More than a million visitors tour the Hoover Dam each year. Millions more view the dam while driving the nearby Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge – the tallest single-span bridge in the world! Whether the dam is your destination or you’re on the road to Vegas, you’ll need to fuel up your belly sometime during the day. While there’s no restaurant onsite, the area around Hoover Dam offers a handful of eateries and tour stops to keep your family well-fed. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Coffee Cup Café

Featured on Guy Fieri’s Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, this popular Boulder City breakfast spot has a totally tubular vibe. Look around at the hanging surfboards and ocean motif and you’ll get stoked for a day on the water. What’s on the menu? A wide range of diner classics, from omelets and burgers to heartier fare like the meatloaf breakfast with two eggs, hash browns and brown gravy. It’s highly rated by Google users, and nabs TripAdvisor’s top spot for local cafes. Plus, The Coffee Cup is family-owned, so you can expect personalized service and a community feel. It’s the perfect place to grab breakfast before you visit the dam.

2. Black Canyon

One of the most intriguing ways to see the Hoover Dam is from below, as you leisurely float down the Colorado River. Black Canyon River Adventures offers a motorized raft tour that takes guests through Black Canyon and down to Willow Beach. Start the three-hour guided tour just after breakfast and enjoy a stop for lunch along the riverbank. A packaged meal with turkey wrap, chips, cookie and fruit is included in the tour price, so you won’t have to pack any goodies for the ride. You’ll also get a stellar opportunity to snap pics of of bighorn sheep, herons and other wildlife in their natural desert habitat. At the end of the tour, ride in an air-conditioned bus back over the memorial bridge to your car or Vegas hotel.

3. The Dillinger

Named for infamous gangster John Dillinger, this trendy pub opened in 2011 is known for its burgers and craft beers. Naturally, it has a vintage vibe, with old bank signs and historic photographs lining the walls. Try the executioner patty melt, served on sourdough with Thousand Island, or go gourmet with a brie-covered Baby Face Nelson burger. The menu also includes fried calamari, wings and other bar staples, plus salads, sandwiches and a rotating selection of six brews on tap. Save room for the bread pudding, if you can!

4. Fox Smokehouse BBQ

If you’re seeking a stick-to-your ribs dinner near Hoover Dam, look no further than Fox Smokehouse BBQ. These guys are competition barbecue pit masters for the BBQ Junkie national team. Fox is your standard counter service ‘cue joint, with juicy brisket, pulled pork and chicken dished straight up or piled on a roll. You can also get your BBQ meat in a taco or opt for finger-lickin’ ribs. Combo meals come with choice of one or two sides including mac n’ cheese, fried okra, cowboy beans or fries. This is Kansas City style barbecue, so expect pit-smoked flavor and lots of gooey sauce.

Why fumble with the cooler when you can dine just minutes away from Hoover Dam? Whether you start your day on the river with us or head over after breakfast on the road, you and your family will love the scenic stops on our motorized raft tour. Call 800-455-3490 or contact Black Canyon River Adventures online for more information on seeing the Hoover Dam up close and personal.