Red River Gorge dining guide: Best restaurants to eat at during a hiking trip
The Red River Gorge has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts from all around the world that flock to the area for its epic crags, winding trails, wildlife and majestic scenery. But just as prominent are those attractions are the places travelers refuel at before (and after) their adventures there.
Most folks know of Miguel’s, the pizza parlor that’s been a favorite of visitors to the Red for over 40 years, but in the time that’s come since a bevy of others have followed suit, helping to solidify it as as much of a culinary destination as it is one centered around its wilderness.
Reflecting on that growth, here’s a list and guide of 16 of the best restaursants in the Red River Gorge. This guide has options that range from coffee shops to start your day to sports bars, Mexican restaurants or barbecue sit-downs to cap it off at.
One note, many have seasonal hours so double check before going.
145 Roadhouse
Address: 148 Main St., Campton
Hours: 3-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Online: facebook.com/p/145-Roadhouse-61557145299381
Opened in 2021, 145 Roadhouse showcases the culinary skills of Chef Hope Thomas with dishes like a roasted half chicken, salmon and burgers like the Roadhouse — a 10 oz. patty topped with mushrooms, bacon and Swiss cheese on a brioche bun. Its farm to table dining experience also has rotating weekly specials along with regular, free events such as dart night, Singo Music Bingo, karaoke and live music. Breakfast is also available on Saturdays and Sundays l.
The Brick
Address: 5412 KY-15 N, Pine Ridge
Hours: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, closed Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Online: facebook.com/thebrickrrg?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Located just across the street from Sky Bridge Station, The Brick is the yin to its yang with sweets like ice cream, brownies, smoothies and pastries and pick-me-ups like coffee, frappes and more. The business first opened in 2021 features a gallery containing pieces from Turtle Farm Pottery, a fellow gorge-based business .
Daniel Boone Coffee Shop
Address: 769 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Online: DanielBooneCoffeeShop.com
This brewhouse featuring fair trade, organic and regionally roasted blends sells all your favorite warm and cold drinks to go with a breakfast menu consisting of burritos, platters, sandwiches, omelettes and more. Or if you prefer to stop by after exploring, they also have serve various paninis and smoothie bowls along with mixed drinks like the Dirty Turtle (vanilla ice cream, coffee and Baileys topped with whipped cream, caramel, chocolate sauce, nuts and a cherry) and Black N Bourbon (iced coffee, bourbon, cream).
The Gypsy Grind Coffee Company
Address: 9901 Campton Rd, Stanton
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Online: GypsyGrind.com
Located at the Mushroom Grove Shopping Village on the outskirts of Stanton, Gypsy Grind arrived in 2025 and serves everything from your favorite caffeinated drinks to French crêpes, and donuts. However, its signature items are the Red River Gorge inspired breakfast sandwiches like the Skybridge Sunrise (scrambled eggs, bacon, cheddar, peppers, onions, hash browns, maple syrup/salsa), Chimney Top Stack (sausage, scrambled eggs, pepperjack, hash browns, salsa, sour cream), Nada Tunnel Twist (ham, cheddar, sautéed onions, hash browns, maple syrup) and Auxier Edge (bacon, scrambled eggs).
Hungry Hiker
Address: 1255 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Online: HungryHiker.org
Opened in October 2025, sports bar The Hungry Hiker is the Red River Gorge’s newest bistro serving up favorites like a Hungry Hiker Burger (a patty topped with bacon, pepperjack cheese, onion rings and BBQ sauce), the Trailfire Salmon and a Kentucky Hot Brown. The restaurant also serves breakfast on the weekends from 8 a.m.-noon that includes items like pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, biscuit and gravy, the Open-Faced Hangover (Texas toast topped with griddled hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy and melted shredded cheese, served with three strips of bacon) and more. The bar stands out with cocktails like the Bourbon Colada (Buffalo Trace, white rum and rich coconut cream garnished with fresh pineapple) as well.
La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant
Address: 1289 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Online: LaCabanaOfSlade.com
This sister restaurant to the Hungry Hiker opened in 2016 and brings south of the border favorites like burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas and more to the gorge. According to General Manager Sunshine Burns, La Cabaña’s specialties include its Hillbilly Quesadillas (grilled chicken or steak with sautéed onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and rice stuffed inside a 10-inch flour tortilla smothered in queso), Burrito Slade (grilled chicken or steak with rice, refried beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream inside a 12-inch flour tortilla topped with queso). The establishment also hosts live music on occasion and is currently undergoing renovations to make the space more accommodating to patrons.
The Drive In Diner
Address: 1327 E College Ave, Stanton
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Online: hometownroots.my.canva.site/thedriveindiner
Unique does not do this place justice. Located in the concession stand of the former Mountain View Drive-in, The Drive In Diner truly takes you back in time. The nostalgia-themed restaurant uses the drive-in’s original popcorn machine for free popcorn while you wait for your food. The movie-themed menu has onion rings, chili cheese fries, corn dogs, fried bologna and burgers including a homemade beer cheese, onion ring and bacon option. And of course they have hand-scooped ice cream, floats and shakes.
Lunch Bucket
Address: 115 Nada Tunnel Rd, Stanton
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6b p.m. Sunday, closed Monday
Online: facebook.com/LunchBucketRedRiverGorge
This seasonal carry-out restaurant located near Red River Gorge landmark Nada Tunnel is open from April into November and serves a boatload of differently prepared burgers, hot dogs, salads, wings, pizzas, milkshakes, and other treats/appetizers.
Miguel’s Pizza
Address: 1890 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Online: miguelspizza.com
There’s perhaps no restaurant or monument that encapsulates the gorge’s growth better than Miguel’s, which has called the area home since 1984. From then on the pizza joint started by Portuguese immigrant Miguel Ventura has developed a cult-like following with both locals and travelers from around the world for its highly customizable pizzas that you can devour on site or order frozen to take home and bake yourself. Salads and sandwiches like hamburgers, the Philly cheese and pork BBQ help to round out the menu for a spot that’s become just as much of a destination on its own at the gorge itself.
Red River Rockhouse
Address: 4000 KY-11, Campton
Hours: 12-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Online: RedRiverRockhouse.com
The Red River Rockhouse is an artisan cafe specializing in grass-fed burgers and massive burritos, but its full menu comprises so much more. Items like a BLT sandwich, hummus wrap and kale salad also make the cut, as do desserts like chocolate nutella brownies from Lexington based Martine’s Pastries and carrot cake made in-house. And if you’re visiting the Rockhouse from afar and need a place to stay, then owners Brittany and Scott Cline have you covered there too. Their other company Red River Gorge Getaways has lodging options ranging from budget friendly rooms to luxury cabins and more.
RedPoint Barbecue
Address: 356 Paradise Dr, Campton
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Friday, 12-9 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday-Thursday
Online: RedPointBBQ.com
A short drive south of Miguel’s restaurant sits RedPoint Barbecue, which was founded by the pizza purveyor’s son Dario Ventura in 2021. Along with all your typical smoked favorites, Redpoint also offers everything from blackened catfish to apricot glazed chicken and grilled portabella to go with sides like baked sweet potatoes, corn grits bread, yellow squash and broccoli salad.
RRG Cookie Co.
Address: 10290 KY-15, Stanton
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (or longer) daily
Online: facebook.com/p/RRG-Cookie-Co-61572261278410
Like Gypsy Grind, RRG Cookie Co. is one of several businesses located at the recently launched Mushroom Grove Shopping Village. Inside you’ll find everything from cookies to cake pops, brownies, banana bread, caramel apples, pies and more. According to co-owner Brandy Daniels, customer favorite cookies include strawberry cheesecake, caramel apple and Reese’s cup along with pink velvet sugar, pumpkin spice, and carrot cake.
Sandstone Arches Restaurant & Trails End Tavern
Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Sandstone Arches Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday-Tuesday
Trails End Hours: 3-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, closed Sunday-Thursday
Online: Parks.Ky.gov
Located inside Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Sandstone Arches and the Trails End Tavern serve up not just classics like pork chops and Kentucky hot browns, but also picturesque views of the treetop canopy surrounding the park while the Middle Fork of the Red River winds through the valley below. Cottage and lodge rooms are also available to book on site, allowing for a unique getaway with easy access to attractions like the skylift, numerous trails, the Historic Nature Center, and more.
Sky Bridge Station
Address: 8 KY-715, Pine Ridge
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 12-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m. Sunday
Online: facebook.com/SkyBridgeStation
Known as one of the best hot dog and burger spots in all the gorge, Sky Bridge Station has followed a similar trajectory as Miguel’s. Launched in 2013 by Clifton Gifford and Brian Gillespie, the space initially was a central hub for climbers before transforming into a popular place for all. With Sky Bridge Station’s mix of good eats, regular live music and easy access to top gorge destinations like Rock Bridge, Creation Falls and Chimney Top, it’s easy to see why once people discover it they can’t stop coming back.
Thatcher Barbecue Company
Address: 918 Natural Bridge Rd, Slade
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Monday-Wednesday
Online: ThatBBQCo.com
The team of Shawn and Crystal Thatcher began the barbecue business in their hometown of Jackson before expanding into the gorge in 2021. In the years that’ve followed they haven’t slowed down, adding everything from pizzas and a side business bottling sauces to their repertoire in addition to meats like brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, pulled chicken and baby back ribs that he applies sauce to by using a pressurized spray bottle rather than mopping it on. Thatcher also hosts live music at its adjoining venture the Pit House, which produces upwards of 25 concerts annually.
Toad’s BARn & Grill
Address: 9943 Campton Rd, Stanton
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Online: ToadsBARnAndGrill.com
Toad’s has been in operation since April 2024 and features a wide ranging menu along with a full service bar, live music, and more. Cornerstones of its menu include the Korean Chicken Philly, Mahi Mahi Fish Sandwich, and Spicy Mexican Cigars (spicy cream cheese spring rolls served with sriracha hot honey). Pizzas, wings, salads, and smashburgers are also included.
Herald-Leader reporter Brian Simms contributed to this report.