We won’t lie…when it comes to food, Disneyland has some of our favorite snacks and restaurants, and even more are on the way (we’re SO excited about this whole Downtown Disney renaissance that’s happening!).

But Disneyland is no stranger to fine dining either, and one of our favorite fine dining establishments, Napa Rose, as well as its lounge, has been closed for a while to get a completely revamped look and menu. Well, Napa Rose is set to reopen on February 6th, but we got a chance to see the new lounge AND try some of the new food and drinks ahead of that.

Atmosphere

The Napa Rose restaurant and lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel has an entirely new look that is “a tapestry of California’s storied history of wine and winemaking.” So you’ll find lots of natural textiles, including French oak flooring and columns.

You’ll also find artisan metals, leathers, and deep red colors throughout the new lounge.

Perhaps the most impressive piece, though, is a chandelier inspired by California’s Mission grapevines.

The restaurant itself will feature an exhibition kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work. Plus, the patio has been expanded to add more seating, featuring two additional fireplaces. COZY.

There’s also a renovated private dining room, too.

But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu at the lounge?!

Menu

The menu at the Napa Rose lounge has been entirely reinvented with new food like Beef Tartare topped with caviar, Bone Marrow Custard, and The Laughing Tiger, which is a reimagining of Napa Rose’s previous Smiling Tiger Salad.

And now, onto the main event — the food!

Eats

Before we had dinner in the main dining room, we were treated to some light bites in the lounge!

The first light bite we had was the Lobster Tamale with Caviar. If you’re a fan of caviar and lobster, you definitely can’t go wrong with this. The flavors worked so well together, and the lobster was nice and tender, while the caviar added a saltiness to the whole bite. Plus, you can’t deny how creative this presentation is!

The Filet Mignon Tartare was another hit. The steak was SO tender with a great, meaty flavor. It was well-seasoned thanks to the onions and capers, and the egg yolk added a fantastic earthiness to the dish. It was rich without being overly so, and was just a really great bite overall.

Finally, we had the Tarte Flambé with Portobello Mushrooms. This had a wonderful earthy flavor thanks to the mushrooms, and that earthiness was complemented by the cheese. The flatbread itself wasn’t soggy at all, either — it was nice and crunchy, which provided great texture.

So, is the Napa Rose Lounge worth a stop on your next Disneyland trip?

Nosh or Not

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

• You’re looking to splurge a little on your trip. Napa Rose isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience, and that applies to the lounge as well. While we don’t have prices for the new menu yet, the lounge has been on the pricier side in the past, though not quite as pricey as the restaurant.
• You’re looking for a nice spot to have drinks and light bites. Napa Rose certainly fits that bill, with elevated appetizers and an outstanding wine list.
• You’re celebrating a special occasion. This would be a great spot to pop into for a celebratory drink or a lighter meal, no matter what you’re celebrating.

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

• You’re trying to do Disneyland on a budget. The lounge can get pricey, and while it’s usually not as expensive as the restaurant, you’ll still find yourself spending a pretty penny.
• You’re traveling with kids. While kids are allowed to dine at both the lounge and restaurant, it’s more of an upscale experience that might not be best for kids of all ages. Save that for the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures!
• You’re not looking for an upscale experience. Sometimes you just want to be able to eat at a sports bar with fried food and nothing fancy. This is definitely not that!

Overall

The Napa Rose Lounge is a great option if you’re looking to experience this restaurant without the full rigamarole of eating in the main dining room. We love the updated look of the restaurant, and you can’t go wrong with any of the light bites we tried on the menu. This is definitely a special occasion spot if you’re looking for something to celebrate!

Advance dining reservations are available to book now on the Disneyland website and at NapaRose.com, so if you’re looking to enjoy the new menu at Napa Rose, be sure to make those reservations ASAP. Reservations are not required to eat and drink in the Napa Rose lounge, but you might have to wait a bit for a seat!

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

REVIEW: There’s a Reason This Disneyland Restaurant Is a DFB FAVORITE!

Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? 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. Today, we were invited by Disneyland to attend their media preview of the Napa Rose lounge. 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