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Grand Canyon · United States

Where to Eat at the Grand Canyon: 1905 El Tovar Dining Room, Yavapai Tavern & Picnic Tips

From prime rib and Navajo tacos inside the 1905 El Tovar Dining Room to packing trail lunches at the Village Market.

Because the South Rim sits in a remote high-elevation national park forest an hour from the nearest highway town, dining requires a bit of planning. All restaurants inside the park are concentrated in Grand Canyon Village and Market Plaza, supplemented by 15+ casual restaurants and fast-food spots 10 minutes outside the gate in Tusayan.

Traditional Southwestern Navajo Taco—golden pillowy frybread topped with chili beans, shredded beef, cheddar, lettuce and green chile
Found at the Arizona Room, Bright Angel Fountain and Cameron Trading Post (on Highway 89 East!), the Navajo Taco is the signature comfort dish of northern Arizona.

1. Inside the Park: The Historic Sit-Down Restaurants

  1. The 1905 El Tovar Dining Room & Lounge (Grand Canyon Village): where Teddy Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney and Bill Clinton dined overlooking the rim! Built of dark-stained Oregon pine logs with murals of Native American rituals, it serves classic Arizona Prime Rib, Grilled Elk Medallions, Sustainable Salmon and signature French Onion Soup.
    • How to Get a Table Without a Reservation! Dinner reservations open 30 days ahead for lodge guests (and book out fast); however, Breakfast (07:00–10:00 AM — order the huevos rancheros or buttermilk pancakes!) and Lunch (11:00–14:30) accept walk-ins, and the adjacent El Tovar Lounge & Outdoor Rim Patio serves a delicious bar menu with zero reservations required!
  2. The Arizona Steakhouse (Next to Bright Angel Lodge) & Fred Harvey Burger: features floor-to-ceiling canyon-rim windows serving barbecue ribs and steaks, while next door the historic Harvey House Cafe (Fred Harvey Burger) serves family breakfasts, burgers and shakes from 06:30 AM.
  3. Yavapai Lodge Tavern & Dining Hall (At Market Plaza — Best Craft Beer Patio!): has a lively timber patio with outdoor fire pits serving Grand Canyon Brewing Co. ales, smoked brisket, street tacos and brick-oven pizza!
Outdoor timber patio, fire pits and local Arizona craft beer taps at Yavapai Tavern in Market Plaza
Located beside the Canyon Village Market (General Store) with abundant free parking, Yavapai Tavern is the best casual dinner and craft-beer spot inside the park.

2. Best Quick Trail Lunches, Coffee & The 'Canyon Village Market'

  • Canyon Village Market & Deli (At Market Plaza — Free Parking!): a full-size grocery supermarket AND made-to-order deli counter right inside the park! Stop here in the morning to pick up fresh deli sub sandwiches, fruit, salty trail mix, electrolyte packets and ice for your cooler!
  • Bright Angel Bicycles Café (Right Next to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at Mather Point!): the closest coffee, breakfast burrito and grab-and-go sandwich cafe to Mather Point!
  • Maswik Food Court & Desert View Trading Post: fast-casual cafeteria stations at Maswik Lodge, and ice cream / snacks at the east end of the park by the Watchtower!
Picnic basket and sandwiches on a stone bench overlooking the chasm along the South Rim Trail
Picking up fresh sandwiches at the Canyon Village Market Deli or Bright Angel Bicycles Café lets you picnic on a quiet stone bench right on the rim.

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