Our grounds are open year-round!
There are no entry or parking fees during our off-season, and all our entrances are open until 6 p.m. each day (after 6 p.m. all traffic must route through the main entrance at 1 Massey Ave.). Visitors are welcome to park and walk the Institution grounds. All around Bestor Plaza, a handful of inns, restaurants and shops, plus the post office and library, are open limited hours during these quieter months. See the Off-season Dining and Shopping tab below.
In Season On-Grounds Dining
On-Grounds Dining
Heirloom Restaurant at the Athenaeum Hotel
athenaeum-hotel.com | 716.357.5005
See the Menus
Breakfast: Buffet Mon.-Sat. 7:30-9:30 a.m., continental Sun. 7-9 a.m.
Lunch: Noon-1:30 p.m.
Before & After Dinner: 4-5 p.m. and 9-midnight
Dinner: 4:30-9 p.m.
Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Heirloom is a full-service restaurant that is available to hotel guests, Chautauqua visitors and guests coming from off the grounds for a great dining experience. Heirloom is open 7 days a week and is available and open to the public from June through September.
All outside dining guests receive a complimentary gate pass and valet parking. A gate pass that has amphitheater access will have to be purchased if you plan on attending amphitheater entertainment.
Afterwords Café
Located on Bestor Plaza, above the bookstore.
Sunday-Thursday:7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday:7 a.m.–8 p.m.
The Afterwords Café offers fine private roast coffee (Crown Street Roasting Co.), pastries, bagels, fresh fruit and paninis made with hearty breads and ingredients including fresh eggs, smoked salmon and local produce. Daily breakfast options include omelets and breakfast sandwiches while midday gives way to an array of fresh salads, traditional and gourmet style sandwiches, quiche, numerous soup choices - including its famous lobster bisque - and desserts.
Brick Walk Cafe & Gazebo
Brick Walk Cafe Menu (PDF)
Sunday–Thursday | Deli & Gril: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; Gazebo: 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; Ice-Cream: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday |Deli & Gril: 7 a.m.–11 p.m.;Gazebo: 7 a.m.–11 p.m.; Ice-Cream: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Proudly Brewing Starbucks Coffee
Fast casual dining that includes daily light breakfast items, a variety of panini sandwiches, black angus burgers, Hebrew National hot dogs, comfort food, artisan pizza, fresh salads, dinner specials and vegetarian and organic offerings influenced by local and nutritional ingredients. Counter service or Grab & Go.
Bellinger Hall
Located on Hedding | 716.357.6241
Breakfast | Daily: 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Lunch | Daily: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Dinner | Daily: 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Food court style dining offers a variety of foods at a reasonable price. Similar to college dining halls, Bellinger Hall’s meals are all-inclusive and all-you-can-eat. Bellinger is a good place to stop and eat after a workout, and features a fresh juice bar, smoothies and tossed salads.
Café At Fowler-Kellogg Art Center
Located within the Fowler-Kellogg art complex.
Sunday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; Closed Saturday
Artistic contemporary. Salad, sandwiches and soup. Outdoor porch dining.
Chautauqua Farmers Market
Located next to the Main Gate Welcome Center
Monday–Saturday: 7 a.m. –11 a.m.
This market features vendors displaying farm fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh gladiolas and more!
Bestor Fresh Market
Located along Pratt Avenue
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. -1 p.m.
Featuring 13–15 local vendors selling local vegetables, fruits, poultry, lamb, pork and beef, among other fresh goods.
*The Bestor Fresh Market will not be open on July 4 but will be open on July 3 from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. instead.
Firemen’s Chicken BBQ
Opening Sunday: Located in Bestor Plaza; All other weeks located in the fire hall
Sunday: 11:30 a.m. until sold out (except for final Sunday)
“A CHQ Sunday Tradition” ½ roasted chicken, coleslaw and country-style roll
Food For Thought
Located in the St. Elmo | 716.357.2100 | Daily: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
Food for Thought provides delicious, fresh-baked breads and pastries along with sandwiches and salads. Centrally located on Bestor Plaza, this air conditioned restaurant is a great place to grab ice cream, desserts, coffee, lattes, smoothies or iced beverages on your way to the lake or to a program. Food for Thought also has party trays available.
Hurlbut Church
Located on corner of Pratt & Scott | 716.357.4045
Lunch | Mon.–Fri.: 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.
Dinner | Thursday: 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Hurlbut features a sociable church fellowship atmosphere and can accommodate large groups. Lunches offer six selections: soup and sandwich, fruit platter, turkey salad, veggie wrap, soup and salad and the daily special. Thursday’s dinner is turkey with a wide variety of homemade desserts.
Hurlbut Lemonade Stand
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Serves coffee, sweet rolls, hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, drinks and pastries from Mayville. Stop by and be delighted!
La Familia
Located in the St. Elmo Phone | 716.357.2002
For full menu or reservations: www.lafamiliachq.com or by phone
La Familia Restaurant believes in Family, Food, and Farms. Local family farms provide the freshest ingredients that pair with a menu focused on fresh seafood from companies dedicated to the sustainability of our oceans. This allows us to achieve the upscale dining experience that will keep people coming back to be a part of La Familia for years to come.
Beginning this year, La Familia will be running food operations at Chautauqua Golf Course. For more information, visit their website.
Lunch:
Monday–Saturday| 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Sunday | 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Dinner:
Daily | 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Bar:
Sunday-Thursday | 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday | 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Open until midnight on popular concert evenings
2 Ames
2 Ames Avenue | 716.237.7066
2 Ames is the Chautauqua Institution’s newest restaurant. Enjoy a new American-style eatery and coffee shop featuring small plates and dishes to share using only the freshest ingredients. Open daily for coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 2 Ames is a great place to have a get-together with friends and socialize before you start your day, or for a dinner to celebrate a day full of activities. 2 Ames is open now.
Every day: 8 a.m. to midnight
Stedman Corner at the Literary Arts Center
Weekdays: Noon - 2 p.m. (or until sold out)
"Brown Bag" upscale sandwiches
The Tally Ho Hotel & Restaurant
Located on Morris | 716.357.3325
Breakfast | Daily: 8 a.m.–10 a.m.
Dinner | Daily: 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Brunch | Sunday: Noon–2 p.m.
Tally Ho offers breakfast and dinner daily, as well as brunch on Sundays. Centrally located at the Tally Ho Hotel, the restaurant is just a step away from Bestor Plaza. A great place to sit down and enjoy a meal or take advantage of their delicious breakfast and dinner buffet, or takeout buffet — pay by the pound — before heading off to the Amphitheater.
