When Walt Disney World announced the menu for Magic Kingdom’s first ever bar, the highly-anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern The Beak and Barrel, two items stood out among an impressive array of food and beverage choices. The first was the Plunderer’s Punch. The spiced rum drink comes in a collectible pirate skull mug. The other was the Kraken’s Catch. The stylish octopus dish seemed to sail on a tide strange enough to make even Davey Jones quiver. Fortunately, both were among the fare I got to try during an early media sneak peek at The Beak and Barrel. And now, before you set sail to visit this new Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World, you can check out our guide to the best food and drink from The Beak and the Barrel.
Our Guide to Drinks at Walt Disney World’s The Beak and Barrel
One of the few aspects of my visit to The Beak and Barrel that will differ from an actual guest’s is that I didn’t get to order from the menu. I did, however, get to try three drinks from the menu of the new Pirates of the Caribbean bar, which otherwise has a two-drink maximum per patron.
The Beak and Barrel’s Plunderer’s Punch Is an Excellent Drink (IF You Like Spiced Rum)
The first drink served at the Beak and Barrel was the bar’s signature alcoholic beverage, the Plunderer’s Punch. It features Kraken Black Spiced Rum, blackberry, vanilla, and “a hint of citrus.” I’m not a huge spiced rum fan, so this wasn’t in my wheelhouse. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t finish it. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how boozy it was. If the Plunderer’s Punch is indicative of what the specialty cocktails are like at The Beak and Barrel, patrons at this pirate tavern won’t feel robbed.
If you liked spiced rum, my bet is you’ll like this new pirate-themed drink at The Beak and Barrel, as everyone else at my table did. Even if you don’t, though, you’ll love the souvenir pirate skull mug it comes in. (Hence its hefty $46 price tag.) The mug is heavy without being unwieldy. And once you figure out how to hold it and drink from it, it’s a more entertaining experience than drinking out of a normal glass.
The Non-Alcoholic Cursed Treasure Drink Is a Sweet Surprise
Kids and adults alike will all love the non-alcoholic Cursed Treasure drink at The Beak and Barrel. It’s made with coconut milk and cookie crumbs and topped with vanilla foam and a pirate’s gold cookie. The thin, pliable cookie on top is kind of skippable, but the drink is not. It was a sweet, cold, balanced and deliciously sweet sip.
The Treasure Trove Is Both Drink and Dessert at The Beak and Barrel
The third drink (the bar’s other non-alcoholic option) came as part of The Beak and Barrel’s only dessert. The Treasure Trove is a “mysterious Ube, lemon, and coconut concoction” that would be even better if you could leave the Pirates of the Caribbean bar with it. The tasty, light beverage is quite refreshing and would have made a perfect drink to walk around with during a hot Orlando day. It comes on a platter alongside a Vanilla Cake Plank (cake pop), Chocolate Cannonball, and Golden Caramel Popcorn. The popcorn was good. My table split on the cannonball. (I found it tasty but far too dense.) And I would have eaten 37 of the Vanilla Cake Plank, which was amazing.
Our Bonus Tip for Enjoying The Beak and Barrel’s Drinks
One fun bonus about both non-alcoholic beverages is that they come in Moscow Mule-style mugs, so kids will still get to toast like a pirate. Some patrons also get assigned a random “gold” piece of silverware, the kind any buccaneer would treasure pulling out of a chest.
Our Guide to The Beak and Barrel’s Food Options
Island Provisions Has Something for Everyone
Long before we got to dessert, we first tried the Island Provisions plate. It comes with plantain chips, blue corn tortillas, toasted flatbread, and four dips. Those include Mango Chutney (too sweet), Garlic Chimichurri (delicious), Spiced Guava (sweet and tasty, but divisive within my group), and Zesty Culantro Cream Dips (my favorite of the four).
This is not something I would have ordered on my own, but I will next time I am thinking about food at The Beak and Barrel. The Island Provisions plate was way better than I expected. It’s also a great shareable option that is easy and quick to eat, which proved to be an important part of The Beak and Barrel experience.
The Kraken’s Catch Is the Beak and Barrel’s Signature Food Option
As for the tavern’s signature food option, the stylish Kraken’s Catch—“octopus tentacles marinated in lemon and lime juice with olives, bell peppers, avocado, and piquillo pepper-almond foam”—there’s good news. Then there’s news that’s either bad or good depending on your expectations. The good news is that the Kraken’s Catch is good! I really enjoyed it. It’s light and fresh with a nice balance.
The bad/good news is that it’s not nearly as weird or adventurous as you might have imagined. It might look like it’s not for everyone, thanks to its curling octopus tentacle and foam, but its flavors will have wide appeal :pirate voice: for those who listen to me.
If you were skeptical about this dish, and now you want to try, that’s good news. If you hoped it would be super weird, it’s bad news.
Our Key Advice for Enjoying the Food and Drink at The Beak and Barrel
No matter what you order for food and drinks, though, you’ll have to finish them quickly. With just a 45-minute time limit and no option to take your drink with you, it’s a mad rush to complete your order. (Magic Kingdom is a dry park outside of sit-down restaurants and this tavern.) The drinks aren’t small, either, so it’s not easy to down them. And the theatrical elements mean you will always be focused on what’s going on around your table.
My advice? Go in with an empty belly and a game plan. Prioritize what you want most and get those first in case you run out of time. Then book your next reservation as soon as you can. This immersive experience is about way more than just the food and drinks you’ll find at this Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar. But you’ll still want to try all of them every time you set sail at The Beak and Barrel.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He’s glad drinking all that rum in college paid off. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.