Dahlia Lounge: Gran Destino’s Rooftop Bar Is A Hidden Gem

Guys, I just realized I forgot to review Dahlia Lounge from my December trip! Can I convince you to travel back in time for me for an important cocktail discussion?

THE FOOD SITUATION AT CORONADO SPRINGS IS IMPRESSIVE

Disney’s Coronado Springs is a unique beast in the stable of WDW resorts. The resort as a whole is billed as a moderate, with pricing and amenities largely to match. The standard rooms are spread out across a large area in a myriad of individual buildings, just like Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside.

However, Coronado has something the latter resorts don’t: a tower building. Disney added Gran Destino Tower in 2019, and while anyone can reserve a room there it tends to cater to business travelers who are on property to attend conferences in the attached conference center. As such, Disney plussed Coronado’s offerings – including giving the restaurant scene a major boost. Coronado has casual dining, fine dining, a sports bar, and even a Club Level.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE DAHLIA LOUNGE?

Dahlia Lounge is a bar and lounge situated on Gran Destino Tower’s roof, across from upscale Spanish steakhouse Toledo. The decor is inspired by Salvador Dalí, and in my opinion it is one of the most beautiful hotel bars I’ve ever been in. Light features, ironwork, mosaic tiles, and historical photography of Dalí hanging with Disney all create a whimsical yet edgy fantasy.

Bonus: if you’d care to take in the rooftop view, step out onto the terrace! Yes, you can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks from here. No advanced dining reservation needed! (Dahlia Lounge doesn’t even take reservations.)

Oddly enough and despite this enticing feature, the lounge was only lightly attended while we were there. I don’t think word has gotten around about Dahlia just yet…

THOSE IMPORTANT COCKTAILS I MENTIONED

Becky and I were staying in Gran Destino’s Club Level; you may find it odd therefore that we chose to leave the free alcohol said Club Level offers behind. But that’s just plain old beer and wine. I love free, but I also love a good cocktail and checking out a new-to-me Disney venue. We snuck away from the Chronos Club just long enough for a couple rounds of Fancy Drinks.

I started my adult beverage journey with El Pepino: Mahón Gin, Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Poblano Liqueur, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Lime, and Cucumber.

I always love a good spicy cocktail AND a cucumber cocktail, so it’s always nice to combine the two. This was a light and refreshing drink; maybe a touch sweet from the liqueurs, but the lime keeps it from going overboard. Do recommend!

I TAKE MY PALOMAS VERY SERIOUSLY

I then attempted to follow this with a Tequila Daisy, but was denied! The bar was out of one of the ingredients – I want to say the liqueur? At any rate, I was mollified with the promise of an off-menu drink about which I am quite snobbish: the traditional Paloma.

What makes me snobbish about the Paloma? I am extremely particular about the grapefruit element. Many people make their Palomas with grapefruit SODA, which I find wholly unacceptable; it throws off the balance and makes the entire drink far too sweet. On the contrary, I only want my Paloma with grapefruit JUICE. Gimme some bitter citrus to balance that simple syrup. Lime alone is simply not enough!

Thus I am happy to report that not only will Dahlia Lounge make you a proper Paloma, it is a darn good one. As your friendly neighborhood Paloma Connoisseur, I cosign this rendition.

We did not avail ourselves of the food menu, but Dahlia Lounge does offer a small assortment of appetizers, entrees, and desserts if you’re in the market.

WAIT, IS DAHLIA LOUNGE BETTER THAN CLUB LEVEL FOR FIREWORKS?

As far as I can tell, Gran Destino’s Club Level is just underneath Dahlia Lounge and Toledo – or at any rate, the view angle is extremely similar. On the one hand, in Club Level you have the breadth of snacks and drinks plus exclusive seating to enjoy during fireworks time. On the other hand, at Dahlia Lounge you can trade a window vista for the terrace.

Yet as we discovered, there is one more way in which I suspect the Dahlia Lounge fireworks experience is in fact superior. We chose to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks from the lounge for the aforementioned snack-and-drink reasons. The one major downside to that is while the club does turn down the lights, it does NOT pipe in the music. To me, the music is 70% of the experience. What can I say? I’m more aural than visual.

We later overheard the conventioneers chatting about being at Dahlia Lounge during fireworks time. According to them, Dahlia DOES pipe in the music. Assuming that’s true, I’d pick Dahlia Lounge 100% of the time. That’s a personal assessment, though! It all depends on what you value.

SHOULD YOU HIT UP DAHLIA LOUNGE?

I would heartily recommend a trip to Dahlia Lounge – to a specific subsection of people.

Should you be staying anywhere on Coronado Springs property, whether in the ranchos or the tower, Dahlia Lounge deserves a spot in your dining rotation.

Otherwise, transportation to Coronado Springs already makes this a nonstarter for many. Coronado has no special transpo: no Skyliner, no boats, no walking paths; all bus. If you don’t have a car handy and aren’t staying on property, it probably isn’t worth it to schlep all the way over to Gran Destino for a lounge.

However, it’s a good under-the-radar fireworks viewing spot for those who fear they’d be turned away at California Grill and can’t get into Wailulu. And if you’re staying somewhere that requires a bus trip anyway, I could absolutely see topping off a Disney night with fireworks at Dahlia Lounge. It’s hardly any more annoying if you’re coming from, say, an All Star resort.

I will leave you with my favorite Dalí quote: “This is a thousand times more frightening than The Exorcist. I intend to cover it with mayonnaise.”

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