Beers with a rim-side view, steps from El Tovar
The Grand Canyon Beer Garden isn't a restaurant so much as a beer cart with a purpose: a handful of tables and big umbrellas set up right outside El Tovar, steps from the Rim Trail, with the canyon doing all the scenery work. It's a small operation, but the location does the heavy lifting.
Order at the cart and grab a seat on the porch or under the umbrellas — there's shade in the afternoon and, if the temperature drops as the sun goes down, the El Tovar cocktail lounge is a short walk away. Reviewers consistently point to it as a favorite spot to unwind after hiking Bright Angel Trail, and more than one has called it the best place on the South Rim to watch the sunset with a local beer in hand. Expect a decent rotation of beers, canyon views from your seat, and prices that run a bit higher than you'd pay off the rim — reviewers note it, but most say the setting makes it worth it.
It's a stop, not a sit-down meal — come for a drink with a view, not a full dinner, and check the posted hours before you plan your evening around it.
23 reviews
a year ago
Nice beer cart / garden outside of El Tovar hotel, right off the rim trail. Big umbrellas and some porch seating provides good afternoon shade. Definitely worth the unique experience to have a glimpse of the canyon while enjoying a beer on the patio.
2 years ago
The best place to watch the sunset with some much deserved fresh local brews after hiking bright angel. If you find it too cold as the temp drops quickly in the late evening then you are steps away from the cocktail lounge at El Tovar hotel.
2 years ago
What a wonderful view of the canyon. Service was great. A little pricey but it is expected. Furniture was quaint.
a year ago
Ridiculous opening times (1.30 pm until 6.30 pm, Google info about 7.30 pm is wrong). We got turned away before dusk. Would be nice to watch the sunset if they were actually open til then. No place closing at this time should be allowed to call themselves a beergarden, take it from a German.
3 years ago
After a hike along the canyon rim, my wife and I stopped for a beer. Nice tap and can selection!!! Great service and the canyon views are stunning as well. Highly recommend!!