Capa is a perfect night out, from the wonderful Spanish-inspired cuisine, to the views of Walt Disney World Resort, and the refreshingly breezy attitude. It was more than one of the best meals that I have had in a while; it was also a really fun evening.
The Four Seasons Orlando’s Michelin-starred rooftop steakhouse is well situated on the 17th-floor of the luxury resort, and it’s as vibrant as it is welcoming. You may visit for the menu and cocktails, but you’ll stay to watch fireworks over Magic Kingdom, and enjoy some of the best service in Orlando.
While I was staying at the Four Seasons Orlando, an evening at Capa was the perfect choice, but you can visit whether you’re staying at the resort or not. Close to Magic Kingdom and the rest of Walt Disney World, I would recommend a meal at the iconic restaurant for anyone.
My meal was incredible, and I had a chance to try a number of Capa’s best dishes; it was a complete treat. I sat near the kitchen and watched the team preparing every dish, and even with a sense of what they were making, the dishes still surprised me.
Capa’s menu is inspired by Spanish cuisine and flavours, and a large portion of the menu is focused on tapas; sharing plates so everyone at your table can try a little bit of everything. That includes the Crudos, or raw bar; Para Picar, tapas plates; Embutidos and Quesos, charcuterie and cheeses; and there are salads, and small plates.
And of course there are steaks and a few other options for entrees, a Wagyu flight–to try an indulgent trio of A5 Grade Miyazaki Wagyu beef–and a number of sides and other options you can add to your meal.
The other surprise is that the restaurant, and the menu, is kid friendly, although that makes a lot of sense considering this is at Walt Disney World.
Capa offers a number of menu items for “Young Culinarians,” which is the more daring option for kids, but they also offer a simple “Kids’ Classics” menu, too. In all the upscale restaurants that I’ve been to over the years, Capa is the most welcoming to children that I’ve probably ever seen, but that’s a big part of the mood in the restaurant. From the staff to the whole vibe of the restaurant, Capa feels upscale, but it’s also lively, fun, and welcoming.
Looking over the wine selection, Capa has over 300 varieties on their menu, primarily from Spain and California, plus a little French.
While I enjoy wine, I’m a big fan of cocktails, and my server really helped me choose from the drinks and the menu.
Since I love a good, smoky, Old Fashioned, I really enjoyed In Spanish Fashion. This cocktail is a classic. Served in a smoky glass, with Pendleton Whiskey, and Torres 10 year brandy, the highlight is the beautiful swirling cloud of gold flecks in the glass, served over a walnut-vermouth ice cube that adds flavour as it melts. It’s a complex, beautiful cocktail.
My first dish was the Dátiles, with medjool dates wrapped in bacon and served with almonds and a Tamarind Crème Fraiche. The bacon is crispy and smoky with a beautiful, deep, rich flavour, and slightly sticky, warm texture. It’s like comfort food, and I love the how the sweetness of the date lingers with the bacon.
Watching the chef and team work, I found the aromas in the restaurant intoxicating. You can smell the grill and the faint smokiness, vegetables, and spices.
Next I sampled the Croquetas, made with Serrano Jamón–a slow aged ham–with Béchamel smoked fig mustard. Each piece is light, delicate, and so creamy. The béchamel adds lovely texture, alongside the delicate pieces of ham for a little saltiness, and the little pickled hot pepper was a nice hit of heat.
I also sampled the Cerdo, Gambas, and the Pan con Tomate, which were all excellent, but the Cerdo and Gambas are probably my favourites out of all the tapas.
Cerdo is a delicious beer brined pork belly with apple butter and pistachio jazz. I love the play of flavours between the bright, tender, and juicy pork, with the hint of sweetness from the apple butter.
One of the more popular dishes is Gambas, a shrimp dish with egg yolk that makes it creamy, and a little hit of spice. Served with celery root chips, that adds some crunch, it’s a delicious tapas that’s big enough to share, but you may not want to.
And to finish off the tapas, I tried a staple, the Pan Con Tomate, a grilled bread with tomato, micro basil, and you can add Jamón de Bellota. It’s the perfect appetizer with something like the Gambas, so you can soak up the sauce.
For my main dish, I struggled between the bone in ribeye, and a few other selections, but my server noted that they had dry aged steak, and he said it’s a must when it’s available. He was absolutely right.
Capa dry ages their steaks, and then cooks them to perfection over a wood fire grill for a truly magnificent char and flavour. There’s a hint of smoke on the steak, that’s perfectly seasoned, tender, and juicy, with the just the right amount of fat. When ordering a steak, you should try at least a couple of the house specialty sauces, from their sweet and tangy Capa Steak Sauce, to Béarnaise Sauce, verde, and peppercorn.
Many of the steaks are large, so you can easily share them with a few side dishes, like the Patatas or the Coliflor. The Patatas are beautifully creamy potatoes with a hint of salt, and sweetness from brown butter, while the fried cauliflower is a standalone great side dish, with or without the steak.
Stepping out to the balcony, the fireworks had just started over the Magic Kingdom, and the view is really special. You can stand and watch the show, taking in the whole view of the park in the distance, as the lights dance above the castle. There’s really no view quite like it, and it’s a perfect little break before you dive into dessert.
Before dessert though, I ordered a cocktail that I’ve wanted to try for some time: a Carajillo. This popular Spanish cocktail is light and delicious. It’s so easy to drink, and may remind you of an espresso martini, but it’s so much better than that, with a lot of vanilla flavour, wrapped around coffee, and a hint of chocolate and citrus.
Finally, I wrapped up my epic meal with some of the restaurant’s best desserts: Churros de Madrid, Cremoso de Avellana Con Café, and Pastel de Almendras y Aceite de Oliva.
Simple and perfect, the churros are a wonderful finale to the meal, and served with a Dulcey chocolate sauce for dipping.
The Cremoso de Avellana Con Café is very unique, with coffee meringue, cardamom, and lemon sherbet. The dish is beautiful, nicely complex, and the lemon contrasts with the coffee and chocolate flavours.
The Pastel de Almendras y Aceite de Oliva is a surprisingly light dish, with delicate, crunchy pieces in the olive oil cake, bright sweetness from the berry sorbet, and that wonderful creamy sauce.
What a meal. It was a night that I won’t forget. Capa is perfect for an indulgent meal with friends, family, or a special occasion, but I would plan a visit for any reason, just to experience the dishes and the service. The staff go above and beyond, and you could easily visit a few times, and still not try everything on the menu.
My best advice when visiting Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando is to arrive an hour before sunset. The view here is a treat unto itself, and if you stay long enough you can also see the fireworks over Magic Kingdom as well. Order a cocktail and a few plates to share together, split one or two of the steaks for you main dish, indulge in at least two desserts to share, and then step out on the balcony when the firework start.
It’s pure magic, in an upscale space that’s still relaxed, casual, and refreshing. Plan to book your reservation ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Thank-you to Capa and the Four Seasons Resort Orlando for the wonderful hospitality. Watch my resort tour below:
All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
