Welcome to Barney's Cafe
At Barney's Cafe, located in the heart of Mt. Airy, NC, nostalgia meets hearty American comfort food. This charming diner, inspired by the beloved "Andy Griffith Show," offers a diverse menu catering to all breakfast cravings. Signature dishes like the "Big Country Breakfast" and gourmet burgers, served with crispy onion rings, promise satisfaction at friendly prices. The warm atmosphere, enhanced by a local clientele and heartfelt service, creates an inviting experience reminiscent of simpler times. With a focus on quality ingredients and traditional recipes, Barney’s is a culinary gem where every meal feels like a comforting embrace, leaving patrons eager to return.
- 206 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC 27030 Hotline: (336) 786-8305
Welcome to Barney's Cafe, a delightful slice of Americana located at 206 N Main St, Mt Airy, NC. Nestled in a charming tourist hotspot, this cozy diner is infused with nostalgia, bringing to life the spirit of the beloved television show “The Andy Griffith Show.” With a reputation for hearty breakfasts and classic American fare, Barney's Cafe is a culinary gem where locals and visitors alike gather to enjoy good food and warm hospitality.
The breakfast menu boasts a tantalizing array of options that cater to a variety of tastes. Highlights include:
- Two Eggs with Choice of Meat: Enjoy your morning with a satisfying selection of bacon, sausage, or bologna, served alongside grits, gravy, home fries, or baked apples, starting at just $7.00.
- Sweet Taste of Mayberry: For those craving a little extra, this dish offers two eggs paired with your choice of meat and served with either pancakes or French toast for $8.50.
- Big Country Breakfast: A true feast, featuring three eggs, your choice of succulent meats, a side, and pancakes or French toast, perfect for those with a hearty appetite – all for $11.00.
Customer reviews echo a sense of satisfaction and nostalgia. Philemon C. describes it as "a great nostalgic cafe," applauding the solid food and service that make this place a local favorite. Others like Karen B. and Renee H. appreciate the diner’s no-frills approach, combined with gourmet presentations of classic dishes like burgers and onion rings that are cooked to perfection.
Barney’s also shines with its wide selection of burgers. The creative Pimento Cheese Burger and classic cheeseburgers have won over many customers, with Leigh B. noting the quaint atmosphere adorned with nostalgic photos of Barney himself. Diners can enjoy quick service even when the place is buzzing, as shared by James R., who relished his burger stacked high with grilled onions, bacon, and fresh toppings.
What sets Barney's Cafe apart is not just its delicious offerings, but also the feeling of community. Customers often comment on the friendliness of the staff and the warm ambiance that makes it a perfect spot for a meal any time of day. Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or settling in for breakfast with family, the sense of camaraderie and the inviting decor will have you feeling right at home.
Barney's Cafe is more than just a place to eat; it's an experience steeped in nostalgia and rich flavors. So, if you find yourself in Mt Airy, don’t miss out on the chance to step back in time and indulge in some truly comforting diner food.

great nostalgic cafe. breakfast options for everyone. locals seem to routinely eat breakfast here. service and food very solid!! cheap meals and tasty!! nothing bad to say about this cozy little gem nestled in the "tourist hot spot" feeding off an old time television show

It is a no frills diner with good food. Service was good despite having a full house. We both had the gourmet burger which really is a regular burger with some type of spice. Burger was cooked perfectly and the onion rings were nice and crispy.

Mom and I attended the Autumn Leaves festival and decided to grab some lunch on our way out of the event. Neither one of us had ever been to this establishment before. It was a old timey diner that was filled with many patrons. Mom and I both decided on burgers but there are quite a few options to choose from. I got the pimento cheese burger and mom got the cheeseburger. We shared an order of onion rings, which were delicious. We both really enjoyed our burgers as well! They came out very fast! Our server was Lavonda and was pleasant and accommodating, despite being very busy. She made the experience even better. I gave 4 stars instead of five as I felt the prices were a bit high for the size of the burgers and side items.

We wanted to try something other than Snappy Lunch in Mt Airy. Glad husband chose this place. Love all the pics of Barney inside. They were busy, but tables turned over at a good pace. Service was good. We had meatloaf, and burgers. Husband liked deviled eggs as a side. Food was good.

Why can't all places have these prices?! What a cute place with good diner food. The homemade lemonade was delicious and not too sweet. Everyone in my group enjoyed what they got. My only complaint is that I got the grilled cheese and it was just okay. Otherwise, fun place to stop for lunch.

This cute diner gave me everything I was looking for today. It was that old style diner with counters and people that had been working there for decades. Turn back the time on the decor and the pricing!!! To be on Main Street in a place with tons of tourists, this place could charge way more than it did. I chose the special which was Barney burger and fries for $10.75. The burger was delicious and hand pressed for that fresh flavor. There was cheese and bacon on the burger and the bacon was among the best cooked bacon I've had. I'm a bacon snob and I cannot stand microwave mushy bacon most places serve. This bacon was extra crispy and oven baked. (We asked!) The fries were your typical fries and the onion rings were delicious. Lots of homemade cake. I was full so I didn't try them but they looked delicious!!! Step back in time and give it a try. I loved this little town and this place.

A fun little spot in Mount airy. Lots of tourist. The food was good! But the best part was the friendliness of all of the people there and the fact that they had fresh cake out on the counter! I went for their pineapple bacon cheeseburger while my wife just had a grilled cheese. They were whipped upquickly and delivered with a smile!

Today was a seat yourself day. They have 24 tables and a bar. The server came by and took our drink order quickly. Everyone is really nice. Most places seem to serve Pepsi. If you are a Coke person, you can get that in a bottle with no refills at several places. The burger was great, grilled onions, bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce with mayo. Catsup is on the table. The onion rings were crisp, hot, and not greasy. The deviled eggs had a good sprinkle of paprika on them. Everything was tasty. Kind of glad we didn't go last week. They had 40000 people in town for the Andy Griffith festival. Lines at restaurants would be long and sidewalks crowded. They don't close the streets for the festivals. Great food and atmosphere. Will return again.