By T.J. Van Fechtmann
Whether you’re attempting to drink around the world or simply want to stop in at one of your favorite spots in World Showcase, there’s no denying that Epcot is a great place to kick back and have a few. A lot of that has to do with the fact that you can take in the sights and sounds of different cultures from around the world in a single day. Many park guests have made it their mission to have a drink in every single one of the World Showcase countries in one day, which isn’t a task to take lightly. If you’d rather just sample a drink or two and need help prioritizing which countries to hit up, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find my list of the best countries to drink in at World Showcase in Epcot. When I originally set out to do this list, I was going to rank all the pavilions from best to worst but found that a lot of my descriptions were the same because frankly there isn’t that much to do in a lot them drinking wise besides take in the architecture, walk around the gift shop and move on. With that in mind, I decided to limit the list to the five best pavilions.
I based my rankings on five categories. Each category is scored on a 5-point scale, so there is a total possible score of 25 points. The categories are:
Drink Selection
This category focuses on the amount of different drinks available in the pavilion and whether or not they’re any good.
Drink Availability
Nobody likes waiting in line to get a drink. The more places you can order a drink from within a pavilion means less time waiting between drinks. A higher score means less congested drink ordering and more places that serve.
Atmosphere/Immersion
Theming is a huge part of Disney Parks. Any area should make you feel as if you’ve been transported to wherever the theme is emulating. This is especially true for World Showcase pavilions. A higher score means a higher level of immersion.
Food
What’s drinking without great food? Table service dining doesn’t factor into this ranking. Instead, this category ranks the pavilion’s “bar food” style offerings. Think of foods that you can grab on the go or eat quickly before moving onto your next drinking destination.
Entertainment
Live entertainment and outdoor drinking go hand in hand. A higher score means more quality live entertainment offerings. You may not be able to take that drink with you onto an attraction but you can enjoy it while listening to a great band.
After the score, you’ll also find my drink of choice for each pavilion. With that, here are the best World Showcase pavilions for drinking at Epcot.
5. Morocco
Morocco is a surprisingly deep pavilion. What I mean by this is that most pavilions usually consist of a table service restaurant, a counter service restaurant, some kind of food/beverage stand and a gift shop. Morocco though is very immersive if you take the time to explore. There’s actually a lot to take in ambiance-wise the further you go back into the pavilion. It’s winding and has a sense of verticality that makes you feel like you’re actually walking the alleyways of the country. You can be outside in certain areas and not be able to see anything else in Epcot, which is a level of immersion I really appreciate. I think people often skip Morocco because it’s the most different of the pavilions but you’d be missing out if you didn’t grab a drink and take the time to explore it for a little while.
When talking about drinks at the Morocco pavilion, you’ll probably hear a lot of people bring up their Sangria. I was underwhelmed though. Sangria Sunday was a thing at one of the bars at my college and it tasted much better than what the Morocco pavilion has to offer. It was also only $5 for a pitcher but that’s a whole different issue.
As for food, your best bet is to grab something from Tangierine Café. Personally, I don’t usually stop to eat in Morocco but I’m also not the most adventurous eater so keep that in mind. (Ed. – Tangierine Café is one of the our staff’s two favorite counter service restaurants at Epcot. The other is Sunshine Seasons, but no one wants to drink there.) Although, if want, you can pretend you’re one of The Avengers and eat shawarma, which is pretty awesome.
Drink Selection: 3/5
Drink Availability: 3/5
Atmosphere/Immersion: 5/5
Food: 2/5
Entertainment: 3/5
TOTAL: 16/25
Drink of choice: Habibi Daiquiri or go for a Mimosa if you just woke up.
4. Germany
The plaza in the Germany Pavilion
Even without taking Biergarten into consideration, Germany is still a great pavilion to have a drink in. There’s folk dancing and music, which are both sure to get you in a festive drinking mood. There’s also Weinkeller, which isn’t quite a full bar but is a great place to relax and hang out at one of the standing tables. It definitely fosters an environment where you’ll not only have fun with your own group but maybe even make friends with other guests as well. Sommerfest also offers all the kinds of foods that you’d want after having a few beers. I’d personally recommend the nudel gratin, which is basically macaroni and cheese but there’s no need to mess with a classic. My favorite part, however, is a miniature German village complete with model trains. It’s incredibly detailed and something completely unique to the Germany pavilion within World Showcase. Have a beer and watch some trains.
Drink Selection: 4/5
Drink Availability: 3/5
Atmosphere/Immersion: 4/5
Food: 5/5
Entertainment: 2/5
TOTAL: 18/25
Drink of choice: Beer, duh! Last time, my girlfriend got the Schofferhofer Grapefruit, which I tried. I would definitely get my own next time.
3. Italy
Italy is arguably the most beautiful pavilion in terms of architecture. As mentioned earlier, I think ambiance is a key factor in determining where you want to hang out and have a drink. Even with its stunning architecture, until 2012, Italy wouldn’t be on this list. What puts it this high now is Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. Opened in 2012, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar is arguably the most relaxing drinking experience at Epcot. If you want a quieter, more intimate environment in which to drink, I’d definitely recommend spending most of your time in the Italy pavilion. They also serve Meatball Sliders, which is pretty much perfect when it comes to bar food. Also, even if you’re not a wine drinker, you can go to the Italian Gelato Kiosk and grab a Moretti, which is a good Italian beer that I’ve also had at Via Napoli.
Drink Selection: 5/5
Drink Availability: 4/5
Atmosphere/Immersion: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Entertainment: 3/5
TOTAL: 20/25
Drink of choice: I’ve got to be honest. I’m not a wine connoisseur. I usually ask my server what to get while we’re there, which involves him or her giving me something delicious off of my horribly vague description of what tastes I like. There are over 200 bottles available so if there isn’t something you like, that’s on you.
This is where the list gets seriously contentious. Either could’ve been my favorite country to drink in (They actually have a tie score!) but as of this writing I went with my gut. #2 and #1 are definitely the closest as far as quality drinking experiences in World Showcase.
2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom pavilion is a great place to drink thanks to its combination of outdoor entertainment and a lively pub where I could easily spend more than a couple of hours. As for the former, you could have a drink while laughing out loud at an improvisation group in the spirit of British comedy or even see a cover band of some of England’s most legendary rock groups like The Beatles or The Who. If that was all the UK pavilion had to offer, it’d still be awesome but we’re not done yet.
The Rose & Crown is the best pub in Disney World that isn’t named Raglan Road. Although it can get too crowded at times, one of the things I love about Rose & Crown is the piano player. She plays festive songs while interacting with patrons and incorporating them into the music.
The food and drink offerings aren’t too shabby either. This is the best beer selection you’re going to get at any of the Disney parks. If you’re hungry, I’d recommend getting Fish & Chips, which are available in the Rose & Crown or outside at Yorkshire County Fish Shop. With Rose & Crown being crowded on the busier days, it’s good to know that I can still get good food and beer at Yorkshire right outside.
UK Pavilion Fun Fact: They decided on the name Rose and Crown because “Rose” and “Crown” were the two most common names found in British pubs.
Drink Selection: 5/5
Drink Availability: 5/5
Atmosphere/Immersion: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Entertainment: 5/5
TOTAL: 23/25
Drink of choice: For beer, go Golden (half Bass, half Stella). If I want a cocktail, I usually get the Welsh Dragon.
1. Mexico
The Mexico pavilion is unique in that it’s mostly indoors but still creates the illusion of being outside at nighttime. You first ascend the steps of the Mayan temple where you’ll usually encounter Mariachi Cobre performing, and then enter a lobby filled with various pieces of art before finally descending into a marketplace beneath a faux starry night sky.
The drinking centerpiece of this pavilion is La Cava Del Tequila. Ask any Disney drinker what their favorite bar is in all of Disney World and I bet you’d get La Cava Del Tequila more than any other answer. The ambiance is warm and welcoming thanks to the variety of seating options from standing tables to comfy chairs but lively enough that you can’t help but be excited to drink. It’s not only a great bar but the servers are excellent as well. I was last there on New Year’s Eve (aka the busiest day of the year at Disney World) and I was impressed at how well they handled the crowds. There was a short wait to get our drinks but it was hardly the disaster I was expecting.
I don’t pretend to have any level of knowledge when it comes to tequila but the staff there is always helpful and friendly when I need some assistance in making a drink choice. Every time we drink in Epcot, we always start out with a tequila shot in Mexico and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Drink Selection: 5/5
Drink Availability: 5/5
Atmosphere/Immersion: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Entertainment: 3/5
TOTAL: 23/25
Drink of choice: Tequila shot and a Dos Equis Lager.
After putting this list together, it’s surprising that most of the pavilions don’t offer a whole lot to do in terms of drinking. The best of them are great but the amount of actual bars is lower than you’d expect. While I’m sure this is a purposeful move by Disney so as to not turn Epcot into Bourbon Street, it’d be nice to have at least one more full service bar to alleviate crowds at current ones. Give me a colonial pub in the America pavilion so I can drink like a Founding Father! That’s just my opinion, though. I want to hear from all of you. Which is your favorite country to drink in and why? Let us know in the comments below.
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Menu Monday: The Best World Showcase Pavilions for Drinking is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.