RUN. We repeat, RUN, DO NOT WALK, to THIS special Star Wars Hotel spot if you really want to be in a foodie paradise. Forget the blue shrimp. Forget the colorful dumplings. There’s one spot in the Star Wars Hotel that is a true hidden gem when it comes to snacks, and we’ve got ALL the details you need to know.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (a.k.a. the Star Wars Hotel) opens in just a few days in Disney World and will be full of unique experiences, including a bar/lounge (called the Sublight Lounge) that is very different than the bars you’ve been to before. We got the chance to experience this bar/lounge and much more during a special media preview of the ship and we’ve been taking you along with us for the adventure. Now we’re turning our focus to the Sublight Lounge and all it has to offer. Is this spot one you can’t miss during your starcruiser experience or one you could totally skip? Let’s find out.

Star Wars Hotel 101

Before we begin our full review of the Sublight Lounge, we do want to give a quick Starcruiser overview. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a 2-night immersive and interactive experience. During the experience, you’ll sleep on the Starcruiser in special space cabins, train with a lightsaber, learn how to operate the ship’s defenses, choose what side to support (Resistance? First Order? Just wanna be a scoundrel out for yourself?), and live your Star Wars story.

The experience is PRICEY though, so be prepared to break open a couple of piggy banks. We’ve shared full reviews of the meals on the ship (which are included in the cost, except for certain special experiences like the Captain’s Table) and now we’re turning our attention to the BAR!

Note that while the food items at the bar/lounge are included in the cost of your trip, most of the beverages will all be an additional cost. Things like water or soda are available at the bar free of charge, but specialty drinks will cost you extra.

Atmosphere

You’ve seen the famous cantinas in the Star Wars films and visited Oga’s Cantina (and maybe you’re pumped to visit Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge on the Disney Wish) but now it’s time to visit a VERY unique lounge — the Sublight Lounge!

This lounge is located on Deck 6 of the Starcruiser. At all points of the day and night, guests of all ages can come in and enjoy the space (a.k.a. there are no age restrictions at any point during the trip).

There is a bar on one side of the room…

…as well as some tables and booths scattered throughout.

The theming here is meant to be “inspired by the Halcyon starcruiser’s historic voyages throughout the galaxy.” Things are pretty modern and there are some great pops of color with neon signs and more. But there is also a darker, “cooler” vibe here than you’ll find in other parts of the ship.

It definitely feels like the place where a space scoundrel could make a deal with a bounty hunter, or a fight could break out if someone offers to sell some death sticks to a Jedi (note: you do not want to sell a Jedi (or anyone) death sticks).

This spot is also home to the one and only holo-sabacc table. And when we say one and only, we mean ONE and only.

There’s only a SINGLE holo-sabacc table available throughout the entire Starcruiser and it’s here. As you might imagine, holo-sabacc (which fans will recognize from Solo) is a popular game. You can even get the sabacc cards in Galaxy’s Edge to play it at home!

If you don’t feel the need to play the holo version, you can play table sabacc on any lounge table. You can even play it in the atrium area if you ask a crew member! But holo-sabacc is pretty neat! During our initial trip on the Starcruiser, we were there as part of a media event, meaning things were likely a bit different and guest capacity was more limited than it would be on a regular cruise. Cast Members were monitoring the table and people were pretty good at getting up after their game was done, to let others have a chance to play.

So while we didn’t really have a hard time getting the chance to play on the holo-sabacc table, we do think that guests during regular sailings might be in a tougher spot. There are only so many things you can do on the ship (particularly as it gets later into the night) so we could see this becoming quite the busy spot.

Our advice? If holo-sabacc isn’t a priority and it’s busy, consider asking Cast Members for some regular sabacc cards so you can still learn how to play. The Cast Members will help you learn the game, so don’t be worried about that!

If playing on the holo-sabacc table specifically is important to you, try to visit this spot during times when it might be emptier (like when half of the ship goes to their assigned dinner time).

In terms of a pure vibe/atmosphere perspective, we’d say this spot is at least worth a quick visit. It’s really unique and fun and you may even spot a few “in-world” characters walking around and chatting with guests (all a part of the overarching story). In fact, one Storm Trooper even HELPED us win a game of sabacc at one point. Are we part of the Dark Side now?!?!

Alright though, enough about the atmosphere, let’s get into the food and drinks!

Eats & Drinks

Breakfast

At the Sublight Lounge, you can sometimes find some quick bites for breakfast which you can just grab and take with you (in case you don’t want to stop by the Crown of Corellia Dining Room for the full breakfast buffet spread). We’ve shared a FULL review of breakfast (both at the Crown of Corellia and with the to-go options here) so be sure to check that out for more info!

Menu

Aside from the to-go breakfast options, at the Sublight Lounge, you can get some specialty alcoholic drinks. There are also some snacks available here. We’ll get back to those in a minute. First, the drinks! Here’s a look at one side of the specialty cocktails menu.

There are also non-alcoholic drinks, sparkling wine, and beer and wine on tap.

Drinks

In terms of the non-alcoholic drinks, the Yeruda Poison Spitter Drop was available for $7. This drink features limeade, yuzu sour, and a Petrichor dispersion. We actually got to try this drink (and the one below) as part of a special activity called the Cantina Chronicles.

During this event, guests can sample some non-alcoholic cocktails (for FREE!) and learn more about them thanks to a knowledgeable mixologist. It’s a fun way to sample even more drinks in this space and learn more about their story.

For starters, we have to say, don’t worry about the “poison” in the Poison Spitter. They actually work on producing the antidote for you! As the story goes, the Poison Spitter drink is from Felucia and is a drink of peace. Individuals are known to settle arguments by drinking this. The ingredients used for the drink come from the poison spitter, which is a plant, animal, and a fungus!

The poison is IN the drink, but as we mentioned, they make the antidote for you so no worries (just make sure you wait to drink it until they’ve got that antidote ready! ). According to our reporter, this drink tasted like…plants? We definitely got some really strong grassy, earthy vibes from this one. Not for us, but if you like those flavors then give it a try!

We also got to try the Muja Twist during our special tasting event, but it is available for $8 regularly at Sublight Lounge. This drink is made with watermelon, herbal garden blend, mint, and sparkling bubbles.

This is said to be a truth telling beverage. If you’re lying, the drink will be too sweet to let you speak. But if it’s bittersweet, that means you’ve got pure intentions in making your deal! Out of the several non-alcoholic drinks we tried during the Cantina Chronicles, this was actually one of our reporter’s favorites (though they weren’t really a big fan of it and wouldn’t go out of their way for it). It had more of a tart flavor to it and was very aromatic.

During our trip, we also tried some specialty alcoholic drinks here. First up is the Hoth Icebreaker. This drink costs $18 and is made with vodka, lemon, pure cane sugar, and a vanilla-lemon foam.

This drink is basically akin to a lemon drop. It has a strong lemon and citrus-y flavor to it, but is also very sweet. In fact, we think it’s sweeter than what a normal lemon drop would be.

While at the Sublight Lounge, we also got the Cloud of Bespin Drink, priced at $15. This drink is made with rum, lemon, orgeat (almond), passion fruit, and Falernum-lemon foam.

This drink had a bit of sour taste from the lemon, but was also fruity (thanks to that passion fruit) and very yummy! Truthfully, we couldn’t taste a strong difference between this one and the Hoth Icebreaker. It had a strong citrus-y flavor and was (again) very sweet.

While we were at the Sublight Lounge, we also grabbed a Fiery Mustafarian. This drink is priced at $17 and is made with Anejo Tequila, mezcal, stone fruit, lime, chili, and black salt. Oh and the best part? It’s served with “Lava Extract,” which you then pour into your drink!

Our reporter who tried this said it was probably their FAVORITE drink on board. It was interesting and delicious! The drink mostly tasted like a spicy and smoky margarita. The tube you see in the image above is the “lava” which is actually chili sauce. You pour that into your drink, which is nice because it means you can have as much or as little chili flavor as you’d like. Note that we were also able to purchase the cup it’s served in (the souvenir cup), which is basically a little glass bowl on a little stand.

During our dinner at the Captain’s Table in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room on night 1 we also got to try the Pod Chaser (essentially an Old Fashioned), which is also available at Sublight Lounge for $15. The drink features bourbon, bitters, and orange zest.

Overall, the Pod Chaser was a bit more on the sweeter side compared to other drinks we had, but we did taste the alcohol. The drink has a chilled metallic sphere in it to help keep the drink cold, and the look of that really made the drink more fun and interesting. It was a solid Old Fashioned, but nothing terribly unique.

During another part of our trip (while at the Crown of Corellia Dining Room) we also got to try the Dagobah Vimlet, but we wanted to make sure we included it here so you could get our full thoughts (since it is also something you can get at Sublight Lounge). At Sublight Lounge, you can get this drink for $15. It is made with vodka, herbaceous orange liqueur, lime, and peppercorn, and is essentially like a vodka gilmet.

This drink tasted like a swamp…but in a good way? Okay, okay that might sound weird but hear us out! It was very herbaceous and you could definitely taste that peppercorn. If you like herby flavors and drinks (and the idea of your drink smelling like earth and grass is a good thing), then we think you’ll really enjoy this. If you’d rather your drink not smell like you just cut your lawn, then stay away!

During dinner on night 2 at the Crown of Corellia Dining Room we also grabbed an Espresso Martini at an additional cost. Though it might not be listed on the menu at that spot or in the Sublight Lounge, be sure to check and see if it’s available. Since you might be able to get this drink here as well, we wanted to quickly include it in our review.

Overall, the Espresso Martini was a solid Espresso Martini. It had a strong coffee flavor, as well as a strong vodka flavor. The two together worked well and it was a nice pick-me-up at the end of a long day spent in space.

What if you don’t want a space-y drink? What if you’re just looking for a Jack and Coke? You can get that too! At the bar, you can ask the bartenders to whip up a drink for you based on what you want. Keep in mind that they are limited to whatever bottles of alcohol or other ingredients they have on hand, but there is the ability to get some of those more standard drink options if that’s what you prefer.

Snacks

When it comes to snacks, you’ll find a few different options here including Mustafar Tuber Chips, Crispy-dried Green Beans, a Little Flatbread, and more.

We’ll start with the Smoked Redfish Littletubes. These are made of Felucian gardenleaf and redfish roe. These were pretty tasty and had a LOT of fishy flavor to them. It wasn’t overbearing in terms of fishy flavor (like in a gross way or anything) but the fishy flavor was there.

One of our reporters shared that they really enjoyed these, but wasn’t sure if they’d order them again. But since it is included in the cost of your trip, so it doesn’t hurt to try them (as long as you don’t feel like they’ll go to waste).

If you like fish dip, this could be a good pick, as it felt like a cream cheese-based fish dip in cannoli form (that sounds confusing but it was good!). You do get that roe flavor though. Basically, if you don’t like fish and roe, this will be a definite SKIP for you.

Next up we have the Mustafar Tuber Chips. These are chips that are dusted with sriracha and charcoal vinegar. According to one of our reporters, these chips were quite literally LIFE CHANGING. They were SO GOOD. Our reporters went through these chips without blinking an eye. They were thick chips (and definitely gave us homemade chip vibes) and weren’t overly oily or anything, which was great. They were very crispy, thick, and delicious!

The chips themselves made for a really savory base. And then you add on the seasonings and it’s *chef’s kiss!* They weren’t overly vinegary or anything — they were just phenomenal. There was also a plant-based sriracha aioli served with it. Folks, when we say that we were quite literally SCRAPING the bottom of the cup that held this sauce to get out every last drop, we are not joking! It was super creamy and had just the perfect amount of heat to it. We even asked for more of it because it was THAT good.

Mix that together with the seasoning on the chips and you’ve got perfection! It was one of the BEST things we had on the ship. If you like potato chips at all, we really think you’ll enjoy these, so don’t forget to give them a try!

But we can’t forget about the Crispy-dried Green Beans! These are served with a creamy green Pearberry dip. These were pretty good! Note that in the Star Wars World, Pearberry is code for avocado. The avocado gave it the dip a nice, creamy texture, which was great. And overall that dip was pretty mild.

If you like dried green beans, this is a good choice. BUT if you want a real pro tip in terms of how to take these to the next level, listen closely. The pro move here is to dip the green beans in the dip that comes with the Mustafar Tuber Chips! So even if you don’t order the chips on their own (though we highly recommend that you do) ask for a side of the dip that comes with the chips so you can use it on…oh, I don’t know…EVERYTHING! Another pro tip: these green beans are great to use to scoop up the Smoked Cheese en Cloche (more on that below).

Just a side note — we also liked that this and the Tuber Chips were plant-based. If you’re looking for some plant-based snacks (that are more unique) while on the ship, don’t forget to stop by Sublight Lounge so you can fill up on these!

Next up we have the Little Flatbread. This is made with pepperoni and a herb-vinegar sauce. We went into this item expecting a standard pepperoni pizza, but we were actually pleasantly surprised by how GOOD this was! 

The pepperoni was flavorful, the pizza wasn’t dry, and it was a really yummy and savory snack. The pepperoni delivered on the Italian flavors we were looking for, and the pillowy pizza crust wasn’t overly doughy or soggy at all (and was perfectly crispy on the outside). Turns out they do pizza right in space. Who knew?!

Then it was time to dig into the Hummus and Quinoa “Meatballs.” These are plant-based and are served with pepper stew and chickpea bites. One of our reporters shared that these were good, but out of all the tasty options here, they were probably their least favorite snack from the lounge. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that they were tasty.

They’re essentially like falafel meatballs and really just tasted like a moist falafel (and there’s nothing wrong with that). Overall, though it was just good falafel — nothing revolutionary, but still tasty (and we liked that pepper stew on top!).

During our time at the lounge, we also grabbed the Smoked Cheese en Cloche. This is made of white cheddar with bacon and jalapeño crusted in dried cheddar, black goat cheese crusted in pumpkin seeds, and smoked gouda with crushed pistachios. The presentation on this one is really special. They are covered when they first arrive.

When the cover is lifted and the cheese is revealed, smoke pours out. Very spacey. Very Instagrammable.

The white cheddar was really good but wasn’t super sharp or anything. It basically tasted like a classic cheese ball and was good. There were also some Lavosh crackers that came with it which were quite good — very tasty and crackly, and they broke right apart. The Cast Members brought us some extras, but you could also order some extras if you want to go with your cheese. We didn’t really get a spicy jalapeño flavor though, so don’t let that scare you.

One of our reporters (who loves goat cheese) shared that their favorite cheese out of the bunch was the black goat cheese crusted in pumpkin seeds. This one looked WILD because the cheese looked green in the light and it pulls apart the way goat cheese does. Basically, it looked like we were eating alien cheese and it was WELL worth it.

It was a super smooth goat cheese that wasn’t overly pungent (but still delivered on that goat cheese twang). And the pumpkin seeds on the outside really helped balance the goat cheese flavors with a more mild, smoky pumpkin seed flavor. If you don’t like goat cheese though, this is one you’ll want to stay away from!

The last cheese was the smoked gouda with crushed pistachios. This was one we really enjoyed. It was a very good, soft, smoked gouda. This was a big crowd pleaser for our group. Also overall we just have to say that we feel like the team did a great job pairing the cheeses with the nuts.

Finally, there were also Felucian Snack Bites available. These were sort-of like rice krispies with dried chickpeas. They were pretty good and went well with the drinks we had (and they felt space-y), but we wouldn’t prioritize this over the other snacks here.

Nosh or Not

You should take time out of your Starcruiser day to stop by the Sublight Lounge if:

• You want to play some Sabacc and enjoy the atmosphere. The holo-sabacc and the overall vibe of this place are fantastic. It’s unique and has this sort-of nighttime, “cool” space bar feeling to it. It’s something that (like many parts of the rest of the ship) really makes you feel like you’re IN Star Wars.
• You want some themed space-y drinks. Many of the drinks here are ones you can find in other parts of the ship, but if you’re looking for a space-y alcoholic (or non-alcoholic drink) to get during your day, or you want some kind of custom (non-space-y drink) you can stop by here to grab one, take a seat, and just enjoy the atmosphere.
• You want some seriously tasty snacks. We are not kidding when we say that the snacks at Sublight Lounge were some of the BEST items we had during the entire “sailing.” From the chips (that were LIFE CHANGING) to the Instagrammable cheese and that tasty pizza — we loved a bunch of the snacks here. And especially considering that these snacks are included in the cost of your trip, this is a place you’ll want to visit and come back to for the food!

You should skip the Sublight Lounge if:

• You are looking for a bar that’ll get you out of the story. If you were hoping that the bar here would be an “escape” from the Star Wars story — a place to watch some football and leave Star Wars behind, you won’t find that. The bar is fully in story, immersed in the Starcruiser theme, and features characters and more that’ll keep you in that story while here.
• You want more substantial food. Sublight Lounge has some small plates and snacks (which we LOVED), but it’s not exactly a full meal. If you’re looking for a full meal, you’ll want to head to the Crown of Corellia Dining Room during the designated eating times to really fill up.
• You want a place that’s more relaxing so you can unwind. If you’re looking for a quiet space where you can just put up your feet with your drink, this isn’t exactly it. There are still characters in here interacting with guests, holo-sabacc games going on, and more activity all around. You can snag a booth to be a bit more tucked away, but if true relaxation is what you’re after, you may want to head to the outdoor space or your room for some quiet time.

Overall

Overall, for the theming alone we’d say that the Sublight Lounge is worth at least some time on your schedule. It can be hard when there are so many activities to fit into just 2 days (since you depart on the 3rd day). But it’s definitely worth checking out. The drinks won’t knock your socks off, but most of them are pretty good, albeit pretty sweet.

The snacks, on the other hand, are WORTH stopping by. Seriously, these are some of the best items we ate at Star Wars Hotel. They weren’t overly complicated, but were full of flavor and many of them are things we’d make a point to get again in the future!

We’re working on sharing all kinds of updates and news about the Galactic Starcruiser with you, so be sure to check back with us for all of the latest updates.

 What do you think of the bar/lounge? Would it be a must-do for you? Tell us in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Recently, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ

The post The BEST Food Is HIDING at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.