Best Pre/Post-Climb Food & Drink in Fayetteville

Written By Dadija Bliudzius

Few things hit the spot quite like good food after a long day in the New River Gorge, or treating yourself to a fresh, healthy breakfast or lunch on a rest day. Whether you spent the day projecting at Endless Wall, hiking to Long Point, or paddling in Summersville, Fayetteville and the surrounding area offer no shortage of great places to refuel.

With so many options to choose from, it’s impossible to cover them all, but we asked our staff to share a few of their favorite spots that are a little off the beaten path.

Note: This is just a small sampling, not a comprehensive list. There are plenty of other incredible cafés, restaurants, and breweries in the area waiting to be discovered.

Walk-able from Water Stone

“The Jerk” from The Take Out. Jamaican-inspired with Mango-corn salsa, Jerk sauce, & citrus aioli

  • *Namaste (JUST OPENED)

    • Fresh juices, healthy smoothies & authentic Nepali comfort food.

    • Call ahead and pick up or enjoy outdoor seating.

  • The Take Out

    • We love to get a half-rice, half-salad as the perfect crag lunch

  • Tequila Tequila

    • Our favorite place to sit down in some A/C

Fayetteville (All within a 5 minute drive of the store)

The Handlebar & Kitchen at Arrowhead

North of Bridge

Looking for some places before or after exploring north of the gorge?

  • Swiftwater General Store (<6 min)

    • A great breakfast & lunch spot before /after climbing at Junkyard or Bridge Buttress

  • Gran Robbies (<16 min)

    • A small, family-owned lunch & breakfast 

    • 5 minutes from Hawk’s Nest State Park

    • Ryley’s favorites:

      • Lunch: Curry chicken sandwich or bahn mi

  • Fat Eddie’s (<21 min)

    • Our favorite dinner or ice cream spot post paddling or deep water soloing

    • 4 min from Winter Put-In Spot

    • 10 min from Pirate’s Cove climbing & hiking parking lot

  • Ample Pizza and Free Folk Brewery (<23 min)

    • Outdoor, pet-friendly seating

    • Our favorite place to grab a beer after a lake day

    • 16 min from Pirate’s Cove climbing & hiking parking lot

Oak Hill (South of Fayetteville)

Back patio at Pinheads

Have a rest day and willing to go a little farther to explore? Check out some of our favorites in Oak Hill, less than 15 minutes south of Fayetteville

  • Post Climb food:

    • Tom’s (<14 min)

      • Drive-thru with great burgers, fries, and hot dogs

    • Pinheads (<14 min)

      • A bowling alley that makes great pizza and wings; they have $1 Wings on Wednesday.

      • Their back patio is open for a dog-friendly place to hang

    • El Rio (<10 min)

  • Breakfast/ Lunch

Dadija Bliudzius
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A Field Guide To The Three Corridors of the Crag