Coronado Springs is a gorgeous moderate level resort at Walt Disney World. It was recently re-imagined when the Gran Destino Tower opened last summer. I had the opportunity to stay in the Tower during my Walt Disney World 2020 Marathon trip a few weeks ago. My husband and I spent a great deal of time walking around and eating at the resort. Check back with Running-Disney-Travel soon for my review of our stay (It’s now posted HERE!). I just couldn’t wait to talk about one of my favorite topics, dining! Here’s my full dining review of the new Gran Destino Tower!
I had never stayed at Coronado Springs before (in fact, this was my first moderate level resort stay), but Gran Destino was the perfect choice for this marathon runner. I didn’t want to spend too much time in the parks to save my legs for race day. Plus, the day after the race when the soreness really sets in, I wanted to spend some more time enjoying the resort. We ended up trying most of the dining options at Coronado Springs. Today we will focus on our dining experiences at the Grand Destino Tower!
Toledo
I had heard amazing things about this Tapas style restaurant located on the top floor of the Tower. The venue is unique and beautiful, just like the rest of the Tower. The indoor trees and mosaic-like ceiling are true works of art. They add to the Spanish theme perfectly.
We ordered a few appetizers and pintxos (more on those later), plus an entrée and side. It ended up being a bit more food than we needed, but our eyes were just bigger than our stomachs! Everything sounds delicious, especially if you like Spanish and tapas-style cuisine!
We started with the Heirloom Tomatoes, which had mint, stone fruit, garlic, and cheese. This dish was a standout of the meal! It sounds simple, but the combination of cheese, fruit and perfectly ripe tomatoes came together in tasty harmony! If you are a cheese or tomato fan, it is a must-try!
Next, we tried the Jamon Serrano and Compressed Melon dish. The ham was more like prosciutto, which was lovely for me since I love prosciutto! The melon was a different texture than I’m used to; it was slightly off-putting to me. I gravitated more towards the jamon, and let my husband enjoy the melon. 😉 The cheese on the dish was excellent, a perfect pairing with the ham!
The “pintxos” was something I had never heard of before. They are small snacks, really just one bite treats for your taste buds. We got the Valdeon Blue cheese and Salt Cod Stuffed Piquillo Peppers. You can take a wild guess as to who ordered what (I am not a salted fish fan!). Overall these were a fun way to try unique flavors. I loved the blue cheese one which also had fig and honeycomb (umm Yes please!), and he enjoyed his salted cod. *Shrugs*
For our entrée and side, we had the scallops and a side order of patatas bravas. The scallops were cooked perfectly! The vegetable puree and baby carrots added a nice texture to the dish making the whole experience interesting, in a good way! The presentation was just beautiful, a great dish for scallop lovers.
The patatas bravas was a last-minute addition that I had to try. I’ve had several iterations of patatas bravas, plus I’ve made my own, so I wanted to try them for comparison’s sake. These were different than any other variation I’ve had in the past. They were plentiful, but the flavor didn’t “wow” me. It’s definitely more comfort food; I mean you can’t go wrong with roasted potatoes, right? If you want something unique, this might not be it, but if you want something familiar, this might fit the bill. They were also not super warm, which may have added to our “lukewarm” reception (sorry, I just had too).
Overall, Toledo was a wonderful experience. The service was spot on, the food was interesting and high-quality, and the spectacular atmosphere makes this place a definite winner in my book! It is currently one dining credit, though I could certainly see that changing in the future since it does feel like an upscale experience. It is worth checking out for a special date night or just tasty upscale eats at Coronado Springs Resort!
Barcelona Lounge
This lounge is on the lower level of the Tower, and it is a sight to behold. The bar has a similar mosaic-type backsplash as Toledo, and it is just stunning. I did not eat in the lounge (I had my very own husband room service 😉), but I did walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
During the day and evening, they offer a few appetizer options to snack on and a full bar and coffee menu. In the morning they have coffee and espresso drinks, plus pastries, fruit, cheese, and yogurt parfaits. My go-to Disney breakfast is a yogurt parfait and coffee, so the lounge was perfect! I enjoyed a latte and parfait every morning in our room. My husband was not sold on the parfait, it had a slight lavender taste (which I loved), but any non-lavender fans should beware! This location is a gem and would be a great place to get some work done if you need to at Disney (lame, I know, but it happens!).
Dahlia Lounge
Right across the hall from Toledo is the Dahlia Lounge. If you want a drink and don’t want to sit through a full meal at Toledo, this is the spot for you! They offer an assortment of appetizers and tapas off the Toledo menu (I believe they share a kitchen), so you can get a taste of the elevated cuisine from next door. The specialty cocktails sound amazing, we were definitely tempted by the Sangria!
We didn’t end up getting anything at the lounge but would love to come back for a relaxing evening. They also have a wrap-around deck with breathtaking views of the parks. This would be a great place to get a different view of the fireworks! They are open until 12 am, so they are perfect for a night-cap after a long day of exploring the parks.
If you are staying at the Gran Destino Tower, you will not go hungry! The dining options are high quality and match the overall classy feel of the resort. We enjoyed everything we tried, and our only regret is that we didn’t get to stay longer so we could try even more delectable treats! Stay tuned for the rest of our dining experiences at Coronado Springs, and the review of the Tower!
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest! Don’t forget to pin “Dining Review of the New Gran Destino Tower” using the link below!
This food all looks delicious but those scallops are calling my name!!! Yum!
They were amazing! =)
This looks like a beautiful place to stay if you want to be as close as possible to Disney World. I’ve never been but will definitely keep this place in mind. Thanks for the review!