Arizona's best outdoor dining: Restaurants with beautiful views, cool breezes, good food

As kids, we want to go outside and play. As adults, we want to go outside and eat.

Nothing enhances good food like a heaping portion of fresh air — artisanal air if you will — and maybe some sweet views. While many metro Phoenix restaurants have their AC set to Frostbite, other parts of the state keep it simple. They put diners outdoors on patios, porches, terraces and even occasionally in the yard. Just relax and enjoy the al fresco experience.

Here are 10 of Arizona’s best restaurant patios, from casual to sophisticated that serve up a delicious side of the great outdoors with every meal.

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Flagstaff: Charly’s Pub & Grill

Tucked away in the beautiful and historic Weatherford Hotel, Charly’s is an essential piece of downtown Flagstaff. Shaded by the big wraparound hotel balcony, the patio spills out onto the sidewalk where you can enjoy people watching just a stone’s throw from Heritage Square.

They offer a nice blend of Southwest-inspired cuisine along with traditional comfort food like their big plate of mac and cheese made with four different cheeses. But Charly’s is probably best known for its piled-high Navajo taco atop traditional frybread.

Details: 23 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. 928-779-1919, www.weatherfordhotel.com.

Jerome: Haunted Hamburger

Eating at the Haunted Hamburger is a highlight of any Jerome visit. This former boardinghouse clings to the side of the mountain, sneering at gravity. The dining room offers big picture windows but snag a seat outside if possible, either on the covered deck or at the backside View Bar where big vistas stretch across the entire Verde Valley.

The menu features chicken, fish, ribs and salads but come on — you’re sitting in a place called the Haunted Hamburger. Treat yourself to a generous slab of beef cradled on a cushiony bun baked fresh on the premises.

The Haunted Burger is stacked with an unholy combo of bacon, green chiles, grilled onions, guacamole, mushrooms and Swiss and cheddar cheeses. Or, stick with the basic cheeseburger and drag it through the well-stocked toppings bar.

Details: 410 Clark St., Jerome. 928-634-0554, https://thehauntedhamburger.com.

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Cottonwood: Pizzeria Bocce Patio Bar

This swank pizzeria in Old Town Cottonwood helped define Cottonwood’s rising culinary scene, creating a spot that is sophisticated and authentic.

Chef Michelle Jurisin traveled to Italy to become certified by Verace Pizza Napoletana. Pizzas are made the traditional way, using imported Caputo flour to form the crusts that are hand-stretched. They’re topped with fresh ingredients and cooked in the wood-burning oven.

The most popular is the Cire’s with house-made Italian sausage, pepperoni, ricotta, mushrooms, basil and fresh mozzarella. The Meat Pie comes heaped with pepperoni, prosciutto, sopressata, Italian sausage and mozzarella.

Details: 1060 N. Main St., Cottonwood. 928-202-3597, https://boccecottonwood.com.

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Flagstaff: Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar

Tucked away in a brick carriage house, Brix oozes Old World charm. Their focus has been on fine dining using seasonal, sustainable and organic ingredients, long before it felt trendy. Brix works with a handful of local suppliers for most of their ingredients to create a menu of contemporary American cuisine.

The atmosphere is elegant but not stuffy and the enclosed patio is most welcoming on a summer evening in this mountain town. The menu changes frequently; if the duck is available give it serious consideration. But you really can’t go wrong with any choice in this romantic little setting.

Not surprisingly, there is an extensive wine list to accompany your meal.

Details: 413 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff. 928-213-1021, www.brixflagstaff.com.

Lake Havasu City: Burgers By the Bridge

Nestled at the base of London Bridge, this open-air restaurant serves as Lake Havasu City’s unofficial rec room.

Sitting right at the water’s edge, diners enjoy beautiful views of the boats, the bridge and palm trees from their shaded tables, along with a cool vacation vibe. Even though you’re a long way from the islands, you almost expect to see Jimmy Buffett waiting in line at Burgers by the Bridge.

A full bar keeps the cocktails flowing and everything in the kitchen is made fresh. The juicy half-pound Angus burgers are tasty, just as you’d expect. And the lightly battered fish and chips may be the best in town.

Details: 401 English Village, Lake Havasu City. 928-302-6780, https://www.burgersbythebridge.com.

Sedona: Mariposa Latin-Inspired Grill

This upscale restaurant is an exquisite melding of art and architecture. Natural stacked stone, rusted metal panels and walls of windows are part of the décor that’s unlike anyplace else in Sedona, created by Chef Lisa Dahl.

Yet, it’s almost impossible to resist that expansive patio where you’ll find soothing water features, a colorful garden keeping the kitchen supplied with fresh herbs and some breath-snatching scenery. Sitting atop a bluff, Mariposa provides a personal panorama of red rock views to accompany the excellent South American-inspired food. It’s especially dazzling at sunset.

Most dishes are prepared on a wood-fired grill or in a wood-burning oven. Start with the flaky handmade empanadas. A scaled down version of the menu is served at lunch from noon until 2 p.m.

Details: 700 State Route 89A, Sedona. 928-862-4444, https://www.mariposasedona.com.

Show Low: The House

Dining at the House feels like you’re hanging out at a friend’s backyard barbecue.

The wood-paneled building is simple inside and framed by a patio. Out back there’s a big grassy lawn that’s dotted with picnic tables, cornhole board and a yard bar that’s like a neighborhood lemonade stand with a liquor license.

The menu is a mix of salads, sandwiches, chili and some impressive burgers. Try the House Burger, a half-pound fresh patty topped with a roasted poblano chile, pepper jack cheese, fried onion strings and chipotle aioli — a nice combo of textures and flavors, a bit crunchy with a little spice on the back end. It’s served with homemade chips.

Details: 1191 E. Hall, Show Low. 928-537-9273, https://thehouseshowlow.com.

Flagstaff: Lumberyard Brewing Company

A great overview of Flagstaff can be gained by spending time on the patio of Lumberyard Brewing Company.

First, you’re outside in the cool pine-scented air gazing up at Mount Elden. You’re sitting on the edge of the historic downtown in one of the last remaining timber company buildings adjacent to the railroad depot. Traffic flows along Route 66 and trains rumble past. It’s like a geography, civics and history lesson washed down with a smooth pint of Railhead Red, brewed right on the premises.

Start with the wings, which are plump and meaty and can be swabbed with a variety of sauces. The menu is elevated pub fare, with appetizers, sandwiches and salads. A burly grilled split sausage plate pairs up nicely with a cold brew and the mountain views

Details: 5 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff. 928-779-2739, https://lumberyardbrewingcompany.com.

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Bisbee: Dot’s Diner

This pint-sized Valentine diner is tucked away in the Shady Dell, a vintage trailer court, where it’s a perfect fit alongside shiny Airstreams and a few classic cars from the ‘50s. It feels like a spot where an I Love Lucy episode might break out.

Outside seating is available with several tables beneath big red and white umbrellas. Dot’s menu is not extensive but doesn’t need to be when they serve such devastating burgers. Meat is so tender you wonder how it ever kept a cow upright. Fresh veggies piled high, but perfectly proportioned to complement that blast of beefy goodness.

They also serve up some surprising sides, like fried Brussels sprouts and crispy tofu bites, as well as the more traditional hand-cut fries. Dot’s is open Thursdays through Sundays. Check the website for current hours.

Details: 1 Douglas Road, Bisbee. 520-432-3567, https://www.theshadydell.com.

Sedona: Creekside American Bistro

Just like the name promises, this stylish restaurant perches on the edge of Oak Creek with an intimate view of Snoopy Rock rising above the sycamore and cottonwood trees.

Serving eclectic American cuisine, the place bustles all day long starting with their popular breakfast. Try a crispy Belgian waffle or the breakfast tacos with soft corn tortillas filled with homemade chorizo sausage, cheddar, eggs, pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeños and fire roasted salsa.

Executive Chef Mercer Mohr, winner of the James Beard Award, regularly changes the menu to take advantage of seasonal ingredients. Along with a full slate of tantalizing entrees, they’re also known for some innovative shared plates that include lamb chop lollipops with pesto dipping sauce.

Details: 251 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-282-1705, https://creeksidesedona.com.

Find the reporter at https://www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Outdoor dining in Arizona: 10 restaurants with good views