The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
Dine in the heart of Death Valley National Park, enjoying a buffet-style restaurant with a unique, rustic ambiance and decor.
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The Ranch 1849 Restaurant
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Dine in the heart of Death Valley National Park, enjoying a buffet-style restaurant with a unique, rustic ambiance and decor.
Arrive Early for Hot Food
To ensure the freshest hot food at the breakfast buffet, aim to arrive early in the morning.
Explore the Decor
Take time to admire the interesting decor and items on the walls of the spacious dining area.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
American
Price
Mid-range
Address
2 Echo Canyon Rd, DEATH VALLEY, CA 92328, USA
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Unique Death Valley Setting
Experience dining in the surreal landscape of Death Valley National Park, offering a unique backdrop to your meal.
Extensive Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy a wide variety of breakfast options, with cold selections like fruits and yogurts being a consistent highlight.
Cozy Atmosphere & Decor
Appreciate the cozy vibe, friendly staff, and the interesting decor adorning the walls, making for a visually engaging meal.
Plans like a pro.
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Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Arrive Early for Hot Food
To ensure the freshest hot food at the breakfast buffet, aim to arrive early in the morning.
Explore the Decor
Take time to admire the interesting decor and items on the walls of the spacious dining area.
Check Buffet Before Committing
It's recommended to view the buffet offerings before deciding to dine, especially for dinner.
Consider Themed Nights
For dinner variety, consider themed nights, which can offer a departure from standard buffet fare.
Tips
from all over the internet
Arrive Early for Hot Food
To ensure the freshest hot food at the breakfast buffet, aim to arrive early in the morning.
Explore the Decor
Take time to admire the interesting decor and items on the walls of the spacious dining area.
Check Buffet Before Committing
It's recommended to view the buffet offerings before deciding to dine, especially for dinner.
Consider Themed Nights
For dinner variety, consider themed nights, which can offer a departure from standard buffet fare.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant offers a unique dining experience within Death Valley National Park. While the breakfast buffet is often praised for its variety and quality, dinner buffets can be hit or miss, with some guests finding them overpriced and lacking in fresh options. The staff is generally noted as friendly and helpful, and the restaurant's interior provides an interesting visual experience with its historical decor.
"Before diving into the details, let’s take a moment to appreciate the unique setting of this restaurant. Nestled amidst the stark, arid expanse of Death Valley National Park, its location feels almost surreal. The interior is spacious, offering ample seating to accommodate guests comfortably. In addition to their regular menu, the restaurant also offers a buffet. While the $25.00 price tag might seem steep at first, it’s entirely justified considering the remote location and the variety of food available. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch—it was a satisfying and much-needed refuel."
Govind Sah
"Early in the morning or .....
We were staying in Furnace Creek for a few days, and if you are familiar with the area, you know that there are few eating options. You only have two or three options, and 1849 Buffet is one of them.
We had breakfast at 1849 Buffet three times during our stay. They had an extensive breakfast buffet, but the quality of the hot food was more to be desired. You see, the buffet was set up early in the morning, and if you got there late, say after 9:00 am, the items like scrambled eggs or bacon would be dry due to sitting on the hot water beneath for too long. Of the three days we were there, only on one occasion did we get there early; that was the only morning when we had a good hot meal. The cold options, such as fruits, yogurts, and coffee, were fine.
The dining area is big, comfortable, clean, and enjoyable. Many interesting items are hanging on the walls, and you could spend half an hour walking around looking at them!
The staff is very friendly and helpful. But remember, this is a buffet, so there is no table service.
So, if you go there, make sure you get up early. Hiking around Death Valley, you'll need a belly full of good breakfast to last you all day!"
Afshin Afshar-Ghasemlou
"It’s not very common that you can have American Chinese food like pandas express in a national park. Appreciate it! 🫡 The restaurant has a cozy vibe and staff are friendly too. Basil tomato soup is also very delicious."
Jinfei Zhu
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant offers buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Additionally, The Ice Cream Parlor serves cappuccinos and pastries, and the general store offers snacks.
Yes, the breakfast buffet is generally well-regarded for its variety, especially the cold options. Arriving early is recommended for the freshest hot food.
The buffet offers a cold selection of fruits and vegetables, but specific vegan or vegetarian dishes are not explicitly detailed in the provided information.
The price for the buffet can be considered steep given the remote location, but is often seen as justified by the variety offered. Prices are in line with other options in the area.
The restaurant has a spacious interior with a cozy vibe and features interesting historical decor on the walls, reminiscent of the 1849 era.
Reservations are not typically mentioned as required, but checking with the restaurant directly is advised, especially during peak season.
The 'Last Kind Words Saloon' is likely another dining venue or section within The Ranch at Death Valley, possibly offering a different menu or ambiance.
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Best Ways to Take in the Death Valley Superbloom
Have a hearty breakfast at the new The Ranch 1849 Restaurant or grab cappuccinos and homemade muffins and croissants at The Ice Cream Parlor, with a retro interior complete with stained glass windows, classic counter, and mirrored ice cream bar. Grab some hiking snacks and drinks at the general store, walk over to the park’s Visitor Center and bookstore to plot your course, then pick your outdoor passion: There’s horseback and carriage rides at the Ranch’s stables; jeep rentals for exploring the park’s off-the-beaten-track canyons and ghost towns, and golfing on a course where palm and tamarisk trees frame the fairways and majestic mountains are visible from every hole.
Death Valley Itinerary: 3-Days in a CA National Park
The 1849 is a buffet restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, where you pay a set price for all-you-can eat. (Check out the menu for each meal before you commit, though). They tend to do themed nights, so if you don’t like tacos or whatever else they are serving, and don’t fancy hitting up the salad bar again, you might want to check elsewhere for a meal.
The Oasis At Death Valley | Death Valley, CA
The Ranch 1849 Restaurant: Open for breakfast and dinner, featuring a rotating array of items that include breakfast entrees, breakfast meats, and a cold selection of baked goods and assorted fruits. Dinner features a buffet-style full salad bar, a carving station and assorted desserts {Currently closed due to Covid restrictions}.
Finding a Luxury Oasis in Death Valley
For more casual dining at the Ranch, the Ranch 1849 Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu features entrees, breakfast meats, and a cold selection of baked goods and assorted fruits. At lunch, there’s a make-your-own sandwich station, soup and salad stations, and assorted pizzas.
Explore Death Valley NP's Top Ten Best Spots to Visit
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, here you can enjoy all-you-can-eat meals to fuel up from all your adventures at the park. You definitely won’t leave hungry!. It’s located in the Town Square at the Ranch and kids under 5 eat free.
How to Elope in Death Valley National Park in 2025
Part of the beauty of an adventure elopement in Death Valley is the flexibility to make it exactly what you want. Some things you can do include:
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