107 Best Restaurants in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

Few snacks are so popular as to have spawned their own merchandise, but the Pineapple Float at Aloha Isle has done just that. Dole pineapple ice cream on pineapple juice is one of the iconic treats offered at the Magic Kingdom, and it can only be found at Disney or at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. If pineapples aren't your thing, still line up to try a coconut or raspberry ice cream.

This massive restaurant offers a Beauty and the Beast theme; French flair; a prix-fixe menu for lunch and dinner; and a long list of wines, beers, and ciders. Seating is in one of three theme rooms—the Grand Ballroom, whose ceiling sports cherubs with the faces of Imagineers' children; the tattered West Wing, with a slashed painting that changes from prince to beast during faux storms; and the Castle Gallery. It's entirely likely that the Beast will stroll through the dining room between the soup and the main course. Decor is directly from the movie, and most people adore the creepy West Wing or dining in the ballroom where Beast and Belle first danced. Food is prepared from scratch on-site. The menu choices naturally include French onion soup, choice of filet mignon, haricots verts, chicken, trout amandine, or pan roasted zucchini. The signature kids' soft drink comes in a light-up castle cup, and desserts, while sweet, are made without refined sugar. Be sure to accept a dollop of "the grey stuff—it's delicious."  This is one of the hottest restaurants in Walt Disney World, so make sure to book well in advance.

Boma takes Western-style ingredients and prepares them with an African twist. You walk through an African marketplace–style dining room to help yourself at counters piled high with flavor from an upscale buffet like no other. The dozen or so serving stations have entrées such as roasted pork, Durban-style chicken, spice-crusted beef, and fish served with tamarind and other robust sauces; intriguing salads; and some of the best hummus this side of the Atlantic. Don't pass up the soups and salads. The zebra dome dessert is chocolate mousse covered with white chocolate and striped with dark chocolate. For a more relaxed breakfast experience, book a table for before 9:30 am; Boma gets crowded quickly. 

The view of the surrounding Disney parks from this 15th-floor restaurant is as stunning as the food, especially after dark, when you can watch the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks from an outdoor viewing area. The space has stylish mid-century modern furnishings and chandeliers, and the exhibition kitchen is so well equipped that it has a cast-iron flat grill designed specifically for cooking fish. California Grill offers a three-course prix fixe menu, with dishes incorporating locally sourced foods where possible. Sushi and California stone fruit make up much of the appetizer list; entrées such as the Wagyu strip loin and fire-roasted venison are unlike anything you'll find elsewhere at Disney. A large tea selection can add depth to your dessert choice, whether it's a California cheese plate or one of the various tortes. Consider adding the wine pairing for a special night out.   If reservations aren't available, try the Grill's Lounge. The first-come-first-served space offers the same menu and views. 

"Jiko" means "the cooking place" in Swahili, and this restaurant is certainly that, offering a menu that is more African-inspired than purely African, as well as a large selection of African wines. The dining area surrounds two big, wood-burning ovens and a grill zone where you can watch cooks in North African–style caps prepare your meal. The menu, crafted by some of the best chefs Disney has to offer, includes authentic flavors in appetizers like flatbreads and dips. Menu items often change, but entrées might include seafood tagine, spicy Botswana-style beef short ribs, and sorghum chicken.  Though it's one of Disney's best restaurants, its distance from the parks means reservations are easier to get.

For those fans of the Jungle Cruise attraction—or those looking for a few laughs amidst a delicious meal—head to the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, more commonly known as the Jungle Skipper Canteen. Here your server will keep up the corny jokes from the famous attraction, maybe warning you that the water has been double filtrated through helmets to get most of the fish out, or asking if the rest of your party was detained by a hungry crocodile. The food here, such as Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak or the curried vegetable crew stew, nods to the restaurant's theme while being delicious, and the wine list includes unusual choices from South America and South Africa. The decor also has lots of hidden touches, so be sure to make a lap of the restaurant while you wait for your food.

This complex of three restaurants is a haven of authentic Italian served up by two internationally known chefs (though the Disney "story" tells of an immigrant Italian couple who convert the Disney Springs Air Terminal into the eateries). Maria & Enzo's offers fine Italian cuisine in a sophisticated setting; neighboring Pizza Ponte has pizza by the slice, Italian pastries, and belly-filling sandwiches; Enzo's Hideaway, set in a former cast-access tunnel, serves classic dishes seldom seen in Florida, like fried artichokes and house-cured antipasti.

A mere staircase away from EPCOT's busy World Showcase, Monsieur Paul is a subdued, sophisticated (and not very kid-friendly) French restaurant owned by chef Jerome Bocuse and named for his world-famous father, the late Culinary Institute of America's Chef of the Century, Paul Bocuse. Make a reservation here if you are looking for an expensive, polished, and delightful diversion from the theme park's bustle. The seasonal prix-fixe Gastronomic Meal of the French has six courses, including a cheese plate and dessert. Hors d'oeuvres of Maine lobster salad with passion-fruit vinaigrette, escargot cassolette, and saffron mussel soup precede a fish course featuring potato-scaled snapper or seared scallops served with maple pumpkin velouté, followed by an extravagant meat course (lamb, beef tenderloin, or chicken).

No Star Wars land would be complete without a kooky bar. Here you'll find a variety of beers on tap along with Star Wars--themed drinks such as the T-16 Skyhopper with vodka, melon liqueur, kiwi, and half-and-half; or the Dagobah Slug Slinger, made with tequila, curaçao, citrus, and ginger. Shareable snacks are available to enjoy while you take in the atmosphere. Fans of the former Star Tours attraction will appreciate the cantina's DJ, a familiar R-3X droid who previously piloted Starspeeders.

If an authentic Irish pub—actually transported from the Old Country plank by plank—is your thing, Raglan Road is the place. In addition to excellent fish-and-chips and shepherd's pie, the inventive chefs twist Irish cuisine to include dishes like Gulf shrimp and risotto with buffalo mozzarella and fresh peas. The entertainment alone makes this place worth the visit. "Trad" bands play nightly, and a troupe of Irish dancers performs several times on weeknights and on weekends between 10 am and 3 pm during the Rollicking Raglan Brunch. Musicians also play outside for guests dining alfresco. A store called Shop for Ireland sells Irish merchandise. Around the corner, the Raglan-affiliated Cooke's of Dublin offers fast-take fish-and-chips, pies, and deep-fried "battered burgers."

Set in the heart of Pandora, Satu'li walks a line between fast-casual and fine dining with counter service and surprisingly sophisticated, internationally inspired dishes. The menu features grain bowls with fresh-cooked ingredients and kids' meals that are actually nutritious.

Hidden in the back of the Japan Pavilion, the impressive and intimate Takumi-Tei is split into five theme rooms inspired by water, wood, earth, stone, and washi paper. Though hours are limited, the dining experiences are of the highest caliber, with two omakase, multicourse options—an omnivorous meal ($250 per person) or a plant-based meal ($150 per person). Seasonal items include Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, lobster tempura, sashimi, vegetable tempura, and soba noodles. Children must be over the age of eight to participate, and there is no kids' menu.

Inspired by the worldwide journeys of Disney Imagineers, this wildly popular, upscale restaurant is possibly the best theme-park eatery—period. The menu is international, the inventive space has enough unique Disney decor to fill a museum, and the attached Nomad Lounge (the park's only air-conditioned bar) serves small bites and handcrafted cocktails. Meat-free offerings are every bit as good as their carnivorous alternatives.

Featuring fantastic views of the resort and EPCOT, this pricey restaurant on the 10th floor of the Riviera Resort is one the best on Disney property. In the evening, try handcrafted pastas such as rigatoni or the traditional bouillabaisse; at breakfast, enjoy a family-style character meal. While you indulge in sour cream waffles, wild mushroom scramble, or wood-fired butcher's steak, Mickey and friends come right to your table. 

This good-value restaurant offers all-buffet dining three meals a day, and a Donald's safari-theme character crew complements the African-esque decor and menu. In addition to standard kids fare, the menu has healthful dishes like curry chicken, marinated salmon, strip loin rubbed with berbere (an African spice mix), and saffron-infused root vegetables. Kids will be happy to see corn dog nuggets and mashed potatoes on the buffet, but this is a great chance to add something unusual to their palet. This restaurant has a large vegetarian selection.

A well-polished service team anticipates your every need, providing a truly sophisticated dining experience, one in which children under 10 aren't on the guest list. There's nothing quick about sitting down for a 7- to 10-course dinner in the main dining room, a 10-course dinner in the intimate Queen Victoria's Room, or the over-the-top Chef's Table dinner in the restaurant's kitchen. Ingredients are sourced daily from local and international purveyors and may include Australian Kobe-style beef, white truffles, Alaskan sablefish, or Galilee Osetra caviar from northern Israel. This is Orlando's only restaurant with a AAA 5-Diamond award and the only U.S. theme park–owned restaurant with a Michelin star; it's also one of the few Disney restaurants with a dress code, so pack accordingly!  The meal will easily run three hours or more, and the Chef's Table can cost more than $500 per person.

If you grew up in Middle America in the 1950s—or you're just a fan of classic TV series like I Love Lucy and The Donna Reed Show—you'll appreciate the vintage atmosphere and diner-classic menu here. At tables with Formica tops, you can feast on meat loaf, pot roast, or fried chicken accompanied by a malted milk shake, a root-beer float, or a bottle of wine or a cocktail from the Tune-In Lounge next door. The place also offers lighter dishes like a grilled salmon salad. If you're not feeling totally wholesome, go for Dad's Electric Lemonade (vodka, blue curaçao, sweet-and-sour mix, and Sprite). Just like Mother, the menu admonishes, "Keep your elbows off the table."  If you're a party of two looking for a way to eat here without a reservation, grab a seat at the bar in the attached Tune-In Lounge. The entire menu is offered here, and the bartenders are some of the best on Disney property.

This restaurant has character buffets at all three meals, with an array of Disney princesses, including Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Aurora, Mary Poppins, and even an occasional cameo appearance by Cinderella. The breakfast menu is American, but lunch and dinner feature an ever-changing assortment of Norwegian specialties. Appetizers usually include herring, goat-milk cheese, lefse bread, and gravlax (cured salmon served with mustard sauce), or fiskepudding (a seafood mousse with herb dressing). For a main course, you might try traditional ground pork and beef kjottkake (dumplings), fillet of salmon, or seared pork tenderloin with apricot glaze. Children will be happy choosing among mac 'n' cheese, corn dog nuggets, or Norwegian meatballs. Aquavit, wine, and specialty drinks are offered. All meals are prix-fixe.

Assorted produce, tiny packs of oranges, and churros make this a great spot for an afternoon, pick-me-up snack. Featured craft beers, such as Kona's Longboard Island Lager or Schofferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen can help calm you down after riding the Tower of Terror.

It's hard to miss this funky truck serving vanilla and chocolate ice cream in floats and sundaes.

Looking for a snack on the go? Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies offers milk shakes, smoothies, and floats that are easy to eat while walking.

This eatery re-creates a downtown Los Angeles corner pub, serving California wines and craft beers. Charcuterie boards featuring California cheeses and Bavarian pretzels with fondue are snackable highlights.

Oktoberfest runs 365 days a year at this restaurant, where cheerful crowds and an oompah band set the stage for a buffet of German specialties. The menu and level of frivolity are the same at lunch and dinner. Mountains of sauerbraten, bratwurst, chicken or pork schnitzel, sausages, spaetzle, apple strudel, Bavarian cheesecake, and Black Forest cake await at the all-you-can-eat buffet, overlooking a three-level dining room and entertainment stage. Patrons pound pitchers of all kinds of beer and wine on the long communal tables—even when the yodelers, singers, and dancers aren't egging them on. Prices change seasonally.  The massive buffets and raucous music make this a surprisingly fun place for kids.

Strange but good brews—Rocket Red Ale, Southern Flyer Light Lager, Steamboat Pale Ale, Gadzooks Pilsner—abound at this microbrewery, where you can sip your suds inside amid giant stainless-steel tanks or outside on a lake-view patio. The menu emphasizes meat and fish, with baby back ribs dry-rubbed and topped with honey chipotle barbecue sauce, elaborate hamburgers, or blackened fish tacos. Wine and cocktails are available for the nonbeer-drinking crowd.

Perhaps the contemporary, upscale BOATHOUSE uses all CAPITALS in its name to draw attention not only to itself but also to its fresh seafood, raw bar, and premium steaks and chops—served dockside or in a classic boathouse setting. After dinner, indulge in dessert (Key lime pie in a Mason jar, maybe) and explore the restaurant’s impressive on-site fleet of classic boats. Not on the menu are guided tours by Amphicar, vehicles that drive like cars on land and glide like boats on water—they depart from the dock by the restaurant.

Located riverside at Disney's Port Orleans Resort, this very impressive, handcrafted dining hall looks like the interior of a wooden sailing ship, complete with an inverted hull on the ceiling and weathered shipbuilding tools. True to the N'awlins theme is a menu of tasty bayou dishes ranging from Louisiana étouffée to crawfish bisque to andouille-stuffed catfish. Decadent desserts include the likes of gooey St. Louis butter cake and Bourbon Street pecan tarts. The River Roost Lounge, a full bar with entertainment, is a great stop before or after dinner.

With the feel of a New England seafood house—the type your grandma might enjoy—this bustling spot in the Beach Club Resort features popular buffet meals. For breakfast, Minnie and other cast classics visit tables while families help themselves to American classics from waffles to sausage links from the buffet. In the evening, seafood is the star of the show. Instead of characters, diners dote on a turf platter of slow-roasted strip loin or a seafood boil with mussels, clams, shrimp, and a catch of the day.

At Casey's Corner there are multiple ways to enjoy a classic American hot dog—complete with pulled pork or Chicago style. The corn-dog nuggets are a perfect snack to grab while waiting for the parade, and try a pressed penny silk pie for a taste of yesterday.

Superstar chef Art Smith, recognized by foodies for having worked for Oprah and cooked for heads of state, incorporates ingredients from nearby farms, ranches, and fisheries in this tribute to down-home Southern cooking. Having been a part of Disney's College program (the native of Jasper, Florida, started his career with a culinary internship here), he's returned to present dishes like his famous fried chicken, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, pork chops, fried green tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and Southern slaw. The portions are enormous, and the flavors are bold. Try the Jasper Board sampler—smoked fish dip, pimento cheese, Tasso hams, bread-and-butter pickles, candied pecans, and buttermilk crackers—for a taste of everything. Save room for the Moonshine Mash (there's a long list of cocktails) and Smith's signature hummingbird cake.

The fact that the Disney monorail zooms overhead right through the Contemporary Resort, and that Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy hangs around for breakfast and dinner, would be enough to make it popular, but the food here is surprisingly good. Chef Mickey's is shiny and bright, offering a breakfast and brunch that includes eggs and frittatas, a ham and beef brisket carving station, and, naturally, Mickey waffles. The family-style dinner doesn't disappoint either, with shrimp and grits, house-made macaroni and cheese, and a Mickey Mouse Dome for dessert. A large selection of specialty cocktails is available for the grown-ups, morning and evening.