Bear Pit Lounge

Overview

Tucked inside the historic Old Faithful Inn, Bear Pit Lounge is the Inn’s casual bar-and-bites spot—part living museum, part lively watering hole. Opened in 1936 after Prohibition, it’s decorated with whimsical bear panels (now etched glass inspired by the original wooden murals) and retains original 1930s furniture for plenty of character.

Food & Drinks

Expect a concise American pub menu—think wings, burgers, bratwurst, trout cakes, and Caesar salad—alongside cocktails and local beers. Feedback on cocktails is mixed, while beers generally get better marks (though selection can fluctuate, and stock occasionally runs low). Price-wise, it falls in the mid-tier ($–$$).

Atmosphere

In late afternoon it often feels more like a casual family restaurant; later in the evening it shifts toward a true lounge vibe. Seating is limited and typically first-come, first-served, so snagging a table as one opens is part of the dance. Service ranges from friendly and prompt to stretched when it’s slammed.

Hours & Season

Typically open seasonally from early May to mid-October. Reported hours run roughly 11:30 AM to midnight, with a dedicated bar/snack menu in the evenings during peak season. It’s first-come, first-served—no reservations.

Where it is & logistics

You’ll find the Bear Pit inside Old Faithful Inn, adjacent to the main dining room. Parking is available in the Old Faithful area lots. If the dining room is booked or you don’t want a formal sit-down, the lounge is a convenient fallback.

Make it a moment

Many guests grab drinks here and wander to the lobby or the second-floor deck to relax between eruptions. The Inn posts projected Old Faithful eruption times—pair a round with the show and you’ve got a quintessential evening.

Best time to visit

• Early lunch or later evening to avoid the dinner rush.
• For a quieter, more bar-like feel, come after the early evening family crowd thins.
• Double-check day-of food service hours on arrival; offerings can shift with staffing and season.