Whether you’re planning a Disney vacation or you happen to be in the Orlando (OK, technically Lake Buena Vista) area for a few days—you’ve got to stop by Disney Springs. A cornucopia of shops, live music and of course, restaurants, Disney Springs was originally a marketplace before being rebranded and divided into Downtown Disney (the family-friendly shopping area) and Pleasure Island, the “nightlife district” full of clubs and bars—but since 2008, it's had quite the facelift in the family-friendly direction. Today, it offers a cornucopia of shops, live music and restaurants, making it a fun way to unwind between days jam-packed with thrill rides. Better yet, parking is free 24/7.

But when hunger strikes, what do you eat? Fear not, friends—we’ve snacked our way through the many dining options that have sprouted up in the area to bring you the 18 best Disney Springs restaurants to suit every mood and palate.

We chose our list of the best Disney Springs restaurants based on our personal experiences (we can *still* taste the fresh crab guacamole at Paddlefish), intense research, with deep dives into customer ratings and reviews of each eatery, and word of mouth. Beyond looking for the obvious—aka spots with insanely mouthwatering food—we considered each restaurant's ambience, be it for date night or family time, price range and meal type, so as to fit different budgetary and service needs, from the über-fancy Morimoto Asia, to the quick and easy Disney Food Trucks.

Check out our top picks below.

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At the time of publication, there were 67 places to grab a bite to eat in Disney Springs between its table- and quick-service offerings. Chicago-based restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You’s Summer House on the Lake is set to open in late 2023, which, according to the Disney Food Blog, which will raise the total count to 68.  

Just like the eateries found inside the Disney Parks, many of the restaurants at Disney Springs are owned by restaurant chains, like the Landry's-repped Boathouse, or individual restauranteurs, like Steve Lewis (Gideon's Bakehouse).

While there are some table service restaurants that accept walk-ins, like Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, heading to your destination without a reservation is not something we’d advise: Because you’re in Walt Disney World, you can expect crowds, so they’re strongly recommended for most sit-down restaurants. However, it’s also worth checking the cancellation policies for each—some, such as Morimoto Asia and The Edison, charge a $10-per-person fee for no-shows and cancellations made within two hours of the reservation.

If you’re not the type to plan your grub in advance, you’ll do better to check out one of the quick-service spots, carts or kiosks on our list, all of which provide walk-up service.

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