On a hot day in a park that is most popular for its ambiance, nothing hits the spot like a cold drink. Animal Kingdom is a great theme park, but an even great place to take a stroll and take in the sights. If you can find the right refreshment to go with that—all the better. In this post, we give an overview of the best places to grab a drink (of alcohol) in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
About this Post and Related Posts
This post isn’t a comprehensive list of every spot that sells alcohol in Animal Kingdom. There are several small carts that sell beer, for example. Just look for the drinks on display:
This post is focused on places that specialize in drinks or offer unique options. Menus are always subject to change—check the app for the current options. (We try to keep this post focused on staple offerings, but even items that have been around for years will sometimes disappear.)
For more adult-centric content on about Animal Kingdom, check out our Guide to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for Adults. To help you in planning the rest of your trip, we’ve got a Complete Guide to Adulting at Disney World.
We’ve also got guides to beer and alcohol at all some of the other parks:
We’ll start this post on Discovery Island, the hub of the park. Then we’ll move into Africa, Asia, Dinoland USA, and then Pandora. We start with one of our favorite bars in all of Disney World…
Nomad Lounge
Nomad Lounge isn’t just (arguably) the best bar in Animal Kingdom, it’s one of the best bars in Walt Disney World. Yes, I’ll sometimes argue that Dawa Bar (next up on this list) is better, but the case for Nomad is strong.
Nomad Lounge is located on Discovery Island on the path toward Pandora. It is attached to Tiffins by a hallway, though the drinks for Tiffins come from a separate bar (so you can’t transfer your tab).
Nomad Lounge is themed around the adventures and lessons of travel. It is meant to be a space for conversation, particularly about travel. It is a full-service bar with a wide range of beers, wines, and specialty cocktails.
At Nomad, you’ll be surrounded by questions (and responses) about travel, including “What was the greatest travel challenge you ever faced?” and “What was your most unexpected discovery?”
The lounge is built primarily on the experiences of the Imagineers who conducted research for Animal Kingdom, so you’ll see their answers to the questions alongside the questions themselves.
If you’d like, you can purchase a mini-banner for $1 (profits to Disney Conservation Fund) and share your travel story.
Dawa Bar
Dawa Bar (etymology likely either “Dawa”, the Kenyan cocktail, or “da’wah,” Arabic for “invitation”) is a bar just outside Tusker House Restaurant, next to the main stage in Africa.
Despite being a favorite of many Animal Kingdom fanatics, you could easily miss Dawa Bar, as it has next to no signage and is actually overwhelmed by Tusker House signage.
The bar serves a variety of beers, specialty cocktails, and wine. You can try for your choice cocktail here, but you may be a little limited by what they have on hand.
Their specialty beverages are the African Margarita, Ngumu Jungle Juice (vodka, peach schnapps, punch), Lost on Safari (rum and punch), and Harambe Iced Tea (vodka, gin, rum, liqueur, sweet-and-sour, orange juice, and Sprite).
There is a decent amount of seating around the bar, and what really sets it apart is its position right next to the Africa stage. Among our favorite Animal Kingdom activities is grabbing some beers from Dawa Bar and then watching the Tam Tam Drummers, Burudika, Harambe Village Acrobats, Kora Tinga Tinga, or all of the above!
Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Directly opposite Dawa Bar is Tamu Tamu Refreshments. I mention it primarily because you can get Pineapple Dole Whip with dark or coconut rum. They also have beer and African coffee (with Amarula cream liqueur).
Harambe Market
The quick service restaurant in Africa is Harambe Market. As with all the quick service restaurants, there are occasionally unique drinks available.
The setup here is cool, but can be a little confusing—it’s built so that it looks like it’s a collection of different food stalls, but usually you’ll only be getting in one or two different lines. You can also mobile order in the app.
Warung Outpost
As you enter Asia from Africa, you’ll pass by Warung Outpost, just outside the Anandapur Theater. Warung Outpost specializes in margaritas, but you’ll also find beer.
Drinkwallah
Further into Asia, you’ll come across Drinkwallah. Drinkwallah is sort of tucked away and almost looks like a misguided Coca Cola advertisement, but it’s actually a really cool spot (that also is sponsored by Coca Cola).
You’ll find two frozen alcoholic beverages here—Frozen Coke with spiced rum and Frozen Coke with whiskey. You’ll also sometimes see other specialty beverages here.
(Yak & Yeti) Quality Beverages
If you head deeper into Asia, making the turn toward Kali River Rapids, you’ll pass by seating for Yak & Yeti quick service (which also serves alcohol). Next to that seating, you’ll see two windows under a “Quality Beverages” sign.
Quality Beverages has its own menu with specialty drinks (check the app), but truth be told it’s been a while since I’ve seen it open.
Thirsty River Bar
On the way to Expedition Everest, you can’t miss Thirsty River Bar! It’s a large structure, with large, open counters creating a really bright, open environment. At night, its prominence is even more pronounced and you’ll often see lines building.
Thirsty River has the second largest collection of beers in the park, after Nomad Lounge (we’re ignoring table service restaurants, remember). You’ll also find some specialty beverages like the Himalayan Ghost (vodka, guava, Odwalla lemonade), and the Khumbu Icefall (guava rum blended with coconut and raspberry puree).
Restaurantosaurus Lounge
Dinoland USA is not long for this world, so if you really want to experience a spot that’s about to go extinct, swing by Restaurantosaurus Lounge.
Restaurantosaurus Lounge is a bar in a small back room of Restaurantosaurus, the quick service spot in Dinoland U.S.A. (which also serves alcohol). It’s famed for lemon-eared drinks.
Pongu Pongu
Now we head to our final stop—Pandora.
Pongu Pongu (meaning Party Party in the language of the Na’vi) is a snack stand in Pandora that serves a few small bites, along with alcoholic beverages. It’s located between Pandora’s store, Windtraders, and the main restaurant, Satu’li Canteen.
Pongu Pongu has two beers—Mo’ara High Country Ale and Hawkes’ Grog Ale. The latter of these is the more famous “green beer” you’ve heard of, though it doesn’t taste green.
There are two specialty beverages—the rum blossom (rum with “layers of apple and desert pear limeade topped with passionfruit boba balls”) and the Mo’ara margarita (topped with strawberry boba balls).
That’s all for now! What’s your favorite spot to grab a drink at Animal Kingdom?
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