Being a Parrothead, I must visit all shrines to the patron saint of vacations, Jimmy Buffet, so that meant a trip to Margaritaville. Located in the Citywalk of Universal Studios, it was easy to get to from our resort. Hint: if you take the right turn onto Universal Blvd, right before the Orlando Convention Center, you miss all the traffic on International Drive and it takes you straight to the entrance. Parking after 6pm is free and so is the Citywalk, unless you want to dance in the clubs because then you need to buy a club pass.
Margaritaville can’t be missed with the huge neon parrot floating above the walk. This two-story restaurant was packed, but no trouble. While we waited for a table, we shopped in the gift shop then sat on the brightly-painted Adirondak chairs outside. There’s even a margarita walk-up window if you can’t wait any longer.
Once inside, the place had so much ocean fishing décor, you felt like you were on a boat. Actually we were, as we sat in a section near the bar that was designed to look like the front deck of a yacht. The sail above our heads was used as a TV screen to show Buffet concerts. The booths had fishing poles soaring above them. A sea plane was suspended from the ceiling. The bar is the main feature. Shaped like a tiki hut, the top is a large volcano and every hour the volcano erupts spewing “that frozen concoction that helps me hang on” into a large blender. Then we all sang along as “Margaritaville” played. As a family walked by our table, I heard a mom say to her daughter that Jimmy Buffet was her favorite artist when she was her age. At another table, mom and dad happily sang Margaritaville while their son, wearing a Dead Kennedy’s T-shirt, rolled his eyes. What better way to torture your children!
I haven’t forgotten about the food, which was excellent. I had jerk chicken and my husband had the crab cocktail appetizer. We both had the “Perfect Margarita” or as our server called it, “tequila in a bowl.” Prices were reasonable, around $30 for both us. A live band plays every night, which we enjoyed a few songs before we had to go.
Even if you don’t like Buffet, you’ll have a good time and young children will enjoy the stilt-walking, balloon-animal girls who travel from table to table. Margaritaville is like Buffet’s music, a whole lotta fun!