Best Restaurants in Gardiner, MT, Near Yellowstone
Gardiner’s restaurant scene might be small, but there are still plenty of great restaurants, coffee shops, pizza places, and grocery stores to make it an easy base for Yellowstone trips. These are our favorite places to eat near Yellowstone’s North Entrance, after years of staying in Gardiner, MT.
One thing worth knowing upfront—Many restaurants in Gardiner operate seasonally, and dinner hours sometimes close earlier than expected, especially outside of peak summer months. After a long day in Yellowstone, it helps to confirm hours ahead of time so you’re not scrambling last-minute. (Once the grocery store closes for the night, most food is usually closed too.)
👋 Meet Your Guides: We're Jonathan and Kelly, and we love Yellowstone National Park. So much so that we've been a dozen+ times, bought fixer-upper cabins outside Yellowstone’s North Entrance, and are turning an old park ranger hut into year-round Christmas magic. Now, we’re on a mission to make Yellowstone simpler and more magical for everyone who visits!
📚 Want our best Yellowstone tips in one place? Check out our Yellowstone Travel Guide, packed with maps, itineraries, and everything you need to explore year-round.
🏡 Visiting Yellowstone’s North Entrance? Explore the Cozy Yellowstone Compound in Gardiner, our collection of cabins near Yellowstone’s only year-round entrance.
Coffee + Breakfast
Bear’s Brew
One of our favorite breakfast stops before heading into Yellowstone. Good coffee, filling breakfast sandwiches, and easy grab-and-go options. We also love grabbing coffee at Bear’s Brew, then sitting on the rocking chairs in front of Yellowstone Forever to enjoy Roosevelt Arch and the mountain views.
Open year-round. Open early.
Tumbleweed Cafe
Relaxing breakfast and lunch spot with our favorite lunch sandwiches in town! (Try the “Bo” if you’re here for lunch.) Great for dining in, carrying out, or even a morning of remote work. Don’t miss the artwork while you’re visiting. Nine times out of 10, we’re taking something home with us.
Open year-round. Breakfast, coffee, and lunch.
Yellowstone Perk
Popular breakfast and coffee stop during the summer. Relaxed atmosphere, good prices, and also a good place to grab huckleberry ice cream later in the day.
Jon has hot apple cider from Wonderland Cafe (coffee and pastries only during breakfast), and I’m drinking an iced mocha from Bear’s Brew.
Yellowstone Perk. Great for coffee, breakfast, and ice cream!
Lunch + Dinner
The Corral
Great burgers, fantastic fries, casual atmosphere with string lights and outdoor fireplaces, and one of the most reliable spots in town. I’m very picky about French fries—they’re genuinely my favorite food—and these are excellent. So good that I usually order an extra side of fries, even though the burger already comes with some.
Open year-round. Ideal dinner spot that works for sit-down or carryout.
Outlaw Pizza
Home to Jonathan’s favorite pizza of all time. Try “The Outlaw.”
2026 Note: Outlaw Pizza is currently closed, but we’re crossing our fingers and toes that they’ll reopen.
Yellowstone Pizza Company
Easy dinner option after a long park day, especially for families or visitors wanting quick takeout.
Two Bit City
Fun summer setup with rotating food trucks, outdoor seating, drinks, and live music. Depending on the season, you’ll usually find BBQ, hot dogs, paninis, smoothies, and other casual food options.
Another food truck in town that’s worth trying is Sagebrusher Cafe near the Super 8. The hot dogs are delicious, plus they have a wide variety of other options.
Wonderland Cafe
This is our go-to dine-in restaurant in Gardiner. We recommend at least one night here if you’re looking for a meal out of the house. And if you’re visiting in the fall (or any cooler day), we highly recommend their hot apple cider.
Open year-round. Lunch and dinner. Pastries and coffee only for breakfast.
The Corral
Wonderland Cafe
Groceries, Ice Cream + Date Night
Gardiner Market
The main grocery store in town. Good for picnic supplies, snacks, drinks, groceries, and quick meals before entering the park. If you’re staying multiple days near Yellowstone, you’ll probably end up here more than once.
One useful thing to know: Gardiner Market often serves hot food on Tuesdays and Sundays until it sells out.
Huckleberry Ice Cream
Pretty much mandatory at least once while visiting this part of Montana and Yellowstone! Some of the easiest places to grab it near the North Entrance include:
Yellowstone Perk
Gardiner Gifts and Sweets
Eat Cafe near Yellowstone Perk serves gelato when open in the summer.
Sage Fireside Room
Located at Sage Lodge in Paradise Valley, this is one of the nicest dining experiences near Yellowstone’s North Entrance. Good option for birthdays, anniversaries, or date nights. The drive through Paradise Valley alone is worth it.
Reservations are recommended. Open year-round.
Dining Inside Yellowstone Near the North Entrance
If you’re spending most of your time along the Northern Range, Mammoth Hot Springs is usually the easiest in-park dining area from Gardiner.
Other major dining areas inside Yellowstone include:
Canyon Village
Old Faithful
Lake Village
Grant Village
Tower-Roosevelt
The Old West Dinner Cookout from Roosevelt Lodge is a fun summer experience that combines horseback or wagon transportation with dinner in the Yellowstone backcountry.
Keep in mind that many in-park dining services operate seasonally.
Read Next: Yellowstone’s Off-Season Explained
Mammoth Dining Room at Christmastime
More on Yellowstone
🏡 Staying Near the North Entrance? Explore the Cozy Yellowstone Compound in Gardiner, our collection of cabins just minutes from the park gate.
🧳 Not Sure What to Pack? Check out our detailed Yellowstone Packing List, so you’re prepared for summer heat, winter cold, and everything in between.
🦬 Still in Planning Mode? Take our free Yellowstone Traveler Quiz to discover your travel style and get our free Yellowstone Planning Playbook.
📚 Want a Step-by-Step Plan with Customizable Itineraries? Our All-Seasons Yellowstone Travel Guide walks you through where to stay, how to structure your days, and what to expect in every month of the year.