There are several reasons you need to make your way over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

From the stunning architecture, to seeing African animals roaming around (yes, like on Kilimanjaro Safaris), the Deluxe resort on Walt Disney World property offers a lot.

Even more so, the hotel has outstanding food. There is one particular spot you need to experience — Sanaa Lounge. If you want to try something different, specifically African and Indian-inspired cuisine, go no further.

Let’s talk about what it’s like to have dinner and drinks at Sanaa Lounge. The following review is from my visit on September 2, 2024.

In this article

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What is Sanaa Lounge?

Sanaa Lounge is a bar and lounge inspired by the markets of Africa. It’s connected to Sanaa, a Table Service restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

One of the many things I love about Sanaa Lounge is that you can order from Sanaa’s full menu!

This is one of the more unique menus on property, as it features African dishes with Indian flavors. Both the lounge and restaurant evoke a traditional spice market and are decorated with handcrafted items.

Sanaa Lounge doesn’t have a walk-up list in person or in the My Disney Experience app to join. You also cannot make reservations.

This is a first come, first served situation, where you simply walk up and snag a table or a seat at the bar, if available. Despite seating yourself, there are servers who will wait on you and take your order.

In addition to the food, Sanaa has the most stunning atmosphere, so, if possible, try to go sneak a peek inside the Table Service restaurant.

If you look out the windows, you just might see African animals roaming. At Animal Kingdom Lodge, there are over 200 birds and hoofed animals from over 30 species living on the four savannas!

Sanaa is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village. To be clear, Animal Kingdom Lodge has two main buildings: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo House and Kidani Village.

Jambo House is the main, original building that has both standard guest rooms and Disney Vacation Club Villas. Kidani Village only offers Disney Vacation Club Villas. Like with any DVC hotel, you don’t have to be a Disney Vacation Club member to book these specific rooms.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to be staying at the hotel to eat or drink here. But, know that Disney World hotels can sometimes be strict about letting in non-resort guests, unless they have dining reservations. Deluxe hotels seem to be stricter about this compared to Moderate and Value resorts.

During this particular visit, initially, I was going to dine at Sanaa, but I ended up canceling my reservation upon my arrival and instead sat in the lounge (I wanted to eat earlier than my reservation time). When I arrived via rideshare at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the security guard asked to see my I.D., but didn’t check to confirm my dining reservation.

If you drive yourself or use rideshare, there is a chance the security guard at the entrance won’t let you in to park or be dropped off, especially since Sanaa Lounge doesn’t take reservations. If you use Disney World transportation (a bus), there won’t be any issue.

How much does Sanaa Lounge cost?

Despite not being listed online, you can order from the full Sanaa menu at Sanaa Lounge. Entrees and pricing varies depending on if you’re having lunch or dinner. For lunch, main dishes range between $20.00 and $32.00. For dinner, entrees range from $24.00 to $36.00.

No matter the meal, kids’ meals are between $11.50 and $14.50. You’ll also want to factor in if you want a specialty beverage, an appetizer, or a dessert.

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, it is accepted here (1 Table Service credit per person). Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members do not receive a discount.

Here’s a look at the Sanaa dinner menu so you can get a better look at what dishes are available and what they cost. The lunch menu is different. There are also allergy-friendly options.

Dinner Menu

Drink Menu

Sanaa Lounge Review

I started my meal at Sanaa Lounge with the famous Indian-style Bread Service for $22.00. That may sound steep, but you get a lot for your money. Plus, the bread service is great for sharing, which is what I did with the two friends who joined me during this meal.

First, you get five breads: traditional naan, garlic-ginger naan, spiced naan, onion kulcha, and paneer paratha.

The breads are not plant-based, but vegan bread is available upon request.

You also get nine accompaniments with the five breads: cucumber raita, roasted red pepper hummus, mango chutney, tomato-date jam, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, garlic pickle, red chile Sambal, and spicy jalapeño-lime pickle.

All of the dips are vegan except for the cucumber raita.

There’s actually a tenth dipping sauce, which my server said is very spicy. If you can handle heat, be sure to ask for it! I did not try it, because I can’t handle a lot of spice.

The bread service at Sanaa is unbelievable. It is worth every single penny. I cannot recommend it enough. I love the variety of breads and the range of dips. This is a must if you dine at the restaurant or lounge.

I also ordered the plant-based Spring Herb Salad for $13.00. This is technically an appetizer, but it definitely works as an entree. The salad comes with chermoula quinoa, pickled watermelon radish, avocado, mint, caramelized pumpkin seeds, tamarind vinaigrette, and black sea salt.

This is a light salad that’s incredibly fresh. I appreciated that the vinaigrette wasn’t heavy and balanced nicely with the ingredients.

I also tried the Potato and Pea Samosas for $11.00. These are vegan and served with tamarind and mango chutney.

I mean, they just look fantastic, don’t they?

These are exactly what samosas should be. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, while the filling was soft, with the right amount of heat.

I can’t forget to mention the mango chutney, which helped cut some of the spice of the samosas.

During this meal, I dined with friends and one wanted to order a favorite dish (the Tandoori Chicken) from the lunch menu. Our server checked with the chef and they were more than happy to accommodate. They might not always be able to fulfill your request, but it never hurts to ask.

If you can’t sit at the lounge or get into Sanaa via reservation or by joining the walk-up list, you have another option — Sanaa To Go.

This is a great offering, especially if you’re staying at the hotel.

Like many other Table Service restaurants at Disney World Resort hotels, you can order food to go from Sanaa. In the My Disney Experience app, there is “Sanaa To Go”, which is mobile order for Table Service.

You can mobile order from the full menu for lunch and dinner and then pick it up at the restaurant.

Is Sanaa Lounge worth it?

Yes, Sanaa Lounge is definitely worth a stop for the unique food, drinks, the atmosphere, and, of course, the animals.

If you are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village or Jambo House), you should definitely take advantage of this dining option.

Whether you dine at Sanaa Lounge, Sanaa, or take food to go, trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed. This is some of the best food on Disney World property.

While Sanaa can be a little more difficult to get to if you aren’t a hotel guest, it’s worth the extra effort.

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Have you been to Sanaa or Sanaa Lounge? What did you think?