The Ultimate Universal Orlando Resort Dining Guide: Get a Taste of Movie Magic at All 7 Resorts!

Universal Orlando offers guests thrilling adventure rides and a taste of movie magic – literally! Universal has many great dining options throughout the theme parks, CityWalk, and in their resorts and hotels. Whether you’re looking for a savory breakfast to start your day or an elegant meal for a date night, the Universal Orlando resort and hotel restaurants have you covered. Let’s see what each property has to offer our taste buds and dig into the ultimate Universal Orlando resort dining guide! 

Universal Orlando Resorts and Hotels

Vacationing on Universal Orlando property means you get to be near the parks and have special hotel-guest-only perks. The convenience of this arrangement – and the dining options – are enough to persuade some folks to ditch the Holiday Inn and splurge on something a little more snazzy.

There are four categories of Universal resorts and hotels: Premier, Preferred, Prime, and Value. Premier hotels are the most expensive and offer guests a variety of activities and dining options. The Value resorts are the least expensive and are great for families traveling on a budget. 

There are seven Universal Orlando resorts and hotels in total, and each of them offers quick dining options as well as some truly unique sit-down restaurants. Let’s see what’s on the menu, shall we?

Universal Orlando Resort Dining Guide

The resorts’ full-service restaurants typically offer more options than those in the parks, and even though they’re in a hotel, these establishments maintain a fun flair the whole family will love!

It’s worth noting that you do not have to be staying at a Universal Orlando resort to dine in there! Anyone is welcome to pop into the Universal Orlando resort and hotel restaurants.

In our Universal Orlando Resort Dining Guide, we’ll cover both the full-service restaurants (traditional sit-down dining) as well as the quick-service bites (fast food), so you’ll be equipped with ALL of the Universal Orlando dining knowledge. The hardest part won’t be deciding if you should eat at a Universal resort; it’ll be deciding which one!

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Restaurants

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is located right on the grounds of Universal Studios, making it one of the closest options for guests to stay in proximity to the parks. This luxury hotel has a European vibe and will make you feel like you are walking down cobblestone streets in Italy. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is home to some of Universal Orlando’s fancier-feeling full-service restaurants. 

Mama Della’s Ristorante

Dine at Mama’s restaurant and feast on decadent Italian dishes. Mama Della’s Ristorante serves authentic dishes from Tuscany, Naples, and Piemonte, and is open daily for dinner from 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm. They also have a large selection of wines to perfectly complement your dinner. Make sure to save room for one of their amazing desserts! You won’t want to miss out on their Citrus Italian Cheesecake or Dark Chocolate Flourless Pistachio Torte. Mama’s has a homey atmosphere, and guests will be serenaded by strolling musicians as they enjoy their dinner. 

Trattoria Del Porto

This full-service restaurant is the most casual of the three Loews Portofino Bay Hotel restaurants but is still brimming with charm. Trattoria Del Porto is open for breakfast daily and on select evenings for dinner. Breakfast is served from 7:00 am – 11:00 am, Monday – Friday, and on the weekends from 7:00 am – 12:00 pm. You can make selections from an al la carte breakfast menu or go through a breakfast buffet. They serve traditional breakfast favorites such as pancakes, eggs, and fresh fruit.

Dinner has many outstanding options the whole family will love, like chicken wings, soup, salad, steak, and fish! These delicacies are served Friday – Tuesday, from 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm. 

Bice Ristorante

Bice Ristorante is a wonderfully elegant restaurant that offers outstanding Northern Italian cuisine accompanied by top-of-the-line service. The fresh pasta is made daily, creating an authentic Italian taste for each dish. Their menu has exquisite selections, including seafood, steaks, and veal. Bice Ristorante is open daily for dinner from 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm. Make sure to save room for dessert, as they have a pastry chef who makes mouthwatering morsel fresh daily!

Splendido Bar & Grill

Another full-service Universal Orlando resort dining option (which can also be delivered poolside!), Splendido moves away from the Italian theme just a bit in order to offer guests other goodies like chips and salsa, hummus, chicken wings, burgers, and fries. However, they don’t abandon Italy entirely, as they also serve up pizza and mozzarella cheese sticks! More on the snacky side, Splendido is great if you’re feeling munchy but not ravenous.

The Thirsty Fish

A full-service snack bar, The Thirsty Fish has a selection of champange, beer, cocktails, and wine that you can pair with savory delights like Italian potatoes, meatballs, or shrimp flatbread.

Hard Rock Hotel Restaurants

“We all just wanna be big rock stars,” and now’s your chance to live like one at the Hard Rock Hotel! The palm tree-lined swimming pool has underwater music and is shaped like a guitar, so you can feel like rock star royalty even while relaxing. Hard Rock Hotel offers guests two full-service restaurants to enjoy during their stay. 

The Kitchen

The Kitchen feels like a popular local hangout with delicious American cuisine. They serve breakfast and dinner daily, and lunch Monday – Saturday, with a special Acoustic Brunch on Sundays.

Guests can purchase al la carte items or go through a breakfast buffet with a griddle station, farm-fresh eggs, and breakfast classics. The Kitchen’s lunch menu includes American meals such as salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, and other classic entrees. Dinner consists of traditional American dishes with an upscale twist, like Truffle Lobster Mac & Cheese or Seared Scallops.

One of the most unique Universal Orlando resort dining experiences is The Kitchen’s Acoustic Brunch. They offer live acoustic performances as you dig in to the full breakfast buffet, salad bar, carving station, salmon platter, and other chef-inspired creations. 

The Palm

If you’re looking for a delicious steakhouse, look no further than The Palm! The Palm is a famous New York steakhouse (now transported to Florida) and offers guests an uptown atmosphere along with mouthwatering steaks, lavish lobster, and Italian delicacies. The Palm is open daily for dinner and has an energized vibe that gives guests an intimate dining experience. The outstanding food will have you ready to come back for more!

beachclub

The beachclub is an open-air restaurant that offers American favorites (like burgers) and tropical twists (like fish tacos). Open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, you can keep it light with a salad or go all in on a Bacon Jam Burger. There’s also a kids menu for the little ones with favorites like chicken fingers and mac n cheese.

Loews Royal Pacific Resort Restaurants

Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando sweeps guests away to a tropical paradise with a lagoon-style pool surrounded by a white sandy beach. The rooms are a cozy retreat from the parks, and there are two full-service restaurants for guests to enjoy. 

Jake’s American Bar

Themed after Jake McNally, the fabled South Seas explorer, Jake’s seaplane floats in the Royal Pacific lagoon for guests to see. This restaurant offers a full-service bar and has a themed menu with island cocktails, pre-flight appetizers, and take-off entrees. Jake’s American Bar is open for lunch and dinner every day, from 11:00 am – 1:00 am.

Islands Dining Room

Islands Dining Room is a beautiful restaurant where guests can relax in a Pacific Islands atmosphere. Feast on island-inspired meals or a traditional American entrée. Breakfast is served daily, and guests can choose from al la carte items or a breakfast buffet. Dinner is served daily from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm and highlights Pan-Asian fusion and a fun Wok Experience. 

Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar

We love that there’s a sushi option with Universal Orlando resort dining, and Orchid Court Lounge delivers those rolls in a sleek lounge with a tropical vista. Open everyday from 5:00 pm to 1:00 am, this dinner-only option celebrates Japanese cuisine with sensational sushi, sashimi, salads, and even sake. Itadakimasu!

Bula Bar & Grille

Stop in for lunch or dinner at the Bula Bar & Grille where you can get loaded nachos, burgers, fish sandwiches, and tropical tacos filled with your choice of grilled fish, chicken, or pork. Really sink into those tropical vibes when you order a fruit smoothie or cocktail. Open daily from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, this poolside dining option keeps things casual, but with “Fiji Flair.”

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Restaurants

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. This island paradise has an inviting charm in every room and suite. Beautiful blue waterfalls, lush green plants, and the calming sound of steel drums will transport you to the Caribbean – along with the two Carribean-themed restaurants!

Amatista Cookhouse

This Caribbean-inspired restaurant offers visitors a seasonal menu with fanastically fresh menu items. Laidback and casual, you can choose to dine indoors or eat outside in the gorgeous Florida weather. Amatista Cookhouse has breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

The breakfast buffet is open from 7:00 am – 11:00 am, lunch is served from noon to 5:00 pm, and dinner is 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Savor delicious Caribbean dishes such as ceviche, Caribbean chicken wings, coconut jerk shrimp pasta, and curry! Little ones will appreciate the kids menu with flavors that are more familiar to them.

Strong Water Tavern

This rum lover’s paradise lets guests take a nautical vacation with contemporary flair. The walls are decorated with rare and vintage rum, and there’s a tapas-style menu with mouthwatering bites inspired by Little Havana, Jamaica & The Bahamas, Mexico, and more. Try their decadent desserts, including the Tres Leches Cake and Mexican Chocolate Cake. 

Drhum Club Kantine

Located near the pool, this full-service snack bar serves up tantalizing tropical fare while you relax with your toes in the sand. Salads, street tacos, and seafood are the highlights of Drhum Club Kantine’s menu – and don’t forget to wash that all down with a sweet drink! (Soft drink or cocktail, your pick.)

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Restaurants

Cabana Bay at Universal Orlando is an incredibly fun, retro-themed resort that will take you back to the art deco extravanganza of the 1950s and ’60s. These colorful accomodations are joined by equally colorful dining options that put wildly-patterned carpet to good use, creating nostalgic vibes…that you probably won’t be using in your own dining room anytime soon. Whimsical and bright, Cabana Bay is an ode to the Hanna-Barbera era of life.

The Hideaway Bar & Grill

Chow down on American classics (burgers and hot dogs!) at this poolside restaurant. Escape to the upper deck to take in views of the resort during lunch or dinner, and cool down with frozen or non-frozen drinks. This straightforward menu is similar to offerings you’d find at Applebee’s, and the outdoor accommodations keep the atmosphere nice and casual.

Galaxy Bowl Restaurant

The most fun of all Universal Orlando resort and hotel restaurants, Galaxy Bowl is a full-service restaurant with a fully functioning bowling alley. Get a strike in between bites of classic Americana like wings, ribs, or a steak sandwich! While we love fries as much as the next person, we’re happy to see potato wedges shine as the main side on this menu. This is a great option for a family outing, as it doubles as food and activity!

Aventura Hotel Restaurants

Aventura is Universal Orlando’s most sleek hotel. It leans into modern architecture and takes a curvy, minimalistic approach to its design and accommodations. It feels more like an Important Business Trip Hotel than that of a theme park. Similarly, Aventura offers some of the most “grown-up” Universal Orlando resort dining.

barVentura

The only full-service location at Aventura, barVentura is actually just for drinks. This breezy and contemporary lobby is a space to meet up with friends or simply unwind. (Note: as of writing, barVentura is temporarily closed.)

Endless Summer Resort Dining Options

Universal Orlando’s Endless Summer Resort is broken into two sides: Surfside and Dockside. Each one has its own set of dining options with beachy vibes and a laid-back attitude. Kick back, my friend – you’re on vacation!

Surfside Inn and Suites Dining

Both of Surfside’s dining options are quick service, so you can get out to the pool or off to the parks in a jiffy!

Beach Break Cafe

Bring on the Southern California vibes! Beach Break Cafe is a casual food court that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches to mouthwatering burgers, power bowls, and roasted chicken, you’re sure to find something to fuel you up for a day of fun!

Sand Bar

This poolside bar is open every day from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm and serves up refreshing drinks while you stretch out in the sun. Cool down with a smoothie, frozen drink, cocktail, beer, or wine.

Dockside Inn and Suites Dining

Like Surfside, Dockside is quick service only, but it has no shortage of ice-cold beverages, perfect for those endless summer days!

Pier 8 Market

This casual food court serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an open, airy setting. Burgers, wraps, pizzas, soups, a make-your-own salad bar, and even chicken and waffles are on the menu here! With so many choices throughout the day, you shouldn’t have much trouble satisfying a particular craving. There are also grab-and-go options if you’re in a hurry!

The Wave Maker Pool Bar and The Oasis Beach Bar

Dockside has not one but two poolside bars that serve up cocktails, beers, smoothies, frozen drinks, and wines so you can “sip, splash, and relax!”

Sunset Lounge

Located in the Dockside lobby, the Sunset Lounge is both sleek and beachy at the same time, offering an open yet relaxing environment where you can sit down with a refreshing beverage. Flooded with natural light, we love how this lounge is a bright place that matches the vacay vibes of its cocktail menu.

Make Dining Reservations at Universal Orlando Resort and Hotel Restaurants

Booking a table in advance is one way to ensure your Universal Orlando resort dining experience goes smoothly, as it locks in your spot and time slot. The easiest way to make reservations is through Universal Orlando’s website. Simply pick the full-service restaurant where you’d like to dine and click “Reserve Now!” From there, you can reserve a table for your party. If you have trouble booking online, you can also call to make reservations at (407) 503-DINE (3463). 

Whether you choose an authentic Italian dinner at Mama Della’s Ristorante or a breakfast buffet at Amatista Cookhouse, you will surely enjoy your meal. Each restaurant is unique and charming and offers one-of-a-kind flavors to enjoy on your Orlando vacation.

Have you dined at one of these tasty restaurants? Let us know which one is your favorite Universal Orlando restaurant in the comments below!

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Feature photo: Kzenon via Canva