10 metro Phoenix restaurants with the best desert views

Despite the drastic high temperatures of Phoenix summers, it’s always sunset season in the Valley. That means you can enjoy some of the most gorgeous views of our desert oasis from the climate-controlled comfort of a posh dining room. Talk about an elevated dining experience (had to say it once).

That’s not to say springtime isn’t a particularly perfect time of year to dine before the stunning scene of a Sonoran landscape or a sunset. And since it’s about that time, here are 10 restaurants in greater Phoenix with a view to match the menu.

Different Pointe of View

11111 N. Seventh St.

Perched atop the North Mountain Preserve within the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Different Pointe of View has been a go-to special occasion restaurant for many Phoenicians for more than 40 years. The restaurant’s featured attraction is its spacious outdoor Terrace Room, which affords sweeping panoramic views of the Salt River Valley. The menu straddles the line between New American and Continental fine dining with a modern Mediterranean twist.

Discovery Lounge

34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree

You’re not going to find a bad view anywhere on the grounds of the Boulders Resort & Spa, but if you’d like to pair the scenery with food and drink, we recommend the Discovery Lounge. Upon entry, it’ll be a dead giveaway as to why they call the place Boulders. More of a reception area, Discovery Lounge has cushy furniture, a crackling fire, and lengthy bar adjacent to floor-to-ceiling windows. The short menu offers lunch and dinner and includes hand-tossed pizzas, salads and shareables such as bruschetta, tuna poke wraps and pork belly macaroni and cheese. There’s also a patio and waterfall you’ll have to see.

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Sunset reservations are extra special at Elements.

Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain

Elements

5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley

Views of the Valley from Camelback Mountain are in your future if dinner plans are being made for Elements. The dining gem of the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa, this spot blends views of the desert with the flavors of the sea. Start with a sampling from the raw bar and then choose between Chilean sea bass, wild Japanese scallops or Prince Edward Island mussels. For those who are more fans of turf than surf, try one of a variety of Argentinian steaks.  Along with the menu, the heavily windowed dining room with panoramic views of Paradise Valley sets this place apart. Elements often hosts special dinners and holiday sittings, or you can visit the neighboring Jade Bar for similar views of the Valley.

Geordie’s

2501 E. Telawa Trail

Tucked behind Biltmore Fashion Park, William Wrigley's 1930s-era mansion is known as much for its views of the Phoenix skyline below and Phoenix Mountains Preserve above than it is for the history and food. Led by chef David Brito, Geordie’s serves a seasonal menu perfect for your special occasion. Think caviar and foie gras along with New Zeland venison and Spanish octopus. And if you can steal yourself away from the view, do have a drink in Jamie’s Wine Bar.

J&G Steakhouse

6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale

Sometimes, you just want a really good steak. For 15 years, J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician resort has been serving just that. The steakhouse features a desert-inspired color scheme to match its stunning views, outstanding food and impeccable service. Beef is the restaurant's raison d'etre, but it's by no means the only good choice on the menu — there's fresh seafood, craveable sides and a beverage menu that ranges from domestic beers to bottles of wine that cost more than a mortgage payment. If you're not sure what to order, try the five-course tasting menu.

Kai

5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler

Kai at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Resort has received national and international acclaim. But what really makes Kai uniquely Arizonan is its singular menu of Native American-influenced fare. The menu weaves elements of Pima and Maricopa culture and tradition into an uncommon menu that you won't find anywhere else in the country. Many of the dishes feature heirloom Arizona ingredients, game and vegetables that have been sourced locally from the Gila River Indian Community. The menu changes seasonally, but don't miss staples like the grilled tenderloin of bison paired with a saguaro blossom syrup. And the view of the Valley and its enclosing mountain ranges is spectacular.

Orange Sky

9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale

Impressive, 360-degree views of the Valley await from the 15th floor of Talking Stick Resort. You get a little bit of a colorful flicker from Top Golf, a little bit of Scottsdale’s city lights, but a whole lot of mountains and desert sky views. The dinner-only menu covers surf and turf, plus flavors from the wild. Try a gamey sampler with 4 ounces each of elk, antelope and boar sausage or stay a little closer to home with Two Wash Ranch chicken with mole amarillo. Reserve a spot in the dining room or grab a drink in the lounge at sunset to see why the whole operation is called Orange Sky.

Rustler's Rooste

8383 S. 48th St.

One the most carefree cowboy bars you'll ever visit, this massive restaurant offers steak dinners, fish options, ribs and rattlesnake. Inside Rustler's Rooste, you can wander around two stories and head down the famous slide. Outside, you can catch a nice view of Arizona's mountains and — if you time it right — a breathtaking sunset that will slowly dim the Valley below. It's a family-friendly spot and can be reserved for private parties or receptions.

Talavera

10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive, Scottsdale

If a film director wanted to capture desert beauty in an upscale setting, we suggest the Four Seasons Resort's Talavera. The views of Pinnacle Peak from this restaurant and bar are majestic. Plus, it’s far enough to make one feel out of town — though it's just minutes from north Scottsdale. Think of it as a desert hideaway. The restaurant dubs itself a "Spanish steakhouse" and those two influences pop up throughout the menu. There are plenty of steak options along with paella, patatas bravas and other tapas-inspired starters. Want to enjoy the view without putting a serious dent in your bank account? Do dessert or drinks at the restaurant's bar and be sure to sit by that fireplace.

Top of the Rock

2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe

Set at the Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes, Top of the Rock pretty much lives up to its name. Here you’ll get amazing views of nearby Papago Park and the outline of Camelback Mountain, plus all of Tempe and a little bit of Scottsdale below. The scenery complements menu items like chicken and doughnuts, the TOR Caesar with Noble bread, and the 8, 14 or 16-ounce steaks. Around since the late 1980s, Top of the Rock Restaurant feels elegant but accessible above the bustle of our Valley's college town.