Dining at Old Faithful Inn: restaurants, hours and booking
Old Faithful Inn offers on-site meals in several venues: the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room (breakfast, lunch, dinner — dinner by reservation), The Bear Pit Lounge (cocktails & appetizers), Bear Paw Deli (grab-and-go), and Old Faithful Inn Espresso on the 2nd floor. Dinner reservations for the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room are required and overnight guests can reserve up to 60 days before arrival.
In this guide
- Main sit-down restaurant: Old Faithful Inn Dining Room
- Bars and evening drinks: The Bear Pit Lounge & Mezzanine Bar
- Quick bites and coffee: Bear Paw Deli & Old Faithful Inn Espresso
- Reservations, booking windows and who can reserve
- Practical dining tips (families, timing, accessibility)
- Seasonal notes and checking hours
Main sit-down restaurant: Old Faithful Inn Dining Room
The Old Faithful Inn Dining Room is the full-service, historic log dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and lunch are buffet-style and first come, first served; dinner requires a reservation.
Dress is casual. The dining room seats several hundred guests in the log-cabin space and serves menus that include buffet items at breakfast and lunch and plated dinner offerings in the evening.
- Hours (2026 operating season): Breakfast Buffet 6:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.; Lunch Buffet & limited entrees 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Dinner 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Dinner reservations are required and available in advance to overnight in-park lodging and campground guests (up to 60 days before arrival).
- Breakfast and lunch are first come, first served; day visitors may make same-day dinner reservations in person at the host stand.
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (buffet) | 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. |
| Lunch (buffet & limited entrees) | 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
| Dinner (reservations required) | 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Bars and evening drinks: The Bear Pit Lounge & Mezzanine Bar
The Bear Pit Lounge is the inn’s main bar area, serving beer, wine, cocktails and a small food menu of sandwiches and appetizers. It operates on a first-come, first-served basis and does not accept reservations.
The Mezzanine Bar (2nd Floor) opens later in the day for beer, wine and cocktails; guests can take drinks onto the Old Faithful viewing porch when allowed.
- The Bear Pit Lounge hours (2026 season): 11:30 a.m. – Midnight; appetizers available 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- The Bear Pit Lounge is first come, first served — no reservations.
- Mezzanine Bar typically begins service in the late afternoon (check concierge for daily hours and seasonal opening).
| Venue | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| The Bear Pit Lounge | 11:30 a.m. – Midnight (appetizers until 10:00 p.m.) |
| Mezzanine Bar (2nd Floor) | Evening service begins in late afternoon (hours vary) |
Quick bites and coffee: Bear Paw Deli & Old Faithful Inn Espresso
The Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli (near the main lobby) offers sandwiches, salads, snacks and ice cream—useful for grab-and-go meals or quick breaks between geyser viewings. Hours vary seasonally; the deli typically opens later in the morning in shoulder season.
Old Faithful Inn Espresso on the 2nd-floor mezzanine serves espresso and coffee drinks for a quick caffeine stop. Both outlets operate seasonally—check with the front desk or concierge for current hours during your visit.
- Bear Paw Deli: opens around 10:30 a.m. (May–Aug) and about 11:00 a.m. in early October; ice cream counter has extended evening hours into summer.
- Bear Paw Deli seating capacity is about 70; suitable for families and guests short on time.
- Old Faithful Inn Espresso hours vary; ask the front desk for today’s schedule.
| Venue | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bear Paw Deli | Quick sandwiches, snacks, ice cream; seasonal hours (opens mid-morning) |
| Old Faithful Inn Espresso (2nd Floor) | Espresso & coffee drinks; seasonal hours — check with concierge |
Reservations, booking windows and who can reserve
Overnight guests at Old Faithful Inn can make advance dinner reservations for the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room up to 60 days before arrival. Guests staying elsewhere in the park have a shorter advance window (park operator site lists 30 days for other in-park lodges/campgrounds).
Day visitors may make same-day dinner reservations in person at the dining room host stand if space is available. The front desk can assist with current availability and booking during your stay.
- Advance dinner reservations: up to 60 days for Old Faithful Inn overnight guests.
- Breakfast and lunch are first come, first served and do not accept advance reservations.
- For daily opening times, seasonal changes, or group inquiries, contact the front desk/concierge.
| Who | Dinner reservation window |
|---|---|
| Old Faithful Inn overnight guests | Up to 60 days prior to arrival |
| Other in-park lodges & campgrounds | Up to 30 days prior (per park operator policy) |
| Day visitors | Same-day, in-person at host stand (subject to availability) |
Practical dining tips (families, timing, accessibility)
Old Faithful Inn is family-friendly and welcomes children of all ages; dining outlets accommodate families and casual dress is appropriate in all venues. The dining room offers buffet options that make quick family meals easier at breakfast and lunch.
Most areas of the Inn are elevator accessible except the first floor of the West Wing—if mobility or accessibility needs affect dining, tell the front desk so staff can advise on elevator access and suitable seating.
- If you need early or late arrivals for dinner, contact the front desk; overnight guests have priority when booking in advance.
- Expect seasonal crowding during summer; arriving early for breakfast or lunch reduces wait times.
- No smoking is allowed in dining areas; service animals are permitted on property.
| Need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Accessible seating | Ask front desk or host; most public areas are elevator accessible |
| Traveling with children | Buffet breakfast/lunch and deli options make quick meals easier |
| Late-night snack or coffee | Bear Paw Deli (seasonal) and Espresso (2nd Floor) offer grab-and-go options; bar service runs later |
Seasonal notes and checking hours
Old Faithful Inn and its dining venues operate seasonally (typically early May through mid-October). Exact opening and closing dates and daily hours change year to year, so confirm hours for the dates you plan to visit.
Because services and hours are seasonal, call the front desk or check the official park lodging pages for the current season’s hours before you travel.
- Dining room operating dates for 2026: Opens May 1, 2026 — Closes October 12, 2026 (confirm annually).
- Bear Pit Lounge and deli have their own seasonal windows and may open/close on slightly different dates.
- The front desk is staffed 24/7 and can provide up-to-date dining hours and reservation help.
| Venue | Seasonal note |
|---|---|
| Old Faithful Inn Dining Room | 2026 season listed May 1 – Oct 12 (confirm each year) |
| Bear Pit Lounge | Seasonal; listed April/May–October on park pages |
| Bear Paw Deli & Espresso | Open seasonally; hours vary by month |
