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15 of the Best Disney Hotel Restaurants for a Magical (and Mouthwatering) Meal

And you don't even need a park ticket

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Best Disney hotel restaurants: A fine dining room with a rotunda ceiling and a deep blue carpet
Victoria & Alberts/Walt Disney World

To say that Walt Disney World is a foodie destination would be a major understatement. Entire blogs are dedicated to the entertainment resort's culinary scene, which caters to just about every genre of cuisine you can think of, from Japanese and Caribbean fare to French and Italian. Some of the best Disney dining can be found not inside the park’s gates, however, but at its many resorts. With more than 25 hotels to choose from and copious dining options available within each one, it would take a while to try them all, even for a local. Out-of-towners will have to narrow down the list of must-visits even further, as vacation time is precious. As such, we’ve compiled a list of the very best Disney hotel restaurants to try out on your next stay or visit, all to save you time getting to the cream of the crop.

The Best Disney Hotel Restaurants at a Glance

1

Best Fine Dining

Victoria & Albert's

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2

Most Celebrated

California Grill

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3

Best Wine Selection

Jiko

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4

Best Character Dining

Topolino's Terrace

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5

Best Drinks

Dahlia Lounge

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How We Chose the Best Disney Hotel Restaurants

We chose the best Disney hotel restaurants based on our own dining experiences as well our thorough research of reviews from other diners who have shared their experiences on blogs, TikTok, Yelp or Google. As for our criteria, we looked for spots with great ambiance (you won’t find anything that looks like a cafeteria on our list), service, and of course, flavor. In addition, we sought out restaurants that have received awards for excellence in the culinary space by institutions such as Michelin, AAA, Forbes and more.

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Best Fine Dining

1. Victoria & Albert's

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
  • Yelp Rating: 4.8 stars
  • Cost: $$$$
  • Dish to Try: A5 Miyazaki Wagyu
  • Rave Review: “Just the absolute best. Yes it's expensive but for a once in a lifetime dining experience (or maybe you go more often if you're in a different tax bracket) you can't beat it.”

You can’t talk about critically acclaimed Disney restaurants without mentioning Victoria & Albert’s. The fine-dining establishment has been a AAA Five-Diamond Award regular since 2000, and in 2023, Michelin also took note of it, adding it to its annual guide. The pinnacle of Disney's resort restaurants (as well as one of the priciest), this place is fine-dining taken to the next level—so much so that each table gets not one, but two dedicated severs. There’s a harpist. A hand-painted rotunda. A ten-course chef’s tasting menu. Basically, V&A’s is as swanky as it gets, and honestly, would you expect anything less from an establishment with decor inspired by Queen Victoria’s Jubilee? You can choose from three different dining experiences. 1) The more traditional dining room dinner, where you'll eat in an elegant space with English garden vibes; 2) Queen Victoria’s room, which features an expanded tasting menu with room for just four couples per night; 3) And the intimate chef’s table experience, where you and five other guests can get an up-close-and-personal look at grand kitchen, complete with a Champagne toast.

It's best to (gulp) call to make reservations for this one, and there’s a $100-per-person fee if you don’t cancel within five days of your scheduled dining date, so you’ll want to be sure that you’re certain of your plans before you make them.

From $295 per adult, 407-939-3862, 4401 Floridian Way, Orlando, FL, 32830

Most Celebrated

2. California Grill

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 4.2 stars
  • Cost: $$$$
  • Dish to Try: Wagyu strip sirloin
  • Rave Review: “Yes, it's expensive, but when you put into consideration the service, the beautiful view and the end-to-end quality dining experience, I truly think this is worth every penny.”

Having opened its doors in 1995, the California Grill has had a good long while to perfect its market-inspired West Coast cuisine. And perfect it, it has. Recognized by the Michelin Guide for its contemporary dishes, which are prepared with locally sourced, fresh and seasonal ingredients (the saffron cavatelli from the current menu is peppered with petite heirloom squash, blistered tomatoes and sunflower basil pistou), the restaurant serves a three-course prix fixe menu ($39 per child, $89 per adult) that includes your choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. A signature wine pairing is available for an additional $39, and if you come at the right time, you’ll also get an added bonus free of charge in the front-row view you'll get to the Magic Kingdom’s nightly fireworks display, which you’ll not only be able to see, but experience in a unique way: The dining establishment dims the lights and pipes in the music, too.

$39 per child, $89 per adult, 407-934-7639, 4600 World Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830

Best Wine Selection

3. Jiko

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Yelp Rating: 4.4 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: Botswanan seswaa short-rib
  • Rave Review: “One of my all time favorite restaurants not only in Disney. This place never fails to impress me, every visit has been nothing less than amazing.”

Jiko is, hands-down, our favorite dining spot we’ve tried at Disney thus far (and yes, we’ve been to that other little known spot in Animal Kingdom, Tiffins). Unlike Boma across the hall (another much-lauded Disney dining destination), Jiko feels cozy and intimate, making it the ideal spot to share a glass of wine—which makes perfect sense, considering that the restaurant boasts the largest selection of South Africa wines outside of the actual country.

In the rare moments you’re not savoring your meal (these were few and far between, in our experience), you can watch the chefs do their thing in the open-style kitchen—though trust us when we say that you’re going to want to focus on the food on your plate. The restaurant’s signature Botswanan seswaa short-ribs are an absolute must, with fall-off-the-bone meat amid a hearty mixture of hominy, sea peas and carrots, and we highly recommend springing for the “enhancement” bobotie mac and cheese, which comes smothered in its own spice beef with added almonds, raisins, kachumbari (that’s a tomato and onion salad, for the uninitiated) in a red wine reduction and topped with four different types of cheese. And if all of that sounds too heavy? Not to worry—one of the things we loved most about this place was its wide range of fare, so everyone in your party (yes, even the ones with the most sensitive of allergies—there’s a separate section for that)—can enjoy a good meal.

From $35 per adult, 407-939-5277, 2901 W. Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL, 34747

Best Character Dining

4. Topolino's Terrace

Diseny

  • Resort: Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 4.4 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: duck confit gnocchi
  • Rave Review: “There's a reason why it's so incredibly difficult to get a reservation here. Not only is the ambience elegant and relaxing, but the service and food are out of this world.”

While Topolino’s is known for its upscale character breakfast, which features appearances by an art-clad Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy (read more on that here), you’re in for a treat regardless of the time of day you dine, since the food also just so happens to be incredible. Heavily influenced by French and Italian fare, dishes like the “out of this world” duck confit gnocchi, seared scallops with black truffle jam and red pepper bisque served with zucchini bread make for a mouth-watering dinner experience, all of which is enhanced by its tenth floor views of the Barefoot Bay. The décor is nothing to sniff at, either—we love that the chandeliers are made to look like pasta!

From $39 per adult, 407-939-52277, 1080 Esplanade Ave., Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830

Best Drinks

5. Dahlia Lounge

  • Resort: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 4.8 stars
  • Cost: $$
  • Cocktail to Try: La Lavanda gin tonic
  • Rave Review: “I ate all over Disney World but this lounge had the best meal out of my entire trip. The bartender recommended to me the ham and cheese bocadillo (Sandwich). And it was 10/10. Bread was a toasted baguette with cheese, jamon, and honey. Super simple but was a great last meal of the night.”

Located at the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, the Dahlia Lounge is unrivaled as far as light bites and cocktails go. The tapas plates are limited, but well-executed (we’ve heard that that ham and cheese bocadillo is the way to go), but for the most part, you’re likely coming to this sexy rooftop bar on the 16th floor for the drinks and the views. Inspired by Spanish surrealism, the restaurant's dandelion chandeliers and metal ball accents make for ‘Gram-worthy backdrops (to say the least), and the fancy manhattans, lavender gin tonics and sangria-tinis are delectable enough to merit their $15 price tag. In short? It's exactly where you’ll find us on our next girls’ night out.

From $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 1000 W. Buena Vista Lake Dr., Buena Vista, FL, 32830

Best Seafood

6. Flying Fish

  • Resort: Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
  • Yelp Rating: 4.1 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: potato-wrapped red snapper
  • Rave Review: "The Flying Fish is the most casual-yet-fancy restaurant in all of WDW IMO and perhaps the very best…food wise. While their cocktails are truly amazing…I'm only going to focus on reviewing the food menu because they are seriously out of this world! That kitchen [doesn’t] mess around! Compliments to the chefs!”

As one of Disney’s signature restaurants, Flying Fish is definitely on the pricier side (an entrée will run you between $38 to $57 a pop), but according to fans, who reportedly include Disney CEO Robert Iger, this is one meal that will be well worth the spend. In addition to its mouthwatering seafood (think lobster bisque, potato-wrapped red snapper and Chilean sea bass), you’ll be treated to exquisite plating and presentation (Foodgram, watch out). The elegantly remodeled dining room has been designed to make you feel like you’re immersed under the sea with its deep blue ceiling and gorgeous chandeliers, and the service is top-tier—let’s just say you won’t even want for even a water refill.

From $35 per adult, 407-939-5277, 2010 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32830

Best Design

7. Toledo

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Coronado Springs
  • Yelp Rating: 4.1 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: Rioja-braised chicken
  • Rave Review: “The food was super flavorful, cooked to perfection and very fresh. The portions were tinier than some of the other upscale  Disney restaurants, however, the dishes were around $35 versus $50.”

Another Michelin darling, Toledo reservations are (highly) sought after, not only for the shareable tapas-style Spanish cuisine (though it certainly generates *quite* the buzz), but for its incredibly gorgeous design. With a bright stained glass mosaic ceiling that switches up its colors throughout your meal, large olive trees that bring the outdoors inside and floor-to-ceiling window views that overlook the fireworks of Epcot and Hollywood Studios, the design of this rooftop hotspot can’t be beat. And while we’d come for the glamorous surroundings alone, the cuisine also happens to be exquisite. Those with a more adventurous palette can nosh on charred octopus (complete with chimichurri) or the flight of four Pintxos (chilled mussels, tuna with lemon, a Spanish potato omelet and blue cheese with fig and honey), while classic dishes of scallops and bone-in ribeye are sure to please those who prefer the tried-and-true. Did we mention there’s also a special tapas bar dessert tasting for those with a sweet tooth?

From $30 per adult, 407-939-5277, 1000 W. Buena Vista Lake Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830

Best Casual Restaurant

8. Geyser Point Bar and Grill

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Yelp Rating: 4 stars
  • Cost: $
  • Dish to Try: bison cheeseburger
  • Rave Review: “They say this is the favorite burger in all of Disney World and I have to agree! … The restaurant atmosphere is pretty relaxed. … If you are there at the right time of night, you can watch the electrical water pageant and have the perfect view. A nice place to grab a bite to eat at a beautiful resort.”

With an open-air bar and a super affordable dinner menu ($9 to $21), Geyser Point is one of the better quick-service dining Disney resort establishments—particularly if you happen to order the bison cheeseburger with bacon, sweet crispy onion straws, marionberry sauce and garlic aioli, which customers have hailed as Disney's best burger. We also think it’s just a nice place to kick back and relax after a long day of hitting the parks. Overlooking the Bay Lake, its waterfront views from the open-air bar, where they’ll be serving up a summer margarita flight (say less!), in addition to specialty cocktails, like the cucumber and mint vojito, make for an all-too welcome respite from the hustle and bustle. There’s also a decent selection of smaller bites and beer. You can't make reservations at this one, but thankfully, there’s usually not much too much of a wait.

Roughly $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 901 Timberline Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830

Best for Vegetarians

9. Sanaa

Disney

  • Resort:  Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Yelp Rating: 4.4 stars
  • Cost: $ to $$
  • Dish to Try: Indian-style bread service
  • Rave Review: "Such phenomenal flavors in every dish! I really can't tell you what was my favorite because it all tasted so good. ... We really didn't have to wait on anything; everything came out with perfect timing. The portions are bigger than expected, so worth the price."

When a restaurant is getting raves before the main course has even hit the table, you know you’re in for a treat. Yes, we’re talking about Sanaa’s famous Indian-style bread service. Five different types of bread are served with nine different sauces, and according to happy diners, it’s the best $21 you’ll ever spend.  With a menu that’s described as “African cooking with Indian flavors,” Sanaa allows for a nice break from the carnivorous crowds, boasting Zanzibari vegetable curry, lentil daal with scented Basmati rice and potato and pea samosas, to name a few. Depending on the time of day you visit, there’s also a good chance you’ll catch a glimpse of a giraffe or wildebeest, since its overlooking the savannah at Animal Kingdom’s Kidani Village. We also love the largely wallet-friendly prices—particularly for those with larger families to feed.

From $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 3701 W. Oceola Pkwy., Kissimee, FL, 34747

Best Local Flavors

10. Citricos

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
  • Yelp Rating: 4.3 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: strawberry salad
  • Rave Review: “The ambiance is elegant-yet-welcoming and the lounge is beautifully decorated. Citrico's pays homage to the flavors of Florida in a Grand Floridian way.”

For those seeking an upscale atmosphere and a menu with a little more pizazz than the usual surf or turf, there’s Cítricos at the Grand Floridian. Here, chef Andres Mendoza whips up wild mushroom arancini with truffle aioli and Champagne vinaigrette, guava-barbecued short ribs and butter-poached mahi mahi, plus one heck of a strawberry salad, according to diners. The theme is also unique, with nods to Mary Poppins Returns every which way you look, and you can watch Mendoza and his team as they whip up your dinner thanks to the open-kitchen layout. The award-winning wine list, which is sold by the ounce, is nothing to sniff at either, but you needn’t worry about picking just the right one: There are sommeliers on hand to help you navigate it.

From $35 per adult, 407-939-5277, 4401 Disney’s Grand Floridian, Orlando, FL, 32830

Most Classic

11. Steakhouse 71

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 4 stars
  • Cost: $$ to $$$
  • Dish to Try: beef tenderloin medallions
  • Rave Review: "The ambiance is truly remarkable here and also very romantic! It's great for families and also great for a date night."

Replacing the Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort just ahead of the park’s 50th anniversary in October 2021, Steakhouse 71 is a newer addition to the resort restaurant roster, but it feels like an old classic. Between the nods to Walt, the jazzy tunes and the dim lighting, this 1970s-style haunt is totally traditional—and so is the grub. The French Onion soup practically has us salivating, and all the expected steak cuts are on tap, as are their most classic pairings (think garlic and au gratin potatoes, charred asparagus and mac and cheese—the prime rib comes with Yorkshire pudding). Despite its fine dining label, it’s still relatively kid-friendly, too (a big relief for weary parents). A word to the wise? Spring for the dessert. More specifically, the chocolate cake. It’s infused with Jack Daniels, chocolate mousse and raspberries—can you say “yum?”

From $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 4600 World Dr., Celebration, FL, 32830

Most Adventurous Fare

12. Maya Grill

  • Resort: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 3.4 stars
  • Cost: $$
  • Dish to Try: Baja fish tacos
  • Rave Review: “We had dinner here twice and both times were pretty darn good. The meat was so flavorful and tender. The portions are large, so we split the main course both nights and were plenty full.  I thought the prices were very reasonable given [that it’s] in a mid-level Disney resort.”

If you appreciate a little Southwestern flair to your dishes, the Maya Grill should be high up on your list of dining to-dos. Everything about this place, from the brightly colored dining room accented in “Mayan motifs of fire, sun and water” to the tangy, fiery dishes infused with sautéed peppers and onions, salsa verde and pineapple chutney, has a little bit of an amped-up kick. While there will plenty that’s familiar to the American-Mexican palette, like highly recommended baja fish tacos (beer-battered fish served with pickled cabbage, charred pineapple salsa and chipotle aioli), there are also some more adventurous dishes to try, like the birra lamb enchiladas with crispy onions and sweet plantains or the sous vide ossobuco al pastor—a cross-cut veal shank with chipotle sweet potatoes, sauteed broccolini and the aforementioned chutney.

From $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 1000 W. Buena Vista Dr., Orlando, FL, 32830

Most Grown-Up

13. Yachtsman Steakhouse

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 3.8 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: 8-ounce filet mignon
  • Rave Review: “The ambiance is very New England and truly transports you out of Disney World! My prime rib was tender, my husband's steak was cooked perfectly, and my sister in law really enjoyed her salmon.”

What you’ll find here: Juicy, tender cuts of steak and flavorful sides (Hot Honey Bourbon Brussels-Sprouts; creamed spinach) in a white tablecloth setting with a nautical theme. What you won’t find here: table upon table full of screaming children. While many of the resort restaurants will be teeming with the 4 foot and under set (it is a children’s theme park, after all), Yachtsman is largely populated by an older—and far more quiet—crowd that Mommy and Daddy will appreciate when it’s Grandma’s turn to babysit. You won’t have to wear a suit jacket to get a seat, either: Despite its fancy ambience of wood beams, warm lighting and vaulted ceilings, more casual jeans, golf shirts and khakis abound. Of course, the real star of the show are the grass-fed beef steaks, which can be ordered in cuts of filet mignon, strip steak, bone-in rib-eye and prime rib with the steak sauce of your choice.

From $35 per adult, 407-939-5277, 1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32830

Best Buffet

14. Cape May Café

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Yelp Rating: 3.9 stars
  • Cost: $$$
  • Dish to Try: snow crab legs
  • Rave Review: “Overall, we loved our breakfast at Cape May Cafe. This is such a great experience for the kiddies and families... but us childless millennials may have had even MORE fun than the kids.”

New Englanders hankering for a taste of home can head to Cape May at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. This buffet-style breakfast and dinner has coastal bites that run the gamut from cheddar biscuits and gravy to a New England steam boil and seafood pasta salad. While some have said the dishes can be hit or miss, depending on when you get to them (nobody likes a cold buffet omelet), there’s enough to choose from here that you won’t leave disappointed—or hungry. The one dish you can’t go wrong with? The snow crab legs. (Just note that they’re not included in the buffet price and come at $29 per pound.) The beach umbrella decor gives Cape May a relaxed, seaside vibe that's a nice change-up from the onslaught of more buttoned-up establishments many of the resorts have to offer. Psst: If you’re visiting with little ones, there will be an added breakfast surprise with a visit from Miss Minnie Mouse herself (and maybe some of her friends, too).

From $27 per child, $45 per adult, 407-939-5277, 1180 Seven Seas Dr., Orlando, FL, 32830

Most Lively

15. Whispering Canyon Cafe

Disney

  • Resort: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Yelp Rating: 3.8 stars
  • Cost: $$ to $$$
  • Dish to Try: “Jacked-Up” avocado toast
  • Rave Review: “The waiters are loud and rowdy. Ask for a straw? They'll throw three at your head.  Ask a question about the menu? Expect a snarky or sarcastic response. WCC is jolly-good, lighthearted fun. The ambiance is unmatched across Disney grounds while still delivering legendary Disney service.

Yes, you can get a great breakfast (or lunch. Or dinner) at Whispering Canyon Cafe in Disney’s Wilderness Lounge, but, like many things Disney, this one’s charm lies in the experience. More than simply doling out eggs and oatmeal, the cast members here put on a show, banging pots and pans, teasing guests and yelling out funny phrases as they dish out your Pepper Jack “cheese” frittata with plant-based sausage, Belgian-style waffles and Western-style benedict with poached eggs, smoked brisket, charred biscuit and barbecue hollandaise. (There’s also a jackfruit-based twist on the classic avocado toast, which diners have described as “INCREDIBLE” (all caps).As with everything else in this resort, the decor is reminiscent of a lodge mess hall, and there’s plenty of lively chatter. In short? It’s the place to go for a fun, unique meal with the fam that you won’t soon forget.

From $15 per adult, 407-939-5277, 901 Timberline Dr., Orlando, FL, 32830

Can I Eat at a Disney Resort Restaurant Without a Park Pass?

Absolutely. One of the best things about the Disney Resort restaurants is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest—or even a guest of the parks—to dine at them. Unlike the resort’s theme park restaurants, which require a valid park ticket and reservation for the date you plan to visit, anyone can dine at a Disney Resort restaurant at any time. You will want to make a dining reservation, however. Not only will this help you to avoid a long wait (and trust—you’ll want to avoid the wait), you won’t be able to park without one. If a security guard greets you at the resort entrance, you can also let them know that you have a dining reservation.

What Is the Best Time to Dine at Disney World?

It will likely come as no surprise that the best time to dine at Disney World is when everyone else isn’t. While many restaurants require reservations as early as two months out, you may have better luck looking for later-than-average dinner times (guests recommend 8 p.m. or later) or breakfasts that go past 10:30 a.m. New reservations are released daily around 6 a.m., and the further ahead you plan, the better.

The 8 Best Disney Character Dining Spots for Mickey, Goofy or Donald Sighting


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