Very swaggish and a sexy place. Amazing spot for date night and an incredible rooftop view of Disney Springs and much more. Aesthetics are great. Staff is awesome and very attentive! Food is really good and pricey. Sushi is fire! Portions are small though. I was hungry in 2 hours after I left. LOL. But it was a great experience. read more

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I was really looking forward to trying this place and even made a reservation, which I almost never do. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the worst restaurant experiences I've had. Service was terrible. My husband and I waited 40 minutes just to get two glasses of water. No one checked on us, no updates, nothing. It honestly felt like we were being ignored. The food was average at best. Nothing memorable, definitely not worth the wait or the price. The only thing that made it slightly better was that we got to see the fireworks from our table--but honestly, that had nothing to do with the restaurant itself. Not coming back, and absolutely would not recommend. Do not come here. Seriously--don't waste your time. read more

My boyfriend and I ate at Illume to celebrate graduation and it was an amazing experience. Our server was so nice and knowledgeable of the menu, all of the food was amazing, and the sunset view and fireworks view were breathtaking! We are already talking about coming back for dinner again. Sadly, I only remembered to take a picture of my drink. I got the illumination. They do validate parking at the JW Marriott when you have dinner at Illume which is great! read more

First class experience from the hostess to paying the check. Exceptional menu, great bartenders. The three of us had over ten different menu items combined, all were delicious. Great views, outstanding decor. read more

Gorgeous Japanese Restaurant at the JW MARRIOTT at Bonnet Creek. Definite date nite/ladies place. Hip lounge atmosphere with amazing bar/drink selection. The sushi rolls were unique and perfectly made (they did not fall apart). Service and ambience top notch. The bill was little pricey but definitely worth a dinner with a great view. The restaurant has outdoor seating and if you're there at 9pm you can catch the nitely fireworks from the rooftop restaurant. read more

illume - Sushi Roll - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We had the Kamikaze roll and the Angry Tiger. Both were very good. Everything is fresh. Our server was charming and fun. The service was good. Would go back Sticky ribs were great as well read more

Came here as part of a media tour of the hotel and was excited because I read you could see the Disney fireworks from the rooftop, unfortunately Florida rain got in the way so I think I unfortunately missed the view. It was very warm and cozy inside, not too busy, but it was a Wednesday. I was seated at a high top table and the ambiance was very inviting with candles and a purple backlit bar. I got the crispy veggie roll, which had a bit of a kick but was really good. It was rather pricey for one roll at $18 when a veggie roll downstairs is $14, but you're paying for the view - when the rain doesn't get in the way. read more

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A friend recommended this place to my when I asked for a recommendation for a light dinner with a vibe. She totally understood the assignment! Located on the 9th floor of the JW it's the kind of place you put on a cute outfit, make up and strut on in. We had reservations, so were seated right away. Oh and there is an express elevator so you don't have to ride the elevator with the guests of the hotel. We ordered sake and a cocktail which were both great. They are more of a tapas kind of place so we shared a few items (check photos). It can be pricey because the small plates cost as much as some places regular size plates. Not sure I would come here for dinner but make like Appetizers and cocktails. Don't expect to leave overly full. If you are into photos it's magical. Oh and if you valet they do validate which is even more amazing. read more

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Illume has so much potential to be the best upscale rooftop bar in Orlando. It has the food, drinks, and the view to attract locals and tourists alike. What I loved about the place was the view from the terrace. You can catch Epcot's fireworks at night closer to 9 p.m. It is not a front-row view, but you see enough to enjoy the show. The lounge serves Asian-inspired cuisine. The sushi was good, but the selection was limited. The cocktails were delicious and served in creative glasses. Our table was tight for all the food we ordered food. One minor observation is that the chairs were awkward and uncomfortable after a while (indoors). Now that the weather is cooling down, I will be back to enjoy the outdoor seating. The service was terrific. Our server was attentive and friendly. He explained the concept of the lounge and made food/drink recommendations that did not disappoint. I'm curious if this happens nightly, but when I went, there was no music, and background lounge music can elevate the vibe. Keep in mind that prices are high but it is a good expense to enjoy good drinks with a view. read more

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I would give service a 5 but food a 3.5. I went to Illume with friends for a birthday dinner. I had the seaweed salad - would recommend -- and the breathing dragon roll. The breathing dragon was heavily marketed as "very good". The roll wasn't offensive but was just okay. My friends had the bao buns - they really enjoyed them (both the pork belly and tenderloin). Someone had a spicy tuna roll - they said it wasn't very good. Another had the roll with snow crab and the sunset roll. I think they preferred the sunset. I missed with the others had on the opposite side. One person had dessert and had one bite and left it. Said it wasn't good. Shame because I have such a sweet tooth. After dinner, the verdict was it was ok. Amazing view and great cocktail but sushi left a lot to be desired. I love the hotel and will be back but I may just stop in for a cocktail. read more

The sushi was fabulous. The drinks fantastic..and view amazing. Phillip was our bartender. Great guy..ultimate service! read more

illume - The bourbon drink. So good! - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Such a disappointing 2nd experience The first time we ate here was such a great experience we wanted to come back again and celebrate a friends job promotion. I was not in charge of making reservations but we were given a lot of pushback for having a larger party. My friend (who made the reservation) was told we can bring in pull-apart cupcakes as those require no plates or anything from the restaurant. We had a call to sort this all out. I was in charge of bringing the cupcakes. When I walked in, the assistant manager Erin Cajayon already looked annoyed, didn't even welcome me and told me I had to pay to bring the cupcakes in. I informed her that my friend who called earlier confirmed that we are allowed to bring the cupcakes in. This went on for a few minutes while she continued to talk down to me. Regardless of if it's "allowed" or not there was clearly some form of miscommunication and instead of trying to resolve it she continued to shut me down. It was not professional at all. I wanted to share the first experience I had there with my friends and it was ruined because of the attitude Erin gave. Im giving 2 stars because of Angga (sorry if I spelled your name wrong). He was so patient, so nice and very knowledgeable of the menu. Knowing we were a large group he was very accommodating and very quick with getting food and drinks out to us in a timely manner. He continuously checked on us, made sure our waters were always filled, and overall made the atmosphere very comfortable. If we ever decide to come back we would definitely request Angga to take care of us read more

Everything was perfect at this restaurant! Our server Kristin was so kind and professional. I will definitely go back!

Great experience! Love it highly recommend, very nice atmosphere great food and friendly staff.

Located on the 9th floor of the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort and Spa. This venue hits the top tier mark for rooftop bar experiences!! The rooftop is spacious and modern and is cordoned off in isolated sections for all guests to have a spacious private space all to themselves! The service is phenomenal and the servers are very knowledgeable of diet restrictions and how to accommodate your needs. I practice a zero refined sugar diet and the chef and server were able to identify the best selections from the menu that were appropriate and delicious!! Speaking of delicious, the food is Japanese inspired and offers a wide variety of options as well as a wide array of beers, wines and even Japanese whiskeys! The evening is capped off by fireworks every night at 9 seen from Epcot! And don't forget to come in time for sunset!--No disappointments! We were lost in moments of great views, vibes and vision with a wonderfully vibrant , chic house music soundtrack playing in the background! Perfect for girls meetups or even family gatherings to celebrate milestone events!!! read more

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Food as well as drinks were good and the ambiance was amazing. The view of Epcot and Magic Kingdom fireworks at the same time was incredible. However that's about where it stops. We were not greeted after sitting at the table for 15 minutes. Finally got greeted and the server was knowledgeable about the menu. It took another 10 minutes to get our drinks that we ordered. We had to let the server know as she was walking away after dropping off the drinks that we were ready to order food. She wasn't even going to take our order. So if you would like to go don't expect decent service. read more

I loved this restaurant! I invited a colleague after work, for a evening drink here. Nice vibe, cute scenery with the rooftop! Service was awesome, our server was amazing! His name started with a J - maybe Josh or Jarred. Food was Asian style so I was in heaven. It had background music play which I enjoyed! I was shocked with how young and hip this restaurant was being near Disney. Parking was easy! I ate everything so quick that this picture is all I have of the edamame & bon bon? I had the sushi - shrimp tempura styled and sushi with the crab and Waygu. Was extremely delicious! I'd for sure return back here! read more

illume - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Highly recommended for date night or special occasion. Outdoor seating is best for scenic views. My server Sara made the night amazing!!! Sticky ribs are a must!! read more

Like most JW establishments, food and cocktails are always good .. and always come with a price tag. Illume is an upscale sushi restaurant within the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek. It's known for its rooftop area but it was 50 degrees that night and we decided to sit inside. But make a reservation if you want outdoor seating! Food: sushi was very fresh and melt in your mouth! It is about $3-6 more than your usual sushi place because it is the JW. We don't usually get udon but because it was cold, we decided to get it. It was surprisingly delicious. Broth was flavorful, noodles were Al dente and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The matcha tiramisu is a must! Service: all around great service. Cocktails: amazing! Be prepared to spend $$ but they were tasty and were beautifully presented . read more

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If you're going for atmosphere and photos this place is definitely for you. We knew it was upscale and would be pricy but I was somehow still disappointed when I left hungry? First off, it's lounge seating which is fine, but the chairs are so awkward to attempt to eat a meal in (somehow I didn't end up with rice all over me). We were originally standing around outside waiting for a table (way past our reservation time) and we tried out those chairs which were very comfy. So if you can I'd recommend outdoor seating. Also, we were there way after peak dinner time, but somehow it still took about 15min for a waiter to acknowledge us once we finally got seated...very disappointing since we saw at least 5 different ones walk past us, clear tables (that were not seated again), and clearly avoid eye contact the entire time we waited. Not sure what the issue was since there was plenty of staff and open seating that could've showed us our table shortly after arriving. I read previous reviews on here that said the skewers came with a good amount of food because of the rice and veggies, unfortunately during our visit this was not true. The rice was no longer in a side bowl but simply on the side of the tiny skewer plate. The veggies were DELICIOUS and I wish I could've just ordered a huge side of them! The skewers and the sushi were good, but nothing to ride home about. I also think they gave us the incorrect side sauces that we asked for. I was really excited to get the bird drink and take some pictures with it because I love birds, but sadly our waiter told us they are a fragile glass and they were waiting on a new shipment so mine was served in a glass with a feather mini-clothes pinned to the side (lol). It also took verrryyy long to get our drinks and if I recall our waters were never refilled once finished. Again, if you're more into the pics and don't mind paying for an expensive decent (meh) food, then this is a good place. Quite honestly, for the price of the food I was expecting it all to be absolutely amazing and was dissatisfied, except for those delicious handful of veggies that I would eat again and again! One more thing: the waiter poured us all (3 ppl in my party) an INSANE amount of this special soy sauce that you can see in photo 2 on the white plate. I am not sure why they do this since he didn't even know if our order would include sushi when he did it. I know most Americans drench their sushi in soy sauce but dear lord the owners could probably save on their bottom line if each table isn't getting a gallon of that fancy soy sauce!!! I hate wasting food and am sad to say none of us even touched it. read more

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The place has a nice vibe but remember it's in a resort and the prices reflect that. Parking can be expensive if you aren't staying there but make sure to have your ticket validated for a discount. I started with a drink and had to try the Firebird which is served in a cup that actually looks like a bird. The Firebird is a Suntory Haku Vodka, Tozai Saki, and Cantelop drink and is even topped with a feather! It was cool and tasted fine but not sure it was $25 great. For sushi, I went with the sunset at the rooftop. It had spicy salmon tartare, cucumber, avocado, tempura flakes, ikura, kabayaki sauce, micro greens. Very good suhi, everything was so fresh and the flavors paired really well. read more

illume - Sushi time - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Wow. Simply just wow. The view (at sunset). The service. The drinks. Quite the, high-end, Japanese cuisine experience. We went there for a pre dinner drink and was blown away by the ambiance and service. The Japanese Manhattan was the best Manhattan I've ever had. The Firebird was served in the most unique bird shaped glass. We did not try the food but the plates that we witnessed being served look amazing. read more

illume - Firebird - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Yes !!! Great place to grab a drink and enjoy the night! We stopped by this bar twice in one night at our staycation and I can say that by far this was the best place that this hotel has to offer. read more

illume - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Food was wonderful, great cocktails and sake flights, we also enjoyed the firework display that evening.

Beautiful Japanese bar on the 9th floor of the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek. We stayed in the hotel for a staycation during Labor Day weekend and just had to experience the hype. Excellent service. At first they we're going to seat us inside, however we we're lucky enough that they had a cancellation and we grabbed a space outside. Food and drinks were all excellent, high notes especially with the Gyu No Kani and Firebird cocktail. I did make jokes about drinking out of a birds butt .. .. however it was a really great tasting cocktail and of course the reason I had to try it was because of the adorable bird glass. The Gyu No Kani was so flavorful in every bite! Definitely recommend! We did reservations for 8:45 and I timed it perfectly that we got to see Magic KingdoM fireworks as well as the fireworks at Epcot at 10. Epcot is closer so the view for those is perfect! Our only negative was the size of the table versus the lounge style seating. When sharing a bunch of food, plus drinks it didn't work well. If we had drinks only it would have been fine. So just something to think of if you plan on going for food as well. Maybe because we we're a smaller group it may have made a difference. I can't speak to the table sizes for the larger areas. All around great evening, look forward to coming back in the future! read more

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Hands down the best rooftop experience I've ever had! We were already staying at the JW Marriott but the first time we were not able to go to illume as it was closed due to the start of the pandemic. This time around they were open and we made it a priority to visit. I made a reservation on OpenTable (didn't know it was on there, more points for me!) for 7:30 and we met the hostess at the hostess stand on the lobby floor. After checking in, we were guided to the elevator that would take us up to the 9th floor where the restaurant was. I didn't specify whether I wanted to sit outside or in, but I'm glad they read my mind as we were led outside to some lounge seating overlooking everything around JW. You can see the Swan and Dolphin resorts, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, some of the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios, and the Vineland Outlet mall. A walk around the corner gave you a glimpse of Disney Springs and the JW's miniature golf course on one of the rooftops. We sat facing the sunset and it was gorgeous. Our server called me "Ms. Crawford" which I was not expecting and honestly, I felt important. She asked me what I liked to drink to which I replied "something on the sweeter side" to which she suggested the Firebird and illumiNation. I chose the Firebird (Suntory Haku vodka, Tozai sake, cantaloupe, green tea syrup, local ginger jam) because not only did it sound good, it's served in a bird-shaped glass. This drink did not disappoint. The cantaloupe was the main flavor in it and while I'm not a fan of the fruit, being prepared this way was palatable. My man got the illumiNation (Casamigos Blanco tequila, passion fruit liqueur, agave nectar, lime) and he loved it. For food we started off with the Sakana Fritters (breaded halibut, capers, red pepper, mango slaw, lemon aioli). There were only 3 per order but these packed a major punch. I finally decided on a roll, the Gyu No Kani (snow crab, avocado, seared tenderloin beef, cucumber, black garlic aioli, scallions, kabayaki sauce, truffle oil) and I was so glad I did because it tasted like heaven. The best roll I've had to date. I wish they were closer to home because I would it that often. He went with a tako (octopus) nigiri and a Wellness roll (red bell peppers, cucumber, carrots, tofu, scallions, mango, avocado, cilantro, aged balsamic) with some A5 wagyu on top cuz he's fancy hahaha. I tasted some of his roll and I must admit, for a "healthy" sushi roll it was quite tasty but not better than mine heehee. Just to be extra greedy, I also ordered another drink, the Blushing Geisha (Waterloo Old Yaupon gin, Lilliet Rosé, hibiscus tea syrup, lemon, aquafaba). This is a beautiful drink with a very light taste to it. I'm actually glad that I chose this to be my last drink because I feel it quenched my need for a dessert. Not overly sweet but delicate and refined. Then came the second roll, the Sunset @ Rooftop (spicy salmon tartare, cucumber, avocado, ikura, bubu arare, eel sauce). I pined over this one as I wasn't sure I had room for it but I polished it off anyway. Not as tasty as my first roll, but I'm glad I had it. If you ever stay at this hotel, this is a must-do. Even if you're not there for the drinks and food. The view is amazing. read more

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Absolutely amazing service and the food was amazing and delicious. Kristen, our waitress was the sweetest and very kind. read more

illume - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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We love the atmosphere at this Asian tapas inspired restaurant. The food, although a bit pricey, is very good and their cocktail/liquor options are great. They are great at accommodating dietary restrictions and the food always comes out quickly and tasting great. The outdoor seating isn't the comfiest, but the views of Disney and the fireworks are always fun. I've been here a few times and overall I would definitely recommend this place! You do have to park in a garage and take a few elevators to get there, but they validate your ticket! read more

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Trendy rooftop bar with great views. I appreciated that they had mocktails and vegan options. I got the green goddess sushi platter, the furano mocktail and the mango mochi dessert. Everything was good, but the kitchen service was very slow. My server Michelle was friendly and accomodating and even removed my dessert from my tab due to the long wait time. I would probably only return for drinks. read more

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illume was easily a 10/10. Here's what was ordered for drinks: firebird, illumination and lychee martini. All so pretty and super yummy (especially if you're a fan of fruity drinks). For starters and sharing: the lemongrass chicken potstickers and dragon's breath signature maki. Omg *chefs kiss* Entree: Teriyaki Salmon. Prepared so nicely! Being on the rooftop at peak sunset and ending by viewing the Disney fireworks. Top tier‍ Service was phenomenal - loved our waitress. She was so helpful! Would recommend! read more

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Awesome place with incredible views of the park. Food and drinks were top notch with a great service staff read more

illume - Samurai's tail, great roll and once of the best Ive had in a while. - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Good ambiance. Decent food and menu items. Did not have the best service when I went with my family. Waited a long time, no refills, no check-ins. read more

Food was really good especially the noodle dish! Great cocktails, a little bit pricy but it's worth it! Great service and nice staff! read more

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Fancy, great view, awesome service, and best of all the food tastes amazingly. Would try again.

Not bad place to go for the ambience and views. Mannos a little light on the sushi though. read more

illume - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Most of these reviews must be from tourists or people who haven't experienced others such as Seito and Kabooki sushi In Sand Lake, or Ceiba. If you're interested in a few drinks and watching fireworks from the rooftop, I guess it's okay, but be prepared to have a mix of people with kids to rush the rooftop. Dress code is not enforced and most people are dressed down. This is mostly a bar/lounge. Most of the seating is either at the bar or around it. The seating around the bar has chairs that are very low and the tables are even lower which makes the dining experience very uncomfortable. We actually sat in one of those to catch the fireworks BUT ended up having to close the curtains since they had a table with a bright lamp directly on the other side of the window with other diners! The service was nice but very slow...a drink took 20-25 min even though it was not very busy. The drinks were pretty awful - I ordered a margarita thinking it was easy and no way to mess it up...still managed to mess it up by adding soda water? Our food eventually started coming out after about an hour and we had to stop someone to ask for plates. Even the most basic of things appears to be an afterthought. There was no ambience, it was very bright and the amount of people walking through to get to the rooftop side was ridiculous. You would think they would have separate areas for diners and guests walking through to see fireworks, but they don't. Finally, food was mediocre. The nigiri was not very fresh and to be honest, I stopped eating it for fear of getting sick. The sticky ribs were good, but nothing to scream about. The matcha dessert had potential but was just flat. The only thing that was interesting was the surf and turf roll which to me is not really sushi but my boyfriend enjoyed. Although it was good, it also appeared to sit for a while before it was brought to the table so the steak was cold. Bottom line, if you're looking for a sexy date night with great food, service and ambience, skip this one. read more

Beautiful place for a nice dinner mid conference. I had a free night and decided to try Illume. I was able to get right in with a table outside because I was alone. The service was very good. Helpful without hovering too much. I got the Oki roll, then a tuna and salmon nigiri. It was all delicious! read more

illume - Oki roll and nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

My partner and I came here for dinner and drinks tonight and I had to write a review not only about the AMAZING atmosphere, gorgeous aesthetic (even the menus and the shot glasses -- they missed no detail), but also about the amazing top tier service we received from the bartender Emily! Would absolutely recommend this to locals or to people visiting! He and I truly appreciate the hospitality and look forward to coming here again when in the Orlando area read more

illume - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We had a great time at Illume. We had a reservation and parking valet was easy enough. We were a few minutes late to get up to the rooftop. I made a outside balcony reservation and they seemed to have no record of that which was really disappointing since the rooftop & view are beautiful. We were seated inside at a very small table. It was just ok, by comparison. Our waitress Lenys Z. was very helpful. She was able to find out everything that could be made gluten free for me. Service was great. The inside of the restaurant is very nice, sont get me wrong. The decor is fantastic and the open kitchen is good. The food was fantastic. I absolutely love sashimi, nigiri, and ikura. I could eat it all day. The sticky ribs were also fantastic (those were not GF). We will definitely be back. I believe parking was validated also. read more

illume - Ikura and Hamachi yellowtail- Gluten free - Japanese Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Had super high hopes for this place, but I left with my feelings being hurt. The food overall may have been some of the worst I ever had. Not sure what the executive chef is here but he/she needs to dine here. The order of food come out wrong. We ordered the tuna as our app and it come out after our hot food. The shrimp was overly breaded and just masked the flavor of any shrimp. Maybe if they used jumbo shrimp or I'm not even sure. When we told the waiter that the meal was not good and that we were upset with the order of things, he did remove the tuna app but honestly I wish we never came here. For almost a $300.00 bill with drinks of course, we left hungry and unsatisfied. Even as we checked out, no one mentioned that since we dined with them, we could get our parking ticket validated. It's $30 to park in their garage. On the plus side, the views on the roof deck from this restaurant are great. But I can't recommend this place unfortunately. read more

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