Dining at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – What You Need to Know

Awesome food and beverage experiences share the spotlight at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with two restaurants and a stylish rooftop lounge leading the way. We enjoyed an overnight stay as part of an exclusive media preview of the Gran Destino Tower. We visited and enjoyed some of the restaurants. Catch all that you need to know below.

1 – Gran Destino Tower

The Gran Destino Tower is the newest addition to the newly reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This beautiful Tower sits on the southeastern shores of Lago Dorado (“Golden Lake”), the resort’s 22-acre lake. The Tower offers 545 guest rooms (including 50 suites and club-level services), a grand two-story lobby, new meeting venues, and a rooftop restaurant and lounge with amazing views. The Tower is now the center of the reimagined resort.

Click here for our review of the Tower, including photos and video links.

2 – Tolédo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood

The new Gran Destino Tower is home to a new dining experience, Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, a unique rooftop table-service restaurant offering dishes and small plates inspired by the flavors of Spain. Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood is the namesake of the Spanish city that was home to avant-garde writers and artists in the 1920s and ’30s.

The restaurant offers spectacular views of the Walt Disney World Resort. On one side of the restaurant, you’ll be able to see Epcot and Hollywood Studios; on the other, off in the distance, is Magic Kingdom. If you dine at the right time, you’ll be able to enjoy the fireworks displays at those parks. Note that while you can enjoy the fireworks, it’s not like viewing them from California Grill since the restaurant is further away. However, it still offers a great view and adds to the overall experience.

The dining room itself features large olive trees found under an intricate vaulted ceiling with stained-glass accents. The room itself is not overly large, so the feel is quite intimate. While visiting, we dined in the Jewel Box, where the extensive wine collection is held. The wine vault has a capacity of about 1400 bottles of wine. At the moment, about 1000 bottles of wine were being kept at a perfect temperature.

Spain inspires the savory menu choices:

• Begin the adventure with tapas from the Basque region of Spain. An onstage tapas kitchen serves small plates, charcuteria, and cheeses.
• Entrees include rioja-braised chicken, Spanish-style bone-in ribeye, or grouper.
• Spanish sides include bravas (potatoes) with pimento aioli, braised gigante beans with aged sherry vinegar, and roasted cauliflower with harissa vinaigrette.
• Three signature desserts from the Master Pastry Chef include the Tapas Bar, a crunchy chocolate bar with bite-sized flavors of Spanish coffee, crunchy chocolate, raspberry mousse, and lemon curd.

Click here to hear from a Walt Disney World sous-chef describing some of the fantastic choices you can enjoy.

Toledo – Taps, Steaks & Seafood accepts the Disney Dining Plan and uses one entitlement. Most entrees are just over $30, making it a good use of that entitlement.

3 – Dahlia Lounge

In the Disney animated film “Destino,” from which the Tower takes its name, the immortal Chronos is in love with the mortal Dahlia. This passion shines through in the Dahlia Lounge, a room that shares the Tower’s rooftop with Toledo – Tapas, Steaks & Seafood. The heroine inspires the lounge’s visual aesthetics – from dandelion chandeliers and metal bell accents to ceiling coffers with swirling patterns reminiscent of her flowing hair. Cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists, while wines from California and Spain include high-end canvas handpicked by the master sommelier. Visitors to the lounge – indoors or outdoors – can also choose from tapas or small-plate specialties.

Dahlia Lounge also features a nice outdoor space with fantastic views of Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Even if you’re not staying at the resort, a visit to the lounge (and the Tower) is well worth a visit to enjoy a nice cocktail and the atmosphere.

Click here for a video of amazing views from the outdoor seating area of Dahlia Lounge.

4 – Three Bridges Bar & Grill

The second new restaurant at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is on an island in the middle of Lago Dorado. Three convenient walkways stretch across the 22-acre lake, leading to Villa del Lago and its Three Bridges Bar & Grill. Offering casual waterside dining in an open-air setting, this idyllic new location presents a varied menu that includes curry-lentil hummus, Szechuan peppercorn wings, salads, a signature burger, and a steak. You can also enjoy a pitcher of sangria or a vibrant cocktail. We also really enjoyed our time at Three Bridges Bar & Grill. The space is well designed, open (and well shaded), and offers a fantastic view of the surrounding resort, including Gran Destino Tower. This will be another place we’ll want to visit often.

5 – Barcelona Lounge

On the ground floor of the two-story lobby in Gran Destino Tower is the Barcelona Lounge. This dramatic yet casual space offers a European coffee experience paired with Spanish and classic American pastries as well as healthy breakfast items. The city of Barcelona inspired the various patterns and warm colors, including the stained-glass feature wall behind the bar. (There’s a hidden Mickey that’s very difficult to find featured in the stained-glass mirror). Under a magnificent chandelier, the space transforms throughout the day, transitioning by late morning to an artisanal cocktail bar with a variety of tonics to complement an international gin collection. Those tonics include the resort’s own house-crafted, signature Gran Destino Gin Tonic. Guests can linger over lake views while enjoying select wines and craft beers from both Spain and California. Dishes of cheeses, olives and more, paired with sourdough, are served beginning at 11 a.m.

This space is another great spot to experience. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous. You’ll find two beautiful murals that celebrate Walt Disney and Mickey and Dahli from “Destino.” The chandelier is also a must-see. We expect this space will be very popular for the Convention guests that stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs.

6 – Chronos Club

Another new dining experience is offered for guests with club-level access. This bright, open-air club-access space located on the 15th floor of Gran Destino Tower is perfect for unwinding and enjoying light refreshments throughout the day. Chronos Club offers lake views and a Barcelona vibe with its cooler color palette.

7 – Other Dining Choices at Disney’s Coronado Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has a great variety of dining choices spread throughout the resort. Below is a list of other dining choices you can enjoy during your stay.

• Maya Grill – This grand Mexican dining room features ancient-modern styling and Nuevo Latino cuisine.
• Rix Sports Bar & Grill – This stylish establishment puts a unique spin on classic bar food.
• El Mercado de Coronado – There’s something for everyone at this food court filled with kitchens serving made-to-order breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Cafe Rix – At this charming grab-and-go location, guests find pastries and coffee, among other tasty snacks.
• Laguna Bar – Signature cocktails are available at this breezy lakeside lounge.
• Siestas Cantina – This poolside hideaway is a place to unwind with refreshing beverages and snacks.