When you’ve had a long day, need a break from the fun, or want to let the kids go off on their own while you kick up your feet, the Alfresco Tasting Terrace inside of Disney’s California Adventure Park is a perfect getaway for drinks and appetizers. We had the opportunity to eat there on our most recent trip to Disneyland, and it has become one of our new favorite places to get off our feet, enjoy some tantalizing food and drink, and admire the views of Radiator Springs and the Pacific Wharf.
Ambiance
Note: The Alfresco Tasting Terrace is now only open to Annual Passholders. This means long lines and families. If you are looking for a 21+ lounge, cross to the other side of California Adventure and head to the Carthay Circle Lounge.
The Alfresco Terrace is situated in a patio setting above the Wine Country Trattoria restaurant. The seating is a combination of standard style tables and bar tables. The standard tables appear to be along the perimeter of the patio with the bar tables more towards the center. The standard tables can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups.
Each table has a pleasant view of Radiator Springs and the Pacific Wharf area of California Adventure.
As evening rolls in, the lights of the patio turn on to create a warm, romantic air that nicely accentuates the views.
As you enjoy the scenery, and slowly setting sun, the amazing food adds to the pleasurable experience and helps you forget you are in the middle of Anaheim just outside of Los Angeles. It is almost like sitting on a terrace in real wine country (but not quite, as nothing compares to the real deal).
Food
The menu for the Alfresco Tasting Terrace is small, but there are several good options from which to choose. We decided to try the Classic Bruschetta and the Meatballs Marinara.
Classic Bruschetta
This classic dish was presented well and tasted fresh and crisp. The bread was ever so lightly toasted and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and shaved Parmesan.
The flavors combined perfectly.
Meatballs Marinara
Incredible! Saucy! Cheesy! The meatballs were not only sizable but were melt-in-your mouth (if meatballs could melt) amazing.
Fair warning: Do not touch the pan! The meatballs are baked in it and the pan is very hot.
We saw some of the other dishes delivered to tables, and they also looked outstanding. And, of course, one must have a drink to sip with the food!
Drinks
It is, after all, a tasting terrace above a wine restaurant! There were many drinks from which to choose, and a full list of wines from the Disney family wines and other notable Disney entertainers. We chose to try some mixed drinks for this visit.
Habañero Lime Margarita
Straight from their website description, this drink contains Patrón Silver Tequila, Habañero Lime and House-made Sweet-and-Sour.
It definitely delivers on the sweet and sour with a kick.
Paloma
I was looking for a drink a little less sweet, and this had a nice, tangy twist to it with the grapefruit juice. This drink consisted of Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, Lime Juice, and soda water.
Captain’s Mai Tai
Last, but not least, as it was a smashing “yes” in flavor, was the Captain’s Mai Tai. A tasty mixture of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, Bols Amaretto and Tropical Juices and Myers’s Original Dark Rum.
Thoughts
The Alfresco Tasting Terrace is tucked away in a quiet part of California Adventure. The patio atmosphere is perfect for relaxing and enjoying drinks and appetizers. It can get quite busy, as most of the restaurants in Disney resorts do, but we were seated quickly. They do not take reservations, but we saw tables turn over a few times while we sat and ate our food. The food was outstanding, some of the best in the park for appetizers and a non-fancy environment. The drinks were made well and they did not skimp on the ingredients. We will definitely be going back to try more of the menu items and possibly the Disney Family Wines (unless we feel like having mixed drinks again!).
