I spent $120 for a solo supper at Topolino’s Terrace, and the costly Disney World spot is my new favorite signature restaurant

Topolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera is one of the newest restaurants at Disney World.

Topolino’s Terrace opened in 2019.

Carly Caramanna

Topolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera is one of the newest restaurants at Walt Disney World, having opened in 2019.

It’s one of the property’s Disney hallmark table-service experiences, which means it features an upmarket atmosphere, enhanced food, and a dress code demanding “clean” and “neat” apparel.

The cuisine incorporates numerous French and Italian inspirations thus options skew mainly toward fish, beef, and homemade pasta.

I’d heard Topolino’s Terrace is one of the most difficult reservations to land.

I booked my table at Topolino’s Terrace a day in advance.

Carly Carlymane

I’ve heard that Topolino’s Terrace is one of the hardest reservations to obtain at Disney World, despite the fact that guests can reserve a table up to 60 days in advance. Additionally, the restaurant requires guests to cancel reservations at least one day in advance or pay a fee.

I was able to reserve a table the day before my visit, which I believe was the best way to secure a reservation at a popular restaurant on short notice.

It’s located at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

I was required to enter the resort to reach Topolino’s Terrace.

Carly Caramanna

Disney’s Riviera Resort is described as a luxurious hotel with European and Mediterranean influences. The restaurant is open nightly for dinner and each morning for a character breakfast, and guests do not require theme park admission to enter.

The expansive resort features a pool and artwork recreating popular scenes from Disney movies such as “Peter Pan.”

I thought the restaurant was stunning.

Artwork from movies like “Tangled” lined the walls of the restaurant.

Carly Carlymane

Topolino Terrace’s atmosphere depicts modern elegance but still feels welcoming. According to Disney World’s website, the attention to detail in the colors and textures is inspired by cliffside restaurants on the Italian and French Rivieras.

Large windows offer sweeping views of nearby attractions and fireworks shows.

Though children are allowed, I thought Topolino’s Terrace felt more mature than most restaurants on the site, making it the ideal setting for a romantic supper or outing with friends.

There are plenty of Disney touches.

Mickey Mouse was present in a lot of the decor.

Carly Carlymane

Upscale-feeling Disney touches, including a gorgeous ceiling installment shaped like a Mickey head, are placed throughout the restaurant.

Mickey artwork inspired by renditions of the figure from several countries adorned the entrance. “Topolino” is also an homage to Mickey’s name in Italian.

The terrace at Topolino’s features an open kitchen.

The open-air kitchen appeared like the center point at Topolino’s Terrace.

Carly Carlymane

An open-air kitchen was the centerpiece of the restaurant.

This unique feature gave guests a first-hand view of the cooks working and the wood-burning grill.

The rooftop offers unparalleled views.

Dinner guests have a great view of Disney World’s Riviera Resort.

Carly Carlymane

Topolino’s Terrace is positioned on the resort’s rooftop so I think visitors get some of the nicest views in all of Walt Disney World, including fireworks from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can also see popular attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

This outdoor patio is only available to dinner guests.

I started my meal with a martini.

My martini was delicious.

Carly Carlymane

After being seated at a table in the center of the restaurant with a stunning view, I began my meal with a $17 martini.

The rather light drink was tasty and great for following a big lunch. Topolino’s Terrace also featured a selection of wine originating from the Mediterranean shore.

While perusing the menu, I was offered complimentary bread. The bread had the appearance of a baguette, with a crunchy exterior and a soft interior. It’s made in-house using a French recipe and served alongside extra-virgin olive oil.

I tried an escargot en gougères appetizer.

The dish was sumptuous and one of the nicest versions on escargot I’ve ever tasted.

Carly Carlymane

The diverse appetizer menu at Topolino’s Terrace includes slow-roasted octopus, gnocchi, and ricotta with tomato.

I selected the escargot en gougères ($17), which was described as a buttery, garlicky, lemony, and parsley-infused pate a choux. The gougères is a type of savory puff pastry made with choux dough.

The escargot en gougères was served out of the shell and topped with a wonderfully flaky pastry topping. It was full with flavor from the creamy butter, crunchy salted topping, and tang of lemon. There was enough of sauce to dip slices of bread in.

At the price point, I thought it was a great value and easily shareable.

For my entrée, I tried the filet mignon.

The steak was incredibly tender and flavorful.

Carly Carlymane

Entrees ranged from hand-made pasta, such as the famed chicken rigatoni, to lighter cuisine, such as a traditional sole served with sea beans, asparagus, and capers. But after a long day in the parks, I craved something heartier.

I decided for the filet mignon ($54) cooked with potato pavé, asparagus, Bordelaise sauce, and a shallot vinaigrette.

The food arrived a perfect medium rare, just as ordered, and was arranged nicely so the steak was the hero of the flight. It was incredibly flavorful and had what seemed like high-quality meat so tender, I hardly needed to use my knife.

Compared to other restaurants on the property known for their steaks, like California Grill and Le Cellier Steakhouse, I thought this meal was far superior.

Some menu items at Topolino’s Terrace vary according to the season.

I ended my meal with the resort’s signature coffee.

I grabbed my coffee to-go.

Carly Carlymane

After a very filling dish, I finished my meal with Topolino Terrace’s press-pot Riviera-Resort blend created by Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company.

Available exclusively at the resort, it includes 100% Arabica Beans from Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Costa Rica. Though it’s available in the restaurant, I grabbed mine to-go from the resort’s nearby Le Petit Café.

Though I spent over $100, I thought Topolino’s Terrace was worth every penny.

I had a gorgeous view of nearby attractions from my table.

Carly Carlymane

As a Walt Disney World annual pass holder, I received a 10% discount on my food. Including tax and tip, I spent $120 on dinner.

The incredibly well-paced meal was one of the best I’ve ever had and Topolino’s Terrace is now my favorite signature restaurant at Disney World.

The service was exceptional, and the ambiance was elegant but approachable. Although it was an expensive meal, I believe the ingredients and preparation were commensurate with the cost.