Tii Gavo means “gathering place,” and this restaurant, with an outdoor terrace and fire pits overlooking the red rocks of Sedona, sits inside the Enchantment Resort. Casual fare ranges from chicken flautas and carne asada tortas to black truffled grilled cheese with sundried tomato and truffle guacamole.

Wildly popular Elote Cafe moved into the heart of Sedona with chef and owner Jeff Smedstad’s menu culled from 20-plus years of travel across Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, and his native Arizona. Lamb adobo with an ancho chile sauce, Niman Ranch skirt steak with pasilla chile sauce, smoked pork cheeks with cascabel chile sauce, smoked brisket enchiladas, and buffalo mole poblano create a meal to remember. Save room for Mexican chocolate pie for dessert.

The Cowboy Club’s long history started in 1946 when it opened as a saloon and pool hall that attracted Hollywood’s western stars from Burt Lancaster and John Wayne to Donna Reed and Joan Crawford while they filmed in the red rocks of Sedona. The tavern became the Cowboy Club in 1993, retaining restored barn wood walls, a renovated fireplace, a reconditioned bar, and other charming details. The restaurant offers a must-try pecan-smoked prime rib on weekends, but all week long you can opt for the elk chops or bison pot roast on the dinner menu.

Over the past 20 years, chef Lisa Dahl created a restaurant empire in Sedona. In 2015, she opened Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, with dishes from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay guiding her menu. A filet mignon comes with a Gorgonzola chipotle sauce, while the seafood options include the jumbo grilled tiger shrimp and diver sea scallops. House specialties include pollo rustico with charred corn and roasted potatoes, and a steelhead salmon finished with roasted mushrooms and farro pilaf. The only thing that might outdo the food is the view.

This locals’ favorite brings a taste of the coast to the mountains of Sedona with a salmon mignon, an assortment of sashimi options, and tempura-battered avocado fries. Other favorites include the skirt steak with red chimichurri sauce, the pork chop with brandy-poached apples, and twice-fried chicken wings. The cocktails are also well worth a sip, with a variety of mouthwatering options like the white peach sangria, smoked blueberry sour, and espresso martini. 

Coffee Pot is the spot to go for a casual meal in friendly surroundings. Kids will love their selection of wild and wonderful omelets (they famously offer 101 options.) Visitors can also enjoy classic diner fare like waffles, pancakes, and breakfast burritos.

Creekside American Bistro brings comfort foods such as braised short rib, shrimp and grits, and lamb adobo, as well as chicken wings, ahi tuna nachos, and a crabcake for more casual fare. Two patios boast views of Oak Creek. The daily breakfast menu features huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and French toast.

Tortas de Fuego offers a pretty broad menu that includes quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas, but the specialty here, of course, is the tortas. These sizable sandwiches come stacked with lettuce, tomato, beans, avocados, and jalapenos, plus generous portions of proteins like chorizo, steak, eggs, and more.

Chef Lisa Dahl serves Italian dishes from her childhood at Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano. Dahl makes her grandmother’s tortellini with prosciutto and green peas in an alfredo sauce, vegetarian portobello mushroom grilled in a house marinade, and salmon with a Neapolitan limoncello reduction sauce. Live jazz and a deep wine list round out the restaurant.

Steaks, seafood dishes, and burgers make up the menu at the Golden Goose American Grille. Hash brown-crusted Scottish salmon, pecan-crusted trout, a delmonico cut of rib-eye, and a porterhouse pork chop join meatloaf, chicken fried chicken, or chicken marsala on the menu. Try the smokehouse bacon cheeseburger.

Tucked inside the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village find Rene, a French restaurant for nearly 45 years with lunch and dinner worthy of any special occasion. Short rib agnolotti, Chilean sea bass with tomato-saffron sauce, and Kvaroy Arctic salmon with pickled green tomato chili relish at dinner are just some of the star dishes.

This cozy American eatery has the feel of a neighborhood gem with its industrial-chic dining room and a deck overlooking the red rocks of Sedona. Mark and Lisa Shugrue opened the Hudson in 2015 and brought on chef Jeff Storcz to create sophisticated comfort food. Pick three bruschetta, which ranges from house-smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella and basil, or one with Brie, apples, and fig jam. Thai scallops, barbecue-braised pork tacos, and chicken scaloppini are some of the favorites here.

Butterfly Burger offers a cool, dark, loungey atmosphere that stands out in Sedona. However, like Lisa Dahl’s other eateries it’s the food that makes it unforgettable. Opt for the signature Butterfly Burger with Manchego cheese, peppered bacon, guacamole, and chipotle aioli, or try something new like the Mowee Wowee crafted with a mahi-mahi filet, house teriyaki with wasabi ginger sauce, and grilled pineapple. No matter what you choose, make sure to pair it with the cheese-smothered street tots.