This Unique Restaurant in Texas Is Built Right Into a Cave
In the remote ghost town of Terlingua, near the vast wilderness of Big Bend National Park, there’s a restaurant carved into the earth itself.
La Kiva Restaurant & Bar sits on the banks of Terlingua Creek—one where rock, wood, and firelight create something that exists nowhere else in Texas.
The food is good.
The drinks are cold.
The live music echoes off stone walls.
But what really draws people to La Kiva is the feeling that they’ve discovered something hidden—a secret carved out of the Texas desert.
Where La Kiva Is Located
La Kiva sits at 23220 FM 170 in Terlingua, Texas, about a mile and a half west of the intersection with Highway 118.
The restaurant overlooks Terlingua Creek, just west of the bridge, in one of the most remote corners of the state. Big Bend National Park lies roughly 30 miles to the southeast.
The nearest major city, El Paso, is over 300 miles away. This is the Trans-Pecos region of Texas—a landscape of desert mountains, vast skies, and very few people.
Getting here requires commitment. From San Antonio, the drive takes roughly five hours. From Austin, closer to six.
Most visitors arrive as part of a Big Bend trip, stopping in Terlingua for a meal, a drink, and a glimpse of the ghost town’s strange magic before heading into the park.
Food and Drink Menu
Menu Overview
La Kiva’s kitchen keeps things straightforward: burgers, steaks, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. All bread is baked in-house daily. The menu changes periodically, but crowd favorites remain consistent.
The Cave Burger and Terlingua Strip Steak are reliable choices. The homemade pizzas draw praise from visitors who didn’t expect to find good pizza this deep in the desert.
Portions are generous, and prices are reasonable—most visitors report spending $20-30 per person for a full meal with drinks.
Bar and Beverage Options
The bar is a full-service operation with beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options.
Craft cocktails include house specialties like the Prickly Pear Margarita—Exotico Blanco tequila with prickly pear, fresh lime juice, and a splash of orange juice.
The Vodka Cave-Ade is another favorite. Cocktails are reasonably priced, often around $7-10.
Many visitors come for drinks alone, stopping after a day of hiking in Big Bend to unwind in the cool stone interior before heading to their campsite or rental cabin.
Visiting Details
Hours and Operations
La Kiva’s hours have varied over the years as ownership has changed.
As of late 2025, the restaurant operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 5 pm to midnight, and Saturday from 5 pm to 1 am.
The restaurant is currently closed on Wednesdays and Sundays, though this may change as operations stabilize under new management.
The restaurant reopened in October 2025 after being closed since July 2024. La Kiva has had a turbulent history—multiple closures, ownership changes, and a tragic 2014 incident involving longtime owner Glenn Felts that changed the bar forever.
The Terlingua community has rallied around the restaurant each time, and new owners have consistently worked to preserve its character.
First-Come, First-Served
La Kiva does not take reservations. Seating is first-come, first-served, and on busy nights—weekends, holidays, and especially during the annual Terlingua Chili Cookoff in November—waits can stretch to an hour or more.
If you see more than a handful of cars in the lot, expect to wait. The bar serves as a pleasant holding area while you wait for a table.
Where the Desert Comes Together
La Kiva is more than a restaurant. It’s a gathering place for a community scattered across one of the most sparsely populated regions in Texas. River guides stop in after leading trips down the Rio Grande.
Artists who’ve made Terlingua their home hold court at the bar. Tourists on Big Bend pilgrimages sit next to travelers who’ve been wintering in the desert for decades.
In a state full of unique restaurants, La Kiva stands apart. You can eat a burger anywhere. You can hear live music in any city.
But you can only descend into a hand-built sandstone chamber on the banks of Terlingua Creek, surrounded by desert and stars, at La Kiva.
I’m telling you, it’s worth the drive.
Stella Raines
Editor-in-Chief
Stella brings over a decade of storytelling experience to TX Headlines. With roots in West Texas and a love for road trips, she leads the editorial team with an eye for the hidden stories that make Texas unforgettable.
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