Cancel

Open app

Search

Grumpy Bears Retreat

4.4 (29 reviews)
InexpensiveAmerican
Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Grumpy Bears Retreat Photos

Business Info

GRUMPY BEARS RETREAT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed
Good for kids
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Grumpy Bears Retreat

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Jackie L.

I meant to take a picture of the food but I guess we were too hungry, our order was buffalo wings with a legit bleu cheese. They were seriously good wings, don't sleep on them. We had a burger too added bacon and egg. Everything just hit the spot after a couple of days of hiking and camping. It looks like they def have amenities if you're hiking the pct which is cool. We felt welcome, we had our small dog

Craft beer at Grumpy Bear Saloon.
Adriana M.

Off roading the Kern Plateau last spring we stopped in for a beer. Immediately dug this funky cabin bar overlooking Kennedy Meadows. The saloon is surrounded by several smaller buildings for Pacific Crest Trail hikers passing through to camp, shower and rest. There were several hikers warming up and charging their phones when we arrived. Modest and cozy, the cabin is reminiscent of a rustic ski lodge. There's a large patio with a bandstand and panoramic scenic views. Seating is somewhat communal, picnic style, or else at the bar. Outdoor seating with plenty of nooks if you want more privacy. Large dirt parking lot. Nice craft beer selection, above average bar food menu. Standard service, order and pick up at the counter. We watched the sunset over a cold beer and tasty burger in the middle of nature. Cool destination spot.

Very very cold beer.
Tracy B.

Place is ok. They need to update their website, especially the menu. They have no sandwiches. Just burgers. Wanted pizza and yes, they don't have that either. They do have ever have a full bar and very cold beer which is a plus. So I got some chicken wings and the hubby got a burger. The fries are homemade and very good.

Hiker Breakfast included hashbrowns, 2 eggs, sausage patty,  and all you can eat pancakes that are bigger than your head! Delicious!
Connor M.

This place was a hiker oasis! The food selection was decent greasy spoon type food with vegetarian and vegan options. They had a full bar, lively atmosphere, and great service. Free camping, free laundry, and free showers were available on site. It can get a bit loud at night but other than that it is a great place to prepare for the Sierra Section of the PacificCrestTrail. Don't act like disrespectful hiker trash and they will treat you wonderfully. They work hard and clean up after a lot of nasty hikers so clean up your mess, tip well, and say thank you!

a row of tombstones and skeletons
Amy C.

Seriously the best place! We have always wanted to make the drive up the mountain to Kennedy Meadows.. we finally did and we were really impressed. Stopped in at Grumpy Bear for a quick beer and ended up staying a few hours. Food was amazing and the owners were super friendly! Worth the drive!

Eddie C.

Camping in the Sequoias? If you are going over Sherman Pass on Hwy 395 side, this is the place to stop and grab a bite. Don't let the sign fool you, the place inside is not nearly as nice at the sign indicates... that is except for the service and the food! Grumpy Bears is located on Sherman Pass road along with 2 other eateries. Other than these, I think the closest place is a Subway about 30 miles away, so if you are hungry stop here. Grump Bears is a simple rustic building, in a huge parking lot, a big bar, and a couple of tables. Apparently folks drinking in the parking had been a problem, considering all the "No Alcohol in the Parking Lot" signs posted. There is also a corral for the locals that decided horses are the preferred mode of transportation. The power for the place comes from a big diesel generator running in the back. I don't think they have landline service and cell signal is a definite no. They do however accept credit cards approved via a satellite link. Now, that is about as fancy as it gets! We ended here at the end of our Memorial Day camping trip tired and hungry from a long drive down Sherman Pass. We were greeted by a friendly and efficient server that offered to give the nine of us all separate checks. Nice!! I couldn't decide on the chicken Sandie or the patty melt and without hesitation she recommended the Patty Melt, so that was what I had with a side of macaroni salad and an ice tea. The Patty Melt was an excellent recommendation. The generous portion of ground beef was perfectly grilled and seasoned. Grilled onions, melted cheese and nicely browned bread completed this great lunch selection! Next time? You bet! Every year on Memorial Weekend.

Enjoying a cold one

See all

14 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jackie L.
175
88
102

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Amy C.
8
70
46

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Eddie C.
1046
802
5192

11 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Raquel M.
301
125
115

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Arash Z.
207
15
0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kathy K.
1
103
30

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Opening day of Trout season we were at Kennedy Meadows. Limits every day.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

14 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark P.
167
7
3

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Anita S.
190
11
0

12 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Grumpy Bears Retreat

Review Highlights - Grumpy Bears Retreat

Scott and Kendra are keeping this historic restaurant open and they're doing a great job!

Mentioned in 5 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Olancha Cafe - Hamburger & onion rings

Olancha Cafe

(83 reviews)

Stopped here during a road trip and it's such a cute spot with beautiful vibes! The service was…read morevery friendly as well. The only downside was the quality of the vegan burgers we got, it was extremely pink and looked microwave rather than grilled. Other than that, it's a great place to stop by for something quick

When I take road trips, I like to plan food stops... some say I may plan some of my trips around…read morefood. I would say that is true on some occasions. This wasn't one of them, but we lucked out. We stopped here on the way to Coleville, California, to go camping. It was walking distance from where we were staying the night, so it was an added bonus. My husband and I usually share a plate, but after riding our motorcycles in stupid heat all day long, we looked at each other and said, "There is no way we are splitting." We both ordered a burger, fries, and had a beer as well as a Vitamin Water. That could have been one of the best meals I've had on the road in a while. Of course, we were dehydrated, exhausted, and had protein bars and nuts for 8 hours, but still, I think it was pretty good.  We also split a breakfast sandwich in the morning so we wouldn't be starving while riding the quick two hours in the morning to our meet-up spot with the other campers. If you are traveling and staying in the teepees, make sure you get a snack, breakfast, or dinner there.  I'm sure if we are riding up here again, we will stop for a snack or meal.

Kern River Brewing Company - The Original Pub - Santa Fe Egg Rolls

Kern River Brewing Company - The Original Pub

(753 reviews)

$$

Our go to spot as soon as we arrive into town. We enjoy the…read moreAC and the fried salty bites. My go to's will always be Cheese Curds. Straight from Wisconsin & lightly golden. The basket is filled with a good amount. Some good sized curds about the sized of a Brazilian nut. I truly love some fried pickles & an especially picky when it comes to fried pickle SPEARS. Other places have ruined the experience for me, because the spears are not patted dry before the coating process. Which means when you bite into the fried pickle spear- your first bite will rip off a majority of the coating and the spear wasn't coated. Here at KRB, each visit- has been what you'd want your fried pickle experience to be! A full order of chicken wings are what you'd expect. Good enough for two people & served with celery stalks to cool down that tongue. Fried calamari: I'm hungry & love all things crispy & fried. Especially after a long journey to arrive here. The breading is what you'd expect for Country Fried Steak. So different, but, really good. Especially with a nice cold one to wash it down. The Santa Fe Egg Rolls: Three egg rolls cut in half. I still wonder if these are fresh made or frozen? The stuffing inside was delicious & plentiful. Chicken, roasted peppers, black beans, corn, cilantro, jalapeño, & cheese. Served w/ spicy Chipotle dip. Staff is always friendly. We've never sat at the outside areas or the elevated/ second floor inside. There's TVs to watch whatever game near the bat

If you like a variety of crafted brews and plenty of food options, this is the place!…read more We started our day off with lunch at the backyard. It was a nice set up with outdoor seating next to the brewery. The staff were very friendly and always looking to top off a water or bring a fresh beer. Food was good with plenty of options for picky eaters. Try the potatoes wedges! We ended up here again for dinner. This time we tried the original pub of the brewery. It was busy but the staff kept things moving. Same beers available here with a slightly different fare. My son, the pickiest eater ever, woofed down a pulled pork sandwich and noted for the fish and chips. One of the better fish and chips meals I've had in a long team. Come hungry and don't forget to pick up some canned brew on the way out.

Grumpy Bears Retreat - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...