Magellan’s at Tokyo DisneySea Review
5 min read
Magellan’s is a table service restaurant tucked away in Tokyo DisneySea’s Mediterranean Harbor Port. If you are not careful, you may mistake it for being part of Fortress Explorations. The ability to create this little corner of solitude in a loud, busy, Disney park speaks volumes about the detail and design of DisneySea.
Magellan’s not only boasts not only a restaurant, but a lounge simply named “Magellan’s Lounge”.
Considered one of the most upscale dining experiences at Tokyo DisneySea, we highly recommend you put Magellan’s on your “must eat” list when you visit the best Theme Park in the world.
Atmosphere
You feel as if you are part of an exploration team taking a break from traversing the world’s seas for a much deserved meal at a beautiful seaside Fortress. The theming is flawless and blends perfectly with the Mediterranean Harbor and Fortress Explorations. You get the feeling of adventure and discovery even before you step foot inside the gigantic doors (which will make even tall folks feel short). From the well-appointed Cast Member outfits to the amazingly detailed decor, you are taken away to a different world from the organized chaos of Tokyo DisneySea.
Away from the hustle and bustle of DisneySea. The relaxed atmosphere is exactly what is needed after a long and exciting day.
Decor and Details
Immediately entering the restaurant (after you pass through the gigantic doors), you notice the not-so-subtle globe (pictured above) in the middle of the restaurant. It is arguably one of the most amazing details.
The lounge is located on the top floor, with seats lining the bar. The restaurant is in the basement.
Once seated, you’ll find there is no shortage of detail to discover while you are enjoying your meal. From “candle lit” chandeliers and light fixtures to cloth wall scrolls. If you have explored Fortress Explorations (if you haven’t you really should), you will notice and appreciate how well done the theming is.
One of a couple dining areas. A secret “cellar” seating area is hidden from guest view. See if you can find it when you visit.
Since this is an upscale restaurant, the table setting matches that upscale feeling. But don’t fear about being underdressed for the occasion – if you are wearing your huge Goofy headgear or carrying your Duffy dressed in a $120 costumes, you will fit right in. Beautifully placed table wear makes you not want to mess it up by eating, so take some photos before hand.
Cast Members, once again, are dressed in gorgeous outfits which complement the theme in a very similar style to those at the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge – simple, yet elegant. The Cast Members offer you the level of magic and service that Tokyo Disney Resort is most famous for, so I will not go into much detail about it.
With all these elements combined, the sense of adventure, wonder, and discover is consuming, leaving you wanting to jump on the next ship to sail around the world!
Eats
Lunch and dinner have separate course menus to choose from. Lunch is the cheaper option, if you’re looking to save money. All course menus have an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and choice of non-alcoholic beverage. Dinner course menus come with choice of soup or salad. And, they top it off with all the bread you can eat.
Seriously, this rice bread is delicious and you can eat as much as you want. Try not to fill up on it though!
During our visit, I opted for the course menu “Magellan” which is ¥ 7,710. For my entrée I chose the beef tenderloin in roasted butter with red wine sauce. I also chose the soup (cream corn on this occasion), assorted shrimp and scallops (marinated), and for my dessert the creme brûlée. Our table ordered a bottle of red wine (Pinot Noir), while I opted for Kirin Lemon as my soft drink (which I highly recommend).
Since it was a course meal, everything comes out in waves. In between the waves of food, servers bring around unlimited bread (with butter). I am not a huge fan of bread, but the two types of bread they served were perfect. One is rice bread (which was my favourite) and a small version of a baguette. Try not to fill up on the bread before you get the first part of your meal, and don’t be afraid to ask for more butter!
The soup and hors d’oeuvre were light and full of flavour. You may be thinking, “wait, it’s just cream corn soup! It cannot be that great.” That is what I thought too! But it was creamy and full of subtle corn flavour. The scallops were nothing spectacular but the sauce made up for that.
Now, as with many high-end restaurants, you are not going to get a huge slab of meat for your steak. So do not expect that. What you get is a first sized tenderloin that is seasoned and cooked to perfection. I am not a fancy eater by any stretch, but this steak is some of the best I have experienced in Japan. Tender, juicy, and all around flavourful. While the portion size is rather small (compared to North American standards), you are going to be on the brink of being full anyway because of all the delicious bread you are going to eat.
After all that, there is still dessert to be served (and more bread of course). Usually I am not a huge fan of creme brûlée, mainly because most places just do not do it right. I was pleasantly surprised with just how light and braised this dessert was.
Overall, the meal was flawless and surpassed any experience I have had at the resort thus far (yes, even the Teddy Roosevelt Lounge.)
A true high-end experience right in the heart of Tokyo DisneySea.
Recommendations
Maximize your experience at this one of a kind restaurant by following our recommendations:
- Book your reservation in the morning for either lunch or dinner. If you are staying at an Official Disney Hotel, you can do this online.
- If you are not a big fan of seafood, the Magellan’s Course Menu is perfect (aside from the scallops.)
- Ask for the “Cellar” when you are making your reservation. Trust us, you won’t be sorry.
- The refills on non-alcoholic drinks are free and are included with your course meal.
- Order from the course menu. It is expensive, but the experience and food is wonderful and you will not regret it.
- Try the Creme Brûlée.
- Eat all the bread you can.
- Go for lunch to save money.
Verdict
Simply put, this is one of the best table service restaurants out of any Disney Park. From flawless theming to an excellent food and drink selection – if you want to experience the pinnacle of Disney Dining, then you cannot miss Magellan’s.
Have you had the opportunity to eat at Magellan’s? Let us know in the comments!
All photos provided by Duy Phan Photography.
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Hi all,
Just wondering how and where you can book this restaurant if you aren’t staying in one of the resort hotels?
Thanks 🙂
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This looks amazing! I can’t wait to go to Tokyo DisneySea next year. Will definitely have to look into booking Magellans for one of our meals now! Thanks for sharing.