The 13 Best Scottsdale Restaurants (2024)

Scottsdale is a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike, known for having some of the best resorts, shopping, and, of course, the best food.

With hundreds of restaurants, there’s something for everyone. Keep in mind, however, that Scottsdale restaurants tend to have a higher price point than neighboring cities. So, for a great high-end meal, read on for the best restaurants in Scottsdale. Or, for some restaurants which are easier on the wallet, check out our comprehensive guide to Phoenix. Plus, make sure you read to the end for our favorite Scottsdale desserts!

13. Postino

With eight locations across The Valley, Postino is a Phoenix favorite, and for good reason. Postino is the rare restaurant that puts appetizers front and center (or, as they call appetizers, “snacky things”), making it the perfect place for lunch or a light dinner with friends. Bruschetta boards are the highlight here: choose four types of bruschetta out of eleven options, all of which are delicious. Our favorite boards are the brie, apple, and fig; the smoked salmon and pesto; and the pepper jam and goat cheese. If you’re a fan of goat cheese, don’t miss the meatball and goat cheese appetizer!

12. Twisted Grove

Twisted Grove is a casual neighborhood eatery serving classic American comfort foods you’ll crave from sandwiches and salads to pasta and prime rib. Start with the crispy brussels sprouts with roasted garlic, bacon, and balsamic glaze. For mains, we love the french dip with thinly sliced prime rib and served with oh-so-flavorful au jus for dipping. Choose from six different options for your side– we can’t get enough of the parmesan garlic fries and the caramelized cauliflower. And whatever you do, make sure you save room for a slice of award-winning butterscotch pecan pie for dessert! 

SEDONA PLANS? READ: 12 BEST SEDONA RESTAURANTS

11. Defalco’s Italian Deli & Grocery

DeFalco’s Italian Deli is a delightful Italian grocery store with a counter service restaurant offering pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches. The menu is big, but we’ll make it easy for you– you’re here for the sandwiches. Try the cheesesteak with sliced rib eye and gooey white cheese piled on top of soft house-made bread, and always say yes to the peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Bonus: Delfalco’s Italian Deli is one of the only Scottsdale restaurants where you can eat for $10 and be totally satisfied; these sandwiches are big, meaty, and filling.

10. OEB Breakfast Co.

Shoutout to all the Canadian snowbirds who visit Arizona every winter, because they inspired the Canadian-based OEB to open their first (and only!) US location in Scottsdale. OEB serves a great variety of breakfast food, but you are here for the breakfast poutine. We love the soul in a bowl– a mix of duck-fat fried potatoes, thick bacon lardons, poached eggs, and fresh cheese curds topped with a brown butter hollandaise sauce. Each individual ingredient is incredible (the potatoes are seriously some of the best breakfast potatoes we’ve ever had), so together everything is nothing short of magical. If you want something a little lighter, the fancy avocado toast is another one of our go-tos.

9. Alma

Scottsdale is not overflowing with Mexican food like other areas of Phoenix, but you can still find great Mexican cuisine at Alma, one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale. Alma is a stylish spot with eclectic Southwest-American-infused Mexican food. For something more strictly Mexican, try the Birria tacos, crispy beef tacos served with consommé sauce for dipping. These tacos are quite literally dripping with flavor! For that Southwestern flare, try the jalapeno bacon-wrapped shrimp topped with mango salsa. They’re juicy, flavorful, and pack just the right amount of heat.

RELATED: 10 BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS IN PHOENIX

8. Chula Seafood

If you think you can’t get fresh seafood in the desert, think again. Chula’s founder is the son of a San Diego fisherman, and he made it his mission to bring fresh seafood to The Valley. Chula started as a wholesaler to other Scottsdale restaurants (the seafood at Citizen Public House and Hush, both on this guide, are from Chula!), then opened a counter-service restaurant to the public, and we are so glad they did. You can buy fresh fish by the pound or order from the menu. Their poke is the freshest around, and the poke bowls are simple and smart, allowing the fresh seafood to shine. The green chile tuna melt is another standout; the tuna is high quality and fresh, and combined with hatch green chiles, Oaxaca cheese, and a chimichurri dipping sauce, it is simply to die for. Sandwiches come with chips or a salad, but we recommend upgrading your side to a small bowl of clam chowder.

7. Pomo Pizzeria

Serving pizzas and pasta, Pomo is a carb lover’s dream come true. This family-friendly Italian joint makes everything in-house and nothing here disappoints. Our go-to is the gramigna boscaiola, consisting of handmade al dente pasta topped with a rich and creamy sausage and mushroom sauce. In the mood for pizza? Go for the bufala verace, an authentic Neapolitan pizza topped with imported bufala mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. And when they ask if you want dessert, the answer should be a resounding yes, because their sister company Luna Gelateria offers fresh gelato in-house. Order it to your table or walk over to the counter to sample a few flavors. When you cool off with fresh gelato after authentic pizza and pasta, that’s amore.

6. Francine

Francine is one of the newer Scottsdale restaurants, but it has already made a name for itself with its distinctive and delicious French Mediterranean cuisine. Expect attentive service, beautifully plated meals, and a restaurant so well decorated you’ll want to move in. You will quickly be swept away with one bite of their complimentary warm focaccia bread served with olive oil and fresh chopped herbs. The menu changes seasonally, but you can usually start with burrata, and if the bone marrow fettuccine is on the menu, you’ll want to order that as well. Not your typical fettuccine dish, it features a peppery cacio e pepe sauce which, combined with the richness of the bone marrow, is just divine.

READ NEXT: 10 BEST BURGERS IN PHOENIX

5. Soi 4

Here’s where this guide gets into “ridiculously good” territory; these restaurants aren’t just the best restaurants in Scottsdale, but also some of the best restaurants in the Phoenix area. Modern Thai restaurant Soi 4 is one such eatery. Upon entering Soi 4, you will be overwhelmed with the smells of Thai flavors. Their Panang Neur, a braised beef short rib curry, undoubtedly qualifies as “ridiculously good.” After being braised for 10 hours, this beef is melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the accompanying curry is laced with just the right amount of spice to contrast its subtle coconut base. We won’t judge if you lick the bowl clean. 

4. Lamp Pizza

For the hands-down best pizza in Scottsdale, head to Lamp Pizzeria. The wood-fired pizzas here simply can’t be beaten. The chef here is known for constantly tweaking and improving his recipes, and (spoiler alert) it works.  You’ll want to take your time reading over the menu; Lamp offers over 25 wood-fired pizzas, and each sounds better than the last. But if you can’t narrow it down, try the crowd-pleasing Gem with fresh sausage, pepperoni, ricotta, garlic, and oregano. You’ll also want to order the rough chop pesto to munch on while you wait; it’s simple but fresh and, paired with warm soft bread, will transport you to Italy.

3. Citizen Public House

Easily one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale, we’re pretty sure Citizen Public House can do no wrong. This creative American restaurant features foods we know and love and does each of them so well. While you might want one of each item on the menu, your first priority here is the original chopped salad– a salad so good that you’ll find yourself craving it! With smoked salmon, freeze-dried corn, arugula, and more, it is a brilliant combination of flavors. Other must-try items include three-cheese mac and cheese and the bursting-with-flavor scallops and grits. 

RELATED: 10 BEST RESTAURANTS IN PHOENIX

2. Hush

You wouldn’t expect a tiny restaurant in a strip mall to earn the title of one of the best restaurants in Scottsdale, but Hush Public House is exactly that. The menu varies seasonally with an emphasis on local, fresh ingredients, and though the menu is small, the variety is always impressive with menu items from grilled peach burrata salad to duck fried rice. Each dish is wildly different, but all are brimming with flavor and will leave you completely and totally satisfied. The staff at Hush try all of the menu items on their constantly evolving menu, and they’re always eager to share menu favorites. Ask for a seat at the bar to watch the chefs work their magic in the open kitchen, and if there’s a gnocchi special on the menu, you’re going to want to order it.

1. FnB

If you only have time to visit one Scottsdale restaurant, head straight to FnB, the best restaurant in Scottsdale. Chef Charlene, also known as “the vegetable whisperer,” is known for using unique ingredients and the best local produce to make flavorful, memorable dishes, like the pictured avocado shrimp Aguachile. Because the offerings are always changing, the wait staff does a phenomenal job at helping each diner navigate the different sections of their menu. Ever tried lobster mushrooms? What about wheat berries? Don’t be intimidated or surprised if you notice lesser-known ingredients and lean into the uniqueness of the menu at FnB, because you are truly in for a treat!

Bonus: The 3 Best Desserts in Scottsdale

READ NEXT: 10 BEST PIZZERIAS IN PHOENIX

3. Sweet Republic

Ice cream is always appropriate in the desert, and the best ice cream in Scottsdale is at Sweet Republic. With a large variety of handmade ice creams and perfectly crafted sundaes, it’s the perfect sweet treat after dinner. We love the toffee banoffee sundae: two scoops of ice cream (the default is vanilla, but try swapping it out for salted caramel or bananas foster if they have it) topped with toffee bits, caramel sauce, bananas, and whipped cream served in a perfectly-crunchy house-made waffle bowl.

2. Local Donut

Word is out about the best local donuts and, spoiler, it’s Local Donut. The menu includes both a large selection of solid classics as well as a rotating cast of unique flavors. Of the donuts always available, our usual picks are the creme brulee, the blueberry cake donut, and any of the cronuts (croissant-donut hybrids). Flavors tend to sell out, especially over the weekend, so if you have your heart set on a specific donut, go early! 

1. Ruze Cake House

Ruze Cake House’s primary business is wedding cakes, but you do not need to plan a wedding to eat cake. Stop by their adorable shop to choose from a selection of cupcakes and creative macarons, including ice cream-stuffed macarons! You might want one of everything, but if they have the banana salted caramel cupcake available, it needs to be your priority. The moist, flavorful banana cake would be enough on its own but add a salted caramel center and a generous topping of cream cheese frosting, for a piece of heaven. Buy one (or four) and thank us later.