Bongos Cuban Cafe
One of the Downtown Disney Orlando Bars
Bongos Cuban Cafe in Downtown Disney is one of the most interesting Orlando bars on my list. Inspired by famous singer Gloria Estefan and her husband.
The Latin flair can be seen...and heard throughout this Orlando, Florida restaurant. Walk up and see a large bongo player banging his drums. Walk-in and you’ll discover a beautiful open concept restaurant.
My girlfriends and I decided to live it up in Downtown Disney (the parking is always free so it’s a cool place to spend an afternoon) this recent Christmas.
We decided to make our way to all of the different Orlando bars there. My friend Maria said you can't go to Bongos Cuban Cafe without trying a mojito.
Not being a huge fan of mint I thought she was crazy, but since she was paying I wasn't going to argue. I decided to get a pineapple mojito.
It was actually pretty good. Although it was the strongest drink I’ve ever had.
While sitting at the bar I noticed that I'm sitting on a bongo drum. That’s the thing that makes this one of the most unique Orlando bars. The stools you sit are huge bongos!
My friend Janet didn’t like them much. She said there was no where to rest your feet and there was no way to adjust them. I thought they were cool and little bit different albeit I wouldn't want to sit there for hours.
The restaurant itself has a nice big open floor plan with plenty of tables on the bottom floor and there's also upstairs seating for overflow.
When you look around you’ll see tons of stained-glass windows which makes it really beautiful in the middle of the day when the sun is shining bright.
Now I’m sure you’re wondering about the food at Bongos Cuban Cafe. Although not the cheapest of the Orlando, Florida restaurants you can find dishes that range anywhere from $15-$20.
There’s also dishes that can be upwards of $75. A little pricey for my taste but when in Rome.....*If you want to save a few bucks share one of the large appetizers with a friend.*
If you decide to go to Bongos Cuban Cafe on the weekend just be ready to wait. Normally the wait could be upwards of an hour. You can always sit at the bar and enjoy yourself a few drinks.
On the weekends there’s Puerto Rican dancers and salsa music. Sometimes it can get a little loud though. With the dining room being so open it’s sometimes hard to hear your conversation. But it’s nice if you want to show off a few salsa moves. There’s plenty of room to move around.
If you’re looking for a little bit of quiet time you might want to go to Bongos Cuban Cafe during the week. Maybe drop the kiddies off at Disney Quest and have yourself a couple of drinks.
Some people think it’s overpriced (although most of the stuff at Downtown Disney is) and others think the food isn’t the best. Bongos Cuban Café is somewhere you go for the novelty of it all. You pay for the atmosphere and the experience.
If you’re trying to save some money this may not be the best choice of Orlando bars for you.
The food has gotten some mixed reviews. The food at Bongos Cuban Cafe is geared to appease the masses so it may be a little bland. Some of the dishes that get props and primos are the shredded beef and seafood paella.
If it’s authentic Cuban food that you’re hoping for perhaps you may want to check out Tino's Cuban Bistro in Orlando, Florida.
The service is normally pretty quick and friendly (although when they are very busy the service suffers a little.) Be sure to check out your bill. Sometimes they automatically add the gratuity. If you’re unsure whether or not it's been included, just ask.
All Orlando bars have there pros and cons. If you’re looking for a good time and good drinks with a party atmosphere then Bongos Cuban Cafe fits the bill.
1498 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Sunday - Thursday 11:00am - 10:30pm
Friday - Saturday 11:00am - 11:30pm
Music & Dancing Friday - Saturday 11:30pm - 2:00am
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