Must-see restaurants in The Southwest

  • Rancho de Chimayó

    Santa Fe Region

    Half a mile north of the Santuario, this bright, spacious garden-set restaurant serves classic New Mexican cuisine, courtesy of the Jaramillo family's…

  • Copper Onion

    Salt Lake City

    Locals keep the Copper Onion bustling at every seating…and for good reason: small plates like wagyu bone marrow and pasta carbonara call out to be shared…

  • Love Apple

    Taos

    A real 'only in New Mexico' find, from the rustic-sacred setting in the converted 19th-century adobe Placitas Chapel, to the delicious, locally sourced…

  • Kanab Creek Bakery

    Kanab

    For fancy-pants pastries and gourmet breakfasts, this is your first (and only) stop. Croissants, boules (tiny pieces of chocolate-covered truffle),…

  • Wing Lei

    Las Vegas

    Gleaming gold and cool jade hues, ornate fabric-covered walls and chairs backed with gold lamé set off the dining room of this, the first Chinese…

  • Sweetwater Kitchen

    Southwestern Utah

    Using mostly organic ingredients sourced from local farms and serving some of the best eats in town, Sweetwater's menu changes yearly but you're likely to…

  • Crema Craft Kitchen & Bar

    Arizona

    Over the years Crema has morphed from a low-key coffee shop with pastries, sandwiches and gelato to a full-on 'craft kitchen' with an impressive line-up…

  • Oscar's Cafe

    Springdale

    From green-chili-laden omelets to pork verde burritos (with a green salsa), expect big servings of Southwestern spice. There's also smoky ribs, garlic…

  • Clafoutis

    Santa Fe

    As Oscar Wilde once quipped, the only way to get rid of temptation is to give in, and that sums up the approach you should take at this super bon French…

  • Tratto

    Phoenix

    Another feather in the cap of Chris Bianco, Phoenix's leading exponent of top-notch pizza, Tratto is the place to head for handmade pasta and expertly…

  • Burger Bar

    Las Vegas

    Since when can a hamburger be worth $65? When it's built with Kobe beef, sautéed foie gras and truffle sauce: it's the Rossini burger, the signature…

  • La Santisima Gourmet Tacos

    Phoenix

    Despite having 'gourmet' in the name, La Santisima keeps it real with plastic cutlery and rock music blaring in the background. Mexico City–style tacos…

  • La Cocina

    Tucson

    Popular La Cocina, within Old Town Artisans in the Presidio district, serves Southwestern fare (green chili, tamales), Arizona beers and cool live music…

  • The Local

    Arizona

    Southwestern fare is the focus at this easy-to-miss daytime cafe in a nondescript side street. The fantastic breakfasts are served all day – try the…

  • Level 5

    Albuquerque

    Whoa, that view. A breathtaking panorama of Albuquerque, flanked by the Sandia Mountains, accompanies your meal, whether dining inside or out at this…

  • Gordon Ramsay Steak

    Las Vegas

    Carnivores, leave Paris behind and stroll through a miniaturized Chunnel into British chef Gordon Ramsay's steakhouse. Ribboned in red and domed by a…

  • La 15 y Salsas

    Phoenix

    La 15 y Salsas brings the unapologetic flavors of Mexico's Oaxaca province to northern Phoenix, with hand-ground mole pastes (such as the mole negro, made…

  • Oh Mai

    Salt Lake City

    This Vietnamese sandwich kitchen prepares crunchy banh mi baguettes with sweet and spicy fillings such as braised pork belly and jalapeño (that would be …

  • Adobe Rose

    Southeastern New Mexico

    The lively patio is the place to be on a Friday night. Add in a margarita and the green chile chicken enchiladas and you're looking at a perfect evening…

  • Rye Diner & Drinks

    Salt Lake City

    Call it a modern diner, with a spare look and locally sourced supplies. For an outing with friends it's satisfying and cheap enough. Think fried chicken…

  • Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante

    Sedona

    Though this lovely place fits perfectly into the groove and color scheme of Sedona, at the same time it feels like the kind of place you'd find in a small…

  • Diablo Burger

    Flagstaff

    This locally focused gourmet-burger joint slings hefty burgers on English-muffin buns and delicious Herbes de Provence seasoned fries. The cheddar-topped…

  • Luna Rossa Winery & Pizzeria

    New Mexico

    Burned out on green and red chile? It happens. For a tasty alternative, settle in on the patio at Luna Rossi for decadent pizzas and a host of Italian…

  • Love Muffin

    Moab

    Early-rising locals buy up many of the daily muffins – like the Breakfast Muffin, with bacon and blueberries. Not to worry, the largely organic menu at…

  • Vessel Kitchen

    Park City

    Folks in the know head to this gourmet cafeteria in the shopping plaza for fast-value eats. With kombucha on tap, avocado toast and lovely winter salads…

  • Hudson

    Sedona

    Prickly-pear ribs, butternut-squash ravioli, fireball chicken wings and a variety of salads bring an element of urban cool to Sedona. But it's not just…

  • Torrey Grill & BBQ

    Southwestern Utah

    A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (Anthony Bourdain's alma mater) serves praiseworthy dry-rubbed spare ribs, smoked beef tri tip and home…

  • Ray's Tavern

    Southeastern Utah

    Residents and rafters alike flock to this regionally famous local beer joint for the best hamburgers and fresh-cut French fries around. The steaks aren't…

  • Spago

    Las Vegas

    Spago from Wolfgang Puck is widely regarded as the restaurant that started Vegas' frenzied obsession with food and, more specifically, celebrity fine…

  • The Summit

    Wasatch Mountains

    Perched atop an 11,000ft peak, the Summit affords far-reaching views of Salt Lake City and the surrounding mountains. Even nonskiers take the 1.6-mile…

  • Maddox Ranch House

    Utah

    People travel for hours for these thick beef or bison steaks cut from locally raised livestock. It all started in the ranch out back in 1949. Don't expect…

  • Thai Bella

    Moab

    Of the growing number of Thai restaurants in Moab this place reigns supreme. Popular menu items include spicy stir-fried drunken noodles, New Zealand…

  • House of Tricks

    Tempe

    No, they don’t do magic, but Robin and Robert Trick will still wow you with their eclectic, contemporary American menu with influences from the Southwest,…

  • Scarpetta

    Las Vegas

    Cosmopolitan's take on upscale Italian dining doesn't fail to deliver, with signature dishes like osso buco with polenta and black garlic, and branzino…

  • Screaming Banshee

    Southern Arizona

    The ingredients are fresh, the crust is charred over a wood fire and the end result is tasty. There's a good array of toppings too, from gorgonzola to…

  • Chala's Wood-Fired Grill

    New Mexico

    With house-smoked carnitas and turkey, housemade bacon and chile-pork sausage, plus calabacitas (squash and corn), quinoa salad and organic greens, this…

  • Tona Sushi Bar & Grill

    Wasatch Mountains

    The extensive menu of innovative sushi rolls is not for the indecisive. You might try the artfully presented Green Globe (a spicy ahi-tuna and snow-crab…

  • Mikuna Grill

    Central New Mexico

    For a fine meal inspired by beloved multigenerational menus from Peru, tuck into this bustling new restaurant in the heart of Angel Fire. Especially nice…

  • Handle

    Park City

    Riding the wave of rustic chic, this American small-plate restaurant does nicely. Try a craft cocktail and soak up the ambience in semicircular booths or…

  • Aureole

    Las Vegas

    The first 'clone' of Charlie Palmer's flagship New York restaurant serving modern American fare has debuted on the strip at Mandalay Bay with critical…