Published by Carl. Last Updated on June 24, 2024.
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The newest Mount Mitchell State Park restaurant is renovated, open again, and ready to serve visitors from May to October.
Mount Mitchell State Park in Western NC (near Burnsville) is officially the ultimate outdoor destination, thanks to Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery opening on May 1, 2024. Locally owned and open seven days a week from May into October, the restaurant is ready to serve visitors from the mountains to the sea of NC and beyond!
The owners are Melissa and Leigh Howell, who also operate the iconic Burnsville restaurant Pig and Grits (620 W Main St, Burnsville, NC).
Here’s a quick look at when you can visit the Mount Mitchell State Park restaurant, the menu, and things to do nearby.
Read More: Fun Day Trips from Asheville (Within a 2-Hour Drive)
Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery Hours
Address: 2388 North Carolina Highway 128, Burnsville, North Carolina
Phone Number: 828-536-9400
Official Website and Menu

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Weather permitting, Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May through August.
Hours change to 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in September and October, before closing for the winter.
The restaurant does not take reservations but can accommodate large parties.
As mentioned, the weather could disrupt service, so we recommend following the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.
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Fresh and Approachable Food (the Menu)

Melissa Howell described the menu as “fresh and approachable, with no unpronounceable items.โ
Another thing we love about the menu is the various nods to local names and places. Leigh Howell is a Burnsville native and prioritized that when designing the menu.
For example, there’s the Elisha Pimento Melt (pictured above), honoring the mountainโs namesake, Elisha Mitchell.
Another delicious example is the 6684โ Burger, named for Mount Mitchell’s height above sea level (you knew that, right?).
Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery also offers salads, soups, and kids’ options.
Have you visited the Mount Mitchell State Park Restaurant?
Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery is housed within a ridgetop native stone building that received a complete makeover over five years.
After a full kitchen overhaul, new flooring in the dining room and lounge area, and new building windows, we’re excited to enjoy great food while taking in beautiful views of NC’s highest mountain peaks.
Also, this is the closest restaurant to Mount Mitchell’s peak, unless you count the Summit Snack Shack. Either one of them can claim the title of “The highest restaurant east of the Mississippi River and the Rockies.”
Add all of that together and it’s easy to say that the Mount Mitchell State Park restaurant is something special. If you’ve visited the restaurant since its reopening, we’d love to hear about your experience!
Let us know in the comments, and remember to share your adventures at this state park with our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!
More Things to Do at Mount Mitchell (and Nearby)
Looking for more things to do at Mount Mitchell and nearby? We’ve created guides featuring things to do in Burnsville, the best Black Mountains hikes nearby, Blue Ridge Parkway Stops, and more.
Here are a few examples.