Best Fine Dining Restaurants in the Phoenix Metro Area
So you’ve traveled to central Arizona and looking for unique upscale fine dining around Phoenix. Think Phoenix doesn’t know how to get its grub on? Think again. We found 10 fine dining establishments in the metro area to satisfy your discerning palette. The best restaurants in Phoenix are on par with the best that any other major city has to offer.
From white table cloth Mediterranean to real deal Asian spice, you will find that eating out in Phoenix comes in many shapes, styles, and flavors. That’s right; there is more than Mexican food in Phoenix.
In fact, Phoenix featured prominently in the lasted Bon Appetit James Beard Awards, widely considered the top culinary awards in the nation. In addition, Phoenix fine dining restaurants were listed among the “Top New Restaurants” and “Top Restauranteers”. This shows that the Valley of the Sun, as the Phoenix metropolitan area is often called, is red hot when it comes to a true American culinary scene.
Not sure where to start? Well, that’s why we are here. What are really the best fine dining restaurants in Phoenix? Which ones are truly the bomb, and which ones are overrated? What about dining outside of Phoenix? What are the best restaurants in Scottdale? Find out right here right now with our exclusive hand-picked list of the best fine dining restaurants in the Phoenix Metro area. Spoiler Alert: Outside of the Biltmore area, you’ll find most of the best dining with freshly prepared in the North Scottsdale area.
1. Different Pointe of View
Perched atop North Mountain and offering stunning views of the entire valley and Phoenix skyline, Different Pointe of View has been a must-visit restaurant for nearly four decades. But it’s not just the fantastic backdrop that draws the crowds to this stand-out fine dining restaurant in Phoenix, it’s the menu itself, which draws on a variety of global flavors to create menu items that have won it a AAA Four Diamond rating year after year. So come for the panoramic vista and stay for the eats; neither one will leave you disappointed!
Address: 11111 North 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020
2. White Chocolate Grill Scottsdale
Those looking for the best fine dining restaurant in Scottsdale don’t have to search further than the White Chocolate Grill. Specializing in contemporary American fare, this is one of the best fine dining restaurants in the Phoenix metro area for showing off what the region is capable of. With an elegant and sophisticated dining room with warm natural wood highlights and a wide-ranging menu that offers steaks, salads, seafood, and pasta dishes, the White Chocolate Grill works great for a date night or a serious business dinner meeting. In addition, a children’s menu and a special gluten-free section ensure no one will feel left out. Expect to make a reservation a few hours if not a few days ahead for any night of the week. You will be disappointed if you walk up anytime between 4p – 8pm and get turned away because they are already booked up.
Address: 7000 E Mayo Blvd.Phoenix, AZ 85054
3. Kai Restaurant
Located within the Sheraton Grand Hotel at the Wild Horse Pass Resort, Kai Restaurant combines contemporary American culinary techniques with traditional desert Southwest ingredients. In fact, Kai means “seed” in Pima, the language of the indigenous peoples who once built complex civilizations in the Phoenix Valley and now continue to uphold their agricultural and culinary traditions. Rated five stars by Forbes and four diamonds by AAA, this is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Phoenix for those that want to experience the heritage and history of one of the most fascinating cultures and landscapes on earth.
Address: 5594 W Wild Horse Pass BLVD, Phoenix, AZ, USA, 85226
4. Sol at the Scottsdale Quarter
An upscale, open-air shopping center that is known for being the go-to spot for trendy fashions and gourmet cafes, it’s not hard to figure out why the Scottsdale Quarter is also home to some of the best fine dining restaurants in Scottsdale as well. The Sol Mexican Cocina of Scottsdale is just that. It’s a sophisticated take on classic, Authentic Mexican Cuisine that also taps into the special regional, local sourced produce of the Phoenix valley to produce critically acclaimed dishes that feature full flavors and handmade love and care. The menu also changes seasonally to reflect what is in season. Sunday Brunch and Taco and Tequila Tuesday are some of the biggest draws to Sol, but expect crowds and lines just about any day of the week. The unique margaritas are second to none. Try SOL’S ultimate margarita shaken tableside. Using Clase Azul reposado with fresh lime juice, agave nectar & Cointreau.
If Martinis are more your style, the also thinking of Tequila, they prepare a one of a kind Martini with fresh pineapple and Madagascar vanilla bean infused with El Jimador Blanco Tequila.
Address: 15323 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254
5. Queissence at the Farm
Freshly harvested veggies, edible flowers, eggs produced on-site, and herbs picked right in the garden are the raw ingredients that chef Dustin Christofolo taps into to create the award-winning plates that grace the table at Queissence at the Farm. Located in the back of the popular The Farm shopping center at South Mountain, which was created from a working 1920s-era family farm, this is one of the best restaurants in Phoenix for those who want a taste of real farm-to-table dining. Pasta is handcrafted on-site, and even the fruits used in the desert menu are usually grown right in the Farm’s own orchard.
Address: 6106 S 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85042
6. Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino
Wood-fired steaks and seafood dishes attract hungry locals to Ember at We-Ko-Pa casino, one of the top fine dining restaurants in Scottsdale that visitors to the area often overlook. The open kitchen allows diners to view all the culinary action as it happens, and an extensive wine list means that there is always that match made-in-heaven vintage to go with your perfectly cooked plate. Live entertainment in the form of singers and piano players brings a touch of festivity to the restaurant, and during the warm season, the restaurant opens a patio that features a real wood-burning fireplace.
Address: 10438 WeKoPa Way, Fort McDowell, AZ 85264
7. Binkley’s Restaurant
There is only one item on the menu at Binkley’s Restaurant, but it’s a real doozy: 20 different courses spread out so that the entire meal cannot be completed in less than three hours. No wonder it frequently is cited as the restaurant in Phoenix. Not only does the meal feature all these different courses, but it also takes place in different dining areas. That’s right, you actually move around the restaurant, from the terrace to the dining room to right in the kitchen, as you sample the wares of this highly regarded dining establishment. The menu has a set price, but wine pairing can be added on for an additional charge, and there are also separate caviar add-on options.
Address: 2320 E. Osborn Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016
8. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse in Scottsdale
Thick juicy steaks are the stars of the menu at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, one of the most loved fine dining restaurants in Scottsdale by those who live in the area. Handcrafted cocktails and an exuberant wine list give you plenty of options for matching, and a variety of plant-based options mean you can invite your vegetarian and vegan friends without causing a fuss. Fleming’s is known for doing seasonal promotional combos, like filet and lobster, depending on what is available, so check out their website for the current offerings.
Address: 6333 North Scottsdale RoadScottsdale, AZ 85250
9. Vincent on Camelback
Locals have considered Vincent on Camelback one of the best fine dining restaurants in Phoenix since it opened its doors in 1986, and it remains one of the most popular foodie favorites to this day. Mixing high desert cuisine with the techniques and flavors of France, this James Beard award-winning restaurant is a genuinely unique Phoenix area dining establishment that all true food lovers should check out at least once. The dinner menu changes daily here depending on what is fresh and available in the region, but the wine menu is always extensive and ready to make a perfect match with whatever plate you choose.
Address: 3930 East Camelback RoadPhoenix, AZ 85018
10. LONS at the Hermosa Inn
No list of the best restaurants in the Phoenix metro area would be complete without including LONS at the Hermosa Inn, located in scenic Paradise Valley. A glorious patio that looks out onto the red rock mountains is an epic backdrop for a feast that will leave you making reservations for the next time before you leave. The menu here focuses on roasted, smoked, and wood-grilled meat dishes and pizzas, many adorned with Southwestern ingredients and flavors. The onsite wine cellar stocks treasures that are just waiting to be mated with their chosen accompaniment and enjoyed thoroughly.
Address: 5532 North Palo Cristi RoadParadise Valley, Arizona, 85253
11. Tash At Talking Stick
Here is an added bonus. Tash is a fairly new restaurant at the time this article is written; that has been open since the mid part of 2022. About the Name: From the O’odham language spoken by members of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community. Tash, pronounced [TH-O-SH], translates to sun, day or time.
The atmosphere is upscale and inviting. When you reach the top of the lit up staircase, you will see floor to ceiling windows open to create a warm and expansive dining space of table, booth and bar seating adorned with colors inspired by an Arizona sunset.
Enjoy ample lounge seating and an expansive patio with stunning views of Camelback Mountain. If you need more reason to visit, then they have a DJ playing music softly to create a lively vibe in the background to not drown out your table conversations. On some nights they have a LIVE band playing that gets even the most stoic diner in the mood to sing along or get up and dance.
The restaurant menu features Spanish/Mediterranean-style tapas, fish and meat entrees, curated flatbread pizzas, with vegetarian and vegan options and an impressive and delectable dessert assortment. Everything is prepared fresh with ideas and dishes from across the globe. We personally prefer the flatbread pizza and the wood fired vegetable plate. The bartenders are also masters at mixing your favorite cocktails
It is located on the 2nd Floor at 9800 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
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