Hey, you! Yeah, you! We’re stopping by a SECRET bar in Disney World for lunch, and you’re gonna want to join us.

Okay, okay, maybe it’s not so secret — but it’s certainly not mainstream! We’re swinging over to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel to pay a visit to Cabana Bar and Beach Club, a surprisingly swanky and relaxing spot.

Yep, we’re bringing you a REVIEW of what you can snag at this sophisticated lounge. You’ll find Cabana Bar and Beach Club located right next to the Dolphin lap pool and Grotto Pool, accessible from both the Swan and the Dolphin.

So, what makes this spot stand out?

Atmosphere

First, let’s talk about the atmosphere. As mentioned, this spot has a GREAT poolside location with covered tables, cabanas, and comfy couches with ottomans. Plus, you can Mobile Order from your pool chair!

Did we mention it also features a FULL bar with some great music? The location is beautiful with views of the pool, the beach, and the Swan and Dolphin. There’s a good amount of shade from the sun but the spot is entirely outdoors — so it might not be the best spot if it’s breezy or rainy.

You can choose from standard tables and chairs, comfier lounge seating, bar seating, and shared tables. Our table was set with a cloth napkin and set of utensils and we had access to QR code and paper menus. So, let’s eat!

Eats

This spot has that full bar but it also features a surprisingly extensive menu of lounge eats and specialty drinks. For the eats, you can select from Shareables, From the Garden, Bowls…

…Handhelds, Plates, and Pizza! Whew! That’s a LOT of eats for a pool bar menu!

And it doesn’t end there either, you can also snag some Sides and little ones have plenty of Kids’ Meals to choose from. Then, you can snag your choice of Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

But this is a BAR, so you know they have some alcoholic sips as well. And buckle up, because there are a LOT of Specialty Cocktails.

If you’re looking to cool off you can also snag a Frozen Libation or swing for a whole Beachside Bucket!

Looking for something a little simpler? You’ve also got your choice of Craft or Draft Beer…

…and red and white Wines!

We opted to start our meal with one of those Specialty Cocktails, the Strawberry Basil Lemonade Jar for $16.

This sip is made with Strawberry and Basil infused Absolut Vodka, Hand-squeezed Lemonade, and Rock Candy Syrup.

Our first impression of this sip was that it had a strong vodka flavor to it but then it eased off with a sweeter aftertaste. As you can see, it also comes in a cute plastic jar with a lid and had lots of fruit floating in it.

This was a stronger drink so those who tend to like more vodka-forward beverages would be fans of this one. Surprisingly, it wasn’t overly sweet, so if you DO tend to go for sweeter drinks you might want to opt for something different.

We snagged one item From the Garden, the Grilled Watermelon & Spiced Ricotta for $13.

This summery dish is Grilled Watermelon, Spiced Ricotta Cheese, Early Girl Tomatoes, and Frisée.

The spiced ricotta was creamy and had a mild taste to it and it paired VERY well with the cool and refreshing watermelon. If you get a bite of everything with the arugula and tomatoes, it comes off as a very tasty and light dish. The strongest taste was the ricotta so balancing each bite is a key way to make sure the mild creaminess doesn’t take over the more delicate flavors on the plate.

If you love more light and fresh apps, the Grilled Watermelon & Spiced Ricotta. But be warned! If you’re not a ricotta fan we recommend skipping this one — it’s expensive if you only want a watermelon salad with no ricotta.

Our other appetizer was the Chicken Wings from the Shareables section for $14. These come with your choice of sauce: Buffalo or Korean Glaze and with Cilantro Dipping Sauce, Celery, and Carrot Sticks. We got a mix of the Buffalo and Korean!

These were cooked VERY well. The wings were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The buffalo sauce was tangy and fairly typical but the Korean glaze was more surprising. It was like a sweet BBG glaze with a nice tang to it.

Interestingly, our wings didn’t come with the cilantro dipping sauce — just basic ranch — but that was fine by us. We think that anyone who likes chicken wings would be happy with this portion.

Now, onto our entrees! We picked up the Dynamite Shrimp Bowl for $21.

This dish is Tempura Rock Shrimp, Dynamite Sauce, Seasoned Sushi Rice, Smoked Eel Sauce, Scallion, Crispy Wonton, and Lotus Chip. Oooh!

The rice base was cooked perfectly and we loved, loved, loved the dynamite sauce. It also had a bit of a surprising kick to it; it was certainly spicier than typical Disney eats!

Our complaint with this dish was the tempura batter on the shrimp was a bit soggy and the main flavor that came through was the sauce — not so much any shrimp flavor (And on top of that it’s a pretty small portion for $21!). Still, it was a pretty tasty dish.

We also chose the Grilled Chicken BLT for $16.

This sandwich is Grilled Chicken Breast, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tomato Jam, and Arugula on Toasted Sourdough Bread.

The bacon was SUPER thick cut which was awesome and all of the flavors came together to make for a classic BLT profile. Still, there were no condiments on the sandwich and the chicken was on the dry side. Though the sandwich was a little too dry for our liking, we did love the fries which were super crispy and well-seasoned!

Okay, we have certainly filled up! So, should you snag a bite at this pool bar?

Nosh or Not

You SHOULD swim over to Cabana Bar and Beach Club if…

• You’re having a pool day at Swan and Dolphin! The eats and drinks are tasty and you can order right to your pool chair!
• You’re looking to stay and relax for a while. The seating was comfortable and we noticed a lot of the guests were socializing with one another. Add some music and great drinks and we could see a solid afternoon here.
• You’ve got kiddos with you! This spot has pleasing items for little ones AND parents and being so close to the pool means you can have a sip or bite while your kids play.

You should swim PAST Cabana Bar and Beach Club if…

• It’s out of the way for you. We had a nice meal at Cabana Bar but we wouldn’t say it’s worth a trip to Swan and Dolphin Hotel if you weren’t already in the area.
• You want a quiet meal. This spot has loud music, people chatting, and folks hanging in the pool nearby. It’s not the quietest!
• You want more typical offerings. Though this spot does have a burger and flatbread, it’s got a lot more unique options too. Head to The Fountain in the Dolphin if you’re looking for more picky-eater-friendly bites.

Overall

Overall, we had a nice meal at this spot — but nothing great! We had fabulous service and we loved the atmosphere, but most of the food was just fine. We didn’t love the prices either, $21 for a slightly soggy shrimp bowl felt like a bit too much.

Still, we would return to this spot for the appetizers we had and the fun and relaxing atmosphere. Plus, if you’re having a pool day at Swan and Dolphin, the options are a great amenity.

Click here to learn more about mobile order at this spot!

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Would you visit Cabana Bar and Beach Club? Tell us in the comments!

The post REVIEW: We’re Eating at a SURPRISINGLY Swanky Pool Bar in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.