REVIEW: We're Tired of People Underestimating This Disneyland Hotel Lounge

Planning a trip to Disneyland and not sure where you should eat while you’re there? You’ve come to the right place — we’re here to help!

Here at AllEars, we know all the ins and outs of Disneyland restaurants — including where you should definitely eat, and where you should skip. We recently stopped by Hearthstone Lounge located at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and are bringing you our FULL review!

Background

Hearthstone Lounge reopened in Disneyland in 2021 following the COVID-19 closures, and is a great place to stop for a drink, quick bite to eat, or to grab a full-on meal.

Here’s what you need to know about dining at this restaurant.

Atmosphere

This is a rustic yet modern style bar, with plenty of wood accents and elaborate wood carvings to fit right in with the theme at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort. There’s all different types of seating — booths, tables, as well as bar seating.

But enough about that, what are we eating?!

Food & Drinks

The Chorizo Poutine is $24 and made with Seasoned Steak Fries, Chorizo Gravy, White Cheddar Curds, and Sweet & Hot Peppers.

This was our favorite of the night! The steak fries were nice and crispy, which we loved, and the chorizo had a decent spice to it (while it wasn’t overwhelming, if you’re spice adverse, stay away!). We tasted savory pork flavors from the chorizo, and while the description said the dish contains hot peppers, it tasted just like sweet bell peppers. Everything blended VERY well together, and we’d get this again in a heartbeat.

The Short Rib Lasagna is $36 and is made with Spinach Pasta Dough, Braised Beef Short Rib, Bechamel, Trio of Cheeses, Mascarpone, and Tomato Ragu.

The short rib was tender with a rich and savory beefy flavor, and while there was a LOT of cheese, which was to be expected, the short rib to pasta and cheese was just a little too much for our liking. The short rib was so fantastic, we wish we could have tasted it more over the cheese, so a little more balance would have made it even better.

Dessert was the Cookie Butter Creme Brûlée for $15, which is Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Chantilly Cream, and Cookie Butter Biscotti.

We loved this! However, we suggest scraping up the creme brûlée with the biscotti; otherwise, it’s no different than regular creme brûlée. There was a bit of a caramel taste when you first take a bite, followed by rich vanilla, which was upped further with bites that had the light and fluffy chantilly cream. We’d totally get this again, and if you’re a fan of crème brûlée, it’s a must-grab.

To drink, we grabbed the 70th Celebration Cocktail for $22, which is made with Michter’s American Whiskey, Domaine Canton Ginger Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Honey Syrup, Ginger Ale, and Bitters.

This was essentially a Moscow Mule but with whiskey! There wasn’t any actual mint in the drink, but they used mint leaves as a garnish, which added hints of fresh mint with each sip. This was also sweeter than a mule, mostly due to the honey syrup, and we tasted hints of toffee and caramel from the whiskey as well.

If you’re a fan of old-fashioned drinks or mules, we say give it a try!

Magic or Tragic?

This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if…

You’re looking for great dining options in a comfortable atmosphere
You want smaller bites OR larger meal options
You enjoy the rustic, natural look and feel of the Grand Californian

You should skip this Disney World spot if…

You’re looking for a quick meal
You want a meal on the cheaper side that will help you save money
You’re a pickier eater

We think this is a great place to head for a bite to eat or a drink in Disneyland. If you’re staying at Disney’s Californian Hotel, or walking around Disney’s California Adventure and have easier access to the hotel, we say it’s certainly worth a dining reservation if you’re looking for great food. Alternatively, the lounge is open pretty late at night, so if you need a late-night bite or drink, don’t forget this is an option!

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disneyland and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to AllEars for the latest Disney news and more!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!