Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Phoenix by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Phoenix using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#25. The Arrogant Butcher
- Rating: 4.0/5 (3291 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2 East Jefferson Ste 150 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: American, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Chico Malo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1133 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 50 West Jefferson St. Ste 100 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Stockyards Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (764 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5009 East Washington St. Ste 115 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Steakhouses, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. FLINT by Baltaire
- Rating: 4.1/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2425 East Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Mediterranean, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Renata's Hearth
- Rating: 4.2/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2400 East Missouri Ave. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Latin American, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Pubblico Italian Eatery
- Rating: 4.3/5 (594 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5813 North 7th St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Italian, Bars, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Oven + Vine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (379 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14 West Vernon Ave. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Nook Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4/5 (654 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 4231 East indian School Rd. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Italian, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Pa'La Downtown
- Rating: 4.4/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 132 East Washington St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Mediterranean, Tapas/Small Plates, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Across The Pond
- Rating: 4.5/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4236 North Central Ave. Ste 101 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Pa'La - 24th Street
- Rating: 4.6/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2107 North 24th St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Mediterranean, Seafood, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
- Rating: 4.1/5 (2822 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 11051 North Black Cyn Hwy Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Seafood, Cajun/Creole
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Different Pointe of View
- Rating: 4.2/5 (942 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 11111 North 7th St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Tarbell's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (585 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3213 East Camelback Road Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Wren & Wolf
- Rating: 4.3/5 (735 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2 North Central Ave. Ste 101 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Steakhouses, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Tratto
- Rating: 4.3/5 (423 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1505 East Van Buren St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Rough Rider
- Rating: 4.4/5 (497 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1001 North Central Ave. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#8. L'Amore Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (520 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3159 East Lincoln Drive Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The Gladly
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2201 East Camelback Road Ste 106 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Whiskey Bars, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Macintosh
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2119 East Camelback Road Ste A21 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Steak 44
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2140 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 5101 North 44th St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Restaurant Progress
- Rating: 4.5/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 702 West Montecito Ave. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Farish House
- Rating: 4.6/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 816 North 3rd St. Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: Wine Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Anhelo Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 114 West Adams St. c103 Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Kai
- Rating: 4.6/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 5594 West Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Sheraton Grand At Wild Horse Pass Phoenix, Arizona
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
