Arizona Official State Travel Guide - Arizona 2024-25

At Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, locally made wine and unexpected Italian dishes — such as lasagna “cupcakes” made with duck egg pasta and prickly pear-infused mac ‘n’ cheese with pancetta-mascarpone cream sauce — creatively combine Arizona with the Mediterranean. Sit in the bright, airy dining room touting soaring ceilings and an indoor-outdoor space that leads to a patio overlooking acres of vineyard and the Verde Valley. With an on-site greenhouse, winery, barrel room, bottle shop and a gelateria serving up seasonal flavors, there’s plenty to explore in this culinary hub. Grab a token for the hilltop tram to ride to the top of the development for even more views.

Escape to a lush oasis in the desert at Martha’s Gardens in Yuma. Here, rows and rows of more than 8,000 palms stretch across a sandy expanse of stark landscape near the Arizona-California border. Take a guided tour of this family-owned, organic farm to learn how rich, sweet Medjool dates are grown and harvested here. Then, sit on the patio amidst palm trees and flowers to indulge in one of their famous date shakes.

Enjoy cool mornings and farm views at The Farm at South Mountain’s Morning Glory Café in Phoenix. A truly farm-to-table experience, start your morning with just-baked zucchini muffins, smoked brisket breakfast tacos, omelets loaded with seasonal vegetables, and breakfast beverages like mimosas and Bloody Marys while sitting at a picnic table beneath a canopy of trees.

Terra Farm + Manor is an all-inclusive luxury resort that is part agricultural retreat part culinary adventure. The off-grid solar powered resort is tucked away in Prescott National Forest on the site of a former homestead — and before that, a pre-Hopi settlement. Growing and harvesting much of its food on-site, this sustainable farm offers guests an array of idyllic dining experiences: a curated picnic for lunch, sunset-lit hors d’oeuvres hour in the herb-lined courtyard and a multi-course dinner beneath millions of stars as Chef James Porter prepares dinner over an open fire.

Consciously crafted food is at the core of Cactus Flower Restaurant, the main restaurant at Miraval in Tucson, where meals and snacks are part of the all-inclusive experience. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner in the modern dining room or on the patio overlooking the Catalina Mountains. Meals are crafted by on-staff nutritionists for healthy, delicious options that could include dishes like tofu scramble, avocado toast, grass-fed beef burgers or squash curry — changing with the seasons and availability of the freshest produce.

In the Gila River Indian Community, experience an exquisite presentation of American Indian cuisine that helps tell the story of the Akimel O’odham and Pee-Posh peoples through the lens of the Southwestern region when you dine at Kai at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler. As the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant in Arizona, expect delightfully creative plating, fresh ingredients sourced from artisans and farmers and gorgeous views of the Komatke Mountain Range from the sophisticated dining room.

When you’re in Sedona, it’s nearly impossible to take your eyes off the paprika-and-chile-colored rocks. Fortunately, at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, you don’t have to. The expansive patio sits atop a bluff overlooking miles of majestic mountains against an everchanging sky. The scenery is as sensuous as beloved Chef Lisa Dahl’s South Americaninspired dishes, like wood-fired chorizo or beef empanadas with chimichurri.

Light woods, rose and dove velvets, and a sleek, contemporary vibe set the scene for an upscale experience at Atria in Flagstaff. Partner and executive chef Rochelle Daniel, who was a finalist on the Food Network’s Chopped Grill Masters, creates exquisite dishes from hyper-seasonal ingredients — each plate a visual delight, garnished with edible flowers, fragrant herbs and carefully arranged accompaniments. While the menu changes often, look for gourmet options like grilled oysters, wild boar mafaldine and smoked short rib with Bordelaise sauce.