Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel: Complete Guide


Universal Helios Grand Hotel’s Bar Helios is a chic and stunning dining location that offers guests a luxurious social space to unwind, enjoy exquisite cocktails, and bask in a rooftop ambiance that overlooks Universal Epic Universe. 
This blog post guide aims to provide a detailed overview of Bar Helios, highlighting its unique offerings, signature cocktails, and overall experience.

What is Bar Helios?

Bar Helios is the chic rooftop lounge at Universal Helios Grand Hotel. At Bar Helios, you can drink and dine in the sky as you take in the incredible 360-degree views of Epic Universe. There’s also a dining area and an al fresco area with views of Epic Universe. Here, you can sample the menu featuring unique tapas, burgers and sliders, seafood, and salads, all while enjoying an intimate dining setting.

Where is Bar Helios Located?

:Bar Helios is located on the rooftop of  Universal Helios Grand Hotel.

Parking for Bar Helios

Self-parking validation is available with a minimum spend of $75 at the bar. If you don't validate your parking ticket you will be charged $125 to get out of the hotel parking garage.

Bar Helios – Hours and Reservations

Food Service
Daily 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Bar Service
Sunday – Thursday 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Friday – Saturday 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Reservations ahead of time is strongly recommended.

Bar Helios Atmosphere

The bar features three areas, including a central circle bar, an intimate dining area, and an outdoor terrace, with Greek-inspired décor and a constellation-themed dome ceiling. It is a perfect spot for date nights or special occasions.
Bar Helios is comfortable and stylish, with a good variety of seating options. You can come just to enjoy a small bit to eat, or you can just have drink.  Enjoying a cocktail while soaking in an amazing view of Epic Universe is unmatched. The ambient lighting creates an inviting and relaxing setting for you to enjoy drinks while yapping with friends. 
The elevated view gives you a full look at the entire park, and it's especially impressive around sunset. Whether you're grabbing a drink before exploring or winding down at the end of the day, it's a perfect place to relax and take in the views of Universal Epic Universe.
Bar Helios is the place to be from 8:55 PM to 9:15 PM for the water show at Universal Epic Universe--hands down the best view of the entire park, complete with the music playing through the restaurant’s speakers.
We were seated outside on the terrace, and the views of Epic Universe were gorgeous, it’s hard to beat the view. Note— most of the terrace is not covered, so keep the unpredictable Florida weather in mind before you choose outside seating. 

Exceptional Service

The staff at Bar Helios prides themselves on delivering top-notch service to ensure that guests have a memorable and enjoyable time. Whether you’re seeking recommendations on cocktails, need assistance with menu selections, or simply desire a friendly chat, the attentive and professional team at Bar Helios is dedicated to providing exceptional hospitality.

Bar Helios Full Menu with Prices

One of the highlights of Bar Helios is its impressive selection of signature cocktails crafted by skilled mixologists. From classic concoctions to innovative blends, the bar offers a diverse range of libations to cater to every taste. Guests can indulge in handcrafted cocktails made with premium spirits, fresh ingredients, and artistic flair, creating a sensory experience that delights the palate.
In addition to its stellar cocktail offerings, Bar Helios boasts a curated menu of gourmet snacks and small plates to complement your beverages. From decadent charcuterie boards to savory appetizers and delectable desserts, Bar Helios is best for light bites rather than a full meal. 

Signature Cocktails

Atlas – $19.00
Mount Gay Rum, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, fig syrup

Athenian Milk Punch – $27.00
Angel’s Envy Helios Barrel Selection Bourbon, Metaxa Ouzo, mint tea, lemon, cane syrup, labneh

Nectar of the Gods – $20.00
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, Grand Marnier, peach syrup, lime juice, cane syrup

Pandora’s Box – $21.00
Golden raisin-infused Grey Goose, Belle de Brillet Pear, clarified lemon juice, Fino Sherry

Mount Olympus – $20.00
Hendrick’s Gin, St~Germain, lemon and lavender cordial, lime juice, mint, Ferrari Brut

The Night Goddess – $19.00
Ketel One Vodka, PAMA, pomegranate molasses, lemon, ginger beer

Aphrodite – $20.00
Tanqueray 10, Chambord, Cointreau, lemon and lavender cordial, lemon, and orange bitters

Clash of the Titans – $18.00
Tanqueray Gin, Feta Honey, lemon, St~Germain, egg whites

Medusa – $19.00
The Botanist Gin, za’atar-infused agave, Luxardo Maraschino, lemon, Fever-Tree Sparkling Grapefruit

Prometheus – $22.00
Hennessy VS, Disaronno Amaretto, lemon, honey syrup, aromatic bitters

Chariot of the Sun – $22.00
Dos Hombres Mezcal, Patrón Silver, Amaro Montenegro, pineapple juice, lime, agave

This is Sparta – $19.00
Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, Bulliet Rye, Aperol, Ancho Reyes Verde, RIPE Lime Sour

Apollo Old Fashioned – $25.00
Patrón Añejo, cinnamon and sherry syrup, bitters

Trojan Horse – $20.00
Patrón Silver, Domaine De Canton, Reàl Red Pepper, Monin Cantaloupe, lime

For the Table

Farmer’s Cheese – $25.00
Whipped farmer’s cheese, honeycomb, citrus, local seasonal fruit, pistachio, grilled focaccia

Charcuterie – $27.00
Prosciutto di Parma, bresaola, tartufo salami, mostarda, pickled vegetables, grilled focaccia, olio verde

Mezze & Spreads– $23.00
Marinated Mediterranean olives, taramosalata, za’atar labneh, hummus, grilled pita

WAGYU BEEF SLIDERS – $26.00
Kibbeh spiced mayo, aged cheddar, charred onions, arugula.

Crunchy Crab Cake – $32.00
Lemon prosecco sauce, caviar

Fried Halloumi – $19.00
Spiced honey, kibbeh

Confit Pork Belly – $22.00
Corn purée, finger lime, chili

Spring Pea & Chorizo Croquette – $21.00
Summer citrus ricotta

Hot Butter Crispy Calamari – $22.00
Pickled Turkish pepper, herbs, rich tomato garlic sauce

Tableside 32oz Tomahawk Experience – $165.00
Bordeaux jus, chimichurri, garlic sauce, charred vegetables

Niman Ranch Lamb Chops – $43.00
Charred cippolini, confit tomatoes, chermoula sauce

Charred Octopus – $25.00
Crispy herb potatoes, olives, salsa verde, The Villages Farm brassica leaves

Beef Skewer – $29.00
Chimichurri, garlic sauce

Pan-Seared Diver Scallops – $45.00
Fava bean purée, shaved asparagus, summer citrus vinaigrette

Chilled On Ice

Compressed Watermelon – $22.00
Feta mousse, Persian cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, green gazpacho, Sugar Top Farms leaves

Fresh Oysters – Market Price
Half or full dozen, served with a choice of harissa cocktail sauce or pink peppercorn mignonette

Poached Jumbo Prawns – Market Price
Half or full dozen, served with harissa cocktail sauce

Blue Crab Claws – Market Price
Half or full dozen, served with harissa cocktail sauce

Crudos

Georges Bank Sea Scallop Crudo – $29.00
Sour orange vinaigrette, Persian cucumber, Aleppo, pistachio

Bluefin Tuna – $25.00
Chili crunch oil, capers, olio verde

Ora King Salmon – $27.00

Seafood Tower – $225.00
Snow crab claws, poached Florida prawns, oysters (East Coast), tuna sashimi

Bar Helios Desserts

Under Smoke – $17.00
Chocolate mousse, chocolate soil, caramel

Tropical Summer – $15.00
Vanilla bean crème, mango sorbet, passion fruit, oat crumble

The Shattered Rose – $32.00
An interactive dessert experience, Babka bread pudding, cardamom gelato

Bottled Beer, Draft Beer, and Wines by the Glass

Domestic Beer

Budweiser – $10.00

Bud Light – $10.00

Samuel Adams Seasonal – $10.00

Fat Tire – $10.00

Draft Beer

Modelo – $14.50

Michelob Ultra – $13.50

Stella Artois – $14.50

Voodoo Ranger IPA – $14.50

Florida Avenue “Luminescence” Hazy IPA – $14.50

Bud Light – $13.50

Blue Moon – $13.50

Crooked Can Cloud Chaser – $14.50

Import

Corona Extra – $11.00

Corona Premier – $11.00

Heineken – $11.00

Heineken 0.0 – $11.00

Dos Equis – $11.00

Birra Baladin Italian IPA – $13.00

Birra Baladin Nazionale Italian Blonde Ale – $13.00

Duvel Belgian Lager – $13.00

Wine Options at Bar Helios

Prosecco

Lunetta – $14.00 | $56.00
Italy

Jeio Bisol Rosé – $16.00 | $64.00
Italy

Rosé Frizzante

Elio Perrone ‘Bigaro’ Brachetto – $16.00 | $64.00
Italy

Sparkling

Ferrari ‘Brut’ – $25.00 | $100.00
Italy

Champagne

Nicolas Feuillatte ‘Brut’ – $38.00 | $150.00
France

Chardonnay

Mer Soleil ‘Reserve’ – $15.00 | $60.00
California

Duckhorn – $18.00 | $72.00
California

Chevalier de la Crée, Montagny – $26.00 | $104.00
Burgundy, France

Sauvignon Blanc

Wither Hills – $15.00 | $60.00
New Zealand

Benoit Chauveau Pouilly-Fumé – $20.00 | $80.00
France

Pinot Grigio

Bertani – $15.00 | $60.00
Italy

Assyrtiko

Anatolikos – $25.00 | $100.00
Thrace, Greece

Rosé

Mas La Chevalière – $16.00 | $64.00
France

Château d’Esclans ‘Whispering Angel’ – $17.00 | $68.00
France

Pinot Noir

Bloomhouse by Argyle – $16.00 | $64.00
Oregon

Frank Family – $27.00 | $105.00
Napa, California

Merlot

Markham ‘Six Stack’ – $15.00 | $60.00
California

Malbec

Bodegas Caro Aruma by Lafite Rothschild – $12.00 | $48.00
Argentina

Tempranillo

Muga ‘El Andén de la Estación’ Rioja – $17.00 | $80.00
Spain

Cabernet Sauvignon

Daou – $16.00 | $64.00
California

Canvasback by Duckhorn – $20.00 | $80.00
California

Eberle, ‘Vineyard Selection’ – $24.00 | $90.00
Paso Robles, California

Bordeaux

Les Légendes by Lafite Rothschild – $15.00 | $60.00
France

Red Blend

Sella & Mosca – $15.00 | $60.00
Sardinia, Italy

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône – $16.00 | $64.00
France

The Pessimist – $16.00 | $64.00
California

Booker Harvey & Harriet – $18.00 | $72.00
Paso Robles, California

The Prisoner – $25.00 | $100.00
California

Bar Helios Cocktail Reviews

Mount Olympus – $20.00
Hendrick’s Gin, St~Germain, lemon and lavender cordial, lime juice, mint, Ferrari Brut

The lemon and lavender cordial is made in-house! Out of all the drinks we tried, this was the sweetest cocktail, but it still wasn’t too too sweet. The sweetness was balanced well with the acid. The most prominent flavor in this drink was the lemon, followed by a light flavor of herbaceous lavender. The lime juice and mint are on the light side flavor wise, but they help balance out the drink. I like how you can definitely taste the gin in this drink. 
8/10

Athenian Milk Punch – $27.00
Angel’s Envy Helios Barrel Selection Bourbon, Metaxa Ouzo, mint tea, lemon, cane syrup, labneh

This is the most expensive cocktail on the menu since it is a clarified Bourbon. The drink was well balanced. The flavors reminded me of an Old Fashioned, but the bourbon flavor is not very prominent. The bourbon doesn’t taste like bourbon at all. This drink is not heavy at all. Very refreshing. 
9.5/10

The Night Goddess – $19.00
Ketel One Vodka, PAMA, pomegranate molasses, lemon, ginger beer

Greek God – $22.00
Dill and olive oil-infused Grey Goose, caper-infused dry vermouth.

This drink is essentially dirty martini. Flavor wise it's caper forward, while also tasting a lot of the vermouth. As you continue drinking, you will start to pick up the olive oil flavor, but it is 100% secondary to the caper and vermouth. Note-- you do smell a lot of the dill as you are drinking Overall, this drink is drink is dry and heavy on the vermouth.
9/10
Overall, cocktails and food were very impressive at Bar Helios. You can tell a lot of thought and work went into creating the menu. It’s also nice that there’s a good variety of drink items you can choose from.

Bar Helios Dining Reviews

Farmer’s Cheese – $25.00
Whipped farmer’s cheese, honeycomb, citrus, local seasonal fruit, pistachio, grilled focaccia

If you looking for a great option for sharing, it’s this one because you get a lot of focaccia and cheese.The focaccia itself is perfect, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The cheese is super creamy, and has lots of different flavors for you to mix and try. This has a great balance of acid from the citrus and sweetness of the honeycomb and fig.
10/10

Fried Halloumi – $19.00
Spiced honey, kibbeh

These are really yummy cheese cubes covered in a honey drizzle. We think these are really good. The hot honey makes this dish. 
9.5/10

Hot Butter Crispy Calamari – $22.00
Pickled Turkish pepper, herbs, rich tomato garlic sauce

This was one of my favorite dishes as Bar Helios! Perfectly cooked, super flavorful and fresh. For the price, I just wish the portion size was bigger.
9.5/10

WAGYU BEEF SLIDERS – $26.00
Kibbeh spiced mayo, aged cheddar, charred onions, arugula.

Our group LOVED these! These sliders are a must-try item at Bar Helios. The  consistency and flavor of the wagyu beef is spot. on. The arugula provides a needed veggie flavor, and the charred onions have a nice crunch and are so tasty.
10/10

Bar Helios Dessert Review

The Shattered Rose – $32.00
An interactive dessert experience, Babka bread pudding, cardamom gelato

During this interactive dessert experience, a rose is dipped in liquid nitrogen, and you can “smash” it over the bread pudding. The dessert itself is pretty rich, and you get a good amount of the cardamom spice. The bread pudding is awesome, but isn’t as sweet and gooey as your typical bread pudding. I appreciate that it comes warm. The gelato has a very strong cardamom flavor. The Cardamom flavor surprisingly works well here.
This is a pricey one and done kind of dessert, so I would split with friends.
8/10

What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience Bar Helios?

During Sunset:

Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and watch the colors change over the park as the sun goes down.

Evening Epic Universe Light Show:

For the best possible view of the Epic Universe lagoon show, you should plan to visit in the evening. Guests have noted that being on the terrace from around 8:55 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. offers the perfect vantage point.

What to Know Before You Go

Reservations for Bar Helios are highly recommended:

Bar Helios is extremely popular, and reservations are strongly recommended to secure seating, especially on the outdoor terrace with the best park views. Seating at the central bar is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rain can affect seating:

Florida's afternoon thunderstorms can close the outdoor seating area. On rainy days, the limited indoor seating means reservations may be delayed, especially for larger parties.

Pricey but worth it for the view:

The drinks and food are expensive, but the experience and incredible views justify the cost.

Limited menu for a full meal:

Since the menu is focused on tapas and small plates, Bar Helios is better suited for pre-dinner drinks and appetizers or a nightcap than a full dinner.

Overall Thoughts on Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel

Whether you’re a Universal Helios Grand Hotel guest or a visitor, Bar Helios is a must-visit for those seeking a sophisticated and upscale dining experience. From the stunning views to the delicious cocktails and food, you will fall in love with Bar Helios. With its stylish ambiance, signature cocktails, gourmet menu offerings, exceptional service, Bar Helios will make for a memorable experience.
This is the perfect spot to kick back in the evening after a busy day in the parks. I have honestly come here just for the atmosphere. It's such a unique and relaxing spot. It's also a great spot for a date night, family celebration, etc.

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