Tropic, Utah: Bryce Canyon Coffee Company and The Stone Hearth Grille

Visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park become familiar with the gateway town of Bryce Canyon City, as they pass right through it on the highway, and very often stay in it. Just 10 miles from the entrance to Bryce Canyon is the alluringly named (they say deliberately) Tropic, Utah. While settled with the promise of fertile orchards, today there’s a different allure for travelers on Utah’s Scenic Byway 12: food and coffee.

Let’s start with dinner. The Stone Hearth Grille is one of the latest and most welcomed additions to the Stone Canyon Inn. Bordering Bryce Canyon to the east, in the beautiful town of Tropic, the bed and breakfast/restaurant has a delicious traditional dinner menu each night during the spring, summer, and fall months. The friendly and accommodating atmosphere found at the Grille is a welcome addition: feel free to ask your servers local tips for your next adventure.

The inviting dining room has many big windows, so you are likely to have a great view no matter where you sit. When weather permits, you can eat out on the patio adjacent to the main dining room. Positioned above a koi pond, your meal will be accompanied by the soothing sound of water and enhanced by dramatic views. Time your visit just right and you’ll be there for sunset as you share a meal with friends or family. Witnessing the sky and surrounding red rocks ignite at the end of a beautiful day in Bryce Canyon country is not to be missed.  

Stone Hearth Grille serves a variety of cuisines that will suit any visitor. Begin with any of their scrumptious starters and follow it up by a freshly prepared salad or serving of French onion soup. Entrees range from grass-fed beef to pork cutlets and seafood to vegetarian options. Pair your meal with a glass of wine, and be sure to leave room for dessert. All meals are made from scratch with all-natural ingredients.

Just 1.5 miles down the road you’ll find a locally roasted coffee espresso at the Bryce Canyon Inn.

The menu at the Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. includes an entire line of beverages from the espresso bar plus fresh ground coffees, teas, smoothies, and frappes. In addition to beverages the shop offers a daily assortment of freshly baked goods and a shared continental breakfast with the motel, so diners of all ages will find a dish they like at a reasonable cost. Wi-Fi is available in this cozy coffeehouse, and they even have a flat screen TV. If coffee in the evening isn’t your thing, Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. is a great place to start your day before heading out to the park.

These are seasonal businesses, typically open April through October.

The staff at both of these restaurants in Tropic, Utah are super friendly and a wealth of local information. Have questions on where to head? They can give you tips for sites to see and fun things to do in Bryce Canyon, Kodachrome Basin, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, or the Dixie National Forest  — just ask!