Which resort is Walt Disney World’s finest meals lodge? It is a enjoyable and not-so-hotly-debated subject amongst WDW diehards, and there are two candidates that ought to instantly come to thoughts: the flagship Grand Floridian Resort with its surplus of Signature Eating places plus the one Michelin-starred restaurant at Walt Disney World, and Animal Kingdom Lodge with its adventurous eats and extra numerous assortment of choices.
These are the simple picks, and it’s onerous to argue that Grand Floridian is not #1. Possibly it’s not the highest choose for a lot of households (ours included), however with a extra goal evaluation, it’s troublesome to contend anything surpasses the Grand Floridian. Then there’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which takes second-place because of Jiko, Boma, Sanaa, The Mara, Victoria Falls Lounge, and surprisingly good pool and Membership Stage meals.
Third place is the place issues get extra attention-grabbing, with contenders together with Wilderness Lodge, Yacht & Seaside Membership, Modern Resort, and perhaps Disney’s Riviera Resort. That final one has a very well-rounded lineup that makes it a contender. However there’s one other darkish horse contender…
The one non-Deluxe with a viable declare to being considered one of Walt Disney World’s finest meals motels is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. That is arguably the #3 choose for motels with the strongest restaurant rosters at WDW. “Arguably” is performing some heavy lifting right here, as I don’t really assume it’s #3, however it’s distinctive. Right here’s the eating lineup:
- Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood
- Maya Grill
- Cafe Rix
- Rix Bar & Grill
- Three Bridges Bar & Grill
- El Mercado de Coronado
- Siestas Cantina
- Laguna Bar
- Barcelona Lounge
- Dahlia Lounge
- Chronos Membership Stage (not a restaurant, however nice meals service)
That’s a number of eating places! Probably the most, by far, of any Average Resort on account of it serving as the first conference heart lodge. And I feel a part of the temptation in rating Coronado Springs because the #3 eating lodge in all of Walt Disney World is amount, versus high quality. There are a number of eating places, however a number of of them are pretty middling. Coronado doesn’t have the identical top-to-bottom lineup energy as GF or AKL.
Nonetheless, there are additionally a number of all-stars, together with my go-to Three Bridges Bar & Grill and the Michelin-recognized Toledo. We’ve drawn a good quantity of consideration to each, as we additionally view these as hidden gems. However, we’ve given far much less consideration on the weblog to Dahlia Lounge, the secondary standout rooftop restaurant in Gran Destino Tower.
Dahlia Lounge is the luxurious rooftop lounge subsequent door to Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood, the aforementioned Michelin-recognized restaurant on the highest flooring of Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
The 2 are distinct eating choices, every with their very own entrances, versus Dahlia Lounge serving because the bar for the desk service restaurant. However they’re additionally shut sufficient that you would be able to seize a drink at Dahlia and take it over to Toledo when your desk is prepared–a typical apply.
As with the remainder of Gran Destino, Imagineering went with a deep minimize for themed design and stylistic sensibility of Dahlia Lounge.
Each the bar and tower as a complete are primarily based on the collaboration and friendship between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali. This in the end resulted within the quick movie Destino, which was lastly accomplished and launched in 2003. There’s additionally Dali & Disney: Destino, a ebook that’s actually fascinating and exquisite.
Imagineering credit the surrealist animated quick for the visible fashion of the tower, which it claims is “a whimsical, magnificent visible feast, numerous in its design and execution.” The foyer pays homage to the Catalan Modernism fashion, and there are flashes of famed Spanish architect Gaudí all through the lodge.
Dahlia Lounge might be the house with probably the most overt Salvador Dali inspiration in Gran Destino Tower.
The fashion is described by Walt Disney World as “surrealist flights of fancy,” with whimsical shapes and colours and mesmerizing décor & particulars, corresponding to dandelion chandeliers and metallic bell accents.
Ceiling coffers include swirling patterns paying homage to flowing hair. Architecturally, Spanish modernism prevails, mirroring the overall look of Gran Destino Tower.
Dahlia Lounge has a very cool and distinct look.
The spotlight is undoubtedly the bar itself, which warmly evokes shifting sands and melting mirrors that replicate again off the floor-to-ceiling home windows all through. There are different deeper cuts, together with the wall columns and extra that I’m most likely lacking.
Suffice to say, Dahlia Lounge is fashionable and complex and positively looks like one of many extra “grownup” lounges at Walt Disney World.
We frequently make a degree of claiming how, opposite to common opinion, many of the lounges at Walt Disney World are really very family-friendly. Other than character meals, our younger household often prefers lounges for meals!
Lounges are an amazing in-between choice while you need one thing greater than counter service, however should not certain when you can “commit” to a fully-fledged desk service meal. Lounges provide a sooner turnaround time, and if the scenario begins to, ahem, deteriorate, it’s straightforward to get out earlier than issues explode.
Because of this we’ve develop into huge on lounges. And it’s why there’s a rising variety of bar evaluations versus Signature Eating places.
There are exceptions to the overall rule that almost all lounges at Walt Disney World are family-friendly.
Affordable minds could differ on this, however I’d say that Dahlia Lounge borders on being considered one of them. This isn’t to say that it’s not family-friendly. If you happen to take your youngsters right here proper at 5 pm (and even 7 pm!), you might be virtually assuredly going to have a stunning expertise that’s completely acceptable to friends of all ages.
It’s the ultimate few hours of the night which might be extra questionable, when Dahlia Lounge takes on the character of no matter group is on the Coronado Conference Middle (if there may be one). I point out this partially for households to plan accordingly, and partially as a result of virtually all of my meals at Dahlia Lounge within the final 3 years have been on my own, coming again to Coronado after a late evening within the parks. I often eat right here after 11 pm.
Though the fashion remains to be surrealist, Dahlia Lounge kind of shape-shifts and takes on the character of the prevailing occasion visitor profile within the later night hours.
Oftentimes, it’s a “convention-bro” vibe. A bunch of dudes in Patagonia vests who work in medical gross sales, IT or no matter. On different events, I’ve seen cheer mothers and dads. I swear one time was karate dad and mom. My favourite was throughout Jersey Week, and I imply that sincerely–all the way down to earth people from the Backyard State deliver a enjoyable power to late nights at Walt Disney World!
Fortuitously, that is escapable–assuming you wish to escape it. On the night when many of those pictures had been taken, the bar space was fairly busy once I first arrived and had a “convention-bro” vibe. In the meantime, the lounge seats on the entrance and the balcony exterior had been all pretty quiet and uncrowded. I nonetheless wouldn’t have taken our toddler up there at ~11 pm, however I’m guessing most of you aren’t debating ‘the place at Walt Disney World to dine together with your toddler at 11 pm?’ within the first place. Except you’re West Coasters!
The perfect seating space of all at Dahlia Lounge is exterior.
This is among the largest views in all of Walt Disney World, with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the foreground and the remainder of DHS and EPCOT additionally in view. However you’ll be able to see much more off within the distance; it’s an amazing location for taking within the sweeping vista at nightfall or the night.
The outside balcony is pretty easy, and the big home windows provide views again into the principle lounge so that you’re nonetheless having fun with a little bit of that subtle and surreal stylization, simply in a setting that’s typically quieter and extra peaceable. What I like most concerning the outside deck is the seating, which is comfy and comfy; among the tables, chairs and bench seating inside (and it’s typically a mixture) are a bit awkward. At the very least, when you’re attempting to eat.
Turning to meals, Dahlia Lounge has quite a lot of small-plate tapas choices, any of which may function a meal.
This menu has been virtually fully overhauled since Dahlia Lounge first opened, with many of the adjustments aimed toward including extra bar-friendly and crowd-pleasing delicacies. It’s nonetheless formidable, however not fairly as a lot because the mussels, head-on prawns, roasted beets, and (our favourite) savory churros beforehand served right here.
This being a lounge, there may be additionally a prolonged drink menu.
This contains specialty cocktails crafted by mixologists, a wine record highlighted by Spanish wines, and sizzling drinks. There are additionally a few non-alcoholic drinks.
Actually, I’m stunned there’s not an extended record of ‘zero-proof’ cocktails. I attended a presentation by the Walt Disney World culinary workforce (at Toledo!) earlier this 12 months, throughout which they mentioned how zero-proof cocktails are a giant rising space of emphasis.
For one explicit late evening meal at Dahlia Lounge, I ordered the Dahlia Sliders: Beef with Chorizo Spice, Crispy Serrano Ham, Manchego, and Candy Pepper Relish on a Brioche Poppy Seed Bun.
These sliders have been on the menu for over a 12 months, however they modified sooner or later inside the previous few months (they weren’t this manner again in March). The sauces are completely different, as is the accompaniment.
Most curiously, the worth of those additionally decreased. Final time I ordered them, they had been $17. Now, they’re $14. Is that this a case of Disney Deflation?!
Eh, I don’t learn about that.
The $3 worth lower has been accompanied by a corresponding lower in beef patty dimension. They now cowl about two-thirds of the bun and aren’t fairly as thick. Personally, I most well-liked the upper worth and extra meat.
This wasn’t a one-off, both. The evening after having this meal, I joined mates at Dahlia who ordered the sliders and theirs had been similarly-sized.
These sliders are nonetheless superb. Even with an unfavorable bread-to-meat ratio, the flavour shines by and the toppings present a little bit of distinctive pizzazz. They’re not as juicy as earlier than, however nonetheless tasty, and satisfying as a meal or shareable.
Nonetheless, it’s value mentioning that Coronado Springs can also be dwelling to the aforementioned Three Bridges Bar & Grill, which itself is dwelling to one of many Finest Burgers at Walt Disney World. If pressured to decide on, I’m choosing that each single time. These are superb and unlikely to disappoint, whereas that burger is one thing I crave. As I kind these phrases, my mouth is beginning to water–one thing that even pictures of the sliders couldn’t accomplish.
The sliders at the moment are served with house-made chips. These are strange; good filler is about the very best I can say.
Whereas the sliders are sufficient for a traditional individual meal, I additionally ordered the Calamari: Crispy Calamari, Candy Pepper Confit, and Roasted Garlic Aïoli. That is at present priced at $16.
If I’m being trustworthy, I don’t know why I ordered the calamari for the aim of this overview. Within the historical past of this weblog, I doubt we’ve ever had a destructive calamari overview. It’s a kind of guilty-pleasure consolation meals dishes that I like, and that is no completely different.
The preparation right here was glorious, with the correct amount of breading, texture & consistency, and tenderness to the meat. The roasted pepper and aioli are what make this dish distinctive, they usually fulfilled that position properly. My solely disappointment is that there’s no more making this distinctive, or punching it up–seasoning or one thing. The calamari is arguably a bit an excessive amount of of a crowd-pleaser.
It is a superb portion for $16, and I’d be inclined to order this once more over my earlier go-to (these sliders) now that they’re smaller.
As famous above, I’ve made a number of late evening visits to Dahlia Lounge, typically coming again after a protracted day within the parks or with mates and with out my digital camera. Accordingly, I’ve received a few fast hits. The primary of those is the Jamón Croquetas; these little crispy consolation meals are scrumptious, with an amazing taste and texture–however the portion (3 of them) is simply too small.
The Heat Churros are the must-order at Dahlia Lounge. These are the perfect churros in all of Walt Disney World. Even when you go only for these, Dahlia Lounge is totally definitely worth the detour. I really feel sort of foolish for not ordering them with my latest meal, however I used to be already pushing my luck attempting to eat two tapas (mission completed–and I may’ve polished off the churros, in hindsight). I assumed I may discover a file picture of them in my archives, however alas, no such luck. I’ll treatment that with my subsequent go to and replace accordingly.
Lastly, as talked about above, I returned to Dahlia Lounge the very subsequent evening with mates. One of many new-to-me issues they ordered was the Bocadillo: Mushroom Steak marinated in Beet Juice, Pickled Onions, Arugula, and Grain Mustard Plant-based Mayonnaise on a Toasted Baguette served with Smoked Paprika Chips.
This was one thing all of us actually wished to love, as the thought for a plant-based dish is an efficient one…however this simply is just not it. The Bocadillo jogged my memory of one thing I had at Galactic Grill in Disneyland some time again, and a comparability to meals in Tomorrowland is one you by no means wish to see. That is simply attempting too onerous to make a plant-based sandwich stand-in for one with meat, and it falls quick. There’s additionally an odd, disagreeable medley of flavors between the beet juice and plant-mayo that dominates.
On the plus aspect, the bread may be very, superb. I ended up having a number of bites because of that scrumptious bread pulling me in, and it was virtually sufficient to beat the substance of the sandwich. Even so, nobody in our occasion who tried the Bocadillo would advocate it. I miss the previous sandwich Dahlia Lounge used to serve. Nice bread and scrumptious meats–better of each worlds!
In the end, Dahlia Lounge is among the higher hidden gem eating places at Walt Disney World. It’s a spot I discover myself typically with mates or on late nights on my own after getting back from the parks throughout solo analysis journeys once I’m staying at Gran Destino Tower. It’s a lounge each of us take pleasure in, though we’ve but to do it as a household of three.
There’s a purpose Dahlia Lounge ranks moderately extremely on our record of the 25 Finest Bars at Walt Disney World! The issue for me is that, as a lot as I take pleasure in Dahlia Lounge, there are two alternate options at Coronado Springs that I personally want. Three Bridges Bar & Grill stays my favourite for lounge meals, and late evening solo meals; what it lacks within the rooftop view it makes up for by being alongside the waterfront. For rooftop eating places, Dahlia can’t compete with Toledo; it’s simply in a category of its personal.
Dahlia Lounge nonetheless has a number of its personal promoting factors, from the menu to the subtle setting to the sweeping views of Walt Disney World. As a vacation spot for friends not staying at Coronado Springs (or having their very own automobile for simple transportation), it most likely works finest as a companion expertise to Toledo. At the same time as a standalone evening out paired with stops round Gran Destino and stroll across the Coronado grounds, this underrated lounge has a ton going for it.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever dined at Dahlia Lounge because the new menu debuted? Do you agree or disagree with our overview? Any ideas on the menu, service, seating, subtle setting, or anything lined right here? If you happen to’ve but to dine right here, is that this restaurant in your ‘record’ of locations to strive at Walt Disney World? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!