One of the best places you will eat on your trip to the Black Hills is the Alpine Inn of Hill City, South Dakota. It’s not hidden but it is a gem!
Tucked in the heart of Hill City, on the corner of Elm and Main Street sits a 100-year-old inn that will transport you back in time and fill your belly with warmth and delicious food.
It’s a good thing I Iive 40 minutes away from this place because I would surely visit it way more often than I already do. That could be a problem for my bank account as well as my figure!
Keep reading so I can not only convince you as to why you need to dine at the Inn but also gather the information needed to ensure you get a seat when you want it. I also share some fun facts about the Inn itself.
Hill City started as a mining town in the late 1800s. The “Harney Peak Tin Mining, Milling, and Manufacturing Company,” was born in 1883. The company built the Harley Peak Hotel and it quickly became a favorite place to stay or dine for miners, railroad men, and more.
The town was nicknamed “One Mile of Hell” because it had a church on one end followed by a mile-long stretch of “hell.” There were more than 15 bars on Main Street that were doubtlessly the source of much rowdiness and gunfights. If only the walls could talk!
The hotel remained in operation until 1934. Forty-one years later, in 1974, Waldraut (Wally, pronounced “Volly”) Matush acquired it after moving to the United States from Germany. It housed a variety of businesses over the years and in 1984, settled upon becoming the Alpine Inn.
Wally and her family still run the Inn and restaurant to this day. However, in 1996, she turned it over to her daughter, who has kept the traditions of the Inn. It is said that when Wally dies they plan to bury her in the basement so that she can haunt the place. Spooky!
The Alpine Inn is right off Highway 16 which turns into Main Street. It’s very easy to spot and only 30 minutes from Rapid City.
If you are coming from Keystone there are a couple of different routes. The most scenic is “Old Hill City” road which takes you along the same route as the 1880 train. You will cross over the railroad tracks somewhere near 15 times and the drive is approximately 20 minutes.
For a more direct route take the 16A. It meets up with the 16 and you will follow it until you arrive on Main Street. Do not worry there are plenty of signs to direct you to Hill City as well.
The Alpine Inn is an experience. If you are expecting to walk into a fancy, airy, open restaurant, you’d only be half right. The restaurant has many rooms for dining. Some even feel like a hallway as staff and diners hustle through to other areas. But that doesn’t take away from the experience at all. At a normal restaurant, this might take away from the experience but here, somehow it adds to it.
Look up, look down, look all around. Take in the ceilings and the light fixtures, the banister on the steep staircase. Artwork from another time period and wallpaper line the walls.
Everything is moving fast-paced and most of the time the place is a continuous bustle of energy. The staff works furiously to get every diner in and out so that no one is turned away before they close down for the next shift. I’ve seen a line throughout the entire lobby and yet still I’ve never waited longer than 20 minutes. They have a system down and it works.
Customer service is always impeccable and inviting. The servers know the menu and will even recommend entrees if you can’t decide. Their suggestions may make your meal even better.
The food is outstanding and deserves to be bragged about. Lunchtime, which is served from 11 am until 2:30 pm, has a vast menu of sandwiches, salads, heartier meals, and even a fantastic cheese board if that’s your jam.
My personal favorites are either the Monte Cristo sandwich or the grilled Havarti, bacon, and apricot sandwich.
Dinner time is from 5:00 pm until 9:30 pm. There are only two entrée options for dinner. You can usually choose between a bacon-wrapped filet or a pasta dish (entrees can vary). They are worth the visit! Trust me on this!
Dessert is not to be missed. Most everything is homemade except for the ice cream.
Check their menu to see a full list of lunch and dinner entrees before your visit.
Pricing is honestly very fair for the quality and portion size. Be sure to bring cash because that’s the only payment they accept. An ATM machine is located in the lobby if you forget!
Hit the small town of Hill City and browse the adorable shops. Some are very touristy and others are beautiful boutiques or galleries of local artists with unique items. Stop at Dahl’s Chainsaw Art and marvel at the giant Smokey the Bear. Don’t miss a chance to pet the luxuriously soft alpaca products at the Alpaca Store.
If you enjoy dinosaurs and fossils, there are plenty of those around in the hills. In fact, directly next door to the Alpine Inn is the Black Hills Institute of Geology Research, Inc. This museum houses over 1000 fossils, replicas, and articulated specimens. This is one of the largest privately owned fossil collections in the world.
*Note: If you really, really enjoy fossils, check out the dig site, at the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs. More info to come on this later!
You might be looking for another local activity in Hill City and if you have the time I would suggest taking a trip on the 1880 train. For more information read my article The 1880 Train in South Dakota.
There is no designated parking lot for the Alpine Inn. But I’ve always had luck parking at the small lot on the corner between the Exxon and the Museum. There will be additional places to park around town but it can get tricky to find a spot in the heart of summer, which is peak season. With a little patience, you will find something.
Reservations are not allowed for groups fewer than 8 but as long as you have 8 or more, they are more than happy to take reservations. They can even accommodate large groups.
There will most definitely be a line if you come in the summer. As mentioned before, you should be fine as long as you don’t mind waiting for a few minutes. They will give you a pager and you can browse the shops downtown while you wait.
Downloadable Quick Start Trip Planner included!
I really can’t say enough about this sweet place in Hill City and neither can the locals. I remember during Christmas seeing someone post about it on Instagram. In the post, it was snowing and the family was walking in the snow, in their pajamas, on their way to get dessert at the Inn. The town and Inn make you feel as if you stepped out of a Hallmark movie. I’m blessed to be able to frequent it and share it with you!
Yes! The Alpine Inn and Hill City are just two of the many amazing things to do in the Black Hills. Other great things to do include Mount Moriah Cemetery, beautiful Spearfish Canyon, and much more! There is so much to do! The Black Hills can be confusing because it is a HUGE area.
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites, yet still avoid crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to all the best places at the right times!
But that’s not all! Our itinerary includes a free audio guide to listen to while driving, with over 2 hours of stories about the park!
BLACK HILLS TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about the Black Hills, check out our Black Hills Homepage
AREAS: The Black Hills is home to some amazing national parks and monuments: Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave National Parks, Badlands, and Crazy Horse. Plus, the amazing Custer State Park
THINGS TO DO: There is much more to do than hike and look at Mt. Rushmore. Explore the 1880 train, Reptile Gardens, slip down a natural waterslide, or go on a scenic drive
GREAT CITIES TO STAY OR CHECK OUT: Explore some amazing mountain towns including Deadwood, Keystone, Hill City, and Rapid City
GET QUIRKY: Want something REALLY different? Check out Devil’s Tower and Wall Drug
WHERE TO EAT: Check out the best places to eat in and around Mt. Rushmore plus where to eat in each city
WATCH: Enjoy videos of the amazing Black Hills while learning our best tips for visiting by watching our Black Hills YouTube Playlist
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