From Base Camp Kitchens to Top-Tier Pizza, We’ve Got Some of the Best Grub Near Yosemite for All You Travelers Out There
Yosemite National Park is one of our country's most beloved national parks and it’s easy to see why. It’s famous for its towing waterfalls, its breathtaking valleys, and its beautiful Sequoia trees. So if you are planning a visit to see this beautiful park then you will want to be sure to see all the beautiful natural landscape that you can, but while you are on your trip to the park you may need to find a great place to eat. So today I have something that can help. I have a list of 7 great restaurants you can find around Yosemite National Park.
And if the restaurant accepts them I’ll be sure to give you a link so you can get a digital GiftYa gift card. I personally think that they make a great tool for planning vacations. Since you can purchase them in just moments, and never have the risk of losing them, you can actually just pay for parts of your vacation in advance. Which means you don’t have to worry about doing all the mental math to keep your trip on budget when you are supposed to be vacationing and relaxing.
But that’s enough about the “brand,” let’s get to that list of great restaurants you can find around Yosemite National Park!
70847 US Hwy 395 | Bridgeport | virginiacreeksettlement.net
The Virginia Creek Settlement Restaurant is going to be one of the best restaurants you can find in the area. The reason I think they are one of the best is because they offer a full breakfast and brunch menu with all the classics like pancakes, french toast, and breakfast sandwiches. But on top of their full breakfast menu they also offer a great lunch and dinner menu of great Italian food. You can get all kinds of great pasta, salads, steaks and sandwiches. But the thing they are most famous for is definitely their pizza. You can build your own from all the excellent sauces and toppings they offer, or you can order one of their fantastic speciality pizzas.
Virginia Creek Settlement Restaurant has been open since 2006 and in that time they have quickly grown to one of the most popular restaurants in the area. They really have a pretty deep menu so I would recommend you check it out for yourself if you are a little unsure so that way you can see everything they have to offer.
But for any families out there, they offer a family sized dinner that consists of spaghetti and a medium one topping pizza served up with plenty of salad and breadsticks. And to top it off you even get ice cream for dessert. Which I think makes them a really great option if you are on a trip to Yosemite with your family and are just trying to find something for dinner that will make everybody happy. I mean how many kids don’t like pizza and ice cream?
“This place is a hidden gem. The apple dumpling was absolutely amazing. The best we've had in our lives. I would highly recommend this place if you're looking for a peaceful rest-stop.” - Yelp Review
33160 Evergreen Rd | Groveland | evergreenlodge.com
Evergreen Lodge is now celebrating their 100th year. Which is an incredibly long time, and there’s no way they could have been open for so long if they didn’t take pride in what they are doing. And that is how the lodge has expanded to now feature a restaurant in the main lodge, a poolside bar, and an authentic old-west tavern. So you can expect to get some great food or drinks while you are here.
The Main Lodge is a great place to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a few different settings. There’s the warm and cozy dining room, the outdoor porch, the classic tavern, or open air covered patio. They serve breakfast everyday from 7:00AM - 10:30AM everyday. Lunch is served 12:00PM - 3:00PM. And dinner is served from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the winter and 5:30PM - 10:00PM in the summer.
But no matter when you go there you can expect to get fantastic American style cuisine all day long. They have plenty of soup, salad, fish, ribs, sandwiches and burgers. But for any concerned parents, don’t worry, they also have a full kids menu available all day as well. I think the Evergreen Lodge Restaurant and Tavern is great for a night out with that special someone, or even just a quick lunch with the family one day before you hit the trails.
“Love this place so much. The restaurant on site is excellent and having the general store for last minute snacks was so helpful. Highly recommend!” - Yelp Review
9006 Yosemite Lodge Dr | Yosemite Valley | travelyosemite.com/yosemite-valley-lodge
The Mountain Room is open from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM for dinner every night. And while you are enjoying your dinner you can enjoy the view of a nearly 2500 ft waterfall. The only real issue with this restaurant is that it is in the park itself. So you will have to pay for a pass into the park for the day at least. But if you are already in the park anyways you can just swing by the Yosemite Valley Lodge at dinner time and get a table. I will warn you that like with most of the restaurants around Yosemite, you will want to make a reservation well in advance if you are there during the busy season. There’s just so much foot traffic and population density around Yosemite in the summer time that everywhere tends to get a little crowded.
But once you get your table you can enjoy a great meal of perfectly cooked steaks, sustainably caught seafood, and even incredible vegetarian dinner options as well. You are going to get a great meal with a breathtaking view of the natural beauty of the Yosemite Valley. If you are already spending the day in the park, then this would be my number one choice of restaurant around Yosemite National Park for you.
“Good service, good food and good ambiance. Glad its open again after several year hiatus. Best place in the Valley to eat. Now they take reservations on Open Table so no longer long waits to get in.” - Yelp Review
9010 Curry Village Dr | Yosemite National Park | travelyosemite.com/curry-village-dining
If you are looking for a great pizza while you are in the park then you are going to want to check out Pizza Deck. You can get great homemade and hand-tossed pizza and tons of fresh salad as well. You can even enjoy a nice cold drink on the outdoor deck. And I know a lot of restaurants have an outdoor deck but you are going to be hard pressed to find one with a better view than the one at Pizza Deck.
You can see famous Yosemite landmarks like Glacier Point and Royal Arches. So not only can you soak in the natural beauty of Yosemite while you are out exploring the park, you won’t even miss out on seeing them when you stop to eat. And the thing I like best about the Pizza Deck is that they are open from 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM everyday. Which I think makes them the best spot around Yosemite to grab lunch for the day. Now you’ll obviously have to have entrance to the park for the day to get there, but if you are already out exploring the park for the day, then I think this makes the perfect spot for lunch.
And you don’t even have to worry about possibly leaving a mess behind if you brought a packed lunch. And of course, I think Pizza Deck is a great choice for any families who are visiting the park who just need to find something all their kids will eat. It’s hard to go wrong with pizza right?
“Sooo yummy! Tried the cheese garlic bread (which was just ok), a pepperoni pizza, and the caramel apple pizza (which were both amazing!). Definitely recommend when at Yosemite with the family.” - Yelp Review
9005 Ahwahnee Dr | Yosemite National Park | travelyosemite.com/ahwahnee-dining-room
The Aheahnee is a National Historic Landmark located right in the Yosemite Valley. And this hotel features a dining room that is the height of luxury. It has over 30 ft high ceilings with wide sweeping windows that offer you a view of the surrounding natural beauty. Their aim is to create a feeling of grandness and opulence while you are dining and the breathtaking views definitely succeed in that.
And while you revel in that opulence you can enjoy a fantastic breakfast, lunch, or dinner which are served all year long. And of course on Sunday you can also enjoy their famous brunch menu. This is probably the finest dining you can find anywhere inside of Yosemite National Park.
But just know that the fine dining does come with a dress code at dinner time. So be sure to pack something more than your hiking shorts if you are planning on stopping in. And I think it’s worth mentioning they recommend you make a reservation for dinner. It's pretty easy to see why, with this level of luxury you can be sure that they get busy. If you are planning to visit in the summer time I would highly recommend you make a reservation well in advance just in case.
“The Ahwahnee Dining Room is first class, the setting and dining is exceptional! You'll enjoy both breakfast and dinner at the Ahwahnee.” - Yelp Review
9015 Village Dr | Yosemite Village | travelyosemite.com/dining/yosemite-village
Degnan’s Kitchen is going to be the best place you can find around Yosemite Valley if you are looking for a great lunch at a low key kind of place. They serve all kinds of fantastic delicatessen subs and sandwiches along with plenty of fresh-made salads. They also have plenty of great espresso and coffee drinks as well. I don’t think there’s anybody out there who couldn’t use a great sandwich and a hot cup of coffee after a long morning of hiking.
“Simple deli that has great prices and is solid for its location. Would go again but be aware of the crowds near lunch time.” - Yelp Review
9006 Village Drive | Yosemite Valley | yosemite.com/restaurants-dining/base-camp-eatery
Base Camp Eatery used to just be called the Yosemite Valley food court. But when they added a whole Starbucks coffee bar to it I guess they decided it needed a fancier name. But regardless of what it’s called you can get great breakfast, lunch, and dinner here that are made using local and seasonal ingredients.
The nicest thing though is that they have plenty of grab-and-go options in case you are just looking for something you can put in your backpack for a lunch out on the trails. While they aren’t going to be as upscale as some of the restaurants further up the list, you will be able to get good food at a pretty reasonable price. And hey, you can’t really beat the convenience.
“I have been here 3 days in a row. Every time the staff was so friendly and it truly make our experience wonderful. They are closed at certain hours of the day, but the food is great and I would definitely recommend!” - Yelp Review
And that concludes my article on great restaurants you can find around Yosemite National Park. The downside to most of these restaurants is that you will have to have a pass to the park to get to them, but since I figure you are most likely planning a trip to the area to see the park I’m hoping that won’t be an issue for most of you. And if you are planning a trip to the area, be sure to check out our other great list of fun things to do around Yosemite National Park as well!
