Where Should I Eat at Disney’s Riviera Resort

Not all Disney Vacation Club properties are created equal. You’ll notice this truth the most when you get hungry. Some resorts offer superlative dining options, while others assume you’ll go elsewhere to fill your belly.

Today, let’s talk about a resort that has developed a quick but devout following for its dining options. Here’s where you should eat at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Quick Service and Lounges

The important part about dining at the Riviera is that Disney has styled it after European vacations. Some of the restaurants here follow the philosophy that a meal also counts as a gathering. You may spend more time dining at one of the fine dining options at the Riviera than at most DVC locales.

For instance, La Petit Café changes its meal service during the day. Morning meals include pastries and coffee, while you’ll sip a drink and savor quick bites at night. This hangout spot isn’t where you’ll go when you’re starving. Instead, it’s a lovely place to relax and catch up with friends.

When you’re hungrier, you should choose Primo Piatto, an extraordinarily well-reviewed Quick Service restaurant. The name suggests it’s an Italian restaurant, which is technically true. At this resort, Imagineers have married the concepts of the French and Italian Riviera vacations.

Still, I wouldn’t describe any one type of cuisine as dominating the menu here. The menu is more robust than that because it’s a grab-and-go spot as well as a place to sit down and enjoy lunch. Sandwiches, salads, and burgers populate the menu, but you’ll also find Italian staples like the “Colossal Meatball” and Lasagna, too.

DVC members experienced love at first sight with Primo Piatto. It currently holds a scintillating score of 4.5 out of 5 at TripAdvisor. In other words, everyone leaves here happy.

The final option when you want to relax and soak in the Riviera’s ambiance is Bar Riva, an open-air pool bar. DVC members can eat shockingly well here, as the menu includes “Hot and Cold Handhelds” like burgers and wraps.

Some of the shareables include Baked Brie, a Grilled Vegetable Skewer, and Sticky Chicken Wings. Imagine bar food at a high-end luxury resort, and you get the gist. Bar Riva represents one of the hidden gems of DVC dining. Plus, you’re having a pool day while you eat here!

Fine Dining Options

The Riviera is something of an anomaly among DVC resorts in that it only hosts one fine dining experience. That place, Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, might as well count twice, though.

When you eat breakfast here, you’ll experience quite possibly THE best DVC resort character meal. Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends is like a Festival of the Arts that happens every morning at this one hotel!

Everyone’s favorite double-dating duos appear in stylish, thematic outfits. You’ll meet Artist Mickey, Poet Minnie, Ballet Dancer Daisy, and Sculptor Donald. They will roam from table to table and show off their adorable fashion choices while you play with them and take unforgettable pictures.

At night, the dining experience totally transforms. Disney has modeled Topolino’s Terrace after California Grille. The rooftop open balcony provides breathtaking views of nightly fireworks presentations at multiple Disney theme parks. It’s one of the most memorable settings at Walt Disney World right now.

This Signature Dining experience serves elevated Italian and French cuisine. And the meal is so fancy that Disney enforces a modest dress code. In a short time, dinner has earned a prestigious reputation among foodies. As I type this, it’s currently ranked as one of the top 250 restaurants (out of more than 2,100!) on TripAdvisor.

Other Dining Options in the Area

Here’s the serendipitous bonus when you stay at the Riviera. You gain a plethora of other dining options, one of which is sure to satisfy your stomach while fitting your vacation budget.

Since the resort hosts a Disney Skyliner station, you can hop on a gondola and be at another hotel in minutes. Fans of Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will love that!

Of course, you can also visit one of the parks instead. Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosts several beloved Quick Service options like Woody’s Lunch Box and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. In terms of Table Service, you can choose a fancy meal at The Hollywood Brown Derby or a fun one at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant or 50’s Prime Time Café.

Honestly, you’ll eat better at/around EPCOT, though. The Skyliner station at EPCOT drops you off close to Disney’s BoardWalk and Disney’s Beach Club Villas. So, you can eat at one of these places if you prefer.

However, I suspect most guests will head straight through the International Gateway and into the World Showcase. I don’t need to tell you how exceptional the dining options are here. It’s why many of us buy at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas or Beach Club!

As you can see, the dining options at Disney’s Riviera Resort are quite good, even though a few restaurants are available onsite. You’ll pick those places, and then you’ll take a gondola anywhere else you want to try!

Access all DVC resale listings and learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.