Bars at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel — Universal Orlando Resort

The Bar at Trattoria del Porto

While Trattoria del Porto is widely known as the resort’s family-friendly, full-service powerhouse for breakfast and dinner, its integrated lounge and bar area offers a surprisingly chic, nautical escape from the chaotic energy of the Universal theme parks.

Following its recent property-wide refresh, the space strikes a fine balance between sophisticated coastal design and casual comfort.

The Vibe & Ambiance

The design team leaned heavily into the maritime roots of the Italian Riviera. The centerpiece of the lounge space is the bar itself, which is meticulously shaped like the keel of a ship, anchoring the room beneath a dramatic, sweeping ceiling chandelier.

You can expect warm tones, textured tiles, and an airy feel that manages to be upscale without feeling stuffy.

Drinks & Libations

The bar serves a robust menu featuring everything you'd expect from a Loews resort luxury lounge, but the best way to lean into the theme is by exploring their Italian wine list and specialty cocktails. They feature a solid selection of Italian reds (including crisp Chiantis and heavier blends), Italian beers like Peroni, and refreshing variations of the classic Aperol Spritz or a Negroni.

The bar at Trattoria del Porto is a sleeper hit.

The Thirsty Fish

If Trattoria del Porto’s bar is the place you go to hide from the afternoon sun, The Thirsty Fish is where you go to celebrate the evening. Located directly on the waterfront edge of the hotel's sweeping Harbor Piazza, this is easily one of the most atmospheric, postcard-perfect spots to grab a drink anywhere in the Universal Orlando resort ecosystem.

It is designed to feel like a neighborhood cicchetti (small plates) bar you'd stumble into along the coast of Italy—and it delivers beautifully on that promise.

The Vibe & Experience

The internal bar area is intimate and handsomely styled, but the real magic of The Thirsty Fish is entirely outdoors.

• The Piazza Waterfront: Grab a table outside on the cobblestones. As the sun begins to set over the bay, the lights of the resort twinkle across the water, the water taxis glide in, and you completely forget you are sitting a mile away from a roller coaster.

• Live Music: If you time your visit for a Friday or Saturday evening, the ambiance skyrockets. The resort hosts live music under the stars, matching the gentle lapping of the bay with live acoustic or jazz sets.

The Drink Menu: High-End Twists on the Classics

The drink menu features a premium selection of Italian spumanti, crisp pinot grigios, and heavy reds, alongside a highly creative signature cocktail menu (averaging around $16–$20).

• Italian Old Fashioned: A clever, smoother take on the standard, pairing Maker's Mark with a distinct splash of Amaretto Disaronno and maple syrup.

• The Dino: A rich, late-night favorite that updates the classic Boulevardier by using Michter’s Rye and a barrel-aged Campari infused with deep notes of espresso and cinnamon.

• Ligurian Lemonade: For something refreshing after a long park day, this blend of Ketel One, lavender, lemon, and soda hits the spot without being over-the-top sweet.

• Meat & Cheese Board: A rotating selection of premium cured meats and cheeses. If it's on the board when you visit, look out for the blueberry goat cheese—the balance of sweet fruit and tangy cheese is spectacular.

The lounge is incredibly relaxing, and makes you feel as if you are a world away from the crowds and noise of the Theme Parks and CityWalk.

The Bar & Lounge at Bice Ristorante

While Trattoria del Porto offers family-friendly casual dining and The Thirsty Fish brings the high-energy outdoor patio scene, the Bar and Lounge at Bice Ristorante sits at the absolute peak of sophisticated romance on the property.

Tucked away on the west wing of the resort up a grand flight of stairs, Bice (pronounced "bee-chay") is an upscale, white-tablecloth Northern Italian institution. However, walking into its dark, deeply elegant bar and lounge section requires no dinner reservations and delivers a luxurious, adult-centric retreat.

The Vibe & Setting

The lounge area completely sheds the bright, casual Florida vacation aesthetic. Inside, you are met with rich cedar wood, dark marble flooring, warm lighting, and a distinct air of quiet exclusivity. It feels entirely detached from the theme parks down the river.

• The Upper Terrace Balcony: If you sit just outside the bar doors on the upper-level terrace, you get what is arguably the best vantage point in the entire resort. Perched above the Harbor Piazza, you look down at the docked water taxis and across the quiet bay.

• The Opera Serenade: If you are enjoying a drink between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM (times shift seasonally), the restaurant's balcony offers prime, uncrowded viewing for the resort's nightly Musica della Notte show, where opera singers serenade the piazza from below.

The Drinks: Elevated Mixology & Deep Cellars

As expected for a high-end restaurant with Milanese roots dating back to 1926, the beverage program is flawless. Expect an expansive, heavily curated Italian wine list that features premium Barolos and Brunellos by the glass or bottle.

The cocktail menu shines when it highlights classic Italian flavor profiles or coffee-forward digestifs:

• Espresso Martini ($17): One of the best on Universal property, utilizing premium Espresso Vergnano and served with a stark raw sugar rim.

• Mezzanotte (Midnight): A rich, velvety dessert cocktail mixing black sambuca, chambord, amaretto, and light cream, garnished with fresh berries.

Dress Code Note: Unlike the rest of the resort's bars, Bice enforces a resort-casual to business-casual dress code. While you won't be turned away in neat theme park clothes, you will feel much more at home if you swap the plastic park ponchos and flip-flops for a smart shirt or sundress.