The best restaurants in Sedona include everything from homemade donuts and affordable organic tacos to casual patios with red rock views and upscale restaurants for special occasions. During my trip, I tried breakfast spots, casual lunches, Italian comfort food, creekside dining, and some of Sedona’s most popular fine-dining restaurants.
Sedona may be known for its hiking and scenery, but I was pleasantly surprised by just how good the food was. This guide will help you decide where to eat in Sedona based on your budget, plans, and the experience you want.
Mesa Grill is located beside the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout, so you get panoramic red rock views and a front-row seat to watch small planes take off and land while you eat.
Chef Mercer Mohr leads the restaurant, which serves Southwestern-inspired comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu includes chilaquiles, burgers, steaks, seafood, and familiar breakfast dishes with slightly more elevated ingredients.
Mesa Grill also received the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award and the 2025 OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award.
The restaurant has casual indoor seating and a pet-friendly patio. The views may be what initially bring people in, but the food is good enough that Mesa Grill remains popular with both visitors and locals.
I visited Mesa Grill for both breakfast and lunch, and I would describe the food as slightly elevated diner food. Everything we ordered was very good, and the combination of quality food and incredible views makes it an easy restaurant to recommend.
One standout was the scalloped potatoes. They had a subtle hint of truffle that added flavor without overpowering the dish.
Popular menu items include:
Breakfast and lunch are generally easier to visit without reservations. Walk-ins are usually accepted, although you may have a short wait during busy times.
Dinner is significantly busier, especially around sunset, so reservations are highly recommended.
Mesa Grill is also a convenient stop before or after visiting Airport Mesa. You can plan dinner around one of the locations in my Best Sunset Spots in Sedona guide if you want to combine the meal with an evening viewpoint.
Sedonuts is a locally owned donut shop serving made-from-scratch donuts, fresh pastries, and locally roasted coffee. It is an easy breakfast stop before a morning hike or road trip through Red Rock Country.
The display includes classics such as glazed, chocolate, maple, blueberry, filled donuts, and apple fritters. Sedonuts also makes several signature options, including Red Rock donuts, maple bacon donuts, seasonal flavors, and its popular Vortex Cinnamon Roll.
The Vortex Cinnamon Roll is soft, gooey, and covered in cream cheese frosting.
Sedonuts serves fair-trade, locally roasted coffee along with lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, espresso drinks, chai lattes, and cold brew. You can also order the Red Rocks Reserve coffee if you prefer a traditional hot coffee with your donut.
The shop is casual and affordable, but you should expect a line during busy mornings. Service usually moves quickly.
The Vortex Cinnamon Roll is one of the shop’s signature items, but I absolutely loved the raspberry-filled donut.
The filling was generous, the donut was light and fluffy, and it had a good balance of sweetness without being overwhelming. I would pair either one with a hot latte or Red Rocks Reserve coffee.
Coffee Pot Restaurant has been a Sedona institution since the 1950s. The family-owned restaurant is best known for serving breakfast all day and offering an enormous menu of 101 omelets.
In addition to omelets, the restaurant serves Belgian waffles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, Mexican specialties, and locally roasted Colombian coffee.
Popular menu items include:
The atmosphere is casual, family-friendly, and old-school in the best way. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable for Sedona, and service is known for moving quickly.
Coffee Pot Restaurant does not take reservations, so expect a wait during peak breakfast hours. The main parking lot is small, but additional parking is available nearby.
You cannot visit Coffee Pot Restaurant without at least considering one of the 101 omelets.
The Green Chile Omelet, Chili Con Carne Omelet, and Avocado, Bacon, Tomato and Cheese Omelet are popular choices. The Belgian waffles and Huevos Rancheros are good alternatives if you are not in the mood for an omelet.
Sedona Organic Taco Company is a strong option when you want a quick, affordable lunch without sacrificing ingredient quality.
The restaurant uses organic ingredients, locally sourced produce, and humanely raised meats. It is tucked behind The Dragon’s Den and has plenty of shaded outdoor seating, which worked well after a morning of hiking and sightseeing.
My favorite move was adding the elote directly into the tacos, especially the carne asada taco. The creamy, slightly smoky sweetness made the tacos even better. Honestly, adding the corn into the tacos was heaven.
The house-made horchata was incredibly refreshing on a hot Sedona afternoon, and the coconut flan was the star of the meal. It was rich, silky smooth, and easily one of the best flans I have had.
Sedona Organic Taco Company is especially good for travelers who want fresh, flavorful food at a lower price than many other Sedona restaurants.
Cowboy Club has been part of Sedona since 1945. Originally called the Oak Creek Tavern, it became a gathering place for locals and Hollywood stars while Western movies were being filmed throughout the area.
Today, the restaurant combines that Old West history with Southwestern food in the center of Uptown Sedona.
The menu features steaks and High Desert specialties such as:
Popular dishes include the Cactus Fries, Bison Chili, Bison Pot Roast, Bison Burger, Elk Chops, Prime Rib, house cornbread, and fried ice cream.
Cowboy Club is a good choice if you want to try wild game in a casual, approachable setting. The Western atmosphere is family-friendly, although dinner reservations are recommended during busy travel seasons.
Even if you are not ordering a full meal, the fried ice cream is a popular reason to stop.
Hideaway House is one of my favorite casual restaurants in Sedona, especially when I want Italian comfort food with a red rock view.
The restaurant has several dining areas, but the outdoor patio is the main draw. It is a relaxed stop after hiking or sightseeing, and the menu includes pizzas, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and homemade dressings.
The Peach and Pancetta Pizza is my go-to order.
The combination of roasted peaches, pancetta, ricotta, and basil sounds unusual, but it is absolutely delicious. I recommend ordering it well done so the crust comes out crispier.
I would pair it with the House Salad and a Prickly Pear Lemonade. The bread was good, but I would personally skip it next time so I had more room for the salad and pizza.
Hideaway House also offers several mocktails, which I appreciated since I do not drink alcohol.
Read my Hideaway House Review: Is It Worth It? for more details about the food, seating, parking, and views.
Tamaliza Café is a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant known for homemade tamales, fresh organic ingredients, and recipes inspired by owner and chef Claudia’s upbringing in central Mexico.
Everything is made from scratch without lard or artificial ingredients. The beans and rice are also prepared without chicken broth, making the café a useful option for gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diners.
The menu centers on gourmet tamales but also includes tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chile rellenos, and homemade mole.
Frequently recommended dishes include:
Many diners also recommend the horchata or traditional tepache.
The café is colorful and casual, with counter service and a small patio overlooking the red rocks. You order inside before the food is brought to your table.
Prices are slightly higher than a typical casual Mexican restaurant, and portions are not oversized. Most diners still consider it a good value because of the fresh ingredients and homemade preparation.
For a first visit, order one of the Tamale Supremos, particularly the Chicken Mole or Barbacoa version.
The mole is one of the most frequently praised items on the menu, with many visitors describing it as some of the best they have had outside Mexico.
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Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill is a strong choice for a special occasion or one upscale dinner during a Sedona trip.
Created by Chef Lisa Dahl, the menu takes inspiration from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. It includes premium steaks, seafood, local ingredients, and bold Latin flavors.
The restaurant also has sweeping red rock views, an upscale dining room, natural stone details, and classy design elements that fit the surrounding landscape without feeling overly themed.
The Mom’s Favorite Au Gratin Potatoes were my favorite part of the meal. They were rich, creamy, and loaded with white cheddar, with the slightest hint of truffle that made them absolutely addictive.
The filet mignon was incredibly tender, and the Tres Leches was moist, rich, and the perfect dessert to share. The empanadas would also make it back onto my table, although dessert would probably still rank first.
I think so, especially if you want one special dinner during your Sedona trip.
There are less expensive places to eat in town, but Mariposa delivers a complete experience with strong service, high-quality food, generous portions, and some of the best restaurant views in Sedona.
Expect to spend approximately $175 to $250 for two people, depending on what you order. Reservations are highly recommended, especially around sunset, and the restaurant has an upscale dress code.
I would recommend Mariposa most for couples, celebrations, first-time visitors, or anyone who wants to include one elevated meal in their itinerary. It may not be the best fit if you are on a tight dining budget, want something very casual, or need a quick dinner.
I would absolutely return for another special occasion. My Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill Review: Is It Worth It? goes into more detail about the atmosphere, service, dishes, pricing, and what I would order again.
Cress on Oak Creek is located at L’Auberge de Sedona and offers refined Arizona cuisine with French influences in a creekside setting beneath tall sycamore trees.
It is one of the most romantic restaurants in Sedona and works especially well for anniversaries, birthdays, or a quiet special-occasion dinner.
The warm milk rolls were served with salted butter, pesto, and brown butter. The Japanese Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Smashed Fingerlings were also memorable, but dessert was the part of the meal that stood out most.
The Thin Mint Cremeux was one of the best desserts I have ever had. It had the richness you expect from a chocolate dessert, but the mint kept it from feeling too heavy.
Cress is expensive, with dinner for two commonly reaching $200 to $300 or more. The creekside location, food, and attentive service make it best suited for a special occasion rather than an ordinary dinner.
Read my Cress on Oak Creek Review: Is It Worth It? for a complete look at the menu, creekside setting, service, and whether I think the experience justifies the price.
The Hudson sits above Sedona in the Hillside Shopping Plaza and has been a popular local restaurant since opening in 2015.
Chef-owner Jeff Storcz and his wife, Patti Niemann, designed it as a neighborhood gathering spot serving elevated American comfort food. The spacious patio is the main draw, particularly around sunset when you can see the surrounding red rocks.
The menu includes burgers, salads, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, pasta, and familiar comfort food. Popular dishes include:
The Hudson also serves several creative mocktails, making it a useful dinner option whether you drink alcohol or not.
It is casual enough for lunch after hiking but still polished enough for a birthday or date night.
Start with Chef Jeff’s Famous Corn Chowder or the Whipped Feta with Toasted Bread.
For an entrée, the Chicken Pot Pie and Butternut Squash Ravioli are consistently recommended. For a special dinner, request a patio table around sunset.
Elote Café is one of the most celebrated Sedona restaurants and is known for Chef Jeff Smedstad’s interpretation of regional Mexican food.
Chef Smedstad spent more than 20 years traveling through areas including Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla, learning traditional recipes and techniques. The menu combines those influences with Southwestern ingredients.
Elote Café has received national attention from publications including The New York Times, Phoenix Magazine, and The Arizona Republic.
Because the dining room has limited seating, reservations are highly recommended and can book weeks in advance.
The signature appetizer is the namesake Elote, made with fire-roasted corn, spicy mayonnaise, lime, and cotija cheese.
Other popular dishes include:
Elote Café costs more than a typical Mexican restaurant, but diners frequently praise the bold flavors, careful preparation, and attentive service.
Start with the Elote. It is the restaurant’s signature dish for a reason.
Follow it with the Smoked Brisket Enchiladas or Green Corn Tamal. Chocolate lovers should save room for the Mexican Chocolate Pie.
I have not personally eaten at the following restaurants yet, but they are consistently recommended by both locals and visitors.
Dahl & Di Luca has served handmade Italian cuisine in Sedona for more than 25 years.
It is known for its romantic atmosphere, attentive service, and extensive wine list. Popular dishes include homemade pasta, osso buco, veal parmesan, and seafood specialties.
It is particularly popular for anniversaries, birthdays, and date nights.
Rene is located inside Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village and serves French-inspired fine dining in one of Sedona’s most attractive settings.
Guests frequently mention the elegant dining room, strong service, and carefully prepared steak and seafood dishes. It is another option to consider for a romantic dinner.
Indian Gardens Café & Market is located in Oak Creek Canyon and is convenient before or after hiking West Fork Trail.
The menu includes breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salads, baked goods, coffee, and smoothies. Its outdoor garden seating makes it especially popular with hikers who want a slower meal surrounded by trees rather than central Sedona traffic.
Pisa Lisa is another restaurant created by Chef Lisa Dahl.
The menu focuses on wood-fired pizza, salads, sandwiches, and casual Italian comfort food. It is a more relaxed and affordable alternative to Mariposa and frequently ranks among the most recommended pizza restaurants in Sedona.
Javelina Cantina is located in Uptown Sedona and is known for its rooftop patio overlooking the red rocks.
The menu includes fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and other Southwestern and Mexican dishes. It is especially popular during happy hour and around sunset.
Colt Grill is a casual option for smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, burgers, and hearty barbecue plates.
It is one of Sedona’s more frequently recommended restaurants when you want a filling meal without the formality or pricing of the town’s fine-dining restaurants.
For a casual breakfast, I would choose Sedonuts or Coffee Pot Restaurant. Mesa Grill is the better choice when you want breakfast with a view.
Sedona Organic Taco Company is my recommendation for a quick, affordable lunch, especially if you order the elote and put it directly inside your tacos.
For a relaxed dinner with red rock views, choose Hideaway House or The Hudson. Mariposa and Cress on Oak Creek are better for celebrations and special occasions, while Cowboy Club gives you the most distinctive Southwestern experience.
Sedona has more strong restaurants than I expected, and the best choice really depends on your plans for the day. My personal priorities would be the raspberry-filled donut at Sedonuts, tacos with elote at Sedona Organic Taco Company, the Peach and Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House, and at least one splurge dinner at Mariposa or Cress on Oak Creek.
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Sedona is much easier to explore with a car, especially if you plan to visit restaurants, trailheads, viewpoints, and nearby towns. Compare rental car prices through Discover Cars.
For help fitting your restaurant reservations around hikes, viewpoints, and day trips, use my 5 Days in Sedona: The Ultimate First-Time Itinerary.
Compare Sedona hotel rates through Booking.com or Hotels.com.
I stayed near Airport Mesa, which made it easy to reach Mesa Grill, Mariposa, viewpoints, and restaurants in several parts of town. Read my Sky Ranch Lodge Review: Is It Worth Staying on Airport Mesa? for details about the rooms, location, views, and food truck.
You can compare Sedona tours and outdoor activities through Viator or GetYourGuide.
My Best Things to Do in Sedona for First-Time Visitors (14 Can't-Miss Experiences) can help you decide what to schedule between meals.
A small Osprey backpack is useful when you are combining breakfast or lunch with a hike. I also recommend carrying a refillable Brita Water Bottle, especially during warmer months.
My What to Wear in Sedona in June guide covers hiking clothes, layers, footwear, restaurant outfits, and what I would pack differently next time.
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The newsletter is basically me texting you before a trip instead of after one. Sign up and you’ll be the first to know where I’m headed next, plus a few things I’ll never post here.
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Yes, it’s only July. Start planning anyway. Fall books faster than people expect, and a few of these destinations are worth getting ahead of. Here are five places worth putting on your radar right now.
Ireland: Cooler temps, moody skies, dramatic coastline fall was made for it. Tourist crowds drop, the green stays, and the whole country feels a little more like itself.
Great Smoky Mountains, TN/NC: Fall foliage in the Smokies is the real thing. The color peaks mid-October and the views from the ridgelines are hard to argue with. It’s also one of the most visited national parks in the country, so going on a weekday makes a real difference.
New York City: Fall is NYC at its best comfortable temps, the energy of the city shifting into a new season, and every neighborhood doing something worth showing up for. It’s also just a great walking city when it’s not brutally hot.
Japan: Fall foliage season is as good as spring cherry blossoms and somehow less talked about. The colors are dramatic, the temples and gardens are stunning, and it’s worth planning around peak dates by region.
Mystic, Connecticut: Small, walkable, genuinely charming Mystic in fall feels like exactly what a New England autumn is supposed to look like. Easy to pair with a broader New England road trip if you want to extend it.
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There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
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