The original Pies & Pints location sits right in the heart of Fayetteville’s downtown. The pizza is creative without being precious — unique topping combos on perfectly blistered crusts — and the craft beer list rotates with quality regional and national selections. It gets busy on weekends, so grab a seat early.

Where the locals actually eat lunch. The focus is on thoughtfully sourced meats built into generous sandwiches with craft cocktails on the side. Relaxed and unpretentious — the kind of place you can walk in wearing hiking shoes without feeling out of place.

Fayetteville’s best breakfast and brunch spot, with a full espresso bar running freshly roasted and freshly brewed coffee every morning. The menu leans toward wholesome, made-from-scratch plates — house-made granola bowls, hearty breakfast sandwiches, and fresh baked goods that sell out early on weekends.

Fayetteville’s beloved local coffee shop and casual lunch spot, tucked inside a character-filled space on South Court Street. The kitchen uses fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients — daily specials, homemade soups, paninis, and some of the best baked desserts in town. It describes itself as “the coolest little hippy joint in the coolest small town,” and that’s not far off.

Sits right on the rim of New River Gorge at Adventures on the Gorge resort — the views from the timber-frame dining room are the real draw. The menu is Appalachian-inspired and chef-crafted, leaning into local ingredients and elevated comfort food. The right call for a special evening out or a post-rafting splurge.

The community anchor of Fayetteville — a converted church space filled with stained glass, painted table scenes, and 25+ years of history. Equal Exchange fair trade coffee, croissant French toast, breakfast burritos, and an atmosphere you want to linger in. The first place locals send guests, and for good reason.

Fayetteville’s dedicated specialty coffee bar. They rotate beans from respected roasters including Latzar, Reanimator, and Passenger. The vibe is relaxed but intentional, with a knowledgeable staff that can dial in exactly what you want. If you care about where your coffee comes from, this is your spot.

The full-service diner-cafe hybrid Fayetteville didn’t know it needed. Freshly roasted, freshly brewed coffee alongside a from-scratch breakfast and lunch menu. The espresso bar is a proper setup, not an afterthought. A great pick for groups who want solid coffee and a full meal in one stop.

Located on Ames Heights Road — a genuine outpost for rafters, hikers, and road-trippers who need coffee before they disappear into the gorge. House-cooked breakfast, brewed coffee, grab-n-go food, beer, wine, ice, and camping supplies. A Fayette County family business with deep roots in the river community.

If your crew is heading out for a rafting or zipline day with Adventures on the Gorge, they offer complimentary coffee to booked guests before hitting the water or the trees. Free, fresh, and served with a view before an adrenaline-filled day on the New River.

The most convenient full-service grocery in town — right here in Fayetteville. Open daily 6 AM to 11 PM. Covers everything from fresh produce and meat to camping fuel and charcoal. The easiest place to stock the kitchen on arrival day.

A solid full-service Kroger with a good deli counter, bakery, and a wider selection of name-brand and organic items. Worth the trip if you want specialty cheeses, better wine selection, or Kroger curbside pickup. Open 7 AM to 10 PM.

A West Virginia–born regional grocery chain with deep roots in coal country communities. Friendly, no-frills vibe, solid selection of everyday staples, and good local and regional brands you won’t find at the chains. The butcher counter is worth a look.

The closest stop to the Bridge and honestly one of the most fun places to grab supplies in the whole area. Grab-and-go meals, fresh-cooked breakfast and lunch, snacks, beer, wine, ice, firewood, and camping essentials. For a quick resupply between adventures, it can’t be beat.

A classic small-town grocery on the Midland Trail in Victor. The staff knows regulars by name and the shelves carry regional products you won’t find at big chains. A good backup option and worth knowing about if the closer stores don’t have what you need.

The hike locals recommend first — a 3-mile round trip through mixed hardwood forest ending at a sandstone promontory with one of the best above-water views of the New River Gorge Bridge. The moderate elevation gain keeps it accessible without feeling too easy. Give yourself an hour and a half, bring water, and plan to linger at the overlook.

Named USA Today’s best national park hike. Endless Wall follows the rim of a sandstone cliff band above the New River for 2.5 miles out to Diamond Point overlook. The trail rolls through rhododendron thickets and past active climbing routes, with open gorge views appearing regularly along the way. Easy to moderate.

The accessible, crowd-pleasing panoramic view of the gorge — a wide oxbow bend in the New River that looks almost impossibly dramatic from the rim. The trail is easy, mostly flat, walkable in trail runners or sneakers. The view at the main overlook is genuinely one of the best in West Virginia.

The history hike — a descent of more than 800 stairs to the ruins of a coal mine that operated at the bottom of the gorge until 1962. The trail passes old mining equipment, stone foundations, and sections of track being slowly reclaimed by forest. Moderate difficulty but intense on the knees going down and lungs coming back up.

Runs through Babcock State Park alongside one of the best swimming creeks in southern West Virginia, ending at the iconic Glade Creek Grist Mill — a fully operational reconstruction that is practically the state’s mascot. Mostly flat, follows the creek the whole way, and passes multiple swimming holes. In summer, plan to get in the water.

The original craft brewery in Fayetteville, pouring since 2010 and as much a local institution as the bridge it’s named after. Their Long Point Lager and Mountain Momma pale ale on tap in a dog-friendly timber-frame taproom with a sprawling outdoor patio — the vibe is always easy and unhurried.

A craft brewery with serious personality — two locations, rotating seasonal taps, and wood-fired pizza from their in-house Ample Pizza kitchen. The taproom pulls a younger, adventure-minded crowd fresh off the trails. Their beers range from crisp lagers to experimental IPAs, and the pizza pairs well with all of them.

Started in Fayetteville before growing into a regional brand, and the original location still has the best energy. Inventive craft pizzas alongside a rotating draft list that tilts heavily toward local WV breweries. Right in the heart of downtown, and the kitchen runs until close.

Don’t let the gastropub label fool you — Secret Sandwich Society takes both its food and its beer list seriously. Premium-sourced meats on house-made bread, plus an extensive craft beer and cocktail selection that punches well above what you’d expect from a small-town bar. One of those places that rewards guests who linger.

Part biergarten, part trailside hangout — one of the most unique drinking experiences near New River Gorge. Picnic tables, a fire pit, and an ever-changing draft lineup of local WV craft beers, plus fish tacos, brats, and vegan options from the kitchen. A place that genuinely earns the word “relaxed,” especially as the sun goes down.

The best free first stop for any family visiting New River Gorge. Sits right at the edge of the gorge next to the iconic bridge, with a boardwalk descending to two open observation decks. Kids can earn their Junior Ranger badge, explore exhibits on local history and wildlife, and watch an 11-minute orientation film. Rangers on hand year-round.

One of West Virginia’s most unique rainy-day options. Visitors board a coal car and ride into an actual underground mine, guided by retired miners sharing firsthand stories. The complex includes a recreated coal camp with company house, church, and schoolhouse. A full two-to-three-hour experience that brings Appalachian history to life.

A five-acre spring-fed mountain lake waterpark. Two 40-foot waterslides, zip lines over the lake, 50 massive inflatables including climbing mountains and obstacle courses, and a beach with wood-fired pizza nearby. Kids 5 and under are free. Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A guided two-hour walk along the 3,030-foot catwalk suspended beneath the New River Gorge Bridge — 851 feet above the river. Every guest is clipped into a continuous safety cable. Expert guides share engineering history and gorge geology. Families consistently call it the highlight of their entire trip. Minimum age 8, minimum height 48 inches.

One of the most photographed spots in West Virginia — a fully operational gristmill set along a rushing mountain creek surrounded by forested gorge scenery. Kids can watch corn being ground. The park also has a swimming pool, hiking from flat creek-side walks to ridge overlooks, fishing, and picnic areas. A complete half-day destination for all ages.

A love letter to the mountains in shop form. Carries Appalachian-inspired apparel, art prints, mugs, stickers, and handcrafted goods — most of it designed by the owner or sourced from local artists. Part gallery, part outfitter, part general store. The kind of place where you’ll want to linger.

Outfitting climbers, hikers, and paddlers in New River Gorge since 1994. The staff knows the gorge intimately and can help you pick the right gear for the day’s conditions. Top-brand technical gear alongside locally-focused apparel. The kind of shop you trust because the people working it actually use what they sell.

Connected to the legendary ACE Adventure Resort, this downtown gear shop carries paddling equipment, helmets, PFDs, wetsuits, outdoor apparel, and souvenirs. A great one-stop if you need last-minute rafting supplies or want to pick up quality NRG gear to take home.

Fayetteville’s go-to for gifts that actually feel considered. Brighton jewelry and handbags, Vera Bradley, Charlie B, Tribal clothing, WV gourmet foods and wines, candles, home decor, and collectibles. Warm and well-curated — the kind of place where visitors find something that actually captures where they’ve been.

Elizabeth’s own NRG-inspired apparel and goods shop — tees, hoodies, mugs, kitchen towels, and accessories designed around life in the New River Gorge. Everything is lightweight and giftable, and the designs are specific to the region rather than generic outdoor-brand fare.