Dining at the resort: where to eat, hours to expect and practical tips
Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe/Houston offers several on-site restaurants and pool bars for island‑style breakfasts, lunches and dinners—expect all‑day options at License to Chill Bar & Café, lakefront lunches and dinners at LandShark Bar & Grill, grab‑and‑go coffee and snacks at Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions, and poolside drinks at Lone Palm Pool Bar. Exact opening times vary by season; Joe Merchant's hours are published, and for other venues the concierge or front desk can give current daily hours and reservation guidance.
In this guide
Dining options at a glance
The resort lists multiple named outlets: LandShark Bar & Grill (lakefront), License to Chill Bar & Café (all‑day with terrace), Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions (coffee and grab‑and‑go), Lone Palm Pool Bar (poolside tiki bar), Boathouse Bar & Lounge, 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar (swim‑up), and Playin' A Round Café (golf‑course café). These serve a mix of American and Caribbean‑influenced dishes, casual pool food and cocktails.
Most sit‑down restaurants are open to the public as well as resort guests; seating at LandShark is first‑come, first‑served for lunch and dinner. For current hours and any seasonal changes, check with the concierge or front desk when you arrive.
- LandShark Bar & Grill — lunch & dinner, lakefront dining (phone: 936.448.3000).
- License to Chill Bar & Café — breakfast, lunch & dinner; indoor/outdoor seating overlooking the lagoon and water park.
- Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions — coffee, grab‑and‑go, pizza; published hours for parts of the week.
- Lone Palm Pool Bar — all‑day pool bar and grill with tiki vibe.
- Boathouse Bar & Lounge — light bites and cocktails with live music.
| Venue | Typical Service |
|---|---|
| LandShark Bar & Grill | Lunch & Dinner (hours vary — see concierge) |
| License to Chill Bar & Café | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (hours vary — see concierge) |
| Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions | Coffee & Grab‑and‑Go (see details below) |
Breakfast, coffee and quick bites
License to Chill Bar & Café is the resort’s primary breakfast option, described as serving island‑twist breakfast favorites daily; it also serves lunch and dinner and has indoor seating and an outdoor terrace. Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions provides market‑style grab‑and‑go items and Starbucks combinations for quicker starts.
Joe Merchant's published hours: 7:00–11:00 a.m. Monday–Thursday, and 6:00–11:00 p.m. Friday–Saturday (the dossier shows those specific windows for coffee, grab‑and‑go and pizza availability). For full plated breakfast or buffet options, ask License to Chill or the concierge for current buffet hours and pricing.
- Joe Merchant's Coffee & Provisions — grab‑and‑go, coffee, pizza; listed morning hours Mon–Thu and evening pizza delivery Fri–Sat.
- License to Chill Bar & Café — daily breakfast service; exact start time varies by season (confirm with concierge).
- If you want a sit‑down breakfast, plan to arrive early on busy weekends or ask about reservations for License to Chill.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Grab‑and‑go coffee & snacks | Joe Merchant's — set morning hours Mon–Thu; check for weekend schedule |
| Full breakfast | License to Chill — daily, hours vary by season |
Lunch, dinner and lakefront dining
LandShark Bar & Grill is the lakefront choice for lunch and dinner, serving beach‑style plates such as coconut shrimp, fish tacos and burgers paired with tropical cocktails; it also has boat slips for lakeside access. License to Chill provides an all‑day menu with New American dishes and a Caribbean influence and overlooks the lagoon and water‑park area.
Both restaurants welcome resort guests and the public. LandShark seating is first‑come, first‑served for lunch and dinner; for larger groups, events or specific seating requests (including boat slip access), contact the restaurant or the resort ahead of time.
- LandShark Bar & Grill — lake views, lunch & dinner, first‑come first‑served seating.
- License to Chill Bar & Café — second‑floor location in the tower, indoor/outdoor terrace with water views.
- Boathouse Bar & Lounge — later‑night cocktails and live entertainment on some nights.
| Venue | Best for |
|---|---|
| LandShark Bar & Grill | Lakefront lunches, sunset dinners |
| License to Chill Bar & Café | All‑day dining and breakfast with lagoon views |
| Boathouse Bar & Lounge | Evening drinks and live music |
Pool bars, snack service and family dining
The Lone Palm Pool Bar is the resort’s thatch‑roof poolside bar and grill serving burgers, nachos, tacos and frozen drinks for pool hours; Lone Palm suits relaxed, flip‑flop‑friendly dining. The resort also operates the 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar — a swim‑up bar in one of the pools — and several poolside food options that support full family days by the water.
Pool and water‑park hours can change by season; general pool access is listed as about 9:00 AM–10:00 PM in third‑party listings. For swim‑up service availability and seasonal openings (5 o'Clock Somewhere is noted as seasonal), check the concierge on arrival.
- Lone Palm Pool Bar — all‑day pool food and cocktails; family‑friendly.
- 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar — swim‑up bar (seasonal).
- Pool hours (third‑party listing) roughly 9:00 AM–10:00 PM; individual bar hours may differ.
| Pool outlet | Typical offering |
|---|---|
| Lone Palm Pool Bar | Burgers, tacos, snacks, frozen drinks |
| 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar | Swim‑up cocktails and small bites (seasonal) |
Special dining situations: events, room types and group meals
The resort has multiple event spaces (for example Del Lago Ballroom, Compass Ballroom and a range of boardrooms) that can host private dinners and plated or buffet service; Waterside Cove Restaurant Venue and The Lakeview Room are listed as terrace/venue options with lake views. If you’re booking a wedding, rehearsal dinner or large group meal, contact the events team early to discuss menus and timelines.
There is a golf‑course café (Playin' A Round Café) for golfers and an on‑site market option at Joe Merchant's for grab‑and‑go needs. The resort’s suite types include Balcony Suite, Lake View Executive Suite, Lake Cottage and others; room service availability is not specified in the dossier, so confirm with the front desk if in‑room dining is important to you.
- Event venues can be configured for private dining—ask events or catering for menu options.
- Playin' A Round Café serves golfers on the course.
- For in‑room dining or private catering, verify options and fees with the resort directly.
| Need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Private/group dinner | Events/Catering team via resort sales |
| Golf‑course meals | Playin' A Round Café |
| In‑room dining availability | Front desk/concierge |
Practical tips for dining at the resort
Hours for most sit‑down restaurants vary seasonally and by day of week; the resort’s concierge or front desk is the authoritative source for the day’s opening hours, wait times and whether reservations or call‑ahead seating are recommended. LandShark is public and often busy at sunset; if you need a specific table or boat‑slip access, arrange it in advance where possible.
Note the resort is not an all‑inclusive property; meals and drinks are sold à la carte and a daily full breakfast is available for a fee if you choose it. Pets: dogs are permitted only in designated Lake Cottage rooms and first‑floor Tower rooms (with reservation and a $150 per‑stay fee); dogs are not allowed in dining areas. If you have accessibility, allergy or child‑seating needs, raise them with the host or concierge on arrival.
- Confirm same‑day hours with the concierge — many venues list “hours vary.”
- Expect LandShark seating to be first‑come, first‑served for lunch/dinner; consider off‑peak dining to avoid waits.
- Bring cashless pay method; contactless and card payments are accepted (specific payment types beyond card not listed in dossier).
- Pets are not allowed in dining areas; service animals policies are not detailed here—ask the front desk if needed.
| Question | What to do |
|---|---|
| Are meals included? | No — meals are à la carte; breakfast is available for a fee |
| How to get current hours | Ask concierge or front desk on arrival |
| Can I bring my dog to a restaurant? | No — dogs not permitted in dining areas |
