REVIEW and PHOTO TOUR: The NEW Dahlia Lounge in Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort!
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has expanded to the new 545-room Gran Destino Tower, and atop that tower is a new lounge that is not to be missed!
Dahlia Lounge
Dahlia Lounge is inspired by the Disney short film Destino which was, in part, storyboarded by artist Salvador Dali. It told a fascinating story about a mortal, Dahlia, who catches the eye of Chronos, the Greek figure who represents time.
Dali’s surrealist’s spirit infused the film, and it has infused Dahlia Lounge as well. Warmth, visual interest, and expert mixologists (artists in their own right!) are found here. And of course the rooftop lounge offers one other sought-after quality: expansive views.
Dahlia Lounge Entrance
Check out our We’re LIVE post HERE for links to other Gran Destino Tower reviews and photo tours!
Atmosphere
Dahlia Lounge is a work of art — literally. The interior design is fashioned with a combination of surrealism and Spanish modernism, and with every shape and globe light, the space is a feast for the eyes. We’ll start at the bar, where the eye naturally gravitates due to its distinctive design. Behind the bar is a wall of mirrors formed into irregular shapes edged in deep, golden moldings.
Dahlia Lounge Bar
These Dali-esque shapes are enhanced by orange backlights, which make them pop against the steely gray background.
Dahlia Lounge
The Lounge is scheduled to open from 4PM to midnight each day, and when the sun sets, the mirrors will reflect the many sources of light inside the space.
Dahlia Lounge
Seating at the bar is in smart, tufted leather bar stools with a definite retro vibe.
Dahlia Lounge Seating
In front of the bar stools, tucked under the edge of the bar’s granite bar top, are outlets, USB ports, and purse hooks. So convenient!
Outlets and Hooks
The bar top at Dahlia Bar is a piece of art, too. The smooth stone surface is a play on black, brown, white, and purple (I LOVE the purple in this stone!!).
Bar Top
It’s as if an artist has splattered drops of paint on the stone whilst in the process of creating her most recent masterpiece. We love how much movement it seems to have. And in person, the gold in the stone really sparkles.
Bar Top
In addition to recessed and strategic ambient lighting, large light fixtures hang from dark, inset ceiling panels. These lights are spherical but offer visual interest and pretty deflections of light by way of their scattered design.
Dahlia Lounge Lighting
The ceiling insets are inspired by Dahlia, the star of Destino, whose wispy hair you can just make out in the nearly monochromatic pattern.
Dahlia Lounge Lighting
But the artwork doesn’t just stay at the bar… or hang from the ceiling… or, you know, be the ceiling. It’s also on the walls. This piece depicts a surreal scene, the likes of which Dahlia dances through in the short film and which reflect Dali’s forms as well. The fluttering flowers and bell shadow are further references to the short film.
Artwork in Seating Areas
(Interestingly, if you look at the shapes in the lamps in the guest rooms, you’ll see similar bells.)
Lamp in Gran Destino Tower Guest Rooms
But back to Dahlia — photographs of Salvador Dali and Walt Disney add a sense of history to the space, and prints of the film’s Dahlia and iconic bell bring the inspiration front and center.
Dahlia Photographs
Dahlia Photographs
Even the floor tiles get an artistic treatment, with patterns and optical illusions tucked in amongst the hexagons.
Tiles at Dahlia Lounge
Seating areas in Dahlia Lounge are arranged like vignettes: distinct and unique spaces within the larger space. Tufted leather benches; tables of all shapes, sizes, and materials; and armchairs in muted tones mix and match to give a real sense of place.
Dahlia Lounge
Bar stools that bring to mind an animator’s drafting table, and a long high-top table, also work to set a mood, this one relaxed and energetic and ready for fun!
Dahlia Lounge Lighting
Much of the seating inside is aimed toward the Lounge’s other irresistible feature: the view! And while it’s possible to enjoy the view from inside, guests will flock to the outdoor seating for a breath of fresh air — and views that will take their breath away.
Seating at Dahlia Lounge
Outdoor seating is simple: patio benches and chairs, coffee tables, and cozy pillows. High glass walls allow for great views, even when seated, which means you could settle in and really lounge.
Outdoor Seating
Views from Dahlia Lounge include some familiar icons, namely this one:
Theme Park Views
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just a stone’s throw away, and at night, Lounge patrons will be able to enjoy glimpses of fireworks at both the Studios and Epcot (out of view to the right). Outside and in, Dahlia Lounge is a provocative beauty.
Eats
Dahlia Lounge celebrates Spanish flavors and ingredients in its extensive drinks menu, which is presented in this metallic cover.
Dahlia Menu
Staff tell us that 80% of the wine served in Gran Destino Tower is from Spain, and Dahlia Lounge embraces that regionality in its wine menu.
Wine from Spain and California
Wine Menu
Specialty Cocktails — like the Tower’s signature Gran Gin Tonic — also have a Spanish twist with names and ingredients harkening to the country.
Specialty Cocktails
Spanish beer is offered alongside American ones, and Hard Ciders are available, too.
Hard Cider and Beer
Like Barcelona Lounge in the lower lobby level of the Tower, Dahlia Lounge has an extensive Distinctive Spirits Collection.
Distinctive Spirits Collection
Distinctive Spirits Collection
Cold Beverages (like fountain drinks), Zero Proof Cocktails (a/k/a mocktails), and Hot Beverages (spiked or not) are also available.
Zero Proof Cocktails and Hot Beverages
Dahlia Lounge also offers a limited menu of food items, and though the Lounge is near Toledo — Tapas, Steak, & Seafood, guests in the Lounge can not order from Toledo’s menu. They’ll have to stick to these Tapas and Plated options.
Food Menu
We’ll bring you a review of Dahlia’s food and drinks very soon!
Overall
With stunning views and equally stunning interior design, Dahlia Lounge is poised to be the next big thing in seeing Walt Disney World from above. With potential views of two Park nighttime spectaculars — not to mention tasty drinks and available tapas — we predict this will become a favorite of adults looking for a night out while on vacation. It is truly not to be missed.
Want to see more photo tours from Disney’s new Gran Destino Tower? Click Here for our LIVE post being updated throughout the day!
Would you plan a night out at Dahlia Lounge on your next Walt Disney World vacation? Let us know what you think 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 to a media preview of Gran Destino Tower. 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
from the disney food blog https://ift.tt/2LdAg3k
Post a Comment