10 Hidden Gem Restaurants at Disney World Resorts You Are Completely Missing

With over 200 dining locations available at Walt Disney World Resort, it’s no wonder the food is such an important part of the experience for most guests. Iconic Disney World restaurants, like Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Space 220, or Sci-fi Dine-In, are popular choices that offer the kind of immersive experience Disney is famous for, but don’t overlook the exceptional dining locations outside the parks!

These hidden gems are great places to celebrate special occasions or enjoy some above-par cuisine while taking in the resort atmosphere.

READ MORE – Disney World Pros Know Not to Ignore These 10 Overlooked Food Items at the Parks

Underrated Restaurant Gems at Disney Resort Hotels

Each Disney World resort hotel is a highly themed escape into another time or place, and many of them feature fantastic restaurants that reflect the respective motif. Some of these restaurants are home to various character dining experiences, like Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, or Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

These particular restaurants tend to attract more attention than others at the hotels, and with good reason. Character dining allows Disney guests to interact with their faves without waiting in long lines at the theme parks, while enjoying a quality meal in comfort and style.

While the appeal of character dining at Disney World is understandable, it often means other resort restaurants can fly under the radar. My family always builds time at the resorts into our Disney itinerary, and some of the best dining experiences I’ve had at Disney World are tucked away at the deluxe and moderate hotels.

Grand Floridian Cafe

There’s no shortage of dining options at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. This luxurious Victorian-style resort hotel is home to the exquisite MICHELIN-starred restaurant Victoria and Albert’s, not to mention character dining location, 1900 Park Fare, and two additional signature/fine dining restaurants, Citricos and Narcoossee’s. So, it makes sense that the resort’s casual dining establishment, Grand Floridian Cafe, doesn’t get much hype.

However, this underrated brunch and dinner spot is having a moment, and fans in the know are singing its praises. From the sunny dining room, with views of the pristine courtyard rose gardens, to the delicious menu with affordable pricing, Grand Floridian Cafe has much to offer.

Brunch is a specialty here, so come for a morning of Grand Floridian elegance and stay for the Floridian-style Eggs Benedict with polano hollandaise or the Chicken and Waffles with Sriracha-Honey Drizzle. Or take a break from the Magic Kingdom madness at dinnertime, and enjoy a New York Strip with garlic parmesan fingerlings or Miso-glazed Salmon with lemon-scented sticky rice.

Steakhouse 71

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, California Grill’s upscale dining with spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks obviously takes center stage. This signature restaurant is rather pricey, though, and you can still get a fabulous, affordable meal in a dining room dripping with style at Steakhouse 71 downstairs.

Named for the year the Contemporary (and yes, Walt Disney World itself) opened, this sleek steakhouse takes its design inspiration from that time period. Gorgeous warm wood paneling and vintage Disney World photographs line the entryway. Inside, colorful Mary Blair-inspired murals and artwork depicting classic attractions, like Space Mountain and the People Mover, complement minimalist mid-century furniture, geometric patterns, and modern lighting.

As for the food, many of the menu items were inspired by Walt Disney’s favorite dishes. For breakfast, these include Walt’s Prime Rib Hash and The Steakhouse 71 Feast, French Onion Soup, Dry-aged Bone-In Pork Chop, 6-oz Filet Mignon, and Prime Rib for lunch or dinner.

The Disney theming even extends to a portfolio of Disney family wines to choose from. And speaking of wine, the Steakhouse 71 Lounge is also worth a visit. The retro cocktails are inspired by the history of the area, featuring scents of citrus groves, among other infusions.

Geyser Point

Like Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is another resort hotel that feels like its own destination. The massive lobby features soaring totems, Native American artifacts, giant iron fireplaces, and a bubbling indoor spring that flows under a log bridge and cascades outside into a roaring waterfall, which then plunges into Copper Creek Springs Pool.

Continuing the rustic Pacific Northwest theming, the open-air cedar and stone pavilion at Geyser Point Bar and Grill provides peaceful views of Bay Lake and cozy seating off the beaten path. Aptly named for the view it offers of Fire Rock Geyser, which erupts every hour and sprays water up to 120 feet in the air, Geyser Point isn’t Disney’s average poolside eatery. It’s a unique hybrid between a full-service bar and lounge and a quick-service restaurant with a walk-up window.

Menu highlights here include the Bison Cheeseburger, topped with bacon, marionberry sauce, and garlic aioli, and served with crispy onion straws, and shareable small plates, like the Charcuterie Flatbread and Shrimp on a Wire. It’s a bar, so artisanal cocktails are of course available and feature spirits from Pacific Northwest distilleries. A large selection of beer and wine from the region rounds out the beverage menu.

Olivia’s Cafe

If you’re not staying at Disney’s Old Key West resort, you may not see any reason to make the trek over to the original Disney Vacation Club property. I was once of this mind, but the Disney bustle can cause serious sensory overwhelm, and breezy island tranquility is only a boat ride away from Disney Springs.

At Old Key West, you’ll find a laid-back escape from the Disney mayhem within the peaceful community of Conch Flats. Across from the main lobby, in the same pastel-hued building, the island neighborhood vibes continue at the nautically themed Olivia’s Cafe.

In the atrium, you’ll notice a ton of framed family photos hanging on the walls. These are real photos of guests and Disney Vacation Club members who call Old Key West home, and they certainly add to the comforting vibes of this hidden gem. Oars and nets line the pale yellow walls, which are offset by the teals and blues of the window frames and chairs. Beachy touches, including lighthouses, seashells, model boats, and palm leaf fans contribute to the eclectic seaside theming at Olivia’s.

Finally, the menu here features quality comfort food with tropical influences. Think Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and Banana Bread French Toast for brunch, and Southern fried chicken or Shrimp and Grits for dinner. Olivia’s is beloved for its calm, quiet atmosphere, and reservations are usually not necessary, but they’re available.

Sanaa

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is an attraction in itself, with its stunning architecture, authentic African art, and over 200 species of wildlife roaming 43 acres of lush savanna. Enhancing your experience with a full-service meal while you’re there is a must!

As the flagship building at this resort, Jambo House entices guests with its impressive grand lobby and scenic wildlife viewing locations. The most popular restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge is located here. At Boma – Flavors of Africa, guests can enjoy an African-inspired buffet, featuring Zebra Domes, a fan-favorite sweet treat.

While it’s no surprise that Jambo House’s Boma has crowd appeal, don’t overlook Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s DVC counterpart, Kidani Village. The Indian-style bread service, with 9 sweet and savory accompaniments, and panoramic views of the savanna are just a couple of reasons this East-African-inspired restaurant has a cult following of its own.

Personally, I recommend the Butter Chicken with Scented Basmati Rice, but Sanaa offers a variety of meats and seafood slow-cooked in curry sauces, as well as a host of plant-based delectables to expand your culinary horizons.

Toledo

How is it possible that a restaurant recommended by the MICHELIN guide still retains its sleeper status? Location! While the 15-story Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs is quite an upscale addition to the moderate resort, it still lacks convenient transportation options, like the Skyliner, Monorail, or even a water taxi.

This means guests must take the good old Disney Motor Coach (a.k.a. bus) to get there. If excellent cuisine is your thing, though, Toledo is worth the bus ride. Its authentic, Spanish-style menu, full of delicious tapas and unique, flavorful dishes, makes it a foodie paradise.

Start with tapas like The Spaniard, a selection of artisanal charcuterie and cheeses, or the Rioja-braised Chorizo, and move on to highly-rated entrees, like the Seafood Paella, or the Filet of Beef. Finish with the unique Toledo Tapas Bar Dessert, which is comprised of a crunchy chocolate base topped with individual dollops of Spanish Coffee Custard, Chocolate Mousse, Raspberry Mousse, and Lemon Curd. These are designed to be eaten in progressive order, but they can also be customized.

While the food is the star of the show at Toledo, the atmosphere is also something special. With breath-taking views of Walt Disney World through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you might even catch glimpses of the fireworks from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, if you time your reservation right. In the dining room, live olive trees climb to a vaulted ceiling with colored light panels that change periodically. Surrealist art and 1930s avant-garde style polish off the design to create an incredible ambiance.

The Yachtsman

Disney’s Yacht Club is a deluxe resort located in the EPCOT resort area, just across Crescent Lake from Disney’s Boardwalk district. Evoking the coastal New England style of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in the 1880s, this elegant hotel is home to the quietly nautical Yachtsman Steakhouse.

It’s not quite accurate to call this well-established and highly-regarded signature dining location a “hidden gem.” In fact, it frequently appears on top 10 lists for being one of the best table service restaurants on the property. However, since it’s nestled along Crescent Lake and doesn’t draw attention to itself with its simple, somewhat rustic atmosphere, many guests skip over it in favor of other options, like Le Cellier at EPCOT.

The Yachtsman’s visible in-house dry-aging room and hand-cut steaks prepared on an oak-fired grill are a large part of what makes this fine dining restaurant special. An open kitchen allows guests to watch the chefs preparing the food, and the mouth-watering aroma that wafts into the dining room only heightens the experience.

Unlike some open kitchen environments, there’s no shouting or clanging pots and pans here. The atmosphere is calm and classy, without being pretentious. Although it’s important to note Disney expects guests to dress in “attire that reflects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic.”

Kona Cafe

There are plenty of reasons to visit Disney’s South Pacific-themed Polynesian Village Resort, and not least among them is the food! Often overlooked in favor of the popular Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch and the family-style Hawaiian feasts at ‘Ohana, the Poly’s casual dining spot, Kona Cafe, is a bit of a cult favorite among Disney World regulars.

In particular, breakfast selections like Kona’s signature banana-stuffed, cinnamon sugar-coated Tonga Toast with strawberry compote (pictured above) and Macadamia Nut Pancakes have amassed a loyal following. Lunch and dinner here feature more of an Asian influence, with an on-stage sushi kitchen, where guests can watch traditional sushi chefs roll sushi, nigiri, and sashimi. For dessert, guests can enjoy the same Pineapple-Coconut Bread Pudding ‘Ohana serves without dropping $65 on a single meal.

Thanks to the open dining room at Kona Cafe, guests can soak in the incomparable ambience of the Grand Ceremonial House while they eat. For this reason, many consider this gem to be hiding in plain sight. Following a 2022 update, the decor inside the restaurant space now features warm wood with geometric cut-outs, lava rock walls, colorful Polynesian plumeria wood-carvings, and ceiling murals painted with ocean waves and tropical leaves.

Sebastian’s Bistro

Fans of The Little Mermaid will enjoy the subtle nods to the popular Disney film at this casual, family-style Caribbean Beach Resort restaurant. The large windows, seaside ambiance, and views of the water outside add to the overall impression of a tropical hideaway.

While the atmosphere is pleasant, and the location is conveniently near a Skyliner hub (allowing guests to arrive via gondola from EPCOT or Hollywood Studios), the real allure of Sebastian’s Bistro is the tremendous value. At just $39 per adult and $21 per child, the Taste of the Caribbean Menu features an all-you-can-eat family-style meal with bread, salad, an entree platter, sides, and dessert!

Guests start with the restaurant’s popular house-made pull-apart rolls with guava butter and caramelized onion jam. Next comes the Spice Necklace salad with mixed greens, pineapple, spiced, candied pumpkin seeds, radish, and a Key Lime dressing, which bumps it into best-salad-at-Disney-World territory.

The main course features a variety of flavorful meats, including Oven-roasted Chicken with Tamarind Barbecue, Slow-cooked Mojo Pork with Mango Sambal, Chili-rubbed Beef with Roasted Red Pepper Chimichurri, and Baked Fish with Citrus Butter. I’m getting hungry just writing this!

All of this savory goodness is served with Cilantro Rice and Beans, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, and Candied Plantains. As a bread pudding connoisseur, I get really excited about the Coconut-Pineapple Bread Pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream for dessert! It’s right up there with the one at ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe. Although my favorite may still be Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding at Raglan Road.

Ale and Compass Restaurant

Another hidden gem at Disney’s Yacht Club resort, Ale and Compass Restaurant, is refreshingly low-key. Blue and gray tones decorate the interior of this cozy lighthouse-inspired space. While the atmosphere here is not overtly nautical, the building’s conical architecture, coffered ceilings, porthole windows, and low lighting all enhance the New England maritime effect.

Ale and Compass has something special to offer at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but breakfast is where it really shines. Its prime location, just steps away from EPCOT’s International Gateway, makes it a terrific spot to enjoy a full sit-down breakfast and still potentially make it into the park before early entry begins. Since the restaurant opens at 7:30 and often begins seating a bit before then, it’s possible to eat, pay, and walk to the entrance with a few precious minutes to spare.

Additionally, the menu features what we think is a pretty incredible deal at Disney. For $28 per adult, you can add the Continental Enhancement to any breakfast entree. This means you get a quality entree, like the Crab Cake Benedict, Steak and Egg, or Chicken and Waffles, along with access to the entire continental buffet, and a non-alcoholic beverage (milk, juice, tea, or soda) all for under $30.

At lunch and dinner, the Parker House Rolls and Spreads are a must-try, served warm, with bacon jam, pub cheese, and citrus butter, because Disney fans love a good bread service. Stand-out lunch and dinner entrees include the New England Seafood Pot Pie, New-York Strip, Smoked Cheddar Burger, and Fish and Chips, among others. Whether you’re staying at the Yacht Club or coming or going from the parks, Ale and Compass is a soothing, air-conditioned nook where guests can relax and enjoy a high-quality meal.