What was one of Disney’s first forays into an immersive themed bar has now become a fun staple smack in the middle of The Landing at Disney Springs: Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar.
It’s hard for the unassuming exterior of this place to stand out surrounded by places like Paradiso 37, which blares loud Latin music to grab guests’ attention, or Wine Bar George, which sports an upscale interior with an outdoor walk up window featuring the very-on-trend frosé.
But for those in the know, the name itself – Jock Lindsey – is the draw. The famed pilot from the Indiana Jones franchise has his fingerprints all over this place. From the menu intended to be his pilot’s log to the aviation memorabilia that covers the interior of the bar, you feel like you’ve stepped into an adventure.
In the evening, once the sun has started to set and the crowd has started to thicken around the live music venue just next door, the place is hopping – next to impossible to find a table. But in the afternoon, it’s a tamer sort of atmosphere with more time and space to enjoy the nuance of the decor. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, they hold happy hour from 12-3 on weekdays, and they even will let you sample something if you’re on the fence.
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As far as libations, there’s plenty to choose from at the Hangar Bar. From generic draft beers to a signature cocktail, there are drinks for every taste on the menu. It’s also a full bar, so if you’re a tried-and-true kind of drinker, it’s just as easy to order a Rum and Coke and call it a day.
I sampled Reggie’s Revenge – and yes, that is referring to Jock’s pet snake Reggie from the films, a frequent point of contention between him and Indy – but settled on a seasonal concoction, the Kali Ma Garita, another reference hardcore Lucasfilm fans will get.
Reggie’s Revenge is a mix of local Florida Cane Orlando Orange vodka and Midori melon liqueur, with white cranberry juice and lime juice to balance it out. It had a bright, fruity zing to it, and the bright green color really made it an eye catcher.
The Kali Ma Garita was a watermelon and peach hybrid margarita featuring Patron Silver tequila, typically served with a jalapeño slice on the salt rim. I opted to skip the jalapeño, but the drink had just enough bite to it that it would have fit with the flavor palette. The watermelon overpowered the peach pretty significantly, so it wasn’t what I expected, but it was still a refreshing summery taste to balance out the sting of the tequila.
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Both drinks were tasty, but the margarita was not quite worth the $14 I paid for it. During happy hour, only specific beverages were lower priced, including Reggie’s Revenge, so if I did it again, I would probably go that route.
Additionally, the Hangar Bar offers an eclectic mix of bottled and draft beers. On previous visits, we’ve loved the Xingu black lager from Brazil, though they do have more familiar choices like Bud Light, Blue Moon and Stella Artois. The fixture on draft here is the Old Elephant IPA from Tampa Bay Brewing, with an elephant head on the tap that would’ve made Indy jealous. It’s definitely on my list to have my fiancé try on our next visit.
I sought Hangar Bar out this particular day because I was craving pretzels and beer cheese – and clearly, this was the place. One of their signature appetizers is the Air Pirate’s Pretzels, a jumbo everything pretzel served on a miniature airplane with beer cheese and mustard for dipping. I got mine without the everything topping, but it’s tasty both ways. The beer cheese sauce was delicious, and the airplane serving ware was creative and fun. I also saw and heard good things about the flatbreads, and the bartender told me the shrimp tacos were his favorite.
Overall, my solo flight at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar was a positive experience. My bartender was friendly, the details in the theming meant I always had something new to notice and look at, and of course, the food and drinks were delicious. It was just the right atmosphere for a chill weekday afternoon and gave me the opportunity to really explore the place, as my previous visits had all been in the evening when the place was packed.
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If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones or just a creative cocktail aficionado, definitely make time to visit the Hangar Bar before the crowds arrive and take advantage of their happy hour specials!
Have you visited Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar? Let us know if what you think in the comments!