After a day on Zion’s trails, you’ll want a proper meal, and Springdale, the small town right outside the park’s South Entrance, has far more good places to eat than its size suggests. There are steakhouses and chef-led bistros, Tex-Mex and Thai, brewpubs, bakeries and the kind of breakfast spots that set you up for a long hike.
These are the best restaurants in and around Zion National Park, including Spotted Dog, where we ate and really liked the food, and the one restaurant inside the park itself. For each one you’ll find opening hours, dishes to try and the nearest shuttle stop.
Best Restaurants in Zion National Park
Spotted Dog
$$-$$$
Inside Flanigan’s Resort & Spa, the Spotted Dog is a Springdale institution, and the one place on this list we can vouch for ourselves: we really liked the food here. It serves contemporary American bistro dishes built around local and seasonal ingredients, with an extensive wine list, a full bar, an art-filled dining room and a patio by the street.
It’s open for dinner daily from 4pm to 9pm, and it’s popular, so book ahead on OpenTable or by phone. If you want to make a night of it, you can stay at Flanigan’s too. It’s on the Springdale shuttle line, at Stop 3.
Try: the Wild Game Meatloaf, made with elk, bison and Wagyu beef, or the Rocky Mountain trout.
Thai Sapa
$$
A Southeast Asian restaurant at the gates of Zion might sound like an odd combination, but Thai Sapa has been a Springdale favourite for years. The menu takes in Thailand, Indochina and Japan, so alongside Thai curries and pad Thai you’ll find Vietnamese dishes and sushi rolls.
It’s about half a mile from the park entrance, by Stop 2 on the Springdale shuttle, and open for lunch and dinner daily. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.
Try: the Springdale Rolls or the Vietnamese banh xeo, a crispy filled pancake.
Switchback Grille
$$$
Looking for somewhere smart for a special dinner? Switchback Grille is Springdale’s steakhouse, serving USDA Prime steaks and fresh seafood, including a market fish that changes daily, with views of Zion’s West Temple.
It’s open for dinner only, from 5pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Sunday, with a full bar and wine list. Mains run from around $27 to $89, so it’s a splurge. Book online, and note that parking is limited; it’s a short walk from Stop 6 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the sesame ahi tuna with grilled shrimp, or the macadamia nut-crusted Alaskan halibut.
Oscar’s Cafe
$$
Oscar’s is one of Springdale’s most popular restaurants, and it doesn’t take reservations, so expect a wait at busy times. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, with a Southwestern and Tex-Mex menu, and its big covered patio is heated in cooler weather and dog-friendly.
There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options too. It’s at Stop 5 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the pork chile verde burrito, or huevos rancheros for breakfast.
Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon
$$
Feeding hungry hikers for more than four decades, the Bit & Spur Restaurant & Saloon is a Springdale classic. It serves Southwestern and Mexican dishes in a dining room and on a garden terrace, and claims the largest microbrew selection in southern Utah, alongside fresh-fruit margaritas.
It’s open for dinner daily, with live music outdoors on some evenings in season, and a backyard taco shack for something more casual. Book online. In December and January it closes from Monday to Thursday. It’s at Stop 6 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the carne asada, marinated and grilled skirt steak, or the sweet potato and pork tamales.
Zion Pizza & Noodle Co
$$
For pizza after a day in the park, Zion Pizza & Noodle Co has been the go-to spot in Springdale since 1991. It’s set in an old church, and its stone-oven pizzas and pasta are perfect for carb-loading. There’s craft beer in the beer garden, which has views of the canyon walls.
It’s open for dinner and doesn’t take reservations, so expect a queue in summer. Takeaway is available. It has traditionally closed for part of the winter, so check before you go between December and February. It’s at Stop 5 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the BBQ chicken pizza, or the Thai chicken pizza for something different.
King’s Landing Bistro
$$$
At the Driftwood Lodge, King’s Landing Bistro is one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Springdale. It’s run by a husband-and-wife team of chefs who spent years cooking on the Las Vegas Strip, and their seasonal New American menu is one of the most refined in town.
It’s open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm to 9pm. Reservations are only taken for groups of six or more, so smaller groups should arrive early. It’s at Stop 7 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the duck leg confit cassoulet, or the charred Spanish octopus.
Zion Canyon Brew Pub
$$
Right by the pedestrian entrance to the park, the Zion Canyon Brew Pub is home to Zion Brewery, southern Utah’s first microbrewery. It’s a lively gastropub with a patio overlooking the river, house beers on tap and live music, and it’s the easiest place to grab a drink and a meal straight off the trail.
It’s open daily from 11:30am to 10pm, and takes reservations by phone. It’s at Stop 1, Zion Canyon Village, on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the buffalo meatloaf or the elk burger, with a Kinesava Kolsch or an Echo Canyon IPA.
Whiptail Grill
$$
Set in a converted petrol station, Whiptail Grill is a small, casual spot serving creative Southwestern and Mexican-inspired dishes. Its patio fills up fast, and it doesn’t take reservations, so come early or be prepared to wait.
It’s open for lunch and dinner daily, until 9pm, at Stop 3 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the goat cheese chile relleno, or the squash enchiladas.
Wild Thyme Bistro at Trees Ranch
$$-$$$
One of Springdale’s newer restaurants, Wild Thyme Bistro opened at Trees Ranch at the southern end of town in 2024, as a sister to the much-loved Wild Thyme in Kanab. It’s a Southwestern scratch kitchen that uses produce from its own organic gardens, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.
It’s open daily for lunch and dinner, from 11am to 9pm, and runs a waitlist instead of reservations. It’s a short walk from Stop 9 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the pistachio chicken, or the elk burger.
Red Rock Grill, Zion Lodge
$$-$$$
The Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge is the only full restaurant inside the park, serving American and Southwestern dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner all year round, with views of the canyon walls. Next door, the Castle Dome Café serves coffee and quick bites from spring to autumn.
Lunchtime at the lodge is very busy, so we’d bring a packed lunch for the trail and just pick up a cold drink here. For dinner, book ahead. You can reach it on the Zion Canyon shuttle, at the Zion Lodge stop.
Other Places to Eat in Zion National Park
MeMe’s Cafe
$-$$
A colourful, homely cafe with outdoor patios, MeMe’s Cafe serves breakfast all day, plus burgers, sandwiches and salads, from 8am to 9pm daily.
The menu is huge, but we’ll let you in on a secret: the real reason to come is the crepes, with plenty of sweet and savoury choices. It’s at Stop 5 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the Caprese crepe, or the bacon and egg burger.
Deep Creek Coffee Co
$
For coffee and breakfast before an early hike, Deep Creek Coffee Co is Springdale’s favourite. It opens early, around 6am, and serves speciality coffee, smoothie bowls, toasts and breakfast burritos until early afternoon. It’s at Stop 5 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the goji cacao açaí bowl, with a spiced maple latte.
The Hangry Goat
$
One of the best-value spots in town, The Hangry Goat serves barbecue sandwiches and bowls, plus breakfast biscuits and bagels, at a counter with indoor and outdoor seating looking up at the cliffs. It’s a good stop for a quick lunch, between Stops 2 and 3 on the Springdale shuttle.
Try: the BBQ brisket sandwich, or the pulled pork bowl.
Le Macaron French Pastries (formerly Cafe Soleil)
$
Cafe Soleil, a longtime favourite with hikers near the park entrance, has closed. Since November 2025 its space has been home to Le Macaron French Pastries, which serves macarons, croissants, gelato and coffee, about half a mile from the park entrance by Stop 2 on the Springdale shuttle.
For more pastries, Bonrue Bakery moved into a bigger space at 828 Zion Park Boulevard in 2026.
Practical Tips for Exploring The Best Zion Restaurants
- Springdale gets very busy from spring to autumn. Book where you can, and arrive early at the places that don’t take reservations.
- Leave the car behind: almost every restaurant here is on the free Springdale shuttle, which runs every 10 to 15 minutes in season. In 2026 it runs from 7 March to 28 November, plus a holiday service from 26 December to 2 January.
- Many restaurants cut their hours or close for part of the winter, especially from December to February, so check before you go.
- Utah’s alcohol rules are a little different. Restaurants can only serve alcohol with food, draught beer is capped at 5% ABV (stronger beers come in bottles and cans), and bars are strictly over-21.
- The only food inside the park is at Zion Lodge, so pack a lunch for the trail. Menus change with the seasons, so ask what’s available; see our guide to the best time to visit Zion to plan your trip.
