Welcome!
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to gluten free at Universal Orlando’s luxury (called its Signature Collection) on site hotels.
This article is the sixth (6th) in a series that covers the gluten free and celiac safe options at every food venue across Universal Orlando Resort. These articles cover each theme park, each on site hotel, and CityWalk Orlando.
RELATED: We have gluten free guides other than this series. Click here to find them.
Our Comprehensive Gluten Free Series
Most gluten free guides out there will steer you to several gluten free options to hit up on your trip. We have those too (link above), and they’re all good and helpful! However, this series expands coverage of gluten free availability at Universal Orlando so that you are fully aware of the allergy friendly situation when entering literally any dining establishment at the resort. (We will eventually try to include the Volcano Bay water park, but the water park leans less into dining.)
These encyclopedias of gluten free options at Universal Orlando are not 100% complete yet, but our goal is to have them finished by mid 2026. As of now they are roughly 80% complete, so there is plenty to read about here already. And then of course I will be regularly updating them with current safety practices or deficiencies.
UNRELATED: If you’re new to gluten free or struggling with celiac life at home/away from the parks, I wrote down some products and recipes to help. Find them here!
Jump to the following comprehensive gluten free guides:
- Gluten Free at EPIC Universe: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at Universal Studios Florida: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at Islands of Adventure: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at CityWalk Orlando: Complete Guide (2026)
- Gluten Free at EPIC Universe Hotels: Complete Guide (2026) (Helios Grand Hotel, Terra Luna Resort, and Stella Nova Resort)
- Gluten Free at Universal Budget Hotels: Complete Guide (2026) (Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Aventura Hotel, Endless Summer Resorts)
If you want a quick run down of what is and isn’t safe, open the table of contents directly below ⬇️. Emojis by each venue will tell you:
- ❤️❤️❤️: one of our favorite restaurants at the resort
- ❤️❤️: love it the most
- ❤️: love it regularly
- 👍🏼: not over the moon about it, but it is safe
- ⛔: may have a couple gluten free options, but also has a lot of gluten, so be careful
- 🚫: not safe, skip it
Our Universal On Site Hotel Guides
In this guide, we’re grouping the four (4) north campus Signature Collection hotels together to review the gluten free options and celiac safety at each one of their restaurants.
The north campus Signature Collection on site hotels are the more costly on site hotel options, and they all sit along the Universal Orlando riverbank, giving them access to the north campus water taxi: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.
Above you will find the link to each other comprehensive gluten free guide in this series, including our review of every other Universal Orlando on site hotel. We grouped the south campus hotels together (including the south campus Signature Collection offering, Helios Grand Hotel) and the Universal Orlando north campus value hotels together.
UNLOCKED TIP: You can visit any on site hotel restaurant no matter which hotel you’re staying at. For these luxury hotels, it’s as easy as hopping on the water taxi from CityWalk. Make a reservation at one or more of the restaurants we recommend in this guide and enjoy an amazing gluten free night out on your trip.
About Universal Unlocked
My name is Laney, and I was diagnosed with celiac disease in early 2019. I have been strictly gluten free ever since.
I get a celiac panel blood test once per month, and my numbers have always been completely normal when I’ve returned from trips to Orlando where I have eaten everything I talk about in these guides. Everything I have eaten at the resort has always been safe.
Always remember, however, that these articles are just guides to enhance your theme park visit and do not guarantee a safe dining experience. It is essential that you effectively communicate your specific needs with restaurant staff each time you go.
Please click here if you’re interested in my gluten free story and credentials. Use the table of contents below to check out the restaurants you’re interested in. Or, if you have time, read the whole thing!
RELATED: Click here to explore our review of 10 great gluten free dining options at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk Orlando.
What You Should Know about the Luxury Hotels, Generally
I will do my best to cover every single gluten free option at Universal’s luxury on site hotels (also known as its Signature Collection) in this guide. And even though at the moment I have only been to 19 (nineteen) out of 25 (twenty-five) of them, I have eaten gluten free at these hotels dozens and dozens of times and can give you general tips about them.
The Menus are Not Gospel
While the menus occasionally have marked gluten free options, these are typically menu items that are naturally gluten free or don’t require adjustments to make them gluten free. But do not by any means limit yourself to these items. Most venues are well versed in preparing allergen friendly alternatives to many existing menu items.
Well Trained Staff
About 90% of venues at the luxury hotels have a staff that is extremely well trained in allergy safe protocols. Whether there are just a few or many items on the menu, chances are they can be made safely with the right conversation with the kitchen.
Skip the Grab and Go Kitchens
The 10% of luxury hotel venues that cannot be guaranteed to be safe are the grab and go counter service options. My advice is to always skip them. The kitchens are usually too small for safe prep, or the food is brought in from another kitchen and the staff won’t know about safety there.
UNLOCKED TIP: The “skip the grab and go kitchen” rule doesn’t apply to budget hotels because their grab and go counter is connected to their cafeteria kitchen and they are actually really great about cross contact safety. Read more in our guide to gluten free at Universal’s budget hotels.
Use these tips to navigate the hotel restaurants not (yet!) covered here. Let’s get started!
Universal’s Luxury Hotel Gluten Free Overview
There are eight (8) restaurants at Portofino Bay Hotel, six (6) at Hard Rock Hotel Orlando, six (6) at Royal Pacific Resort, and five (5) at Sapphire Falls Resort. Every luxury hotel has a grab and go restaurant, an all day restaurant, and a pool bar and restaurant. Each of them also has one or more other offerings themed to their hotel.
RELATED: Click here to read more about the history of Universal Orlando Resort on site hotels.
I have eaten at (or asked about and skipped) nineteen (19) of the twenty-five (25) restaurants at these hotels, and below I share everything I know. We’re going to start at Portofino Bay Hotel and work our way down the river (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, and Sapphire Falls). You will find ❤️ next to our favorites. If you spot ❤️❤️, we consider it a can’t miss.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Since its opening in September 1999, Loews Portofino Bay has been a flagship hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. Inspired by the Italian seaside village of Portofino, the hotel features Mediterranean style architecture, cobblestone streets, and scenic waterfront views.
Most of the hotel’s restaurants are directly off its main Harbor Piazza and every single one, despite its gluten heavy pizza and pasta offerings, has incredible and very safe gluten free options. Six (6) are on the ground floor, and one (1) is located a few floors up, providing amazing bay views. The Café Espresso connects to a gelateria on the east side of the harbor. The north front of the piazza houses Trattoria del Porto, Mama Della’s Ristorante, and Sal’s Market Deli. And you will find Thirsty Fish on the west side of the harbor near the water taxi dock.
BICE Ristorante is located on the third floor directly above Thirsty Fish. And Splendido Bar & Grill is the poolside eatery located at the beach (or main) pool. Room service is 24/7.
RELATED: Click here to read our full review of and guide to Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. We’ve stayed at Portofino dozens of times. If you have a question that isn’t covered in our guides, feel free to contact me here.
Trattoria del Porto ❤️❤️
- What: Full table service, all day
- Where: The north side of the Harbor Piazza on the ground floor
- Breakfast: 7AM to 11AM (12PM on Saturday and Sunday)
- Lunch: 11AM to 5PM (12PM on Saturday and Sunday)
- Dinner: 5PM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Trattoria del Porto is the hotel’s main table service, casual, all day restaurant. It offers standard American and Italian fare.
As with every other restaurant at the hotel, Trattoria del Porto offers a number of dishes that can be made gluten free at every meal. Breakfast offers a buffet, but if you’re celiac or allergic, you should order off the menu. They have delicious gluten free pancakes, waffles, eggs, potatoes, meat, coffee, juices, and more. Lunch and dinner have the same variety of safe gluten free options, including pasta, burgers, fries, fish, steak, chicken, soups, salads, cocktails, and more.
I can’t pretend to hide my bias about Portofino dining. There isn’t a single place on earth where I feel less FOMO from having celiac than I do at this hotel. Last fall we were staying at Hard Rock but walked over to listen to the Musica della notte and the chef at Trattoria made me this insane cheese tortellini pasta dish 👆🏼👆🏼. Completely safe. Can you even imagine??
Even if you don’t stay at this luxury resort, it’s worth it to jump on the water taxi and go for dinner one night.
Click here to explore the Trattoria menu.
Mama Della’s Ristorante ❤️
- What: Full table service, dinner
- Where: The north side of the Harbor Piazza on the ground floor
- Hours: 5PM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Mama Della’s is a more formal table service restaurant than Trattoria del Porto. But a less formal table service restaurant than BICE. She’s Goldilocks, basically. The restaurant is only open for dinner, and the gluten free options are just as wonderful.
Mama Della’s and Trattoria are located next to each other on the main floor off the Harbor Piazza, and they share a lobby. Mama Della’s offers steaks, pasta, and other Italian dishes.
And the opera singers from the Musica della Notte will come sing at your table. The service is also excellent.
This is the restaurant we visit the least at Portofino, but it is still quite lovely and the gluten free options are solid.
Click here to explore the Mama Della menu.
BICE Ristorante ❤️❤️❤️
- What: Full table service, dinner
- Where: The west side of the Harbor Piazza on the third floor
- Hours: 5:30PM to 10PM
- Our Review:
BICE Ristorante is the more formal “dress code” restaurant at Portofino Bay. It might be our favorite restaurant at the resort. It sits on the third floor and has two patios to take in the bay views.
We can’t recommend BICE enough. About 90% of the menu can be made gluten free and very safe for celiac and allergies (even the desserts!). Amazing drinks, and a big wine list. It also has amazing service. Definitely worth one of your nights out. Don’t come in your swimsuit though.
Click here to explore the BICE menu.
Sal’s Market Deli ⛔
- What: Grab and go and counter service, lunch and dinner
- Where: The north side of the Harbor Piazza on the ground floor
- Hours: 11AM to 11PM
- Our Review:
Sal’s Market Deli is the grab and go offering at Portofino Bay hotel. However, they also offer pizzeria scratch made fare, including pizza, calzones, sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts. There are plenty of tables both inside and outside where you can sit and eat, or take it back to your room, the Thirsty Fish, or even the pool.
Like most on site hotel grab and go shops (every Universal Orlando hotel has one), Sal’s is open for most of the day. You can grab water, soft drinks, beer, and wine there. Sal’s quick grab food options include chips, candy, cold sandwiches, charcuterie, desserts, and more. It also houses the hotel’s Coke Freestyle machine.
RELATED: Click here to read about Coke Freestyle and more Universal Orlando tips and tricks in our 2026 FAQ.
This is the only Portofino spot that I wouldn’t trust the prepared food. There is lots of flour in the air at all times and the kitchen is pretty small. No one on staff has ever recommended ordering from here. However, they have plenty of gluten free grab and go sealed products, plus wine and liquor.
Click here to explore the Sal’s menu.
The Thirsty Fish ❤️❤️
- What: Bar and full table service, dinner
- Where: The west side of the Harbor Piazza on the ground floor
- Hours: 5PM to 12AM
- Our Review:
The Thirsty Fish is a full bar (and kind of pub) at Portofino Bay. It’s located directly below BICE on the first floor. The bar itself is indoors, but there are lots of outdoor tables you can sit at 24/7—even when the bar isn’t open.
Thirsty Fish is the first restaurant you come to on the harbor when you hop off the water taxi after a long day at the parks. Imagine how many people just collapse into the nearest seat here. (It’s us. We’re people.) Inside, there’s the bar, a few high tops, and plenty of chairs and couches. It’s cozy in the best way.
I don’t ever get food here, but the drinks are amazing. And you should sit at an outside table and have one while you people watch on the Harbor Piazza and listen to the Musica della Notte.
Click here to explore the Thirsty Fish menu.
Splendido Bar and Grill 👍🏼
- What: Bar and full table service, lunch and dinner
- Where: The Beach Pool on the northwest side of the property
- Food Service: 11AM to 9PM
- Bar Service: 11AM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Every hotel has at least one outdoor poolside bar and restaurant, and at Portofino Bay it’s called Splendido Bar & Grill. The Beach Pool (the main pool) adjacent “bar and grill” is located next to the fitness center. The fare at Splendido offers nachos, mozzarella sticks, salads, pizza, and burgers. You will also find the amazing tropical and exotic cocktails we’re all looking for on vacation.
UNLOCKED TIP: The Beach Pool is located behind the west wing of the hotel, and you have to walk up a flight of stairs and back down a flight of stairs to get there. But if you’re too tired from the parks for all the stairs, walk into the west wing (next to the water taxi dock) and take the elevator to the third floor. From there, you can cut across to the pool and only walk down one flight of stairs.
There are gluten free options here and they are safe, but it’s not very many. And for such a big and luxurious hotel, the poolside bar is kind of small and disappointing. We are particularly ruined on Universal Orlando on site hotel poolside restaurants now that we’ve been to Lotus Lagoon, the poolside restaurant and bar at the new Helios Grand Hotel.
RELATED: Click here to read about our gluten free experience at Lotus Lagoon.
Click here to explore the Splendido menu.
Café Espresso and Gelateria ⛔
- What: Quick service, all day
- Where: The east side of the Harbor Piazza on the ground floor
- Monday through Friday: 3PM to 10PM (Gelateria)
- Saturday and Sunday: 12PM to 10PM (Gelateria)
- Our Review:
There is a coffee shop on the east side of the hotel that serves Starbucks coffee and other Starbucks offerings. It used to be called Starbucks. We have no idea what prompted the change. There is also a gelateria attached to the coffee shop. The coffee shop opens around 7am, and the gelateria doesn’t open until 3pm. Cafe Espresso isn’t on the official website, but trust us, it’s there.
Trust each of these as much as you trust other ice cream shops and Starbucks outside Universal Orlando. We have had the gelato, but the staff knowledge can be spotty.
Click here to explore the Gelateria menu.
Room Service 👍🏼
- What: Room service
- Where: Your hotel room
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Our Review:
Room service is available at this and every Signature Collection hotel. At Portofino Bay the options are a selection pulled from all food options at the hotel. It is very easy to communicate your dietary needs over the phone, and they will make a very safe meal for you.
Click here to explore the Portofino Bay room service menu.
Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
Hard Rock Hotel Orlando was the second (2nd) on site hotel to open at Universal Orlando Resort, following the success of Portofino Bay Hotel. The hotel’s design centers around rock music, with decor and themes heavily inspired by classic rock icons. Since its opening in March 2001, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando has been a defining part of the resort’s luxury hotel offerings.
Hard Rock has six (6) restaurant offerings. Most restaurants are on the first floor, which is downstairs from the lobby. The Kitchen is its all day venue and it’s on the first floor near the pool. The poolside bar is the beachclub, and the grab and go option is Emack & Bolio, also located on the first floor. Velvet Bar is located on the lobby floor, which is the 3rd floor, and down the hall from there is the Palm. Room service is 24/7.
The Kitchen ❤️❤️
- What: Full table service, all day
- Where: On the first floor
- Hours: 7AM to 10PM (11PM on Friday and Saturday). Click here to get the full Kitchen hours.
- Our Review:
This is the all day restaurant offering at Hard Rock. The Kitchen is incredible at gluten free options and making them safely for allergies and celiac disease. You have to come here even if it’s just for these 👇🏼. They’re call Rockin’ Rolls and, yes, they are as good as they look. It’s completely insane that they are gluten free.
They can even make the Truffle Lobster Mac and Cheese gluten free. This place is just so great. We love it and can’t recommend it enough.
Click here to explore the Kitchen menu.
The Palm ❤️
- What: Full table service, dinner
- Where: On the third floor
- Monday through Saturday: 5PM to 10PM
- Sunday: 4PM to 9PM
- Our Review:
The Palm is the most high end restaurant at Universal Orlando. They are really great at gluten free and safety.
We eat steak and potatoes here, and the staff is great about it. At a place like this, they take pride in making sure all allergies are taken care of. Make sure to make a reservation.
Click here to explore the Palm menu.
beachclub ❤️
- What: Bar and full table service, lunch and dinner
- Where: Poolside on the first floor
- Hours: 11AM to 10PM
- Our Review:
beachclub is the poolside bar and restaurant at Hard Rock and, unlike the pool bar at Portofino, this one is quite spacious with comfortable seating. Many things on the menu can be made gluten free and celiac safe. We like the nachos in particular.
Click here to explore the beachclub menu.
Velvet Bar 👍🏼
- What: Bar and full table service, dinner
- Where: Off the lobby
- Hours: 5PM to 2AM (4PM on Friday through Sunday)
- Our Review:
This lobby bar has great drinks and a few options that can be made safe and gluten free. Those are Pop Rocks on that mocktail 👇🏼.
Click here to explore the Velvet Bar menu.
Emack & Bolio ⛔
- What: Grab and go and counter service, all day
- Where: On the first floor
- Hours: 6AM to 12AM
- Our Review:
Emack & Bolio is the Hard Rock grab and go option where you can pick up cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, candy, snacks, and other grab and go options. It houses the hotel’s Coke Freestyle machine, and it has a food counter.
Similar to Sal’s at Portofino Bay, we stick to the sealed gluten free items here and avoid the counter service options.
Room Service 👍🏼
- What: Room service
- Where: Your hotel room
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Our Review:
Room service is available at this and every Signature Collection hotel. At Hard Rock the options are a selection pulled from all food options at the hotel. It is very easy to communicate your dietary needs over the phone, and they will make a very safe meal for you.
Click here to explore the Hard Rock room service menu.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Since its opening in June 2002, Loews Royal Pacific Resort has provided guests with an upscale, tropical South Pacific inspired experience. As Universal Orlando’s third (3rd) on site hotel, Royal Pacific Resort quickly became a signature property, known for its lush landscaping, exotic design, and exclusive amenities.
Islands Dining Room ❓
- What: Full table service, breakfast and dinner
- Where:
- Breakfast: 7AM to 11AM (12PM on Saturday and Sunday)
- Dinner: 5PM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Coming soon!
Click here to explore the Islands menu.
Jake’s American Bar ❓
- What: Full table service, all day
- Where:
- Food Service: 7AM to 11PM
- Bar Service: 11AM to 1AM
- Our Review:
Coming soon!
UNLOCKED TIP: We have eaten very safely at Jake’s, but it was in 2020. I’m not going to review something from six (6) years ago in these guides. But for what it’s worth, they made skillet french fries for me and made them very safe. It’s definitely worth having a conversation with the kitchen.
Click here to explore the Jake’s menu.
Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar ❓
- What: Full table service, dinner
- Where: Off the lobby
- Food Service: 5PM to 11PM
- Bar Service: 5PM to 1AM
- Our Review:
Coming soon!
Click here to explore the Orchid Court menu.
Tuk Tuk Market ❓
- What: Grab and go and counter service, all day
- Where: Off the lobby
- Hours: 6AM to 11PM
- Our Review:
Coming soon!
Bula Bar & Grille ❓
- What: Bar and full service tables, lunch and dinner
- Where: Poolside
- Food Service: 11AM to 9PM
- Bar Service: 11AM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Coming soon!
Click here to explore the Bula menu.
Room Service ❓
- What: Room service
- Where: Your hotel room
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Our Review:
Room service is available at this and every Signature Collection hotel. At Royal Pacific the options are selections pulled from all food options at the hotel. It is very easy to communicate your dietary needs over the phone, and they will make a very safe meal for you.
Click here to explore the Royal Pacific room service menu.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
After taking a 12-year break from hotel development at the resort, in 2014 Universal started offering more budget conscious options. When Loews Sapphire Falls Resort opened in 2016, it introduced a fresh Caribbean theme to Universal Orlando’s roster of hotels.
The hotel features vibrant, brightly colored architecture, lush palm trees, and its signature blue lagoon style pool with a large, cascading waterfall. While still in the Signature Collection, Sapphire Falls is notably cheaper than other Signature Collection hotels and provides fewer exclusive benefits.
Sapphire Falls has five (5) restaurant offerings. Amatista Cookhouse, located on the first floor next to the lagoon, is its all day offering. Drhum Club Kantine is the poolside bar and restaurant. Strong Water Tavern, a Caribbean themed and rum focused restaurant, is located off the lobby, which is upstairs from Amatista and the lagoon.
New Dutch Trading Co., the grab and go offering, is also located off the lobby. Room service is available 24/7.
Amatista Cookhouse ❤️❤️❤️
- What: Full table service, all day
- Where: First floor off the lagoon
- Hours: 7AM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Amatista is the all day offering at Sapphire Falls. It’s located on the first floor of the hotel. And it has amazing lagoon and waterfall views. This is one of our favorite restaurants at Universal Orlando. The gluten free offerings are amazing, and the service and safety are impeccable.
They can make many breakfast items gluten free, and the lunch and dinner gluten free options are tasty too. As you can see 👆🏼 our breakfast spread includes basically anything you could ever want.
For lunch and dinner we love the ancho chile chicken empanadas, queso fundido, pink beans and rice, black bean soup, and this 👆🏼 amazing dark chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce.
Click here to explore the Amatista menu.
Strong Water Tavern ❤️
- What: Full table service, dinner
- Where: Off the lobby
- Food Service: 4PM to 11PM
- Bar Service: 4PM to 12AM (1AM on Friday and Saturday)
- Our Review:
Strong Water sits right off the lobby and is open only for dinner. Their specialty is rum drinks and food from all over the Caribbean. Both drinks and a few menu items can be made safely. We love their version of ropa vieja.
Click here to explore the Strong Water menu.
New Dutch Trading Co. ❤️
- What: Grab and go and counter service, all day
- Where: Off the lobby
- Hours: 6AM to 11PM
- Our Review:
New Dutch Trading Co. is the Sapphire Falls grab and go option. There is also counter service that is mostly coffee, ice cream, and pastries. But they do have a few gluten free options.
And I trust this counter service grab and go where I don’t trust others. There is gelato they can safely serve you there, and there are items they bring in that can be made safely in the Amatista kitchen.
Drhum Club Kantine ❤️
- What: Bar and full table service, lunch and dinner
- Where: Poolside
- Food Service: 11AM to 9PM
- Bar Service: 11AM to 10PM
- Our Review:
Drhum Club has great seating options and amazing tropical cocktails. The food can be made safely, though it isn’t our favorite. We like the nachos okay and the chicken wings a lot.
RELATED: Click here to read about Coke Freestyle and more Universal Orlando tips and tricks in our 2026 FAQ.
Click here to explore the Dhrum Club menu.
Room Service ❤️
- What: Room service
- Where: Your hotel room
- Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Our Review:
Room service is available at this and every Signature Collection hotel. At Sapphire Falls the options are pulled from all food options at the hotel. It is very easy to communicate your dietary needs over the phone, and they will make a very safe meal for you.
Click here to explore the Sapphire Falls room service menu.
Conclusion: Gluten Free at Universal’s Luxury Hotels
Thanks for reading! We’ll be updating this guide regularly as we check off the remaining restaurants and consistently recheck for safety and new options. So make sure to bookmark this page!
Click here to reach out if you have any questions or comments. I usually respond quickly!
When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I mourned my Universal vacation dining and brought an entire suitcase of gluten free snacks on my first trip back. Little did I know, I was about to discover an absolute gluten free paradise. You will, too. It’s impossible to feel less than or other at Universal Orlando. I hope you enjoy it!
🏝️💦🍝🏖️