schedule to make it over to Swan and Dolphin. You’ll probably have to make a specific plan during your vacation if you want to eat at Il Mulino!
• You don’t love Italian food. Amazing Italian is the name of the game here. If that’s not your jam, head elsewhere.

Overall

Il Mulino New York Trattoria has wowed us ONCE. AGAIN. This spot has been a longtime favorite of DFB and it seems it’s holding its position. Our service was amazing so we felt as if we never needed anything. All of our food came out quickly and the meal was paced well — we weren’t waiting long between courses.

And the food was AMAZING. The dishes are rich and full of flavor, feeling sophisticated without coming off as overly formal. You feel comfortable while you eat here thanks to the awesome eats and the cozy atmosphere. We loved watching the kitchen from our seats too!

Though Il Mulino is on the pricier side, it’s still comparable to other restaurants on property. Eating here feels like you’ve been let in on a VERY well-kept secret in Disney World. Overall, this meal is diverse, regional cuisine done exceptionally well. If Il Mulino fits into your plans, we can certainly recommend it.

Click here to see more review of Il Mulino!

Have you been to Il Mulino? Tell us about your experience in the comments!