Best Restaurants in Sedona: A Local's Dining Guide

Quick Answer: Sedona's best restaurants include Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill (Chef Lisa Dahl, view + upscale), Elote Cafe (modern Mexican, book weeks ahead), Cress on Oak Creek at L'Auberge (fine dining creekside), Cucina Rustica (Italian by Chef Dahl), and Coffee Pot Cafe (the breakfast institution with 101 omelettes). Reservations are essential in spring and fall.

Sedona's restaurant scene punches far above its weight for a town of 11,000 people. You'll find James Beard–nominated chefs, patios with head-on red rock views, and everything from raw vegan cafes to steakhouses. Here's what to eat, where to book, and how to avoid the tourist traps.

Booking Rules for Sedona Restaurants

• Weekends March–May and September–November: Book 4–6 weeks ahead for dinner at any top restaurant.
• Elote Cafe takes reservations 90 days out at 10 a.m. sharp and sells out that day.
• Sunday brunch at L'Auberge, Enchantment, and Cress on Oak Creek fills up fast.
• OpenTable covers about 70% of the good spots. For the rest, call directly.

Best Restaurants by Category

Best Fine Dining

1. Cress on Oak Creek (at L'Auberge de Sedona)

• Address: 301 L'Auberge Lane, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8697° N, 111.7580° W
• Open in Google Maps
• Cuisine: Contemporary American with French technique
• Vibe: Creekside, romantic, tasting menu available
• Price: $$$$
• Reservations: Essential; book 3–4 weeks out

Widely considered the best fine dining in Sedona. Tables sit alongside Oak Creek — falling water is your background music. The tasting menu is worth splurging on for anniversaries or milestones.

2. Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill

• Address: 700 AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8631° N, 111.8035° W
• Open in Google Maps
• Cuisine: Latin American — Argentinian and Spanish influences, wood-fired meats
• Vibe: The best sunset patio in Sedona
• Price: $$$$
• Reservations: Essential; sunset seatings book 4+ weeks out

Chef Lisa Dahl's flagship. The wood-fired steaks and chops are the move. Ask for a west-facing patio table when you book — the view is what you're paying for.

3. Kai (at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass — 90 min drive)

Worth mentioning if you're driving up from Phoenix — the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Arizona. Native American ingredients, remarkable tasting menu. Not in Sedona, but a strong overnight stop.

Best Modern Mexican / Southwest

4. Elote Cafe

• Address: 350 Jordan Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8704° N, 111.7621° W
• Open in Google Maps
• Cuisine: Modern Mexican from Chef Jeff Smedstad
• Vibe: Dark, warm, energetic — buzzy tables
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Yes, 90 days in advance ONLY (open at 10 a.m., sells out same day)

If there's one restaurant you plan an entire trip around, it's Elote. The elote (fire-roasted corn with lime, cotija, chile) and the smoked brisket enchiladas are non-negotiable. If you can't get a reservation, arrive at 4 p.m. for a walk-in bar seat.

5. Hideaway House

• Address: 231 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8654° N, 111.7635° W
• Cuisine: Italian-American with a creekside patio
• Vibe: Casual patio dining, walkable from Uptown
• Price: $$

A local favorite for red-rock views without four-figure bills. Great pizzas and pastas.

Best Italian

6. Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano

• Address: 2321 W AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8556° N, 111.8135° W
• Cuisine: Traditional Northern Italian
• Vibe: Sophisticated but relaxed
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Recommended

Chef Lisa Dahl's Italian counterpart to Mariposa. The osso buco is legendary.

7. Cucina Rustica

• Address: 7000 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86351 (Village of Oak Creek)
• Coordinates: 34.7833° N, 111.7615° W
• Cuisine: Rustic Italian
• Vibe: Old-world Tuscan farmhouse aesthetic
• Price: $$$
• Reservations: Recommended

Another Chef Dahl venue, in the Village of Oak Creek. Handmade pasta, wood-fired oven. The wine cellar is worth touring.

Best Breakfast

8. Coffee Pot Restaurant

• Address: 2050 W AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8567° N, 111.8074° W
• Cuisine: Diner
• Vibe: Kitschy, family-friendly, iconic
• Price: $
• Reservations: No — walk in, expect a wait 8–10 a.m.

101 omelettes on the menu. Not the fanciest breakfast in Sedona, but the most beloved. Free parking, generous portions. Great pre-hike stop.

9. Indian Gardens Cafe & Market

• Address: 3951 N AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336 (Oak Creek Canyon, ~4 mi north)
• Coordinates: 34.9130° N, 111.7395° W
• Cuisine: Cafe, coffee, breakfast sandwiches
• Vibe: Rustic canyon setting, dog-friendly patio
• Price: $

If you're headed to West Fork Trail or Slide Rock, this is your breakfast stop. Great coffee, house-made pastries, sit on the patio and listen to Oak Creek.

10. Creekside American Bistro

• Address: 251 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8646° N, 111.7622° W
• Cuisine: Upscale American breakfast/brunch
• Vibe: Elevated, creekside patio
• Price: $$

Skip the diner scene and go here if you want brunch with a view. Reservations recommended for weekend brunch.

Best Casual / Lunch

11. Pisa Lisa

• Address: 2245 W AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8562° N, 111.8113° W
• Cuisine: Wood-fired pizza (Chef Lisa Dahl)
• Vibe: Casual, family-friendly
• Price: $$

Fast, delicious, easy after a hike. Great for kids.

12. Sedona Pizza Company

• Address: 6446 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86351
• Cuisine: Authentic Neapolitan pizza (800°F wood-fired oven built in Naples)
• Vibe: Covered patio, dog-friendly
• Price: $$

Puppy Patty on the menu — dog-friendly pie for your pup.

Best Vegan / Plant-Based

13. ChocolaTree Organic Eatery

• Address: 1595 W AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8641° N, 111.7930° W
• Cuisine: Vegan, organic, raw
• Vibe: Hippie garden, live music, meditation space out back
• Price: $$

The most Sedona restaurant in Sedona. Even confirmed carnivores end up loving the pizza and cacao truffles. Dog-friendly gardens.

Best View Restaurant

14. Mesa Grill at Sedona Airport

• Address: 1185 Airport Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Coordinates: 34.8489° N, 111.7876° W
• Cuisine: American, Southwestern
• Vibe: Airport with sweeping mesa views, planes taxiing by
• Price: $$

Sit on the partially enclosed patio, watch small planes take off with red rocks in the background. Great burgers and Arizona craft beer. Dog-friendly heated patio.

Best Bar / Cocktails

15. The Hudson

• Address: 671 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86336 (Hillside Sedona)
• Coordinates: 34.8571° N, 111.7690° W
• Vibe: Sunset views, elevated cocktail bar
• Price: $$$

Cocktail-forward with excellent small plates. Time your reservation for 30 minutes before sunset.

16. Vino Di Sedona

• Address: 2575 W AZ-89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
• Vibe: Neighborhood wine bar with live music
• Price: $$

Locals hang out here. Great by-the-glass list from Verde Valley wineries.

Best Ice Cream / Dessert

• Black Cow Cafe — 229 N AZ-89A, Sedona. Homemade ice cream, prickly pear flavor is iconic.
• Sedonuts Coffee & Donuts — Fresh donuts, family-friendly, near Uptown.

Sedona Restaurants by Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Top Picks
Uptown Sedona	Mariposa, Elote (nearby), Cress, Coffee Pot
West Sedona	Dahl & DiLuca, ChocolaTree, Pisa Lisa
Village of Oak Creek	Cucina Rustica, Sedona Pizza Company
Oak Creek Canyon	Indian Gardens Cafe, Junipine Cafe
Tlaquepaque	El Rincón, René Restaurant

Restaurants at Tlaquepaque Arts Village

Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tla-keh-pah-keh) is Sedona's Mexican-inspired arts village and hosts several beloved restaurants:

• El Rincón Restaurante Mexicano — Authentic Mexican, great margaritas
• René Restaurant — French-influenced fine dining
• Secret Garden Cafe — Lunch with a courtyard fountain view
• Oak Creek Brewery & Grill — Local craft beer, hearty pub food

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #1 restaurant in Sedona? Elote Cafe consistently tops locals' and critics' lists. Mariposa is the top view restaurant, and Cress on Oak Creek is the top fine dining.

How far in advance should I make reservations in Sedona? For weekends in spring or fall: 4–6 weeks ahead at top restaurants. Elote takes reservations 90 days in advance and sells out same day.

Are Sedona restaurants dog-friendly? Many are. Best patios for dogs: ChocolaTree, Sedona Pizza Company, Mesa Grill, Indian Gardens Cafe, and Hilton Sedona Resort's Shift restaurant.

Is Sedona expensive for food? Yes — entrées at top restaurants run $30–$60, tasting menus $95–$175. Coffee Pot and Pisa Lisa are your best affordable options for great food.

Do Sedona restaurants close for lunch? Many upscale spots (Mariposa, Cress, Dahl & DiLuca) are dinner-only. Elote opens at 5 p.m. Check hours before you drive over.

What should I eat that's uniquely Sedona? Prickly pear anything — margaritas, syrup on pancakes, ice cream. Elote's namesake corn dish. Wood-fired local trout at fine dining spots. Arizona wine from the Verde Valley.

Related Guides

• Best Wineries Near Sedona: The Verde Valley Wine Trail
• Best Sunset Spots in Sedona (Hikes + Easy Viewpoints)
• Sedona Shopping Guide: Tlaquepaque, Uptown & Galleries
• Dog-Friendly Sedona: Trails, Hotels & Patios

Plan Your Trip

Discover more of Sedona's dining scene and unlock exclusive perks at partner restaurants through SedonaPassport.com.