Cliff Top Grill & Bar (Anakeesta)

Anakeesta admission is required to reach the restaurant, and the meal is paid for separately. Visitors ride the all-glass Crystal Express gondola, which opened in May 2026, or the Ridge Rambler. See the Anakeesta dining page for the current details. The base station is at the downtown end of the Parkway, so you can leave the car in town and walk or ride the free Gatlinburg trolley.

The menu is modern American comfort food: steaks, gourmet burgers, signature salads, savory appetizers and house-made desserts, plus a full bar with local craft beers. Cliff Top was named the 2025 GatlinBURGER Meister, the top prize in Gatlinburg's annual burger competition, so the burger is the safe order. Tripster puts the cost at roughly $20 to $30 per person, which matches the $$ tier. Prices change, so treat that as a ballpark.

Published hours are 11 AM to 8 PM daily, with changes possible on holidays and by season. Call (865) 325-2400 to confirm. The restaurant does not take reservations. Join the wait list when you reach the top and you will get a text when a table is ready, which means you can browse the rest of the property while you wait.

• Fall weekends are the busiest, and October waits can be long when the leaves are at their best. Aim for lunch right at opening.
• Weekday afternoons are calmer, and the light on the ridges is good before the 8 PM close.
• Cold or foggy days take away the view, so check the forecast before paying for the ride.

Anakeesta is a good fit for a day that does not involve a long hike. If you are heading into Great Smoky Mountains National Park the next day, remember that the park's parking tag is required for any stop over 15 minutes and that federal passes are not accepted in its place.

For a longer visit, spend the afternoon on the Treetop Skywalk and the rest of the mountain, then eat when the lunch rush has passed. The restaurant works well for families who need a full meal break between activities and for couples who want a table with a view.