Downtown Disney: Shopping, Dining, and Experiences to Make Your Day Magical

The Downtown Disney District is the shopping and dining area just outside of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure park. Disney has just announced that Downtown Disney will be home to new Los Angeles food favorites and fresh new restaurant concepts.

The Downtown Disney promenade is nicely landscaped and contains unique shops, upscale restaurants, and fun experiences. You'll find lots of Disney shopping at the biggest Disney store on property and dining options that provide a respite from the crowded theme parks.

Here is all of the information you’ll need for shopping, eating, and playing in this beautiful Anaheim area.

Scroll down for the opening date of temporary Earl of Sandwich location.

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La Brea Bakery CLOSED Permanently, Earl of Sandwich Now Open

After the somewhat disappointing news of La Brea Bakery closing, we were thrilled to hear that Earl of Sandwich will temporarily open a counter service and sit-down offering at the current La Brea Bakery location. Eventually this location will be expanded and become the home of the new Porto's Bakery coming to Downtown Disney. This temporary location is NOW open in Downtown Disney!

Earl of Sandwich again offers their hot sandwiches on artisan bread in both the counter-service and sit-down settings. The “Earl of Sandwich Tavern” sit-down will be a new concept that we are excited to try. Previously the sandwich place was counter-service only.

The restaurant serves hot sandwiches, salads, breakfast dishes, and baked goods. My favorite is always the holiday turkey sandwich with stuffing. The restaurant has also shared that a new Spicy BBQ Brisket Sandwich will be on the menu for a limited time.

The new sitdown Earl of Sandwich Tavern, which will offer a full sit-down breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bar, will open in a few weeks.

Disney has previously confirmed that the current location of La Brea Bakery would eventually become the Downtown Disney Porto's Location that Disney previously announced during the D23 Expo to much applause. The restaurant will be built “on the footprint of the La Brea Bakery location” but will likely be larger than the current cafe to accommodate the expected demand.

Here's the previous story on the announcement that the La Brea Bakery is closing immediately.

You can also verify the permanent closure of all their cafes on the La Brea Bakery website and the press release below from Tyson Yu, CEO:

After 34 years at our flagship location on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, and more than two decades in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, Aspire Bakeries has made the difficult decision to permanently close La Brea Bakery Café. This morning, meetings were held at our Los Angeles and Downtown Disney Café locations to announce the closures, which are effective immediately.

Consistent with our strategy, Aspire Bakeries will exit the restaurant business and continue the focus on growing our thriving La Brea Bakery business in retail (grocery in-store bakeries) and foodservice. While we will no longer be operating the Cafés, consumers can still find our delicious La Brea Bakery artisan breads, both fresh baked and Take ‘n Bake, at their local grocery’s in-store bakery and at other restaurant locations that serve artisan breads. The franchised La Brea Bakery kiosks in the Reno International Airport (Nevada) and JFK Airport (New York) will remain open.

Our Los Angeles Café on La Brea Avenue was the original flagship location, a staple of the community since 1989. This is where the magic of La Brea Bakery started, and the Café will always be an important part of our legacy and brand story. The Disney La Brea Bakery Café was one of the founding restaurants at Downtown Disney District in 2001, there from the start.

While this is the right move for our business, decisions that impact our people are never easy to make. The Aspire Bakeries Human Resources team was on-site at both Café locations today to meet directly with impacted associates and help ease their transition. In Anaheim, a hiring event for positions at Disney Parks and Downtown Disney District was coordinated to take place directly following the morning’s meetings.

We are so thankful for our employees, and for our customers who have frequented the La Brea Bakery Cafés in Los Angeles and Downtown Disney over the years. These communities are part of our history, and we will forever appreciate their business and support of La Brea Bakery.

Porto's Coming to Downtown Disney!

Californian favorite Porto's Bakery and Cafe is coming to Downtown Disney!

Here is the full announcement.

 

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NEW Dining Coming to Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney has been undergoing an transformation over the past few years and we received new details about how these changes will continue to grow the diversity of the shopping and dining options during this era of growth!

Some of these new changes coming to the dining in Downtown Disney include:

• World-renowned restaurant Din Tai Fung will bring flavorful Chinese cuisine to the district.

• Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytan will bring his inclusive vision of Mexican cuisine to Paseo and Centrico in the locations currently occupied by Catal & Uva Bar.

• Disney is working with Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen to finalize an evolution that incorporates a fresh approach to the menu, while staying true to the heart of New Orleans.
• Earl of Sandwich now offers a special walk-up location for a limited time.

Along with changes to dining, we'll see changes that will impact the style of Downtown Disney as Disney draws inspiration from mid-century modern architecture as it transforms the west-end area into a blend of vibrant color palettes with design elements and patterns influenced by the Southern California region.

This area will also include an open lawn for future events and relaxation which will be a nice change especially for guests to enjoy grab and go food options and want a place to enjoy them!

Downtown Disney Shops

The World of Disney

The World of Disney is now fully remodeled and boasts the largest selection of toys, apparel, souvenirs and collectibles on the West Coast. This store is truly amazing and has something for everyone. Disney fans can purchase trading pins, plush animals, clothing, home decorations, and accessories.  The World of Disney store is a must-see for any Disney fan.

Curl Surf

For the surf fan, Curl Surf has a great collection of men’s and women’s beach clothing, shoes and accessories. Curl Surf has a fun, coastal atmosphere and features brands such as Hurley, Roxy, Billabong, Duvin and Quiksilver and shoes by TOMS, Reef and Vans.

The Disney Dress Shop

The Disney Dress Shop is a newer store and has a wide selection of vintage-inspired Disney dresses, skirts, handbags, and accessories.  This adorable shop sells well-known brands, such as ALEX AND ANI, CHRISLU, Dooney & Bourke, Kate Spade and Disney Boutique.

Disney Home

Disney Home is another, newer store with Disney home décor, gadgets and other goodies. Disney fans can purchase kitchenware, linens, mugs, ornaments, and photo albums and frames.

The WonderGround Gallery

The WonderGround Gallery is a Disney art fan’s dream come true.  This contemporary gallery showcases original art, deluxe prints, t-shirts, journals and coffee mugs. Guests can often watch an artist at work while they browse.

PANDORA Jewelry

PANDORA Jewelry sells customizable bracelets as well as necklaces, earrings, and rings.  The jewelry here is nice quality and guests can choose from a variety of Disney-themed charms to add to their bracelets.

Sephora

Sephora is your one-stop beauty store that carries cosmetics, fragrances, skincare and more.  Here guests can find products from well-known brands, such as Origins, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and Benefit. Guests can also set up a consultation with a Sephora representative.

Sunglasses Icon

Need a new pair of shades? Sunglass Icon carries many well-known sunglass brands, including Tiffany, Coach, Burberry, Ray-Ban, Oakley and Maui Jim.  Sunglass Icon also sells cords, cases, cleaning products and even replacement lenses.

California Sole- formerly Sanuk

California Sole is described as a California inspired full service footwear store. Brands that are sold at this location include Vans, Sanuk, OluKai, Reef and Havaianas, along with Stance socks, Pura Vida bracelets and other accessories.

Marceline's Confectionery

Marceline's Confectionery is a must-stop for those with a sweet tooth. This old-fashioned candy shop is named after the small Missouri town where Walt lived as a boy. You can watch employees make candy apples, milk chocolate-covered marshmallows, and chocolate-dipped pretzels through the giant picture window.  Inside the confectionery guests can purchase prepackaged and fresh baked goods as well as cookies, candy, and popcorn.

Lego Store

Kids of all ages will enjoy the country’s second largest LEGO® Store.  This interactive store includes impressive displays, interactive play areas, and a huge selection of LEGO products. Be sure to check out the larger-than-life fire-breathing Maleficent to Belle and the Beast, which are made from LEGOs.

Rinse Bath and Body

This Georgia based store offers skincare products like bath bombs, soaps, essential oils, and more. All of their products are cruelty-free, handmade, and reasonably priced.

Sugarboo & Co.

Sugarboo & Co. offers a variety of jewelry, ceramics, paper goods, and decor with inspiring sayings that make meaningful gifts or great additions to your home.

Star Wars Trading Post

Disney has converted the old Rainforest Cafe building into a Star Wars shop themed to look like a hidden jungle Resistance base. Guests can spot Rey's iconic speeder outside and the overall theme of the previous Rainforest Cafe fits this new Star Wars theme perfectly! Inside the store you can find all the Star Wars merchandise you could typically find in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge along with gear inspired by The Mandalorian.

lovepop

lovepop features a wide variety of pop up cars and paper flower bouquets. The perk of visiting this location in Downtown Disney is that this lovepop store has a huge variety of Disney cards!

Pele Soccer

You can find everything a soccer fan dreams of in this store from name brand soccer jerseys, gear, clothes and more.

Pin Traders

Pin Traders is the kiosk you want to stop at if you're a pin collector as you'll find a wide variety of official Disney pins here.

Downtown Disney Restaurants

Quick Service Options

Downtown Disney boasts some popular quick-service food options, such as Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and a Wetzel's Pretzels cart.

Looking for dessert? Look no further than the famous Sprinkles cupcakes. Guest can choose from several delicious flavors of hand-crafted gourmet cupcakes and decadent cookie creations.

Catal Restaurant

For a more upscale atmosphere, guests can enjoy Catal Restaurant. Guests can dine upstairs inside or outside, and feast on grilled seafood, choice meats, burgers and salads. Reservations are recommended. Uva Bar and Café is downstairs from Catal Restaurant and offers inside seating as well as a circular open-air bar. Disney fans can enjoy gourmet salads, sides, burgers and house-made desserts in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria

For an Italian flair, guests can dine inside or outside at the recently remodeled Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria.  This restaurant serves wood-fired pizza, house-made pastas, appetizers, and fresh salads. Their outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy a great meal and rest your feet.  Naples has a quick-service option called Napolini where guests can buy pizza by the slice, sandwiches, and prepackaged salads.  Disney fans can eat the food on site or take it to go. You can read our full dining review to see how much we enjoyed this restaurant.

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen

Guests will feel like they are in Louisiana when they visit Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. This two-story French Quarter replica serves Creole and Cajun specialties, such as Gumbo Ya-Ya, Pasta Jambalaya, and Southern fried chicken. Their quick-service option, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express, sells popcorn shrimp, red beans and rice, and sandwiches. They are known for their fresh beignets! You can read our full dining review to see how much we enjoyed this restaurant.

Salt & Straw

This Portland based ice cream is said to be created as a one-of-a-kind experience, with diverse ice cream options. Salt & Straw ice cream offerings are handmade in small batches using local, organic and sustainable ingredients. Guests can enjoy scoops on handmade waffle cones, with fudge and rainbow sprinkles, as well as pick up pints and cones to-go.

Tortilla Jo's

Tortilla Jo's serves some of the best Mexican food you will try in a festive indoor and outdoor setting. The décor includes Spanish tiles, ceramic pottery and rustic wooden furniture. Their menu includes traditional Mexican food such as tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and burritos.  Their nachos are delicious and big enough to share.  There is also a quick-service option called Taqueria at Tortilla Jo's, where guests can customize tacos, nachos and burritos to enjoy on their patio.

Ballast Point

Ballast Point is the first brewery in Downtown Disney and offers more than 50 styles of its adventurous beers across 100 taps and along with specialty brews for Downtown Disney. The food options include Southern California favorites such as  Baja-style fish tacos, “Black Marlin” BBQ flatbread, the California “Kolsch” steak burrito, a variety of burgers, gluten-free options, vegetarian dishes, desserts and a kid-friendly menu.

Reservations are recommended for the fine and signature dining restaurants.  Reservations can be made online at Disney's dining website.

Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes

Featuring the famous shakes of Instagram, this quick service restaurant has an option for sitting inside and eating the burgers along with a walk up Crazy Shake Window. The theme of this restaurant is a 80s and 90s New York Vibe as they call their food ‘an homage to the great American luncheonettes of our childhoods.'

Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung Huynh

Asian Street Eats by Chef Hung Huynh from Earl Enterprises, the same group that made Earl of Sandwich, is a take out window restaurant serving a variety of Asian dishes. You’ll find this yummy take-out window on the west end of the district. On the menu is a flavorful variety of Asian dishes with plenty of options for the whole family. Grab a mixed bowl and customize it with your choice of either grilled chicken, braised beef short rib, or sautéed tofu.

Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice is undergoing a renovation at the end of year as the company transforms into a simplified name Jamba and undergoes a complete redesign of the store.

Downtown Disney Experiences

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

Splitsville Luxury Lanes – Dining offers 40,000 square feet of bowling with a cool vintage vibe.  This two-story rock-and-rollin’ restaurant offers twenty bowling lanes, two state-of-the-art kitchens, four indoor/outdoor seating areas, and floor-to-ceiling windows.  This family-friendly atmosphere serves pizzas, gourmet burgers, sushi and filet sliders.

Parking at Downtown Disney

Get three hours of parking free when you make a $20 minimum purchase and receive validation from any Downtown Disney location (includes quick-service restaurants, merchandise locations, and kiosks)- or up to 5 hours of parking from any table-service restaurant.

After those parking validations are up, each additional hour costs $14 which is charged in 30-minute increments with a minimum $7 charge after the 15-minute grace period.

Plan Your Disneyland Vacation

Guests can save a lot of money on their Disneyland vacation by subscribing to our Disneyland Mickey Visit discounts newsletter and through the information in other Disneyland planning articles throughout the website. Be sure to check out these other informative articles:

• How to Save Money on Discount Disneyland Tickets
• Best Hotels Near Disneyland
• Reviews of Best Disneyland Restaurants
• Disneyland Airport: Where to Fly Into and How to Get to the Hotel
• Disneyland FastPass Tips
• How to Celebrate Birthday at Disneyland