Martha’s Vineyard Lounge is the bar at the Beach Club that virtually nobody visits. It’s in an unfortunate location past Cape May Cafe and once that smell hits you, I think most people are doing an about-face in the opposite direction.
But this might be a shame as the bar offers some of Disney World’s better lounge food and draft beer. On the downside, there isn’t a heck of a lot of atmosphere offered here, though live music permeates the area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. This sort of “feels” like the kind of bar that you would find in a Holiday Inn or something…assuming Holiday Inns have bars. I only stay at All-Star Sports.
Six beers are on draft with these available as of yesterday afternoon. The Harpoon UFO and Lagunitas Pilsner have been around for over a year, while the other four have been switched out from time to time.
Where else will Disney sell you a 23-ounce beer?
Food is available in the evenings with drink service from 4pm through 12am.
I’ve been surprised by the quality of food over the course of several visits. These are the $9 “Loaded Tots – Crispy tater tots with your choice of: Sour Cream, Green Onions, and Bacon or Chili, Cheese, and Green Onions.”
Pictured here with the Bacon because I’m not a monster. Quite a few golden crispy tots are served with a really creamy, cheesy sauce with meaty bacon, cool sour cream, and some colorful green onion for good measure. It was the perfect bar food served hot right out of the fryer.
The $8 “Seafood Jalapeno Poppers Served with Cilantro Lime Aioli” might not look like much on the plate, but they were unbelievably spicy with a nice crunch and a creamy seafood filling with the tart citrus from the aoili making the flavor all the more vibrant. I was thoroughly impressed. 10/10.
The $12 “Salt and Pepper Calamari served with Tomato Jam” is above average with tender, crispy, lightly breaded rings mixed in with hot peppers alongside the smooth jam that’s really more like a spread.
The $7 bowl of “New England Clam Chowder with Sweet Corn, Lump Crab, and Fresh Cornbread” is served piping hot in a massive portion with a surprising amount of “stuff.” I enjoyed the creamy broth and the very filling amount of crab and other ingredients. The cornbread is a nice sweet accompaniment to the rich soup.
The $10 “Badwich Pork Sliders – Shredded BBQ Pork, Spicy Sausage Link, and Cole Slaw on a [sic] Parker House Rolls served with House Fried Chips” are made all the more hearty with the addition of the thick slices of spicy sausage. The slaw offers a nice crunch and the rolls were fresh and buttery. Very good.
I wish those chips were still served with a side of spicy, creamy pimento cheese.
23 ounces of beer.
Yes.
Overall, Martha’s Vineyard is a bit of a hidden gem. And while the atmosphere isn’t anything special, if you’re trying to get away from the dark or the crowds at Crew’s Cup Lounge at the Yacht Club, then a visit may make sense. The usual bartender is friendly, the draft beer is quite good, and the food is surprisingly tasty. And I’ll probably be the only other person there. Which may or may not be a good thing.
Josh, you are my hero for acknowledging that smell. Now I wish we had tried the food in the lounge!
Which kitchen do you this is coming from?
*which kitchen do you think this is coming from? Couldn’t be Cape May Cafe. Maybe old Ariel’s had a separate kitchen. After that it’s Beaches and Cream.
The Dis guys always dubbed this Marth’s Graveyard…because only the dead would bother showing up.
So has the food met the levels of Crews Cup or Territory Lounge?
As an avid Crew’s Cup fan, I have always surpassed Martha’s Vineyard. However, on nights where the Yachtsman’s crowd is overflowing into the Crew’s Cup, this definitely seems like an excellent alternative. Next time I’m in the area, I will definitely give it a try. Now if only they had the Truffle Fries!
Oh the Cape May smell…..just like a dumpster. I stayed here a few weeks last summer and the horrifying smell still haunts me to this day!
Nice review sir. I’ve been going to WDW for 40 years and I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of this place.
UGH the smell! When it “mixes” with the floral smells from the lobby–love this resort, not the smell! We always defer to Crews Cup and walk past Martha’s Vineyard on the way–will have to check it out!
as a rather portly gentleman the pics of the bar food makes me start to ….. dream of a meeting with those tater tots & bar-b-que sandwich . josh thanks never knew that about marthas vineyard . 23oz. brew who does that anymore at the house of the mouse.
I always thought that bar was DOA, or at least only open when it’s a busy week.
For those of us who see Disney World as basically “a place to drink……and perhaps eat a little too”, your blog is Gold.
Thank you.