When you are spending a day at the Disneyland Resort, it can be hard to stop and sit down for a nice meal. With so much to see and do, you may feel the urge to press on, but I highly recommend checking out some of the best table-service restaurants at Disney California Adventure. Dining offers you a chance to relax, rest your feet and cool off with either air conditioning or a refreshing drink. Plus, we think some of the best food at Disneyland is at Disney California Adventure!
It is a lot of work keeping the family organized and making sure everyone’s needs are met, but you have to take care of yourself, too. That’s why I always make some reservations at several table-service restaurants at Disney California Adventure (and in Disneyland, too). When we sit and dine, we find that we get enough rest and energy to hop though a few more hours in the park. Plus, each restaurant offers a completely different way to experience California or Disney history without leaving the park.
Best Table-Service Restaurants at Disney California Adventure
Do you want to dine in the glitz and glammer of historic Hollywood, be swept away to Wine Country and Tuscany for Italian food or to eat gastro-pub style with a water view from a pier? Even these themed table-service restaurants at Disney California Adventure have subcategories within them, with attached bars and lounges with slightly different menus. We'll go over all the options.
One thing that sets the restaurants at Disney California Adventure apart from most of the ones at Disneyland is that alcohol can be served at California Adventure. That adds a different element to the dining experience. If you don't drink there are plenty of mocktails so you can still feel the vibes without feeling tipsy.
Step into Historic Hollywood at Carthay Circle
One of my favorite table-service restaurants at California Adventure is Carthay Circle. It is easy to miss this gem near the entrance to the park. If we don’t have reservations to eat there, we search for walk-up availability in the Disneyland app. But if we still can’t get in — or if we want a smaller meal or lunch— we will go for Alfresco Dining at Carthay Circle Lounge and order delicious bar bites (more on this option below). Since the pandemic, Carthay Circle has been open just for dinner.
This is the priciest restaurant at Disney California Adventure, and by far away the nicest. And it is home to the nicest bathroom in the theme park. But normal theme park attire is acceptable here. Due to the pricing, this is a dining experience that Leap and I save for date night or to celebrate a special occasion.
You can order some fun adult cocktails, but the best part about Carthay Circle is that you froget that you are in an amusement park for a while. The crowds and heat stay outside and you enter another era: Hollywood’s Golden Age. The restaurant is designed after a glamorous theatre built in 1926. When you are done eating, surprise! Disney is right outside the door and ready for you to take it back on.
We've had the opportunity to dine on the patio of Carthay Circle. That seating offers you a chance to dine in style, but with an ear for the hustle and bustle of entertainment in the theme park below. As it turns out, we had the patio to ourselves, which was fun! It's a little less-glamorous than dining inside. However, it's a great option for families with busy tadpoles who might find the inside too quiet for their family.
Carthay Circle Lounge — Alfresco Dining
The Alfresco Dining lunch and dinner menu is made of small bites. Portions are small but not priced that way, so that's one thing to keep in mind. While the prices of food items are less than Carthay Circle's main dining room entrées, the portions reflect that. Many items are sized like starters and are designed to be shared. There are kids entrées and a hazelnut crunch Mickey ice cream pop for dessert.
You may be seated indoors in the swanky lounge or outside on the patio, where you'll be entertained by the hoppenings of Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. It's a great place to go for upscale snacks and drinks. It's perfect if you do not want a heavy meal, but you'd like to relax and have a nice drink and dignified snack. You can reserve dining here or join the walk-up list if you are nearby.
Wine Country Trattoria
Wine Country Trattoria serves lunch and dinner in an outdoor patio setting. This Tuscan villa-themed restaurant offers more than 25 wines by the glass. That assures that you will find the perfect one to complement your food. This location offers a dining package with a voucher for reserved viewing areas for World of Color. You can upgrade to the prixe fixe meal with your server.
Frankly, you can get just as good or maybe even better viewing for free by joining the World of Color virtual queue, as long as you are in a theme park by the time the queue opens at noon each day. But if you won't be in the park until after that time, a dining package is the next best way to go. You can also get dining packages on Oogie Boogie Bash nights in fall for viewing the Frightfully Fun Parade. Our Disneyland dining packages post has more details.
This dining establishment is more reasonably priced and kid friendly than Carthay Circle. Pricing is similar to the Lamplight Lounge options. You can make a reservation or try to join the walk-up list. It is one of the easier restaurants to reserve.
Lamplight Lounge
Home of the famous lobster nachos, Lamplight Lounge is one of our favorite table-service restaurants at Disney California Adventure. It is located in the former location of Ariel's Grotto. This restaurant accepts reservations and may have walk-up availability. You can dine indoors amongst Pixar art or outdoors on the water of Paradise Bay.
Lamplight Lounge offers a full menu with "Bites" and "Bigger Bites" (entrées). Lunch and dinner are served daily. Brunch is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday through Sunday only. Mimosa flight anyone? Brunch is our favorite meal here.
This family-friendly gastropub is located at the entrance to Pixar Pier. It has great views of the water, fun cocktails, creative nonalcoholic mocktails and tasty eats. Plus, it's a feast for the eyes and hearts of Pixar fans.
Share some lobster nachos (you can substitute for steak or vegan options), poke or tasty or bao. Or, dip into the bigger bites. Those include salads, sandwiches, a salmon PLT, a cheddar burger or plant-based items. You also find a kids' menu. Look for special menu seasonal items, especially during festivals. And don't froget to save room for dessert — doughnuts with dipping sauce.
The Lamplight Lounge pays homage to the artists who inspired the Pixar films we love so much, with sketches and artwork to enjoy as you dine. You can't beat the view from the Lamplight Lounge! Here's a hop tip: Lamplight Lounge usually closes before the World of Color begins, but if you have a late seating outdoors at night, you might be able to stay in place to watch the show.
Lamplight Lounge — Boardwalk Dining
The upstairs outside bar is called Lamplight Lounge — Boardwalk Dining. (It used to be the Cove Bar.) It offers fun drinks and bar bites, or "shorts," to share. This location does not take reservations. You can look for walk-up availability in the Disneyland app. You have to be in the vicinity to join the walk-up list. If you do not see availability, just stick around and keep trying. This location operates with shorter hours (from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Even though it has a smaller menu, you can still get lobster nachos and sliders. We love the barbacoa nachos, which are not available downstairs. We cover some of the mocktails in our Disneyland mocktail post. At either Lamplight Lounge location, be sure to ask about the secret drink menu. We list some options in our Disneyland secret menu items post.
Other Table-Service Options at Disney California Adventure
Here are a few other table-service options and special experiences.
World of Color Dessert Party
Waitstaff will serve you drinks, desserts and cheese while you sit at a low-top or high-top table. But this is not a restaurant. It's an experience that is available for people who want to watch World of Color in a reserved section without standing up. You can hop over to our World of Color and Disneyland dining packages posts to learn more.
Magic Key Terrace
Just to the right of Wine Country Trattoria's check-in area is a staircase that leads you to the next stop on our culinary journey. But you'll need to be a Magic Key Holder or have one with you to dine here. This elevated outdoor patio is now reserved just for Magic Key Holders and their guests.
When Leap and I are having a date night (or day!) in the park, we like to park ourselves at the Magic Key Terrace to enjoy the views of Cars Land and the food and wine/cocktails. There is a mix of high-top table and cozy booths. This dining and lounge experience features signature cocktails (and a fun mocktail) inspired by the history of Disney California Adventure.
The food bites are toadally tasty. From flatbreads to bone marrow truffle mac and cheese to sliders or a Monte Cristo corn dog, you'll find something to eat and share. The corn dogs come with waffle pommes frites that are just as tasty as the Café Orleans pommes frites!
You can definitely bring your children with you. However, we like to save this table-service restaurant for nights when the kids are busy with their own fun.
Whenever we visit Disneyland, we like to plan at least one meal out at one of these table-service restaurants at Disney California Adventure. If you are considering the Lamplight Lounge, Wine Country Trattoria, Carthay Circle’s dining room or any of the dining packages, make a reservation. Keep in mind that there are also many great California Adventure quick-service restaurants to choose from for when you don’t have time to stop ... but it’s definitely worth taking the time to try some of the table-service restaurants! You do so much to take care of the family. Let somebody take care of you, even if it is just for one meal.
Related: Guide to Disneyland Character Dining
Related: Best Disneyland Table Service Restaurants
Hoppy planning!
