This Is My Favorite Place to Eat at Disney's Contemporary Resort and Too Many People Don't Even Know It's There

The Contemporary Resort is an iconic Disney World hotel.

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Not only did the resort open with Disney World on October 1st, 1971, but the monorail literally goes right through the building! The resort has a beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom, and those staying there can skip the mess at the Transportation and Ticket Center and instead take a nice stroll right up to the front gates of the park. Plus, where else in the world can you see a five-legged goat? Not only does the Contemporary have so much history, but it is also home to some pretty good eats, and there is one place we love to eat at that we feel is often overlooked.

The Contemporary is home to quite a few dining locations. In the Grand Canyon Concourse, you will find Chef Mickey’s, which is a buffet-style character dining meal. Right next door to Chef Mickey’s, you’ll find Outer Rim, which is a bar, and Contempo Cafe, which is the Contemporary’s quick-service location. Outside by the pool, the Contemporary has The Sand Bar and the Cove Bar. You can even find Joffrey’s coffee inside the resort at Contemporary Grounds, which is located inside the first-floor lobby. The newest dining location can also be found in the resort’s lobby.

Chef Mickey’s

For Disney World’s 50th anniversary, The Wave closed to make way for Steakhouse 71. The 71 is symbolic of 1971 when Disney World and the Contemporary opened. The hallways are filled with pictures of the construction of Disney World, which obviously fits the theme.

The Wave before it was Steakhouse 71

Steakhouse 71 can be a popular spot to grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner, especially before or after heading to Magic Kingdom.

Steakhouse 71

Don’t get us wrong, we love Steakhouse 71, but sometimes we don’t want to sit down for a big meal and just want a quick bite. Many people don’t realize, but Steakhouse 71 has a lounge! It is hidden behind the host stand and can be overlooked.

Steakhouse 71 Lounge

This lounge serves popular cocktails found inside the dining room, like the 1971 Sunset, which is made with Herradura Reposado Tequila, POG Juice, Rosemary Simple Syrup, and House-made Grenadine. You can even get a caffeine boost, as the lounge also makes espresso drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

1971 Sunset

While it does not serve the full menu found in the dining room, it has a great selection of light bites. You can get crab cakes, onion rings, burgers, shrimp cocktails, and more! We especially like to get the crab cakes and onion rings to share.

Stack Burger from Steakhouse 71

This spot is open daily from noon to 11 PM, making it a solid choice for a late-night snack after a day at the parks. You can even stop at the Steakhouse 71 Lounge if you want to participate in the monorail hotel bar crawl!

If you are in the Magic Kingdom and don’t want to deal with the lunch rush, you can either take the resort monorail or walk over to Steakhouse 71 for a quick bite to eat and enjoy the cool AC. We will say that kids may have a hard time finding something that they like on the limited menu.