Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is one of my favorite places in Utah because it has less crowds than other national park sites in the state and because of the coffee and pizza places I’ve found there. I dream about both when I know I’m going to be anywhere close to Escalante.  These fall under the “if you know, you know” category.   My friend Lisa and I found Kiva Koffeehouse and Escalante Outfitters on an 11-day road trip we did across the Southwest in November 2017. Kiva Koffeehouse was closed for the season on that trip, but I got to try it out on a solo trip a few months later and have stopped every time I’ve past it since.

We did try the pizza at Escalante Outfitters. It’s hands down my favorite pizza in Utah and possibly the Southwest. This is a cool spot blending gear shop, cafe/bakery, pizza joint and small cabin resort. We changed the backend of our 2017 road trip to swing back up to Escalante for pizza and to see some hoodoos and slot canyons we didn’t get to on our first stop. I’ve since stopped multiple times. For dinner, especially on weekends, there’s usually a wait, but I promise the wait is worth it! My go to pizza there is Devil’s Garden, which also happens to be one of my favorite spots to explore in the area. The vegetarian pizza is generously topped with red sauce, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, black olives, artichoke hearts and feta cheese. Tip – order a large so you have leftovers for your hike and/or road trip the next day. They’ll wrap it up for you. On our road trip back to Denver from Greater Zion this past May, Lisa and I had pizza for dinner, then stopped in the next morning for coffee and muffins before heading to Devil’s Garden to explore the hoodoos.

It’s easy to zip by Kiva Koffeehouse as you’re on scenery overload on Highway 12.  It’s about halfway between Boulder and Escalante (14 miles east of Escalante) and there’s nothing else around it.  Built in 1998 with natural building materials, it blends harmoniously into the landscape.  From lattes to iced coffees and scones to burritos, the coffee and food have been outstanding every time I’ve stopped.  On a recent trip to Greater Zion with my friend Lisa, she finally got to experience Kiva Koffeehouse.  We had just finished exploring the hoodoos and rock formations in Devil’s Garden near Escalante and were in need of coffee and food.  We sat outside on a stellar late morning devouring our breakfast burritos before taking the ultra scenic Burr Trail Road, the long way to Capitol Reef National Park. It was brunch with view of the Grand Staircase!

Author Jennifer Broome is a frequent road trip and has explored southern Utah extensively. Check out blog on How to Spend 3 Days in Greater Zion for tips to visiting southwest Utah.