Disney4me Posted Thursday at 09:00 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 09:00 PM Come with us to a popular Disney World hotel for our latest restaurant review! Coronado Springs It’s true that Disney World is always changing, which means we have to stay on our toes to bring you reviews of the resort’s newest restaurants. However, that doesn’t mean we neglect older establishments. In fact, we make a concentrated effort to revisit restaurants we’ve previously reviewed just to see if they’re maintaining standards or improving quality. Additionally, menus change all the time so we make sure to stay up-to-date with each restaurant’s offerings. For this review, we’re revisiting a hotel bar and lounge! If you head over to the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, you might feel inclined to check out Dahlia Lounge for some bites and drinks. That’s exactly what we did and we’re here to fill you in on what this lounge has to offer. Let’s see if it still holds up since our last review! Atmosphere Dahlia Lounge is an upscale rooftop lounge located next to the Tower’s Toledo — Tapas, Steak, & Seafood restaurant. Welcome to Dahlia Lounge This lounge is extra special thanks to the amazing views it offers. Dahlia features a unique look above Disney World and you might even catch a glimpse of some nighttime spectaculars. Views from the rooftop lounge Inside, Dahlia Lounge is quite literally a work of art. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the coffered ceilings and dandelion chandeliers, and you’ll find a combination of surrealism and Spanish Modernism in its theming, including at the bar. Bar seating consists of tufted leather bar stools while the granite bartop conveniently features outlets, USB ports, and bag hooks. Dahlia Lounge The lighting in this lounge is simply phenomenal. Mirrors surround the lounge and light from the sunset beautifully reflects off them. The strategic ambient lighting and large spherical light fixtures highlight gorgeous artwork at the bar, hanging on the ceiling, and attached to the walls. Even the floor tiles feature patterns and optical illusions within a hexagonal design. Dahlia Lounge You’ll even find photos of painter Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney in the seating areas, as well as prints of the Dahlia and the iconic bell from Destino, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ surrealist short film released in 2003. Its production began in 1945 as a collaboration between Walt Disney and Dalí and was eventually completed in 2003. Photos in the seating area The seating in the lounge is arranged like vignettes — each featuring distinct spaces within the overall restaurant space. You’ll notice multi-sexed tables, armchairs, patio benches and chairs, coffee tables, pillows, and relaxed lounging areas that really lean into the upscale, yet calm setting. Seating The outdoor patio is simple, cozy, and ideal if you want to take in the views. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are both within view, specifically. Outdoor seating with a VIEW The lounge is truly spectacular from an aesthetic standpoint, but we’re really here for the eats and drinks, so let’s jump right into the menu! Menu Dahlia Lounge offers Tapas and specialty cocktails crafted by mixologists. Notably, Spanish cavas are highlighted on the wine list. Menu The lounge is typically open from 5PM to midnight daily, and you’ll have access to a full bar. Menu We tried quite a bit of offerings, so without further ado, let’s get into the eats! Eats For our meal, we tried the Dahlia Sliders, Tapas Trio, and Smoked Paprika Chips. Dahlia Sliders We started with the Dahlia Sliders, which you can get for $17. The sliders are served with beef with chorizo spice, black garlic aïoli, house-pickled onions, and Manchego on a brioche poppy seed bun with patatas Bravas sauce. You’ll immediately get a taste of that sweet pickle when biting into the sliders, so your reaction will depend on how you feel about that flavor. We were big fans of the cheese and buns, and it’s nice that the appetizer is shareable. The patatas bravas come with a spicy and smoky sauce with a chipotle element to it, and there is essentially one pre-sauced steak frite for every slider. A solid choice Overall, we felt this appetizer is actually a really good value and good to share, especially if you aren’t super hungry. However, we felt having only three large fries was kind of odd. Tapas Trio The Tapas Trio was up next and set us back $18. This dish comes with octopus ceviche, ‘Aceitunas’ marinated olives, and tomato spread with grilled bread. Octopus Ceviche The Tapas Trio was excellent! We were surprised by the texture of the octopus, which was tender and finely chopped. This also had some bell pepper and red onions, and the brine was cooked in some vinegar and lime, which contributed to something akin to pasta salad. We even think even people who might be nervous about trying octopus would like this if they give it a try. ‘Aceitunas’ Marinated Olives The marinated olives were also delicious, and if you dig olives, you should definitely give this a try. We also noticed some Marcona almonds spiced in with the olives, and we really liked this because it provided a nice, crunchy texture. Tomato Spread Finally, the tomato spread was solid but was just some crushed-up tomatoes, so it’s nothing to write home about. Still, we felt the whole dish was very fresh, and offered some nice acidity to go along with some really warm and soft bread. We recommend trying it out! Smoked Paprika Chips Finally, we got the Smoked Paprika Chips, which cost $9. The chips are served with a plant-based chimichurri aïoli. We do not feel you need to be strictly a plant-based eater to enjoy this. We really liked these and found them to be crispy-fried, just like the Disney World homemade chips or housemade chips that we enjoy at other places. The big difference here is that these chips have a smoke. The Paprika spice on them adds a nice color and a sharp flavor, while the chimichurri aïoli was absolutely delicious. It is cilantro-heavy (which we loved), so be advised of that. Overall, we love the price and size, and this is a great snack to pair with some wine, so check it out! These chips pass the vibe check Speaking of wine, you know we had to try some beverages! Drinks We chose to sip on the El Pepino and Sangria-Tini! El Pepino and Sangria-Tini First, we started with the El Pepino, which costs $16.50. This drink is made with Xoriguer Gin de Mahón, Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Poblano, St~Germain Elderflower Liqueur, lime, and cucumber. El Pepino This is such a well-balanced cocktail with lots of strong flavors without anything overpowering. It is cucumber-forward, so keep that in mind, and the Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Poblano has a slight spice, but overall, this was fairly smooth and quite nice. Sangria-Tini The Sangria-Tini costs $14.50 and is made with Stolichnaya Vodka, Viña Borgia Garnacha, Combier Crème de Pêche de Vigne Liqueur, and lime. You get a lot of peach when you’re on the nose of this drink, but it’s also not super sweet. Ultimately, this is a fruity drink and if you like that, you might like this. It’s not annoyingly sweet, and this may still appease folks who aren’t red wine fans. Be warned,d though, this drink is deceptively strong. Overall Dahlia Lounge remains a winner. This is one of the better lounges at Disney World, and it’s tough to beat the menu and views. Outdoor Seating The atmosphere is exquisite, and the service is awesome, so if you find yourself looking for late-night bites and drinks and you’re visiting Coronado Springs, make a visit! Nosh or Not? Make it a goal to visit Dahlia Lounge if… You love Spanish cuisine. While not purely authentic, we find the meals here to be quite tasty and the alcoholic beverages to be worth the visit. You don’t have a huge appetite. There are shareable appetizers and smaller dishes here, which is perfect if you just want a cocktail and a small bite. You want to experience fantastic views. With a great look at the surrounding area from above, there aren’t many better views in all of Disney World. Dine elsewhere if… You’re with picky eaters. This is a more refined lounge meant for more mature palates. Check out the Siestas Cantina pool bar for offerings like burgers and sandwiches. You need a full meal. Dahlia Lounge is just that — a lounge. If you want a sit-down experience, head next door to Toledo — Tapas, Steaks and Seafood. It’s too early. As we previously mentioned, Dahlia Lounge opens at 5PM. If you want to drink and dine earlier, Coronado Springs offers a wide range of eateries that will be open and ready to serve you! For more Disney World restaurant reviews and updates, stay tuned right here at the Disney Food Blog! The CHEAPEST DAYS To Go to Disney World With FREE DINING in 2025 Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you dined at Dahlia Lounge? Share your review in the comments below!The post REVIEW: This Underrated Hotel Lounge Has a SECRET View of Disney World (and Some AMAZING Food, Too!) first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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