The Best Bars and Lounges at Walt Disney World

This might seem like a very weird pick to kick things off, but hear me out. The bar area of bluezoo feels like a very trendy, metropolitan bar. It can get a little crowded and loud. That might not be everybody’s thing. It actually isn’t exactly my thing when it comes to bars and lounges. However, saving money when I can is my thing, and bluezoo has one of the best happy hours at Disney World. I say one of the best, but I honestly can’t think of another happy hour off the top of my head. From 5-7pm, you can get $5 beer and wine or a $7 Zooberry or Smoking Sangria cocktail. They also have a limited selection of appetizers, including an amazing serving of Crab Nachos for $9.

This happy hour deal really can’t be beat, and both Epcot and Hollywood Studios are just a walk or short boat ride away.

Some bars you visit for the drinks. Some you visit for the atmosphere. You should visit the California Grill Lounge just for the view. You get the same stunning vista from the top of the Contemporary Resort that diners at the restaurant get, but you don’t need to jump through the hoops of grabbing an in-demand reservation. Seats are first come, first served, but if you can find a spot, you’ll have access to the full bar menu, the full restaurant menu, and the full view of the fireworks. California Grill also has an amazing wine list. This is a great spot to split some appetizers or sushi rolls and sip on a chardonnay while you watch Happily Ever After.

Ale & Compass has been recently renovated in the past couple of years, now sporting a laid-back and modern design. I absolutely love how relaxing this lounge feels, which can be a nice change of pace compared to some of the more happening bars. With plenty of comfortable seating, a cozy and dark interior, and a pretty great lineup of classic and original cocktails, this spot is an ideal place to relax after an afternoon at Epcot. A Maple Old Fashioned after a trip around the World Showcase? Yes, please.

If you’ve recently skipped checking out this lounge in the lobby of the Yacht Club Resort, it’s definitely time to give Ale & Compass another visit.

I personally favor whiskey and cocktails, so I can sometimes overlook wine and beer offerings. Wine Bar George offers probably the most impressive wine menu at Walt Disney World. Besides a reasonably priced selection of wines on tap, there are dozens upon dozens of unique blends and varietals. Pours range anywhere from $9 for 6 oz Kanonkop Pinotage from South Africa to $85 for 1 oz of Harlan Estate Cabernet from Napa Valley.

Don’t let the last bit intimidate you. Most of the menu is very reasonably priced. However, Wine Bar George has an “outstanding by the ounce” section of the menu that features some extremely premium wine. For connoisseurs with money to spend, this means the opportunity to try a rare glass of wine. For people like me, it’s just fun to read through the prices and try to keep my eyes from popping out of my head.

Wine Bar George offers some great food as well, ranging from a weekend brunch to charcuterie to family style platters of skirt steak or wine braised chicken.

Located at Disney Springs, this Indiana Jones-inspired bar features a highly-themed interior, creative cocktails, and a lovely waterfront patio. From the giant propellor-fan to the diving bell booth, this bar has plenty of eye-candy and nods to Dr. Jones, although my one complaint is that the theming is a little too subtle throughout. Even as a big Indiana Jones fan, I had to kind of jog through my memory to get the reference. Although the interior is very fun, it doesn’t have the transformative feel that some of the other bars on this list do.

Jock Lindsey’s saving grace is the extensive “Signature Libations” menu. These cocktails are delicious, inventive, and tend to be on the stronger side. For fans of tiki-bars, the Cool-headed Monkey is a must, as its served in a Monkey-head mug that is available for purchase.

Food offering at Jock Lindsey’s is very solid, with the Lomo Saltado Peruvian Flank Steak being a zesty twist on steak frites. For a fun and Instagrammable dessert, don’t miss out on the Temple of Bacon, which is chocolate-covered bacon dramatically served in a smoke-filled cloche. With great drinks and a good appetizer menu, this an ideal place to grab drinks at Disney Springs.

Based off of my experience at its identical twin in Disneyland, Oga’s Cantina will be the best themed bar at Walt Disney World once it opens on August 29. Once you walk through the sliding door into the cantina, you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. Like the rest of Galaxy’s Edge, it feels very Star Wars, without being an exact replica of anything you’ve seen in the movies. Oga’s Cantina is a must-do at Disney’s Star Wars land just for the theming alone. Plus, DJ R3X is definitely in the running to become my favorite animatronic.

Overall, the drinks are good, if a bit on the weak side. Many of them have fun effects, like the Bespin Fizz that smokes and bubbles or the Fuzzy Tauntaun that will make your mouth go numb. The presentation of these drinks go a long way to making you feel like you’ve stepping into the galaxy far, far away.

There are a few downsides that keep this from being the ultimate bar at Disney World: It’s built to move people through. Oga’s currently has a 45-minute, two-drink limit. While this results in service being speedy, the snack menu is really lacking and it doesn’t feel like a place where you can just relax for a bit. It’s a great experience for what it is, just don’t expect a relaxing lounge.

What do you get when you mix a romantic atmosphere with delicious small plates  and a fantastic drink menu? You get Tutto Gusto. Much like our other favorite bar at Epcot, Tutto Gusto provides a great respite from the heat. Unlike the rowdy crowds of Rose & Crown or Cava del Tequila, Tutto Gusto always feels lively but relaxing. The wine cellar aesthetic is pure eye candy, and it’s worth it just to walk in and admire the design of the bar.

While Wine Cellar is technically in the name, Tutto Gusto offers a great selection of beer and cocktails in addition to the vino. For the wine fans out there, they offer a variety of flights that will most certainly suit your mood. If you’re looking for a sophisticated place to grab a drink and an appetizer, Tutto Gusto is great for date night.

One of our favorite lounges at Disney World is located right next to one of our favorite restaurants at Disney World. You can find Nomad Lounge next to Tiffins, just as you make your journey to Pandora: The World of Avatar. With the breathtaking Flight of Passage and awe-inspiring floating rocks, it might be tempting to just zip past Nomad Lounge. That would be a huge mistake. Like Tiffins, Nomad Lounge celebrates the travels of Imagineers, creating a lovely environment that’s extremely detailed and unlike anything else you’ll find at WDW. More than any other bar on this list, the atmosphere of Nomad lounge balances relaxation with great theming to perfection.

The impressive small plates menu includes a unique cheese board, chicken satay, and the excellent Tiffins Bread Service. Nomad Lounge also serves coffee, beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. If you want a unique bourbon cocktail, don’t miss the Tempting Tigress.

La Cava del Tequila has the most amazing margaritas I’ve ever had. Seriously, I tried the Jalapeño Margarita and had to write a whole review just raving about it. It was that good. In the years since I wrote that review, I still stand by most of what I wrote, although it is no longer my favorite margarita. That distinction belongs to the Avocado Margarita from Cava del Tequila. Yes, they are expensive, but the margaritas here are so delicious and unique.

If that wasn’t enough of a reason to head straight to the Mexico pavilion, this tequila bar features amazing chips and queso. The guacamole is also very solid, but the queso is where it’s at. The menu is limited to pretty much what I just described, which some might consider a con. However, if you’ve tried the queso, you know that it’s pretty much all they need to offer.

La Cava Del Tequila also has one of the best atmospheres of any bar at Disney World. It feels like you are walking into a dimly-lit, intimate cellar, which is a nice change of pace after spending all day in the hot Florida sun.

An amazing atmosphere? Check. Special effects depending on what you order? Check. Too many details to count? Triple check. This is a bar that only Imagineering could bring you, making it the ultimate Walt Disney World bar. Think of this as a sort of sequel to Disneyland’s Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Grog Grotto is bigger, features more impressive effects, and has a giant Nautilus-shaped  glass, aka the mother of all tiki-mugs, available for purchase.

If you feel like your seat at the bar is slowly sinking, it’s not the rum. It actually is! Trader Sam’s is as much about the experience of participating in the Uh-Oa chant or hearing jokes from your bartender as the menu itself. Fortunately, the menu is fantastic, featuring a really solid lineup of authentic Tiki concoctions. The beer flight is also excellent.

Do yourself a favor and plan on heading to the Polynesian during your Disney World vacation. Trader Sam’s will be a highlight.