Bar 17 Bistro Is Way High Up There

I’m going to tell you a secret. You keep secrets, right? Good, because I do not want people to start flocking to Bar 17 Bistro.

WHAT IS BAR 17 BISTRO?

Bar 17 Bistro is an open air rooftop restaurant that crowns Universal Studios’ Aventura Hotel, one of the lower tier resorts on property – if you’re a Disney person, think moderate.

I think this comparatively hidden location keeps Bar 17 Bistro from – what is it the kids say? – really popping off. You can’t easily see it from most vantage points at Universal, and as Aventura is a 20ish minute walk from the parks, not many people make it out that way regardless.

To get to Bar 17 Bistro you’ll need to enter Aventura’s tower and take the elevator to the 17th floor. One of the elevators even goes express after the restaurant opens. Exit through the unassuming door to the roof and you’re there!

BAR 17 BISTRO DESERVES MORE LOVE

Holy smoke Bullwinkle is this a hidden gem. Bar 17 Bistro is surrounded on all sides by glass panels – no walls. And the views? Um, how about all of Orlando? We could see Universal’s parks, of course, but also other Orlando landmarks like Fun Spot and, off in the distance, Walt Disney World. In fact, we were able to see the Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks from our vantage point. It’s not a good view in the traditional sense, but it was still pretty neat.

No walls does mean you’re quasi-exposed to the elements. Luckily Universal planned for that; the location does have a roof, as well as those freestanding heaters for when it gets chilly.

You of course have your assortment of televisions playing The Sports if you’re trying to catch a game. There’s even a back patio for nice days, although we didn’t see anyone sitting there on this occasion.

HOW ARE THE DRINKS AT BAR 17 BISTRO?

Bar 17 Bistro offers a robust cocktail menu in its own right. We were there during Halloween Horror Nights, so there was a supplemental themed drink menu for the spooky season as well.

I started with a Stay Tangy – Patron Silver tequila, grapefruit juice, ginger syrup, lime juice, soy sauce, and club soda. All of the ingredients appealed to me, so I wasn’t surprised to like it. This is a light and refreshing drink. Still, I wish it was a bit more powerful. Grapefruit, ginger, lime, and especially the soy sauce are all potential flavor bombs, but I didn’t feel bombed with flavor. I wonder if some people complain when a drink is too aggressive and the bartenders have dialed back accordingly.

I also took a dip in the Halloween Horror Nights cocktail pool with the Scarlet Spell: Tito’s vodka, elderflower, aperol, lemon, grapefruit, and grenadine.

It’s a shame this one is seasonal, because I loved the Scarlet Spell! Think a gentler version of an aperol spritz. The bitterness of the aperol is counterbalanced with the sweetness of the fruit juices, with the vodka just kinda hanging out in the background. If it returns for Halloween Horror Nights 35, I’d get another one.

HOW ABOUT THE FOOD?

Bar 17 Bistro has a fairly robust menu for a rooftop bar. The lion’s share of the offerings are Korean inspired, but they also have a handful of bar basics like wings and burgers if that’s more your speed.

I have gone on record many a time about my undying love for steamed buns in all their forms, bao very much included. Thus I was thrilled to discover a dedicated bao section on the menu. I promptly ordered the jack fruit bao (with soy, jicama, and carrot slaw) as well as the smoked tofu bao (with cilantro, radish, red cabbage, carrot, and Ssamjang, a spicy Korean sauce).

First let’s talk about the bao themselves. As far as my unsophisticated but enthusiastic palate is concerned, the bao buns here are cooked (baked…?) beautifully. Ours were soft and pillowy and fresh. Put anything half decent in that bao and I’ll eat it, y’know?

Luckily the fillings were more than half decent – they were good to great!

The jack fruit bao was good, although not particularly distinguished. The flavor and texture of the jack fruit itself was undistinguished. The jicama and slaw provided the crunch and snap that contrasted so well with the bun.

The smoked tofu, however, was delightful. I like tofu a lot when it’s prepared properly, but even I wasn’t ready for the flavor bomb the smoked tofu provided. Add the Ssamjang to the mix and you had exactly the sort of strong, bold profile I tend to favor. I’d recommend it even if you’re not a vegetarian.

I didn’t get to try the fried chicken bao but they were tasty enough that my friend ordered another round.

DOES BAR 17 BISTRO DO DESSERT?

The good news: yes, Bar 17 Bistro does a handful of desserts and I tried one! The bad news is I wasn’t particularly into it.

Our table shared a slice of the chocolate cake, which comes with chocolate sauce, blackberry sauce, and whipped cream. Unfortunately I found the cake to be both dry and distinctly lacking in the best part of any cake: frosting. This was the only disappointment of the meal for me.

OKAY, YOU’VE CONVINCED ME

I don’t know if I would go so far as to say Bar 17 Bistro is worth a special trip. If you’re walking back toward Aventura, Sapphire Falls, or Cabana Bay anyway, though, it’s definitely worth a stop. I really enjoyed the menu, and the views are killer. Give it a try!

Just don’t tell anyone else, okay? This needs to remain a secret between you, me, and the rest of the internet. Didn’t you learn your lesson about Sanaa? Exactly.

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