8 Restaurants Near Glacier National Park Where You Can Rest & Refuel

Good morning, good day, or good evening. Today I have a list of some of the great restaurants that you can find around Glacier National Park. Unfortunately, due to the seasonal nature of the economy around the park, some of the restaurants on the list today are only open during the peak season. (Which is mostly May - October). But I’ll be sure to let you know which restaurants might be closed. And for each restaurant I’ll give you a quick summary, a Yelp review, their address, and a link to their website. And when any of these restaurants accept our convenient digital GiftYa gift cards I’ll be sure to throw you a handy link.

If you haven’t used GiftYa yet, their digital format makes them really great as gifts or for people who love to travel. Since they are stored  entirely on your phone they can be bought and sent in just seconds. The all digital format also means that you never have to worry about keeping track of the balance left on the cards. Your phone will do all the math for you!

But enough about the company brand, let’s get to that list of great places there are to eat around Glacier National Park in Montana! 

1 - Belton Grill Dining Room & Tap Room

Come-As-You-Are Fine Dining At this Fantastic Hotel In West Glacier

12575 Hwy 2 E | West Glacier | glacierparkcollection.com

The Belton Dining Room is a restaurant located at the beautiful Belton Chalet. A 25 room lodge that is open half the year from October through May. They even have two full three bedroom one bath cottages for rent. But don’t let all the hotel stuff throw you. They just so happen to feature one of the best restaurants you can find anywhere around Glacier Park. The menu changes every season, but the experience stays the same. 

They refer to it as come-as-you-are fine dining. So you can expect an out of this world meal prepared by a professional and caring chef, but you don’t have to worry about feeling on edge the whole time like you do at some high end restaurants. One of the worst things about paying for a great meal is being in an atmosphere that is so fancy or elegant, that you feel like you can’t be yourself and have to dance around to meet a bunch of cultural norms that apply at this particular restaurant. You don’t get any of that at the Belton Grill Dining Room. You can come as you are and enjoy a meal that is absolutely something special.

“The hotel rooms are very comfortable and cozy. The staff is extremely helpful and nice. Excellent food and service at the restaurant. By far the best dining nearby. Blows away any of the food you'll find in the park.” - Yelp Review 

2 - Glacier Highland

Has Been Serving the West Glacier Area Since 1927

12555 Hwy 2 E | West Glacier | glacierhighland.com

Glacier Highland is another one of the great restaurants you can find around Glacier National Park. The restaurant is located right near the park in West Glacier. You can expect to get really fantastic classic American cuisine. You can enjoy everything from a chicken pot pie to a gourmet buffalo meatloaf.

The restaurant is part of the larger Glacier Highlands business that also includes a hotel and gift shop. With the beautiful mountain views and fresh air it’s no wonder they’ve been successfully supplying visitors to Glacier National Park with fantastic lodging and home cooked meals. The restaurant is open everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but only during the season the whole business is operating. 

Since the park gets a lot less busy in the winter months unfortunately Glacier Highland is only open from May through October each year. But if you are at Glacier National Park in the spring or summer then you will sorely be missing out if you don’t stop in to try a bite. They even have plenty of great vegan and vegetarian options which makes them the perfect stop for anybody visiting the park during the busy season.

“The Huckleberry Pie...  Tell me I haven't died and gone to heaven. It was an ethereal experience. Literally mind bending and I don't even like deserts. The bison burger was good too and it has an outdoor patio and dog friendly too. Yeah it's a little pricey but everything is pricey these days. Check it out.” - Yelp Review 

3 - La Casita

Best Mexican Food Near Glacier National Park 

12000 US Hwy 2 E | West Glacier | facebook.com/lacasitamt

If you are craving a fantastic meal of Mexican cuisine while you are visiting Glacier National Park then you absolutely must give La Casita a try. You can get all of your favorites like chimichangas, quesadillas, and burritos. La Casita makes a great choice for lunch or dinner, but you have to be careful when you show up. They are open for lunch from 12:00 PM - 3:30 PM for lunch, and then open again 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM for dinner. But as long as you show up when they are open, you are going to get an out of this world meal. Seriously just check out their Yelp page and you can see people just racing about how great it is.

“Since leaving California, this is the closest thing to the real deal.  A little pricey but all food is pricey these days.  Been here many times and will continue to come back and support this place.  I tell all my friends and family.   Little hidden gem     Must try.” - Yelp Review 

4 - Northern Lights Saloon

The Best Spot for Dinner and Drinks Near Glacier National Park

265 Polebridge | Polebridge | thenorthernlightssaloon.com

Northern Lights Saloon is kind of a drive from Glacier National Park. It’s about thirty minutes away by car, but it is such a local favorite that I felt it should still be included on the list. They are a one of a kind rustic bar and restaurant that really has a great theme and vibe for being in an area with so many national park visitors. They do live music and other fun events so be sure to check out their website to see what they have upcoming. And also so you know when they will be closed. Like many of the other spots on the list today the Northern Lights Saloon & Cafe is only open during the busy season for the park, so you won’t be able to visit in the dead of winter.

But if you do visit you will find great American style dinner cuisine along with plenty of stiff drinks. It’s in the middle of nowhere as well, so if you are trying to get away from the crowds at the park, it might make a great little piece of sanctuary for you after a long day of hiking.

“A big bumpy & dusty drive / but worth the visit. We loved the vibe here. Live music when we visited, local brews and cocktails. Beautiful outdoor seating. Great visit.” - Yelp Review 

5 - Glacier Grill & Pizza

The Best Place to Grab A Slice Near Glacier National Park 

10126 US Hwy 2 E | Coram | glacierparkrestaurant.com

Glacier Grill & Pizza is another great restaurant near Glacier National Park. And as the name might suggest you are going to be able to get a great pizza or a wide variety of different American classics. You can get great burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, beer, wine, and dessert. But the real standout on the menu are their speciality pizzas that come in both medium, large, and mini sized. So whether you want to get a pizza and feed the whole table, or let everybody at the table order their own individual dinner, Glacier Grill & Pizza is going to have you covered. 

“Great food. Fantastic service. We felt welcomed from the time we stepped in the door. We had bison burgers and pizza - all delicious!” - Yelp Review 

6 - The Wandering Gringo

A Great Mexican Food Stand Right Near the Park 

US-2 | West Glacier | facebook.com/people/Wandering-Gringo-Cafe

The wandering Gringo is a small Mexican food stand that serves up excellent food with fantastic portions. And you can get excellent portions of all your favorites like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Like many of the restaurants on the list today, they don’t stay open all year. So if you are visiting the area during the off season, you aren’t going to be able to get a bite here. But if you are in the area during the busy season of the park, then this is the perfect spot for a lunch or dinner to fill you up after a long hike!

“Largest burritos I've ever had, and definitely worth the price. It's a hidden gem. You might not know it's there, but it was recommended to us after a whitewater trip with Glacier Rafting... it's within walking distance.... so if you're up for an adventure and delicious lunch hit them both up!” - Yelp Review 

7 - Eddie’s Cafe & Gifts

A Great Place for Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream On A Hot Day 

Apgar Village | Essex | eddiescafegifts.com/

Eddie’s Cafe & Gifts is a great little gift shop that also happens to have a full cafe. So you can get all kinds of great sandwiches for lunch. But I think the thing that really makes Eddie’s standout is the fact that they offer plenty of great options for both frozen yogurt and ice cream. So if you are visiting the park during the busy season and the sun is getting a little too hot for you, be sure to treat yourself to a nice break at Eddie’s with a nice cool treat and a great lunch.

“This is a great spot right in Apgar Village. The food is good and the waitstaff is extremely friendly. Their turkey BLT was very good and their onion rings were prepared perfectly. Great place to eat in the park.” - Yelp Review 

8 - Applebee’s

A Classic American Dinner Chain

Grab an Applebee’s gift card by following the link!

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207 Collier Dr | Kalispell | applebees.com

I’m guessing most of you out there are familiar with Applebee’s, and that is precisely why I included them on the list. I know sometimes (when you are already spending big on a vacation to a national park) you don’t want to take a risk on some restaurant you have never heard of before. So if you fit into that category, I wanted to make sure there was an option for you to. Applebee’s is going to be the most amazing meal you’ve ever had, and you will get something familiar and tasty at a fair price. 

“The food was ok,burgers are a bit plain...Customer service was great! We had Jason as our waiter and he was very friendly!” - Yelp Review 

You can get an Applebee’s gift card by following this link!

And that concludes my list of great restaurants you can find around Glacier National Park. I hope I was able to help you narrow down your search and that you find something tasty to eat. And if you are around Glacier National Park, be sure to check out our other article on all the great activities there are to do in and around the park.