After 8 Months, Disney’s Napa Rose Returns With New Magic

After eight months of renovations, Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa reopens on February 6. Napa Rose temporarily closed in April 2025 after more than two decades in operation. The reopening coincides with Napa Rose’s 25th anniversary; reservations will go live on January 27 at 9 a.m.

Napa Rose opened in January 2001 with a menu showcasing California wine country cuisine. At opening, former Los Angeles Times critic S. Irene Virbila gave the restaurant a positive review, awarding it two stars. Before Napa Rose, fine dining at Disneyland didn’t exist for the public; a select few were invited to the legendary Club 33, but most of the other food options were theme park casual.

Over the decades, expectations for upscale restaurants evolved; diners sought a broader range of flavors and ingredients, beyond the more limited scope of wine country cuisine. At the same time, other restaurants in Disney’s portfolio gained attention, like Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World, which were both awarded a Michelin star. After a critical review from Los Angeles Times critic Bill Addison in 2023 that questioned if Napa Rose’s “magic needed a refresh,” plans for a remodel eventually came to fruition.

Napa Rose’s renovation adds additional patio seating on the outdoor terrace and fireplaces in the dining room. Warm wood floors and carved walls evoke a luxe lodge atmosphere. Napa Rose’s expansion reflects the restaurant’s need to accommodate larger parties and special events. Its popular chef’s counter expanded to seat 18 guests and a remodeled 16-seat dining room is available for private parties.

Andrew Sutton, an alum of Napa Valley’s Auberge du Soleil and the opening chef at Napa Rose, continues to oversee the restaurant. For Sutton, Napa Rose’s new evolution was crucial. “Reopening Napa Rose feels deeply personal,” says Sutton. “We took the time to do this right … The room feels warmer and more open, the energy more connected, and the experience more expressive of who we are as a team right now.” Sutton is joined at the restaurant by executive chef Clint Chin, who oversees the day-to-day kitchen operations.

“We’re working at the strongest level we ever have — as cooks, as a dining room, and as a collective,” says Sutton. “The menu and wine program are intentionally broader and more international in perspective, always grounded in craftsmanship, seasonality, and respect for the ingredients. Everything — the food, the service, the wines — comes together with a sense of harmony that feels honest to us.”

Elevated and Reminiscent Valrhona Chocolate Bar. Disneyland Resort/Ron DeAngelis

The new seasonal prix fixe menu includes American wagyu New York steak with grape fennel mostarda, oak-roasted forest mushrooms, and handmade sorpresine (“little surprises”) pasta with Dungeness crab and Santa Barbara uni butter. Custom wine pairings will be selected by Napa Rose wine director Patrick Kirchen, who pulls from the restaurant’s 1,500-label collection. Since Napa Rose is still located at a theme park, the restaurant offers a new children’s menu for kids nine and younger. Reservations are highly recommended for the dining room.

Executive pastry chef Jorge Sotelo and pastry chef Nubia Renteria remain in charge of the desserts, a highlight at Napa Rose. The duo also oversees construction of the hotel’s massive seven-foot gingerbread houses for the holidays. Their desserts lean toward playful classics infused with California produce, such as Nantes carrot cake cremeux.

Napa Rose offers a separate menu at the bar and lounge, which does not take reservations. (Grabbing a seat at Napa Rose’s bar has long been a favorite way for Magic Key passholders and regulars to slip into the typically booked restaurant on a whim.) The new bar menu leans into nostalgic favorites, like beef tartare with Osetra caviar and bone marrow custard with toasted baguette slices. Laughing Tiger, a reimagined version of the restaurant’s longstanding popular Smiling Tiger Salad with spicy beef, shrimp fritters, and coconut vinaigrette, returns, too.

When asked if he has dreams of Napa Rose gaining a Michelin star, Sutton says, “We’re focused on delivering a dining experience that feels thoughtful, precise, and worthy of its place in California’s culinary landscape. If that journey leads to Michelin or James Beard recognition, it would be an honor, but the work always comes first.”

Napa Rose is located at 1600 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802. Reservations are available online or through the Disneyland app.