The 9 Scenic Restaurants Inside Yosemite National Park for Elevated Dining (Includes Map)

Yosemite National Park is a spectacular park located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in central eastern California. Established in 1864, it is America’s third oldest national park and is best known for its majestic granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and stunning mountain meadows. For a place that is so steeped in nature, it is unusual to find so many good restaurants inside Yosemite National Park. The popularity of the park from its earliest days is perhaps part of the reason why food is at the front and center of outdoor adventures here.

From the historic Ahwahnee Hotel that celebrates Native American culture to the humble beginnings of Curry Village, dining in Yosemite National Park has something for every kind of traveler. This post covers 9 scenic restaurants inside Yosemite National Park that will satisfy your tastebuds. Please bear in mind that some of these restaurants are seasonal as noted below so they remain closed from late fall through early spring. Be sure to check the latest timings before your visit.

1. Ahwahnee Dining Room and Bar

The Ahwahnee is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day exploring Yosemite National Park. The Ahwahnee Dining Room offers guests a luxurious and memorable dining experience. As soon as you step in, you are mesmerized by the high 34-foot ceilings with wooden beams and triangular faux candle chandeliers. The vibe is spectacular yet intimate. The menu developed by the hotel’s executive chef is based on traditional American cuisine. The restaurant features an outstanding selection of domestic and imported wines to complement the menu.

While breakfast, brunch, and lunch are casual, dinner is a more serious affair with reservations and a dress code. Men are expected to wear long pants and a shirt with a collar while women can opt for a dress, skirt, or long pants with a blouse. This includes children above the age of four as well. Plan on carrying the appropriate outfits or stop by earlier in the day for casual meals. Wifi access is often limited inside the park so I’d recommend reserving in advance if eating here is on your bucket list.

The Ahwahnee Bar on the other end of the lobby offers guests a relaxing atmosphere with a selection of craft beers and wines and a variety of classic and modern cocktails. This was a perfect stop on the Cook’s Meadow and Ahwahnee Meadow Loop before we made our way back to Curry Village.

* Upgrades and refurbishments have started at Ahwahnee in early 2023. The Dining Room will be closed throughout the summer of 2023. Dining services will still be available in the Great Lounge, Solarium, and Winter Club Room. The Dining Room is scheduled to reopen in Fall 2023. The Bar will continue to operate as usual.

2. Seven Tents Pavilion

The Curry Village Seven Tents Pavilion is a cafeteria-style eatery located in Yosemite Valley. It has recently reopened after extensive renovations which looked great during our visit. The walls are lined with information and the history of how Curry Village was created and began with only seven tents (hence the name of the pavilion). The two large bears in the corner of the hall are a popular photo-op corner with small kids.

The place serves a hot breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, and oatmeal every morning. You can get a breakfast bundle for adults or kids with bacon or sausage, potatoes, and toast to accompany the eggs. There’s also a separate Peet’s coffee corner open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. if you’re looking for a caffeine fix early in the morning.

Grab-and-go options are available in the afternoon for lunch so you can take those long on your hike. In the afternoons and evenings, the space doubles up as an indoor dining space for the pizzas, drinks, and bar food that you grab on the deck. The Pavilion is open most of the year, with some winter closures, and is accessible to wheelchairs.

3. Pizza Deck

The pizza in Curry Village is one of the best pizzas I’ve ever eaten (and I’ve eaten a lot of pizza, just so you know). The crust is hand-tossed with a crisp bottom and well-raised dough. You can build your pizza with a variety of vegetables and meats. There are also a handful of pre-designed signature pizza options like El Capitan and Mother Curry. Plus there’s garlic bread, chili, hot dog, and salad. This is one of the best places to grab a bite before boarding the free Yosemite Shuttle to explore other areas of the park.

4. Bar 1899

Bar 1899 is a great spot for beers on tap (including a couple of locals), domestic and European wines, and signature cocktails with apt Yosemite-themed names. The best part is that the food at Bar 1899 matches up to the quality of the drinks. We tried the chicken wings and vegan tacos in late fall which were fantastic.

5. Meadow Grill

Meadow Grill, next to the Curry Village Grocery and Gift Shop, remains open only during the warmer months so we couldn’t try it when we visited at the end of September. There are a handful of egg, cereal, and fruit-based breakfast options from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Afternoons and evenings feature sandwiches, burgers, bowls, and salads.

6. Base Camp Eatery

Base Camp Eatery is a very cool food-hall-style dining experience inside Yosemite National Park with a wide variety of dishes from sandwiches to poke bowls. Be sure to check out the chef’s specials every day. I even got a slice of moist chocolate cake for my birthday here!

A lot of the cooking and assembling of food happens out front so you can watch the chefs putting that meal together. Fresh ingredients and healthy options are a highlight at Base Camp.

7. Mountain Room

Yosemite Valley Lodge’s Mountain Room is set to impress you with an upscale dining experience featuring views of the 2,424-foot-high Yosemite Falls. There are carefully crafted entrees of seafood, steaks, and chicken. Plus there is at least one entree for vegans and vegetarians. Seasonal and local ingredients definitely feature prominently on the menu. Mountain Room is also one of the restaurants inside Yosemite National Park that takes reservations.

The Mountain Room Lounge is a more laid-back space with a Swedish-style fireplace where you can enjoy roasted marshmallows, cocktails, and appetizers.

8. Degnan’s 

Degnan’s is located in the Yosemite Village area. The deli and kitchen on the main floor are open year-round while the loft is only open in the warmer months. It was closed at the time of our visit at the end of September.

The main deli carries sandwiches and soups while the bakery section carries croissants, muffins, and the like. I liked the hiker’s hummus sandwich here and it was nice to see at least a couple of vegetarian options. The sandwiches are made in batches and handed out as you go to reduce wait times. There are also some grab-and-go foods, chips, and trail mixes you can pick from while waiting in line.

9. Village Grill

The Village Grill in Yosemite National Park offers a casual dining experience with a variety of grilled sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and veggie options. The Grill’s expansive outdoor deck is the perfect spot to sit and enjoy a meal while taking in the spectacular views of Yosemite Valley. The Village Grill is located in eastern Yosemite Valley, in Yosemite Village, near Yosemite Village Parking.

Considering that it is an outdoor restaurant, like the Meadow Grill, this remains open only during the warmer months.

That’s all about the 9 scenic restaurants inside Yosemite National Park. Visitors looking to dine outside the valley can also check out the Wawona Hotel, White Wolf Lodge, and Tuolumne Meadows dining options here.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of food at the restaurants inside Yosemite. We’ve been on several hiking trips across the country and internationally. We usually stock up on energy bars or fruits and are happy to make do with cold sandwiches. Being outdoors is really about enjoying the natural surroundings and worrying less about meals. But every once in a while, it’s great to be pampered by a place like Yosemite National Park where you can start the day with a challenging hike and end it with a cold beer and hot meal.

Have you been to Yosemite National Park? If yes, what did you think of the restaurants there? If you are planning your first visit to Yosemite, I hope this guide will help you plan your visit and answer any questions you have about dining there. Feel free to drop additional questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them!