During a jam-packed Walt Disney World vacation you'll sometimes just want to grab a light, but delicious dinner at one of Disney's lounges. Below are a few great choices for appetizers, small plates, and fine wine:
Narcoossee's (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort)
At a small bar within the restaurant you can order from the extensive wine list along with appetizers like crab cakes, Prince Edward Island mussels, and artisan cheese. Finish with the restaurant's signature key lime creme brulee. Time your meal around the Magic Kingdom fireworks show easily seen from the resort's marina or the restaurant's wrap-around veranda.
Mizner's (Disney's Grand Floridian Resort)
Just upstairs from the Grand Floridian's marvelous lobby, this classy bar offers fine wines, single malt scotch, and appetizers from Citrico's, one of the resort's signature restaurants. Feast on warm onion tart, artisan cheese, and sautéed shrimp with lemon, white wine, tomatoes, and feta with the additional bonus of live big-band music.
Territory Lounge (Disney's Wilderness Lodge)
A rustic bar offering Pacific Northwest wines, cocktails, and tasty Applewood smoked bacon and tomato or pulled pork and coleslaw flatbread.
California Grill Lounge (Disney's Contemporary Resort)
Disney's best lounge high atop the Contemporary Resort with great Magic Kingdom fireworks views. You'll have to check in at the second-floor podium to be allowed up the elevator and waits are often very long, but you'll be rewarded with pristine sushi and sashimi, amazing flatbreads, inventive appetizers, and over one hundred wines available by the glass.
Il Mulino Bar (Walt Disney World Swan)
One of Disney's coolest bars where platters of Italian antipasto, wood-fired pizza, oysters on the half shell, and more are accompanied by Italian wines and classic cocktails. Finish with homemade gelato or, my favorite dessert, tartufo, Italian gelato encased in chocolate and served with whipped cream and zabaglione. There's even an outside terrace, perfect for balmy evenings.
Todd English's Bluezoo Z Bar (Walt Disney World Dolphin)
An amazing lounge where you'll find an ultra-hip atmosphere, delicious flatbreads, super fresh raw bar, crab nachos, tuna tartare, and lobster broccoli stuffed cheddar potatoes along with desserts the likes of warm molten chocolate cake and caramelized apple lasagna, all accompanied by fine wines, champagne, and extraordinary martinis.
Kimono's (Walt Disney World Swan)
Great sushi, Oriental hot appetizers (gyoza, Kobe beef skewers, duck satay, and tempura), and a full wine and bar menu along with super-fun karaoke.
Shula's Lounge (Walt Disney World Dolphin)
Shula's restaurant's full menu is available at this adjoining sports-type bar with great appetizer choices like Oyster's Rockefeller, chilled Maine or flash fried lobster, steak tartare, and beefsteak tomato and gorgonzola salad. Top if off with the signature chocolate soufflé for dessert.
Rix Lounge (Disney's Coronado Springs)
A fun lounge offering DJ driven music or a live percussion band as well as margaritas, mojitos, and champagne. Food choices include chorizo flatbread, sashimi tuna, smoked salmon tartare, and citrus chicken skewers.
Tambu Lounge (Disney's Polynesian Resort)
Overlooking the lush grounds and lobby of the Polynesian Resort is this small lounge just outside Ohana's restaurant serving duck pot stickers, honey-ginger chicken wings, and crab cakes as well as tropical drinks.
Stone Crab Lounge (Downtown Disney)
If you love whopping platters of fresh seafood then head to this bar at Downtown Disney's Fulton's Crab House. Feast on cold seafood platters of lobster, crab, and shrimp, or steaming bowls of clams and mussels either inside at the lively bar or outside at a waterfront table overlooking sparkling Lake Buena Vista Lagoon.
Wolfgang Puck Grand Café's Sushi Bar (Downtown Disney)
If you are spending an evening at Downtown Disney find a seat at the this very popular part of the Café, then order up a glass of sake accompanied by marvelous sushi and sashimi. Or choose something from the full Café menu with appetizers and small plates the likes of butternut squash soup, vegetable spring rolls, Wolfgang's famous wood-fired pizzas, truffle Maytag blue kettle chips, or cobb salad.
