Phoenix has a reputation as a golf lover’s paradise. With mild winters, our courses draw pros and amateurs year-round. But some of us are better at ordering from the clubhouse than getting anywhere close to par.
Lucky for us, the Valley’s golf courses don’t just offer world-class tournaments from PGA and LPGA tours. There’s also plenty for guests who care more about dining than filling in a scorecard, especially when it includes sunset terraces, mountain views, and plates made for savoring after dark.
The variety in choices fit any mood, from good ol’ hot dogs to the show of tableside churrasco, among other filling options such as machaca nachos, lobster mini buns, wood-fired pizza, and prime rib sandwiches dripping with jus. Bring your clubs if you have them and find the perfect pick-me-up after 18 holes. Or, skip tee time, bring an appetite, and soak in the rolling hills tableside.
Toro Scottsdale at TPC Scottsdale
Prepare for the ultimate wine-and-dine experience at Toro Scottsdale, where golf-course eating becomes an elegant exhale. Richard Sandoval’s Pan-Latin and Japanese fusion restaurant sits inside the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse beside the Stadium Course, home of the renowned WM Phoenix Open. Moody light fixtures, a roped ceiling art installation, handmade ceramics, and greenery throughout set the tone of the curated dining room, while the Sunset Bar patio overlooks the 18th hole.
The menu abounds with excellent options, but we recommend you start with the Chicharrón de Camarón (crispy rock shrimp with aji amarillo aioli) before ordering the Churrasco for the group. The latter features grilled steak, lamb, sausage, and chicken carved tableside and served with a vibrant chimichurri. The sushi platters are colorful, generous and a must-try, while the sharable La Bomba turns dessert into an interactive show when it cracks open on the covered table, only to be topped with a guest-designed mesh of ice cream, cake, and sauce. Prepare to be wowed, and to leave with enough leftovers that the experience feels like several meals in one. 17020 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, fairmont.com
Quill Creek Café and Isabella’s Kitchen at Grayhawk Golf Club
Grayhawk Golf Club gives diners two restaurants to choose from. Quill Creek Café overlooks the Raptor Course, lake, and McDowell Mountains, with a fireplace and patio suited to a casual lunch or a Grande Margarita after a taxing day on the green. Isabella’s Kitchen looks out over the Talon Course and includes many Italian-inspired dishes.
An Isabella’s menu highlight is the Nantucket Lobster Mini Buns, piling Maine lobster, celery, cucumber, avocado, dill, and lemon-garlic aioli onto brioche. Or the Sweet N’ Spicy pizza balances pepperoni, sun-dried tomatoes, jalapeños, goat cheese, mozzarella, and Calabrian honey. A richer option, the Truffle Cacio & Pepe, folds parmesan, Calabrian peppers, cream, and truffle oil through hand-cut spaghetti.
At Quill Creek, the Coriander Crusted Ahi Tuna comes with citrus chimichurri, roasted green beans, and rice. Or the Chicken Pot Pie is filled with flaky pastry crust, hand-pulled chicken, vegetables, creamy gravy, and an herb garnish. A lighter clubhouse dish is the Blackened Shrimp Taco Wedge Salad, topped with avocado, black beans, corn, chiles, queso fresco, and chipotle ranch. 8620 and 8623 E. Thompson Peak Pwy., Scottsdale, grayhawkgolf.com
Dynamite Grille at Troon North Golf Club
Dynamite Grille looks across the 18th hole of Troon North’s Pinnacle Course, with a broad patio and windows facing North Scottsdale’s boulder-strewn desert. The contemporary American restaurant is open to the public from breakfast through early dinner, so no tee time is required to settle in with the view.
The Breakfast Burrito wraps scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, peppers, green chiles, onions, country potatoes, and jack and cheddar cheeses in a flour tortilla. Later in the day, the Chicken Tinga Tacos pile shredded chicken, baja slaw, pickled onions, cotija, pico de gallo, and chipotle aioli into three flour tortillas. Mimosa Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, and Burger & Beer Thursdays give regulars a different special throughout the week, while Friday dinners feature a changing chef special. 10320 E. Dynamite Blvd., Scottsdale, troonnorthgolf.com
Talking Stick Golf Club Grill at Talking Stick Golf Club
Talking Stick Golf Club’s O’odham and Piipaash courses stretch across Salt River Pima-Maricopa tribal land where wild horses and other majestic wildlife are part of the views with the fairways. Pinnacle Peak is also visible in the Grill, a relaxed dining room serving breakfast and lunch.
The shareable Machaca Beef Nachos come covered in ancho-chile-shredded beef, jalapeño cheese sauce, guacamole, sour cream, green onion, and pico de gallo. Another option, the Smoked Chicken Quesadilla, packs roasted poblano chile, mushrooms, charred onion, manchego cheese, black beans, and Cholula sour cream into a tortilla. Early players can order the Crème Brûlée French Toast, made with cinnamon-vanilla-battered brioche, fresh berries, maple syrup, and powdered sugar, or order the Sausage & Tater Tot Burrito for plenty of protein and crispy carbs. 9998 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, talkingstickgolfclub.com
Top of the Rock at Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes
Top of the Rock is the definition of a scenic detour. Its perch above Tempe offers floor-to-ceiling views stretching toward Papago Park, Camelback Mountain, and the city lights below.
A menu standout includes the famous Chicken and Doughnuts appetizer, which combines guajillo chile, muscovado caramel, jalapeño crema, and cumin for a savory-sweet start that hits so good. The Seasonal Ravioli is a perfect option for pasta lovers. And don’t forget the Miso Glazed Sea Bass, a seafood dish with asparagus, mashed potatoes, and citrus beurre blanc. Try to time the reservation for sunset; you won’t be disappointed. 2000 W. Westcourt Way, Tempe, marriott.com
We-Ko-Pa Grille and Saguaro Grille at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers 36 holes across its Cholla and Saguaro award-winning courses, both surrounded by open Sonoran Desert. We-Ko-Pa Grille is the sit-down option, with a covered, spacious patio facing Red Mountain, a firepit, and a whiskey and cigar menu for lingering after the round.
The We-Ko-Pa Nachos layers house-made tortilla chips with guacamole, Oaxaca jack cheese, pico de gallo, black beans, sour cream, salsa, and pickled jalapeños. Or for a richer option, the Steak Frites comes with a 16-ounce sirloin, au poivre sauce, and fries. Saguaro Grille, the club’s “halfway house with attitude,” keeps things quicker for breakfast and lunch with handheld menu items such as Nathan’s Quarter-Pound Hot Dog and the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burrito beside a patio overlooking the first and 18th holes. These easy-to-eat options are perfect for the adjacent putting green, which is available as part of the dining experience. 18200 E. WeKoPa Way, Fort McDowell, wekopa.com
Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
Another incredible We-Ko-Pa option, the evening can continue down the road at Ember, the casino resort’s wood-fired steak and seafood restaurant. Fireside seating, a piano lounge, a whiskey library, and a substantial wine list make it suited to a slower dinner than the clubhouse meal.
Start with the Gochujang Glazed Pork Belly, a rich appetizer with shaved horseradish and house-made cocktail sauce. Then the Moroccan Spice Lamb Rack comes with cous cous, a cucumber-mint salad, and tzatziki sauce, while the Pan Seared Seabass offers a lighter option with delicate fish and bright accompaniments. The beverage program is every bit as ambitious as the kitchen. Ember’s wine list has earned Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for multiple years, placing it among just 15 Arizona restaurants with the distinction.
Finish with one of the house desserts such as the Coconut Panna Cotta or settle into the whiskey selection before calling it a night. 10438 WeKoPa Way, Fort McDowell, wekopacasinoresort.com
Brittlebush Bar & Grill at The Westin Kierland Golf Club
Kierland Golf Club offers three nine-hole layouts, Acacia, Ironwood, and Mesquite, with Brittlebush Bar & Grill serving as the casual clubhouse restaurant. The bright dining room and patio are connected to The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, but the menu is built for golfers and lunch guests.
The Birria Tacos feature short rib seared and braised for five hours with four chiles and spices, then tucked into tortillas with Oaxaca cheese, pickled red onions, and micro cilantro. A cup of the resulting consommé comes alongside for dipping. The BBBG Burger goes bigger with a half-pound short-rib patty, jalapeño bacon, avocado, smoked cheddar, beer-infused whole-grain mustard, horseradish pickles, and a toasted Kona roll. 15636 N. Clubgate Dr., Scottsdale, kierlandgolf.com
The Phoenician Tavern at The Phoenician
The Phoenician Tavern sits above The Phoenician’s golf clubhouse, with course views from the dining room and spacious patio. Booths, televisions, local craft beers, and polished pub food give it the spirit of a sports bar with a considerably prettier backdrop.
The Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Bites bring heat in a shareable serving, while the Cowboy Burger and Kobe Beef Sliders cover the heartier end of the menu. On summer Saturdays, dueling pianists take requests from 8 to 10 p.m., making the tavern as perfect for an evening out as it is for a post-round meal. 6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, thephoenician.com
Needle Rock Kitchen & Tap at Verde River Golf & Social Club
Offering a great view, the Needle Rock Kitchen & Tap looks across the Verde River course toward the Mazatzal Mountains and surrounding desert. Its broad patio, wood-fired oven, local beer list, and sunset views make the drive to Rio Verde worthwhile without a golf reservation.
The Millionaire Burger combines a chuck-and-brisket patty with bacon, caramelized demi onions, white cheddar, and house aioli. Cast Iron Meatballs made with veal, pork, and beef arrive in marinara with parmesan and garlic bread. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts, another starter, combines smoky bacon, goat cheese, dried garlic, chives, and maple-mustard vinaigrette, proving vegetables know how to show up dressed for the clubhouse. 28509 N. Verde River Way, Rio Verde, mytrilogylife.com
The Grill Kitchen & Bar at Boulders Golf Club
The Grill Kitchen & Bar sits among the granite formations of Boulders Resort & Spa, home to two Jay Morrish-designed golf courses. An exhibition kitchen, fireplace, outdoor bar, and terrace overlooking the fairways make the clubhouse restaurant a striking desert experience.
Menu standouts include the Grilled Salmon Quinoa Bowl with Atlantic salmon, chilled quinoa, baby kale, miniature tomatoes, fresh basil, and Meyer lemon vinaigrette. The Farm Herb Roasted Prime Rib Dip is a hearty option with Tuscan-spiced prime rib, herbed mushrooms, caramelized sweet onion, horseradish cream, and herb beef jus. One is perfect before an afternoon tee time; the other may make the nearest lounge chair or spa visit even more relaxing. 34631 N. Tom Darlington Dr., Scottsdale, theboulders.com
Meritage an Urban Tavern at Wildfire Golf Club
Meritage sits beside Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Players can choose between the Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer courses before heading to Meritage’s patio and lawn for a playful afternoon with Arizona craft beers, cocktails, bocce ball, and cornhole.
Enjoy the Tavern Fries, which come buried under pecan-smoked bacon, caramelized onions, and white cheddar sauce. Or the Bacon Empanada, which folds braised bacon, sweet corn, potatoes, and white cheddar into pastry. On the lighter side, the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl combines sticky rice, chile-garlic crisp, sesame aioli, avocado, and pickled ginger vegetables for a satisfying and fresh option. The MUT Burger is another winning plate, with two patties, American cheese, secret sauce, bacon and caramelized onions, all on a brioche bun. 5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix, marriott.com
