Can’t decide which hotel to stay at in Disney World? You might want to look at the menus and choose the spot with the best eats.

There are a few very popular restaurants at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and the updated Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has earned some rave reviews. Now, let’s head over to Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and find out what there is to eat at this hotel! 

We want to start by saying that, while there are a few decent options for meals and treats at Saratoga Springs, there are even more places to eat at Disney Springs (Disney World’s shopping and dining district), which is just a short boat ride away from this hotel. If you’re not seeing anything that really appeals to you on this list, remember that you can always head over there for a LOT of great choices for snacks, meals, and treats.

Now, on to the Saratoga Springs restaurants! We’ll start with a counter service dining spot, The Artist’s Palette.

The Artist’s Palette

The Artist’s Palette is a counter-service spot that’s generally open from 7AM to 11PM (but double-check times on the My Disney Experience app to see if they’re the same during your visit). You can use Mobile Order here, so even if there’s a line out the door, you can get your food without waiting!

Since it’s open all day, you’ll find breakfast, lunch, and dinner here. For breakfast, check out options like Mickey waffles, quiche, shrimp & grits, as well as a few plant-based choices like the Harvest Breakfast Sandwich.

The lunch and dinner menu offers basics like pizza, chicken strips, meatballs, sandwiches, salads, etc. It’s pretty much standard theme park-type fare. There are a couple of unique eats (like the Mango Rum-barbecued Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Lemon-Tarragon Roasted Half Chicken), but not a lot that deviate from very classic items.

The REAL reason to come here is for dessert. This spot has fun treats like the tasty chocolate-peanut butter Bullseye Cupcake, and you’ll often find seasonal menu items like the adorable Mini Pumpkin or the 50th anniversary Creme Brûlée Eclair. We have also enjoyed the Milk & Cookies Cupcake, which is filled with edible cookie dough.

The great news is that these desserts are available ALL. DAY. Want a cupcake for breakfast? Go for it. We fully support that decision.

Looking for a drink? There are a lot of beverages on the menu here, including some alcoholic ones like beer, wine, and a few cocktails.

Read more reviews from the Artist’s Palette here.

The Turf Club Bar & Grill

The Turf Club Bar and Grill is the place for a hearty, tasty meal, although you’ll sacrifice Disney theming if you opt to dine here. It’s themed to horse racing, so you’ll find jockey decorations all throughout the restaurant. If you don’t mind giving up the princesses, superheroes, and Pixar characters for a few hours, you’ll probably enjoy this secluded spot.

Not a ton of people know about this restaurant if they haven’t stayed at Saratoga Springs before, so the atmosphere is usually quiet and relaxing. If you had a super busy day in the parks and are DONE with the crowds, this is a good place to hide and find a delicious meal.

The decor includes lots of dark woods and forest greens, but it’s not too stuffy (kids are welcome to dine here with the adults). There is also a covered outdoor seating area that has great views of Lake Buena Vista.

The food here is standard American cuisine, like pasta, salad, seafood, steak, and pork chops. Some of the eats that we’ve really enjoyed here are the Grilled Pork Chop and the New York Cider-Braised Mussels. Those mussels were incredibly flavorful, and they were made with apple cider and chorizo, which gave that dish a fun twist.

There’s also a shareable charcuterie appetizer that would be fun for cheese fans (it’s us, we’re cheese fans), and there’s a decent variety on the menu so you can choose between steak, pasta, chicken, and other classics.

You’ll find quite a few options for wine and cocktails here, too.

Read our recent review of the Turf Club Bar & Grill here.

The Turf Club Lounge

When we think of a lounge, we usually imagine a cozy atmosphere with dark-toned decorations and low lighting. The Turf Club Lounge could not be more different from that picture. It’s bright and open with horse racing-themed decor and televisions that are usually showing golf. There used to be a pool table inside as well (it was removed after the COVID-19-related closures, but see if it’s back for your visit!).

The lounge is open from 4PM to 11PM, but food service usually stops at 10PM. Most of the seating is inside, but there are a few tables on an outdoor patio.

You’ll order everything (including food) at the bar — just head up and let the bartender know what you’d like! There are a LOT of cocktails on the menu here, like a Piña Colada and a Blood Orange Margarita. There are a few mocktails available as well.

There aren’t very many eats on the menu here, but you shouldn’t sleep on the Turf Burger. This was one of the best burgers we’ve had in Disney World in a while! It’s made with smoked cheddar, thick-cut bacon, bourbon glaze, crispy onions, and tomato jam on a brioche bun served with seasoned house-cut fries. We loved it!

The rest of the food menu includes house-made pizza or french fries. We loved that burger, but if you’re not looking for a full lunch, this is still a good place to grab a cocktail and relax for a few hours.

Read our recent review of the Turf Club Lounge here.

The Paddock Grill

The Paddock Grill is a poolside quick service spot that has food and drinks. You’ll find it — where else? — at the Paddock Pool.

This poolside restaurant is unique in that it even serves up a few breakfast items in the morning, like quiche, bagels, and croissants. For lunch, you’ll find crowd-pleasing options like burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish tacos, and more. (Those house-made Saratoga Springs chips are available here as well.)

Cocktails are on the menu as well, including some frozen ones (like the Piña CoLAVA). A good choice is the Millionaire Margarita, which we got for $15.50 during our last visit.

Want some poolside dessert? You can get Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars and Mickey Premium Ice Cream Sandwiches here!

Check out our review of The Paddock Grill here.

On the Rocks

This pool bar (located by the High Rock Spring pool) only serves drinks, so if you wanted a snack, you’ll need to head somewhere different.

The menu includes a few cocktails, like the Bourbon Breeze, Poolside Iced Tea, and Sunshine Margarita. There are also frozen drinks available if you want something more refreshing!

You can also get non-alcoholic drinks here, such as smoothies, ginger beer, and the EARidescent Sip-a-bration mocktail.

Note that the On the Rocks Pool Bar will be closed from January 2023 through late March 2023 while the High Rock Springs Pool undergoes refurbishment. Disney says that guests should visit The Paddock Grill or the Backstretch Pool Bar if they want some drinks during that time.

Learn more about the On the Rocks pool bar here.

Backstretch Pool Bar

If you’re visiting the Grandstand Pool, you can get a few quick bites and some drinks at the Backstretch Pool Bar. It’s conveniently located just across the street from the main lobby and past the golf course.

There are a couple of pretty good choices for snacks, including the Buffalo Chicken Nachos and New York-style Hot Dog. We thought the nachos were a basic but tasty option that’s good for sharing, and that hot dog was a little more adventurous than most other Disney hot dogs. There’s also pizza and sandwiches on the menu, along with a shrimp cocktail, Mickey pretzel, and a fruit and cheese plate.

Don’t miss the seasonal treats here! You can sometimes find unique Dole whips, like the Cherry Blossom swirl flavor. We liked the Christmas Tree Swirl ice cream cone, which was simple but cute and tasty.

If you’re like us and love Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew coffee, you can get that here! And there are lots of drink choices like beer, wine, hard cider, and a couple of cocktails. (There are lots more cocktails at the Turf Club Bar & Grill and Turf Club Lounge.)

Read our review of the Backstretch Pool Bar snacks here.

Chip ‘n Dale’s Café

If you’re golfing on Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, you can grab lunch at Chip ‘n Dale’s Café. This outdoor snack counter is behind the lobby building at Saratoga Springs, near the Golf Pro Shop. (You can pull right up to the restaurant in your golf cart!)

All of the seating here is outdoors, so watch out if it looks like rain outside.

There are a few breakfast options, but the menu mostly consists of deli sandwiches. Combos are the name of the game here with options like the Boar’s Head 1/4 lb All-beef Hot Dog, the Boar’s Head Turkey & Swiss Sandwich, the Cucumber Salad Wrap, and more.

We tried the Ultimate Grilled Cheese and enjoyed it, especially since it’s made with freshly baked bread and three different kinds of cheese.

Although we’ve enjoyed most of what we’ve eaten at Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Café, it’s not really exciting enough to warrant many return trips. If you need a quick lunch during your golfing trip, it’s a great amenity. Otherwise, we’d recommend trying a different Saratoga Springs restaurant or — better yet — head to Disney Springs and try one of the many awesome lunch spots there.

Many Saratoga Springs rooms have kitchenettes or even full kitchens, so you could likely make these kinds of sandwiches in your room for cheaper than you’ll find at this cafe. (The options are pretty basic.)

See our recent review of Chip ‘n Dale’s Café here.

Disney Springs

We mentioned this a few times already, but it’s worth repeating: Disney Springs is likely a better place for meals, snacks, and treats than any of the restaurants at Saratoga Springs. The shopping and dining district is only a boat ride away from the hotel.

You’ll find counter service options like Chicken Guy, Earl of Sandwich, and The Polite Pig. There are table service restaurants like Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Kitchen, Morimoto Asia, and Wine Bar George. And there are lots of treat locations like Sprinkles Cupcakes, Gideon’s Bakehouse, and Salt & Straw.

Plus, while you’re there you can explore all the shopping, including both Disney stores and general shops.

Click here to see the BEST places to eat at Disney Springs.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2022 at checkout for 25% off!

Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates from Disney World!

Check out the complete guide to eating at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts here.

What’s your favorite place to eat at Saratoga Springs? Let us know in the comments.