Best Sedona restaurants for fine dining with a view
The best eateries in Sedona that offer delectable views
Sedona dining is a special experience. Wonderful chefdriven restaurants have opened in recent years, and the gorgeous setting adds an undefinable something. When red-rock panoramas are served on the side, that’s a meal you won’t soon forget.
So head to Sedona and eat in these amazing restaurants where a liberal dash of beauty comes with every meal.
Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill
This upscale romantic restaurant is the latest enterprise from Chef Lisa Dahl, an exquisite melding of art and architecture.
Natural stacked stone, rusted metal panels, walls of windows and shady patios are part of the décor that’s unlike anyplace else in Sedona. Sitting on a bluff, Mariposa provides incredible views to accompany the warm atmosphere and excellent South American-inspired food.
Start with flaky handmade empanadas before moving on to creatively prepared steak, fish and chicken entrees. Although it’s not required, this is one of those places where it’s fun to dress up a bit. Mariposa is also open for lunch.
Details: 700 State Route 89A, West Sedona. 928-8624444, www.mariposasedona.com.
Indian Gardens Café & Market
Eclectic, historic and tucked away in the scenic heart of Oak Creek Canyon 4 miles north of Sedona, Indian Gardens seems more oasis than store.
It specializes in fresh salads, soups and hearty creative sandwiches, such as the bacon and brie melt or the garden pita that is exactly as it sounds — a warm pita stuffed with an entire garden harvest of veggies. Wash your sandwich down with a specialty coffee, craft beer or local wine. There’s seating inside but nothing beats the tree-swaddled patio with views of canyon cliffs. Before hitting the road, grab a bag of organic apples and a jug of cider from orchards overlooking Oak Creek.
Details: 3951 N. State Route 89A, Sedona (in Oak Creek Canyon). 928-2827702, www.indiangardens.com.
Elote Café, Sedona
No matter what else you order, start with the signature elote, fire-roasted corn fresh off the cob, lightly tossed with spicy mayo and cotija cheese. It’s based on a popular street food in Mexico and Chef Jeff Smedstad gives it a devastatingly tasty spin.
All the dishes reverberate with rich, complementary flavors. Velvety smoked pork cheeks are served with cascabel chile, buttermilk cumin drizzle sauce and corn cakes inspired by Smedstad’s grandmother.
A floor-to-ceiling wall of glass and a small patio offer nice views of Sedona. The café only opens for dinner and doesn’t take reservations. If you don’t arrive early, expect a wait. Fortunately, it also serves some of the best margaritas in town, which will help make the time pass.
Details: 771 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-203-0105, www.elotecafe.com.
Creekside American Bistro
Just like the name promises, this stylish restaurant perches on the edge of Oak Creek with a beautiful view of Snoopy Rock rising above the sycamore and cottonwood trees.
Serving eclectic American cuisine, the place bustles all day starting with its popular breakfast. Executive Chef Mercer Mohr changes the menu every three months to take advantage of seasonal ingredients. At lunch the ahi tuna burger is diced and spiced with green onions, fresh ginger and shallots, then hand-pressed into a patty and served with wasabi aioli.
Details: 251 State Route 179, Uptown Sedona. 928-282-1705, www.creeksidesedona.com.
The Hudson
This is the kind of neighborhood eatery that makes you wish you lived in its neighborhood.
The Hudson seems to always be packed with locals enjoying sophisticated and artfully presented comfort food. There’s a bustling bar, a lounge and an open dining room that’s busy lunch through dinner. Perched in Hillside Sedona, a multi-level plaza filled with galleries, shops and restaurants, diners on the patio enjoy eye-popping views.
Several varieties of bruschetta make a tempting appetizer or happy hour snack. Along with salads and burgers, the house specialties range from barbecue braised pork tacos to Thai scallops to butternut squash ravioli. Then treat yourself to a decadent dessert.
Details: 671 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-862-4099, www.thehudsonsedona.com.
Coffee Pot Restaurant
Here’s a hint for eating at Coffee Pot — try an omelet. When a place trumpets 101 different varieties, they probably know their way around the hen berries.
Each omelet is as big as a Thermos and comes with choice of potato, grits or cottage cheese. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but unless your name is Elvis, are you seriously tempted by a PBJ and banana omelet?
If you’re not in an eggy mood, try the crisp Belgian waffles and their syruphoarding craters. Coffee Pot is also open for lunch.
Details: 2050 W. State Route 89A, West Sedona. 928-282-6626, www.coffeepotsedona.com.
Outlaw Grille
Grab a burger or sandwich while prowling Uptown Sedona galleries at Outlaw Grille. Hidden away in the retail district, it has a few plain tables in a small dining room, a little patio and more tables lining the breezeway between shops. Order at the window and they’ll hustle your meal out to you.
The Morning After burger comes topped with a fried egg, crispy bacon and spicy jalapeños to pop your eyes open after any kind of night. They hickory smoke their ribs and finish them on the grill. The homemade sauce is tantalizingly sweet. Wings, chicken fingers, salads, sandwiches and veggie burgers round out the menu. Great for kids.
Details: 250 Jordan Road, Uptown Sedona. 928-862-4085, www.outlawgrille.com.
Mesa Grill
Open and airy Mesa Grill at the Sedona Airport sits atop a high plateau with panoramas spilling away. They serve a wide range of items behind a wall of windows so you can enjoy views of the red rocks as well as planes and helicopters taking off and landing.
There’s a Southwest flair to the wideranging menu that also offers some delicious seafood dishes. The crispy-skin red trout comes with caper butter sauce, green chile grits and crispy trout chicharron. You can even order tableside guacamole.
Details: 1185 Airport Road, West Sedona. 928-282-2400, www.mesagrillsedona.com.
Javelina Cantina
Located in the bustling Hillside Sedona plaza, Javelina Cantina is an easygoing, cheerful Mexican eatery known for large portions.
Baskets of warm chips and salsa appear as soon as you sit down. You’ll find all the classic dishes along with a few surprises, such as the blackened grilled catfish relleno. Tasty margaritas go down very smoothly, especially on the terrace with impressive red-rock views.
Details: 671 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-282-1313, www.javelinacantinasedona.com.
Cucina Rustica
Resembling a Tuscan villa with fireplaces and fountains, elaborate iron work and Old World doors, romantic Cucina Rustica is another popular Lisa Dahl restaurant.
It’s perfect for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or any day ending in the letter “Y.” The ambiance combined with the ninja-like professionalism of the waitstaff and the rich Italian-inspired cuisine makes every occasion special. The restaurant’s farmto-table practice assures fresh, seasonal flavors.
Linguine angelica is a big plate of fresh pasta with juicy prawns in a light zesty sauce of lemon, tomato, garlic and chardonnay with arugula and chile flakes. Save room for the specialty desserts whipped up nightly.
Details: 7000 State Route 179, Village of Oak Creek. 928-284-3010, www.cucinarustica.com.