We often share news about our favorite restaurants in Disney World, and if you’ve been reading us for a while, you know that includes places like Homecomin’, Nomad Lounge, Wine Bar George, and several others.
Rainforest Cafe in Disney Springs
But you probably also know we have a few restaurants we’re NOT that fond of, and one in particular, has several locations in Disney World. Sure, it’s a “tourist trap” type place, but kids LOVE it, so maybe it makes sense that it’s coming to the top of the Empire State Building in New York. But still, this feels like such a weird flex.
So, which restaurant are we talking about? Yep, it’s Rainforest Cafe, where you can eat okay food and watch animatronic animals do their thing. No, this isn’t a joke; the Rainforest Cafe is bringing its first location EVER to New York City. And it’s going to be at the Empire State Building because if you’re going to do the whole tourist trap thing right, you might as well go big or go home, right?
IT'S HAPPENING
The @rainforest_cafe is coming to the Empire State Building
Get tickets here: https://t.co/CSaNrWLZbs pic.twitter.com/094lAaHGBc
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) September 19, 2024
We will note that this is ONLY temporary — it’s a pop-up version of Rainforest Cafe that will be on the Empire State Building’s 86th floor Observatory on October 3rd through 6th from 10AM to 8PM. So if you’ve ever wanted to visit a Rainforest Cafe at the top of one of New York’s tallest buildings, here’s your chance.
Rainforest Cafe in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Now, if you DO want to visit this pop-up location, you will need to purchase tickets — you can get those here. That will get you access to the 86th floor Observatory to check out the Rainforest Cafe pop-up, which will have Rainforest Cafe x Empire State Building merchandise and special food offerings for an additional cost.
What’s really funny is that it all started out as an April Fool’s Day joke when the Empire State Building announced on its social media accounts that a Rainforest Cafe would open at the top of the building. It seems like there was enough REAL interest that they just decided to do it.
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
REVIEW: A Robot Gorilla Was More Interesting Than the Food at Rainforest Cafe in Disney World
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I know Rainforest Cafe is not for everyone – that’s okay, they always seem to have all the business they can handle, at least at WDW. I bet there will be people who will be disappointed that this is a one and done. I’m not sure it’s where I’d want to go if I went to the Empire State Building, but I bet they will have prlenty of guests.
Not sure if King Kong will be in town. Also, don’t know if a KK visit would be welcome or not. I see some of his bretheren in the images.
I don’t consider Rainforest Cafe a Disney restaurant. They just happen to have it on their property. Since it is a chain restaurant tourist attraction in it’s own right.
We took our 3 yr. old in 1998 and each year after, he is 28 now, and guess where he wants to eat dinner @ Animal Kingdom. Yup Rainforest. the run down is easy, each trip Cinderellas Table once King Stephan’s, Crystal Palace, Be Our Guest, Sci Fi, Prime Time, Space 220, San Angel Inn and Hoop Dee Doo twice each visit, Cirque and Paddlefish once the Empress Lilly. Practically perfect every time.
I’m a new Yorker. We actually had two locations of Rainforest café when I was growing up around NYC in the suberbs that closed I would say in 2004 or earlier as malls started to close. While this is just funny to put a pop up store on the empire state building. I will say I love Rainforest café theme and their Chinese chicken salad has been my favorite dish. Might not be a disney favorite but certainly a fun place
Years ago, when Rainforest was in our favorite mall, I ordered the salad. something was off, I tasted the dressing, that was good, but the lettuce had an odor and tasted strange. I asked our sweet waiter if the salad had been prepared fresh, and he replied yes, chef prepares salad fresh every day. Sweet young man brought me a “fresh salad” and in the other hand held a huge bag of ” prepared lettuce” and proudly said, “Salad is prepared fresh every day>”I just chuckled and said “have chef rinse and dry before serving fresh salad. “Did not eat 2nd FRESH salad, but let a very nice tip.