Venue Review - Tambu Lounge

The Tambu Lounge Sign...Hidden Behind a Check-In Desk, Lobby, and Confused Guests

We wanted to be fancy! We had guests, but they didn’t want to pay for a day at a Walt Disney World park. Yet we still wanted to be impressive and fun, so we took them out to the Polynesian Resort, thinking we could visit Trader Sam’s, have some fun, and have a nice cocktail.

It was early Saturday afternoon, and I thought, 'Yeah, it may take two hours, but we could get in by mid-evening.' Then I was told to check back at 9 p.m. to get on the list then.

The whole plan fell apart. But we still wanted a tropical drink, and we didn’t have any reservations.

Hello Tambu Lounge!

Right next to ‘Ohana on the second floor of the Poly is the Tambu Lounge. It is the bar lounge that serves the well-known meaty restaurant. In fact, it kinda oozed into ‘Ohana, with the check-in desk well in front of the sitting area in front ot the lounge and the restaurant. You can see a bar and a partition blocking the lounge seating area. When you get past the partition, you see a few tables (low and high) and bar seating. There’s also a large window where you can see out to the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. I don’t think that I would watch fireworks from here, but at least it’s a pleasant view. (No pictures were taken due to this being a time with friends). 

Polynesian Mai Tai

There are a number of tropical cocktails that are Disney fandom favorites. You can find both the “Backscratcher” and “Lapu Lapu” here. I had the “Polynesian Mai Tai” that mixed a nice fruity sweetness from the Orange Liqueur and the Lime Juice, but also made sure to show off the distinct Rum profile. It was nice, I enjoyed it, and it fit the mood. I won’t complain about it being well priced, well made, but also coming without a show. If you want beer, I mean, there’s the mix of Maui Brewing and Kona Brewing Hawaiian-inspired beers you can find throughout the resort. And there’s your old regular standby beers like Jai Aai and Yuengling. But if you’re drinking beer, it's because you are currently not messing with spirits. These are beers you can find pretty much anywhere, including my garage fridge right this very moment. The drink menu, obviously, is shared with ‘Ohana, but Kona Cafe shares most of the fun drinks on its menu too.

If you are heading to Tambu Lounge, it may be for a food hack. You can order the Pot Stickers, Peel-n-Eat Shrimp, and Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings found at ‘Ohana. I’ve heard tales of the off-the-menu bread pudding and noodles also being available. I mean, it’s literally right there next to ‘Ohana, so the request is reasonable. Therefore, those who have a small ‘Ohana craving can find relief at this lounge.

Who Drinks Here? Those who wanted something else drink here. Let’s be honest, it’s not the vibes and uniqueness of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, which can be hard to get into. It’s also not outside like Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, so you can get a respite from the heat while still enjoying tropical drinks. If you can’t get a convenient reservation to ‘Ohana, you can still order up some of this Disney favorite’s best grub. So if you’re drinking here, you likely wanted out of the heat and failed to grab another option. It’s not a bad option, but I’m guessing it’s very few drinkers’ first option.