Guests staying at Disney World’s Swan & Dolphin resort are spoilt for choice between the twin hotel's multiple high-quality, ‘signature’ dining experiences.
From fine dining to quick snacks, there’s something to satisfy guests.
Here, we take a closer look at the many well-fancied restaurants at Swan & Dolphin - from the coffee shops, and breakfast buffet, to the poolside quick service, and refined ‘signature’ a la carte restaurants.
Shula’s Steak House
Fans of Florida, steak and the NFL will love Shula’s Steak House, which is dedicated to the ‘Perfect Season’ of the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Adorned by memorabilia from the era, Miami Dolphins and legendary coach Don Shula, and, serving up a menu stacked with beef, this steak house restaurant is very highly rated and a popular dining experience that usually requires advance booking.
The menu features premium aged steaks, at premium prices - from the 10-ounce filet Mignon, priced at $69, a 22-ounce Cowboy ribeye at $76, to the colossal 42-ounce Tomahawk which comes in a $160.
Away from the grill, Shula’s entrees range from a roasted half chicken at $40 to a $58 plate of jumbo lump crab cakes and are also on the pricier side.
That said, it is certainly positioned as a dining experience rather than just a meal, and, across the board, the food is highly rated in most guest reviews.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Shula’s Steak House and view the menu.
Amare
Amare is a Mediterranean restaurant, located at the Swan Reserve, that’s part of the twin resort’s ‘signature dining’ experiences.
It has a menu that boasts high-quality fresh produce, offering Mediterranean-inspired cuisine including seafood, souvlaki, chicken, and lamb, as well as meze small plates, appetizers, pasta dishes, flatbreads and salads.
Amare is certainly a classy establishment, and like Shula’s it is a premium menu and it is not cheap.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Amare and view the menu.
Todd English’s bluezoo
Todd English’s bluezoo, located at the Dolphin, is a top-class seafood restaurant created by celebrity-chef Todd English.
The restaurant’s signature dish is a two-pound Cantonese lobster, though it is not the only eye-catching and creative meal on the menu - how about crab nachos starter, followed by seared ahi tuna or marinated ‘brick’ chicken, with a side of gulf oyster ‘spoon’ bread.
If that doesn’t capture your culinary imagination, how about a $110 seafood tower? This highlight dish is made up of fresh oysters, jumbo shrimp, ceviche, a salmon tartare puff, tabasco caviar and accompaniments.
Not unlike the other favourite restaurants at Swan & Dolphin, bluezoo is a premium, high-calibre dining establishment, and, that’s reflected in the price too.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on bluezoo and view the menu.
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Another ‘signature’ restaurant at the Swan & Dolphin, Il Mulino New York Trattoria is a sophisticated American Italian dining room.
It serves up a menu of classic dishes like pasta, risotto, and wood-fired pizzas. The dishes, like the other top-rated restaurants at this resort, are premium prized with mains at around $30 for pasta, and $40 to $47 for the other entrees.
Il Mulino is a well-regarded Disney hotel restaurant, popular with guests.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Il Mulino New York Trattoria and view the menu.
Kimonos
Kimonos is a highly rated sushi restaurant, in a contemporary and stylish dining room.
Besides the top-notch Sushi menu, the restaurant also features a sake menu and nightly karaoke.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Kimonos and view the menu.
Rosa Mexicano
A modern, contemporary take on authentic Mexican food, Rosa Mexicano is a popular choice among guests visiting the Dolphin resort.
The menu features refined versions of traditional Mexican dishes like Enchiladas, Parrilladas, Tacos, and a selection of high-quality entrees - including a $72, 22 ounce ribeye steak.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Rosa Mexicano and view the menu.
Garden Grove
With a giant oak tree centrepiece in the dining room, the Garden Grove is not a typical family dining spot.
Garden Grove, located at the Swan resort, serves up a breakfast buffet daily - with Disney characters dining on the weekends.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Garden Grove and view the menu.
Cabana Bar & Beach Club
The poolside Cabana Bar & Beach Club, at the Dolphin resort, serves up light bites, fish tacos and classic resort food (burgers, pizzas and chicken).
Whilst some of the Swan & Dolphin food spots are classy and refined the pool bar and restaurant are seen as satisfyingly casual during the day, and relaxing and atmospheric at night.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Cabana Bar & Beach Club and view the menu.
Splash Pool Bar & Grill
At the Swan resort, the Splash poolside cafe is an easy-going and convenient food and drink spot for guest’s chilling out in the sun.
Splash offers a range of light bits including burgers, pizza, wings, chicken, sandwiches and salads.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Splash and view the menu.
Tangerine
Tangerine is the poolside restaurant and bar in the Swan Reserve section of the resort. It serves similar fare to the Cabana Bar and Splash Pool Bar.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on Tangerine and view the menu.
The Fountain
With a menu of light bites, ice creams, malts and milkshakes the popular spot at the Dolphin resort is a favourite among guests.
Visit the Swan & Dolphin website for more info on The Fountain and view the menu.
Fuel, Chill, Java & Grounds
Dotted across the pair of Disney World resort hotels, are the Fuel (Dolphin), Chill (Swan), Java (Swan) and Grounds (Swan Reserve) coffee shops, which also sell sandwiches, snacks, and pastries.
Epcot
Epcot is on the doorstep, just a few minutes walk (or a quick bus ride) from both Beach Club and Yacht Club.
The theme park, and the World Showcase, in particular, offer a diverse range of flavours from around the globe.
Epcot’s permanent pavilions bring to Disney World the cultures and cuisines of countries like Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Or across Epcot’s Celebration, Nature and Discovery areas are popular restaurants such as Connections, the Garden Grill and Coral Reef restaurants.
If that wasn’t enough, Epcot is further transformed during the Food & Wine and Flower & Gardens festivals, which see many more pop-up eateries spring across the park.
In all, frankly, there are too many good food spots to list them all here, but some of the most popular are the Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada pavilion, France’s Chefs de France and Les Halles Boulangerie & Pâtisserie, Japan’s Teppan Edo and the Regal Eagle Smokehouse in the American pavilion.
Epcot’s futuristic Space 220 dining experience is a deeply immersive restaurant - set in an orbiting space station, with views over the earth - which cannot go without mention,
Disney Springs
Disney Springs in Orlando is a destination of its own for food enthusiasts with close to 70 outlets, a mix of quick-service bites, mid-range and high-end table service dining. Here are just a few of the established favourites.
Known for its stunning waterfront views and fresh seafood, The BOATHOUSE is a must-visit for those seeking a relaxed yet upscale dining experience. Don’t miss their signature lobster roll or mouthwatering filet mignon sliders.
Wine Bar George is a charming wine bar that pairs a global wine list with small plates, entrees and sharing platters. Favourites include the crispy mac and cheese bites and the indulgent charcuterie boards.
A celebration of Southern comfort food, Homecomin' by Chef Art Smith is famous for its fried chicken and moonshine cocktails. The warm, welcoming vibe makes it ideal for families or a casual date night.
Blaze Pizza, a quick-service favourite, serves customised pizzas to order at the counter, and baked to perfection in minutes. It’s an affordable, fast, and delicious spot perfect when you’re on the go.
Gideon’s Bakehouse is an extremely popular outlet - don’t believe me, wait till you see the queue - thanks to its massive, gooey and Instagrammable cookies and cakes.
Got a sweet tooth? Head to Gideon’s for their massive, gooey cookies and decadent cakes. Pro tip: arrive early to avoid the long lines!
Themed family favourites, T-Rex Café and Rainforest Café combine immersive and interactive dining (one dinosaur-themed, the other set in a jungle). Both menus are stacked with American classics and lots of choices for kids.
Morimoto Asia is a top-notch Asian restaurant offering very tasty favourites such as sushi, giant spring rolls and Peking duck. It serves up a fine-dining twist on traditional flavours.
If you’re on the go, stopping by Morimoto’s quick service window is a must for anyone who loves Asian food.
Wherever tickles your fancy, you’ll certainly find something to suit your tastes at Disney Springs (here we’ve named only a few popular choices).
Thoughts …
There’s no question Swan & Dolphin have high-quality dining options, albeit they’re generally priced on the high side.
Important, if guests do plan to book a table, it is recommended that they do so with plenty of notice - the signature restaurants are popular, so its better to avoid disappointment.
Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining, sushi, or a quick snack, the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin resorts have plenty of options to keep everyone satisfied.
Even if you can’t get your fill at the resort, there are plenty of other nearby options with EPCOT on the resort’s doorstep and Disney Springs only a short bus ride away.
