“So, what did you bring me?” One of the male bartenders inquired as I sat myself down at the bar one August afternoon. His bubbly, yet sincere personality resonated in his voice and in his smile as he glanced at my easily recognizable Disneyland Resort souvenir plastic bag. Today I had decided to spend a few hours at Downtown Disney alone to celebrate the completion of my first ever triathlon. After having purchased some various Disney cards at WonderGround Gallery (hence the bag), I knew my celebration would not be complete without a glass of wine at my favorite place to relax and to enjoy such a beverage. Hearthstone Lounge. Conveniently located inside Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort.
I never knew of this “secret” entrance that led you to this “secret” bar and lounge before a friend of mine showed me a few years ago. (It really is not so secret as the entrance is sandwiched between Sephora and Studio Disney 365 on the Downtown Disney strip, and the lounge is located just off the hotel lobby.) First, one must walk under the entranceway arch, then to the right at the fork in the “road”, then inside the double doors followed by the corridor that takes one up some stairs, into the gloriously “Grand” and serene hotel lobby populated by wide leather chairs, a fireplace, and a television where children and adults can gather to watch one of their favorite Disney shorts or full-‐length animated features, then towards the front entrance of the lobby (or the Great Room as it is called), followed by a quick right, and, viola, you have arrived at the Hearthstone Lounge. The journey from
Downtown Disney to this lounge sounds more cumbersome and intense than it really is, and is well worth it since it is also populated by some oversized leather chairs, many booths, a few couches, a fireplace, and, best of all, a BAR!
After ordering a glass of Canyon Road Merlot, I continued to converse with the inquisitive bartender while watching him pluck numerous mint leaves from their stems, and then placing them in a bag for storage for when the time came to put them to use. (Most likely later that night.) The aroma of mint wafted the air, and for a brief moment had me reconsider my decision for wine and not a mojito. I pulled out the purchased greeting cards to present to my new friend. Being the introvert I am, I then continued to observe the rest of the fellow lounge-‐goers. Two different women came in at separate times for a latte. I assumed the first woman needed her caffeine for round two of her day at the resort, while the other woman told me she and her colleagues were just about to begin their day at the parks. A young gentleman around his late 30’s/early 40’s required a double shot of his beloved Jameson to perhaps take the edge off the day’s shenanigans while exploring the parks with his family. (I speculated his family, children included, awaited his return in the lobby, as I did not actually witness their existence.) And, finally, a small group of young women celebrated a bachelorette party while relaxing, gabbing, and drinking on the two couches by the Hearth itself.
Now, please, do not consider me a recluse, as I do enjoy the hustle and bustle of the parks (and other theme parks for that matter), but growing older I appreciate the moments of calm and serenity that is necessary to recover and recharge (as many others do, too, I am sure). Likewise, I appreciate spectacular feats of immersive thematic architecture, but this place removes the overstimulation of overly thematic architecture, ambient sounds, and dramatic lighting in order to enjoy the simple cozy, quaint, friendly atmosphere that the lounge does provide. The lounge, like the hotel, features the Arts and Crafts Movement popular in California at the turn-‐of-‐
the-‐century, combining the ides of “hand, heart and head”. Despite the 65-‐foot tall space in the Grand Room, layered spaces of small and large volumes combined with various levels of artificial and natural light achieve the intimacy for the scale of the building (http://www.4240architecture.com/projects/view/1/1/2)
Among the lounge’s provisions, fun cocktails like a Habanero Lime Margarita, Pina CoLava, or Bahama Mama can be paired with an Hors d’oeuvres such as Sticky Spare Ribs, Pan-‐seared Crab Cakes (a favorite of mine), or Chicken Quesadilla. Just another way to refuel the body and mind.
With the satisfaction of the last drop of wine passing my lips, I paid my dues and made my way down the barstool thanking the gracious bartender for his company. I then walked triumphantly out of the Grand Californian Hotel and into the afternoon crowd at Downtown Disney. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to return to this delightful spot, welcomed back by the warmhearted staff. So, come one, come all, and take refuge from the heat, seek peace from the crowds, and retreat from your hotel room to partake in the comforting atmosphere of Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian Hotel.
Do you have a favorite bar or lounge at the Disneyland Resort?
You must be logged in to post a comment.