Picture this: you’re looking for a quick bite to eat just steps away from Magic Kingdom.

Should you pop over to the Polynesian? Gallivant over to the Grand Floridian? The answer could be even closer than you might think! At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, look no further than Contempo Cafe. This quick service spot is dishing up all kinds of savory eats and sweet treats — and it’s time we take you with us for a full review!

Atmosphere

Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a modern-themed hotel with a very special feature: the monorail runs right through it! The Contemporary is home to California Grill, Steakhouse 71, Chef Mickey’s, a lounge, a coffee shop, and of course — Contempo Cafe!

You’ll find Contempo Cafe located in the atrium of the Contemporary Resort up the escalator, directly next to Chef Mickey’s. If you’ve ever been to the Contemporary, chances are you’re familiar with just how loud this atrium area can actually get. There are usually A TON of people milling about — whether in the restaurants, shopping, or just taking in the views. That’s definitely something to keep in mind when eating here!

Contempo Cafe is a quick service spot, so you can pop in and out!

Menu

You’ll find plenty of items to choose from on this menu, like Caesar salads, burgers, sandwiches, and flatbreads…

…and some plant-based offerings and soup too.

Kids have a few different options to choose from…

…and there are also a TON of grab-and-go snacks available here.

Oh, did we mention how absolutely STACKED Contempo Cafe is with desserts?! From cupcakes to cookies and pies…

…and a few bakery items as well.

You can whet your whistle with plenty of grab-and-go beverages…

…or grab a beer if you’re up for it!

There are quite a few different wine offerings…

…and a few pre-mixed cocktails as well.

The Contempo Cafe menu is pretty extensive, and Disney often features specialty snacks and items here. Of course, you’ll find the typical allergy-friendly menus and offerings available here as well.

Eats

We stopped by Contempo Cafe for lunch — and we’re pretty darn glad we did! We started out with the Spicy Chicken Sandwich for $11.79. This is a Grilled Chicken Breast, House-made Chipotle Rémoulade, Feta, Pickles, Leaf Lettuce, and Tomato on a Brioche Bun served with French Fries.

We really liked this sandwich! The chicken wasn’t too dry like you can often find when it’s been grilled, and the brioche bun was nicely toasted and soft. We loved the feta cheese crumbles combined with the chipotle remoulade and thought the lettuce, pickles, and tomato gave the sandwich a much-needed crunch.

But, if you’re looking for a true spicy chicken sandwich — this just isn’t it. We may have noticed a bit of a kick from the chipotle, but the chicken itself wasn’t spicy, and we didn’t feel the need to wash it down with anything. We’d give this a try if you’re looking for a slightly elevated standard chicken sandwich.

Next up was the plant-based Grilled Tofu Bowl made with Grilled Tofu, Green Sofrito Rice, Red Sofrito Black Beans, Pico De Gallo, Green Tomatillo Salsa, and Avocado Crema for $12.99. First of all, look how HUGE this portion is! It’s a pretty big dish and could easily be shared between two people for a lighter lunch.

The tofu was light and firm, and when combined with all the other ingredients in the bowl it was excellent — but by itself, it didn’t have much flavor. The avocado crema and green salsa were our favorite parts and really gave the dish a nice kick. If you like tofu bowls or rice bowls, this could be a solid option for you!

The All-Meat Flatbread is exactly what it sounds like — a Fresh-rolled Pizza Dough layered with Marinara, Mozzarella, Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, and Smoked Bacon finished with Grated Parmesan for $12.29. Meat eaters, this one is for you! Fair warning, though, we found our slice to be pretty salty from all the meat and cheese — deliciously salty, that is.

You’ll find pretty standard sausage and pepperoni on here, but the mozzarella cheese tasted remarkably fresh. Not only that, but this is a pretty big flatbread and could be shared between two carnivores. Of course, it’s a pretty heavy dish being that it’s all meat and cheese and bread, but sometimes that’s just what you need in the middle of the day.

We couldn’t visit Contempo Cafe without getting a dessert (or two!) so we picked up the Monorail Cookies and Cream Cupcake for $5.99. This is a vanilla cupcake with cookies and cream frosting and filling with a hollow white chocolate monorail on top. 

When they say cookies and cream, they MEAN it! There is no shortage of the classic flavor in this cupcake. We really love that they used the same frosting on top and on the inside — this isn’t covered in overly sweet icing that will stain your teeth. The chocolate monorail is an adorable touch but just adds that sugary white chocolate flavor. This is definitely one of the better cupcakes we’ve had here!

Oh, Contempo Cafe Peanut Butter Pie. You know we love you. And we mean the REAL you. Not this 50th Anniversary impostor — but, we’ll give it another chance. The 50th Anniversary Peanut Butter Banana Pie is a Sweet Tart Shell filled with Peanut Butter Mousse and Banana Sauce topped with Chocolate Glaze and Chocolate Décor for $5.29. 

You definitely need to love the flavors of both peanut butter and banana to like this snack, but if that applies to you — step on up! The peanut butter mousse combined with the banana sauce and chocolate glaze is a true standout, though that banana flavor does shine through pretty strongly.

Parts of the dish were overwhelming when you tasted one flavor by itself, but find the perfect forkful, and you’ll be inhaling this dessert in no time.

Nosh or Not

You should eat at Contempo Cafe if…

• You’re looking for a quick-service restaurant just steps away from Magic Kingdom.
• You want to experience the Contemporary Resort but don’t have time for a full sit-down meal.
• You love desserts and want a lot of options when it comes to a sweet treat.

You should skip Contempo Cafe if…

• You’re looking for a relaxing, sit-down meal.
• You want to experience an exciting atmosphere that really feels like you’re at Disney World.
• You want to really be wowed by your meal.

Overall

Consider Contempo Cafe the next time you’re looking for something quick to eat on your way to or from Magic Kingdom. We’ve had some pretty decent dishes here, but nothing that has made us want to make a special trip (except for you, peanut butter pie!).

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 WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!

We’ll be bringing you even more Disney World food reviews in the future, so stay tuned to DFB!

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Have you eaten at Contempo Cafe before? Let us know in the comments!