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Cafe Cars, Dining Cars, and Flexible Dining: A Guide to Eating on Amtrak

Traditional Dining is back on every western long-distance train. Here is the menu, the timing, the dress code, and what costs extra.

Onboard amenities

Amtrak's onboard food service falls into four tiers. Cafe service operates on virtually every train, with sandwiches, snacks, hot drinks, beer, wine, and small spirits at standard prices. Flexible Dining operates on the eastern long-distance trains (Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Floridian, Crescent, Cardinal, Lake Shore Limited, Capitol Limited) — sleeper passengers receive prepared meals with multiple entree choices delivered tray-style to the seat or dining car, included in fare. Coach passengers may purchase Flexible Dining meals when capacity allows.

Traditional Dining returned in 2021 to the western long-distance trains: the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, City of New Orleans, and the Auto Train. Sleeper passengers eat all three meals daily in the dining car at no additional charge; coach passengers may purchase à la carte from the same menu when seating allows. Reservations are made by the dining car steward who walks each car at the start of the meal period.

Acela First Class

Acela First Class includes a complimentary meal, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and at-seat service from a dedicated cafe attendant. Menus rotate seasonally and are typically two or three plated entrees, salads, sides, and dessert.

Cafe car standards

The Amfleet I cafe (corridor service east of the Mississippi) and the Sightseer Lounge cafe (Superliner long-distance trains) carry Twin Hill chips, Skinnygirl wines, Boston Beer products, gluten-free options, and a rotating snack box. Cafe cars typically open shortly after the first major boarding stop and close 30 minutes before the last station. Hot food (microwaved pizza, Quesadilla, the famous Amtrak hot dog) returned to most cafe car menus in 2023.

BYO and storage

Amtrak allows passengers to bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard. Alcohol consumption in coach is permitted only when purchased from the cafe car; alcohol consumption in private rooms (sleeping cars) is permitted whether brought aboard or purchased. Detailed menu reviews and season-by-season changes are tracked at the Long-Distance Traveler's Companion.

Getting started? If this is your first long-distance trip, pair this guide with the first-time rider checklist and skim the field guide to station types for what to expect when you arrive.

Further reading

  • Independent reviews and trip reports
  • Seasonal travel-deal newsletters