15 Best Restaurants In Prescott, Arizona | Where To Eat In Prescott, AZ

Sharing is caring!

Prescott, Arizona is a city known for its history and culture.  Located in North Central Arizona, with a population of about 40,000, this former capital of the Arizona Territory is nestled in a geographically diverse area, with mountains, granite hills, and lakes and rivers.  Within this Wild West backdrop and historic town center,  you can find many of the best places to eat in Prescott.

With dozens of Victorian homes, over 800 locations on the National Register of Historic Places, and the infamous “Whiskey Row”, it’s only natural to assume there will be many of the best restaurants in Prescott preserving this history even today.

Not in the mood to go out to eat tonight? Click here to have Grubhub deliver directly from the best restaurants in town to your doorstep.

Visiting other destinations in Arizona? Check out our other guides:

• 7 Must-Try Lake Havasau City Restaurants
• The Best Things To Do In Goodyear, Arizona
• Best restaurants in Sedona
• 8 Must-Try Flagstaff Restaurants
• 12 Exciting Things To Do In Cave Creek AZ
• 8 Best Cave Creek Restaurants
• 10 Best Restaurants In Salt Lake City
• 20 Best Restaurants In Tucson
• 6 Must-Try Glendale Restaurants
• 10 Fun Things To Do In Flagstaff, Arizona
• 10 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants In Phoenix
• 10 Best Dishes to Eat in Arizona
• 5 Best Scottsdale AZ Restaurants
• 10 Best Things To Do In Prescott AZ
• 8 Must-Try Restaurants in Wickenburg AZ

15 Must-Try Restaurants In Prescott, Arizona

The Palace Restaurant and Saloon

120 S Montezuma St. // 928-541-1996

One of the Top Ten Historic Bars in America, the oldest Arizona restaurant, and the longest-running saloon in Prescott, The Palace serves the best steak in the region. See where Virgil Earp and Doc Holliday celebrated before moving on to Tombstone.

The historic doors, rebuilt after the 1900 fire, lead to a glimpse of the past. As you move past the front of the saloon into the restaurant area, take the time to view the self-contained museum.

The rooms for the “ladies of the evening” and the bookkeeper are just up the stairs (false front, don’t worry). 

For a solemn moment,  pay homage to the nineteen Granite Mountain HotShot firefighters who lost their lives in the 2013 Yarnell Fire. 

In this Prescott fine dining restaurant, anything you order is likely to be delicious.

The appetizers range from onion rings to prawns, steak bites to Brussel sprouts. If you’re still not sure where to start, try the two braised beef tacos. While there’s a soup of the day, the corn chowder with bacon is a staple. Four salads options round out the pre-entrée menu.

My all-time favorite is the Cattleman’s Filet Mignon served with market vegetables, grilled asparagus, and either the baked potato (with all the fixin’s) or the red skin mashed potatoes. It’s so much food, I’ve no room for rolls, appetizers, or dessert.

For those that like to mix their proteins, I’d recommend the grilled prawns prosciutto, the Palace corn chowder, the Rough Rider ribeye, and the sautéed wild mushrooms. 

If you’re visiting Prescott, you could legitimately visit The Palace every day and eat something different.  But there are many other of the best places to eat in Prescott, Arizona, so save time for them.

The Lone Spur Café

106 W Gurley St. // 928-445-8202

My absolute favorite place to get my breakfast steak, The Lone Spur sits directly across the street from Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza (aka “The Square”). 

Open from 6:30 AM till 2:30 PM, it’s a great place to meet with friends before sightseeing if you’re visiting, or before work if you’re not. The cowboy décor and music put you right at ease, and it’s easy to imagine getting food from Cookie while on a cattle drive.

My standard order is Ribeye Steak and Eggs. Eggs are made to order, with hash browns at served at breakfast and French fries at lunch. Add Texas toast if you wish. Delicious. 

For vegans, the order is typically a Veggie Burger or an Avocado BLT, hold the bacon. The servers are very adept at handling food preferences and allergies.

The most common food order is the Chorizo Scramble, with chorizo sausage, green chilis, green onion, melted jack and cheddar cheese, salsa, and sour cream served with potatoes and choice of toast.

Alternatively, try the Cowboy Benedict, two biscuits topped with smoked ham and two basted eggs, smothered in country gravy, served with potatoes.  

BiGA

623 Miller Valley Rd. // (928) 227-2543

One of the healthiest Prescott restaurants is also one of the smallest. Tables for four are crowded into the space and the line starts early. Feel free to ask anyone with an extra seat at their table if you can join them. 

Their focus on clean, modern food, locally sourced, is obvious in their menu.

While you can count on the Caesar or house salad being available, many of the other items change often. Generally,  they offer four or five salads, featuring standard “add-ons” like turkey, chicken, a burger patty, bacon or avocado. 

They usually have five or six sandwiches, including a burger, Reuben and the BiGA Club.

If I’m the late one to the table, I’ll choose the BiGA Burger in a heartbeat. It’s a hand-pressed patty with sliced local caramelized onions, Arizona lettuce and basil aioli. They’ll add cheddar cheese if you like.

My favorite vegan is happy with all the selections offered for her here. During our last visit, she tried the Grilled Avocado with puffed quinoa, house-smoked local tomato, market roasted chili aioli, sunflower seeds, pickled carrots in a sherry honey reduction.

Then, the Farm to Fork Spring Risotto, holding the cheese, with smoked local tomato, Brussel sprouts, toasted garlic, pickled market carrot, shaved fennel, and local spinach pesto. 

Others in our party enjoyed the Corned Beef Reuben with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on homemade rye bread and the Sherry Braised Lamb Shank with a local parsnip apple mash, beet top gremolata, slow-roasted market vegetables, and cremini lamb jus.

BiGA makes it easy to eat healthily being one of the best restaurants in Prescott to eat at.

Raven Café

142 N Cortez St. // (928) 717-0009

The Raven Café quickly becomes a go-to spot for food, drinks, and nightly entertainment. Its moniker, “Prescott’s Gathering Place,” is well deserved.

Their focus on organic espresso and an innovative menu, with organic and locally sourced items, makes it painless to reduce your carbon footprint.

First, the food. A lot of conversations here revolve around the drinks, whether craft beer or organic espresso. There may be more vegan and gluten-free dishes here than anywhere else in town. The jackfruit tacos are a favorite, as are the cauliflower tacos. 

For the non-vegan, the Raven burger, the salmon, and the Wahoo Fish Tacos are my go-to dishes.

These fish tacos are small, served on a long plate. It doesn’t look like they’d be very filling, but they are, and end up being exactly right for a lunch portion. If you’re really hungry, choose the more substantial burger or salmon. 

While the Raven is one of the best restaurants in Prescott, the entertainment is also top-shelf. 

Starting with Trivia Monday, and Movie Tuesday, you can enjoy great drink specials and just hang out with your friends.  Wednesday and Thursday evenings feature drink specials, and on Friday and Saturday, you can have live music with your meal and drinks. 

Sunday brunch is from 8 am to 2 pm, and features a bottomless mimosa.  

It’s a fun place. It’s organic. And it’s one of the best downtown Prescott restaurants. 

Murphy’s

201 N Cortez St. // 928-445-4044

Murphy’s is in a historic building three blocks from the Courthouse Square.

The mahogany bar is a century old, polished lovingly by bartenders then and now. It’s a great place for Sunday champagne brunches and special occasions, as well as happy hour, lunch or dinner.

Their appetizers include seafood, pecan encrusted brie, or sautéed mushrooms. 

They offer four salads and seven sandwiches, including Murphy Dip, shaved prime rib with Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms on a hoagie roll, served with au jus and creamy horseradish.  

Their entrees also include four burgers, one of the most popular a “build your own,” as well as steak, catfish, and half a rotisserie chicken.

While I’ve been tempted by other dishes, I always go back to their salmon. They offer it with a balsamic tomato relish that I favor, but you can also order it with a honey mustard sauce.

Their burgers and steaks are excellent, and the sum of all these items makes this one of the best places to eat in Prescott.

The Office Cantina

128 N Cortez St. // (928) 445-1211

“No, Mrs. Jones, she’s at The Office. Can I help you?” While your office staff may not be able to protect you for long if people realize this office is a great restaurant just a few blocks down from the Courthouse Square, you can enjoy a great meal, dessert, their specialty margaritas, or soft drinks as you watch sports and get away from it all for an hour or more. 

Featuring some of the best Mexican food in Prescott, the southwestern flavors and fun atmosphere make this a perfect place to step out of the noon-time sun.

We make a point of starting with dessert first.

Their fried ice cream is the best in town. A generous portion, perfect for two or three people, with whipped cream and a crispy crust around the frozen vanilla ice cream makes for a yummy treat any time of day.

But if you’re not going for a meal, you may want to keep the whole serving for yourself.

For starters, you may go for their Nachos Grande, freshly made corn chips with spinach con queso, olives, pico de gallo, green chilis, green onion, and topped with your choice of black beans, machaca beef, chicken or pork.

They’re known for their catfish bites, but most people love the catfish most in their fish and chips. 

Their Chile Rellenos are a family favorite with roasted Anaheim peppers stuffed with shredded cheddar, shredded jack, roasted red peppers, green onions and your choice of chicken or pork, served with red, green or con queso sauces.

You can also try the Guadalajara Sliders, three mini-burgers glazed with raspberry BBQ sauce, and topped with caramelized onion.

My favorite is the Machaca Tacos. I’ll even get them as a takeaway for lunch the next day.

While I prefer chicken, they also offer beef or carnitas meat, with shredded cabbage, a two cheese mix, pico de gallo, and avocado aioli. The cilantro garlic fries are so filling, you should consider saving them to reheat at home. 

Their daily specials make this one of the best places to eat in Prescott.   Any day of the week you can have a fun, festive time at the Office, making this the best place for Mexican food among the restaurants in Prescott. 

El Gato Azul

316 W Goodwin St. // 928-445-1070

This restaurant is known for its tapas. They have the best happy hour in town, from 3 – 6 PM.

In fine weather, sit out by the creek and enjoy the play of the breeze across the water. Just watch out when the wind gets too strong. The heaters have been known to blow over.

The owner of El Gato Azul is one of the most philanthropic in town. Our first meal there was after I’d won gift certificates at a charity function. The sticky chicken is the most frequently mentioned and recommended dish.

They offer seven salads, several wraps, and crepes, quesadillas, and croissants.  

But the focus quickly turns to the tapas. Seafood, vegetarian, beef, pork, and chicken are all among the choices. From crab cakes and Santa Fe shrimp to lamb kebabs and fried avocado, you can close your eyes and imagine yourself in festive Madrid. 

For a full dinner, consider the Parmesan Salmon, Chipotle BBQ Ribs, or the Harvest Duck, when available. 

The servers are well versed in allergens. For celiacs, the best bet is the salad. For vegetarians, the fried goat cheese salad. But no matter your choice, this is one of the best places for fine dining in Prescott.

That Apple Pan

510 W Gurley St. // (928) 445-8323

When you walk in the front door, you wonder how long the owner must have been a teacher with all imaginable apple and vintage decorations.  It’s homey, a place where everyone knows your name, with chalkboards listing the daily specials.

Order the pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, or specialty cinnamon rolls.

They have twelve variations of the three-egg omelet, including a vegetarian option.

Their Apple Mary looks like nothing I’ve seen before. These crepes almost look like a thin pancake and are served with whipped cream and cinnamon sugar, and you’re not likely to forget how good they taste.

Want a savory option? Order the apple-filled crepes with bacon, ham, or sausage.  French toast and breakfast sandwiches complete the menu, which also has a daily breakfast special.

Lunch options include both hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads.

My favorite take-out meal, by far, is their roast beef sandwich with French fries. It’s warm, lean beef perfectly seasoned and very filling. 

They offer six burger options. Can’t decide? You have the option of a half-sandwich and a cup of homemade soup. 

BLT, grilled cheese, triple-decker club, roast beef melt, tuna melt, pastrami Rueben, or Prescott Mile High Melt, there’s something for everyone looking for food in Prescott.

Park Plaza Liquor & Deli

402 W Goodwin St. // 928-541-9894

This unlikely named restaurant is one of the best in Prescott for take away service.

Walk in, order your meal, then peruse the liquor store for your evening beverage of choice, with row after row of beer, wine, and spirits.

They have cigars, too, but I’m glad to report I’ve never been subjected to them while dining there. The patio on the east side of the building is a designated smoking area but hasn’t affected the customers enjoying the other outdoor patio. 

You can also stay there, inside or on one of the patios. You can enjoy your liquor purchase with your meal. There is no corkage fee for alcohol purchased on site.

They are known for their wood-fired pizzas, baked soft pretzels, salads, and burgers. They make their own dough and mozzarella cheese on-site each day. If you’re from the upper Midwest, you’ll love their fried cheese curds.

The chicken and apple salad is one of their most popular, served with an apple cider vinaigrette. 

The wood-fired mac-n-cheese, a cavatappi pasta with a homemade cheese sauce topped with parmesan garlic bread crumbs is baked in a cast-iron dish in their wood-fired oven. It’s a crowd favorite.

If you like bacon, it’s worth the extra $3 to have them add it.  It’s perfect after a hike up Thumb Butte.

Their “For The Kids Only” menu includes chicken tenders, pita pizza and grilled cheese.

A favorite vegan dish is the Ol’ Avocado sandwich on the gluten-free bun. I think the raspberry chipotle turkey club with a gluten-free bun instead of the sourdough is the way to go.

They host monthly wine or beer pairing dinners. Check out their Facebook page for information, and also check out this great place to eat in Prescott. 

The Peacock Dining Room

122 E Gurley St #3899 // (928) 777-9563

Surround yourself with an Art Deco look at The Hassayampa Inn’s Peacock Dining Room.

Just a block from the Yavapai County Courthouse Square, it’s one of the most convenient places in town to meet family or friends for any meal, or even to attend a high tea the fourth Sunday of every month.

The bar has nightly live music, making this one of the best places to go in Prescott.

With their staple French onion soup as well as a soup of the day, and five salads to choose from, you’ll find something to love.

My personal favorite is the Peacock Salad with chicken, apples, cranberries, toasted walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. But the grilled pear salad is a great alternative.

Lunchtime favorites include the shrimp cocktail, Rueben, Monte Cristo, and a crispy shrimp and avocado Caesar wrap. But you can’t go wrong with the fish and chips or hometown burger.

It all depends on how full you want to be when you leave. It’s not uncommon to hear people murmuring they need to be “rolled out” after their meal. 

Dinner favorites are salmon, steak, and surf, and turf.

One of the most popular meals includes a house salad (they can substitute a house vinaigrette for the blue cheese vinaigrette), 6-ounce filet mignon grilled to your specifications, baked potato, and seasonal vegetables.

You may need to go walk around the lobby to make room for dessert.

If you’re interested in a lighter meal, the Atlantic Salmon with cranberry-pinon quinoa with seasonal vegetables is a lovely alternative.

Friday and Saturday nights, they offer a slow-roasted prime rib. But you’ll have to get there early, or they’ll have run out. Some people even call ahead to confirm availability.

Save room for dessert. There are several worth sharing. Gluten-free options include flourless chocolate decadence and crème brulee.

A berry tart, lemon Italian cake, bread pudding, and sugar-free coconut cream pie round out the menu.  This restaurant is one of the best for fine dining in Prescott.  

Farm Provisions

148 N Montezuma St. // (928) 776-3001

This long-awaited farm-to-table restaurant opened in Prescott in 2018. Their outdoor seating has heaters and rain protection, so it can be used nine to ten months out of the year. The sustainable options in this chef’s talented hands is a great recipe for success. 

Start with light fare appetizers like deep-fried deviled Arizona eggs with maple peppered bacon jam and sriracha crème fraiche.

For a Vegan choice try the Charred Heirloom Cauliflower, which contains roasted red pepper hummus, crispy chickpeas, pickled jalapeños, and citrus herb vinaigrette.  

There are typically two soups and five salads available. They have steak, vegetable, or battered walleye tacos. And “not your mom’s chicken pot pie.” 

My favorites are all on their Land & Sea entrees. Their sustainable salmon is the best in town, served with organic quinoa with local squash, grilled asparagus, roasted fennel slaw, and a charred Arizona sweet pepper coulis.

Their FARM Steaks, among the best in town, are served with roasted garlic whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, an Arizona red wine demi-glace, wild mushrooms, with local herbs. My favorite is their eight-ounce filet.

Don’t forget to check out the specialty drinks.  Their vegan and gluten-free options are the best in town. They now have a kids’ menu with five items for children 12 and under. Looking for a great restaurant in Prescott to eat at?  This is it.

Taco Don’s

624 Miller Valley Rd. // (928) 778-6246 (closed Sundays)

If you want a great, home-tasting Mexican meal in Prescott, this is the place for you.

You get the option of take-out food or eat-in dining.  From the drive-through, my favorite dish was their two chicken taquitos, no garnish.  The perfect, lightweight meal before heading back to work.

However, for family dining, when we stayed to eat, all bets were off. The individual portions were easily large enough to feed two.

The Chimichanga Combo, stuffed with flavorful carne asada, is always a favorite. The combo consists of a deep-fried burrito, enchilada style, topped with guacamole and sour cream. The chili relleno meal is also a keeper.  We’ve never had a bad meal there.

For casual dining in Prescott, make sure you check out Taco Don’s.

Rosa’s Pizzeria

330 W Gurley St. // (928) 445-7400

The hometown Italian favorite, Rosa’s provides many choices, including gluten-free ones, that are both filling and delicious. 

I’ve never been to Sicily, so I have to take their word for it that this is authentic Sicilian, or southern Italian, food. I can tell you I’ve never had a dish I disliked. 

With a menu offering everything from pasta to sandwiches to, of course, pizza, there is something for everyone at this favorite Prescott Italian restaurant.

While I lean towards the gluten-free choices, friends and family enjoy the baked ziti, homemade meat lasagna (no sausage!) and fettuccine alfredo. 

Save room for dessert. From the hand-filled cannoli or gelato to the gluten-free chocolate cake, you can’t go wrong. 

Pro Tip: If it says “Rosa’s Specialty” on the menu, it’s a tried and true recipe that has stood the test of time.

Waffles – N – More

1365 W Iron Springs Rd. // 928-778-3039 (CASH ONLY)

The local waffle favorite, this breakfast hot spot is in the town strip mall.

It includes several tables outside for those times when the weather is fine. While it’s not easy to maneuver a wheelchair through the front door, there’s a wheelchair-accessible door around the corner. 

Please keep in mind that they do not yet accept credit cards. Have cash at the ready.

This family-operated establishment, open for 30 years, is a Prescott favorite restaurant.

Walk right in and wait to be seated at a table or booth. The menu has a selection of breakfast fare, from the favored waffles with fruit or other toppings, biscuits and gravy, to chicken fried chicken, eggs, potatoes, and even avocado for a healthier choice.

Good food. Friendly service. Good prices. It’s worth the visit to see why this is one of the places to eat in Prescott.

Beijing Gardens

1042 Willow Creek Rd Ste 105 // 928-778-5276

My favorite Chinese carryout for lunch!

The owner is willing to change ingredients and when in stock, will alter the dish to suit your needs. For me, it was General Tsao’s chicken. Substituting celery and carrots for the onions and bell peppers made it a tangier dish.

Lunch specials include a few fried wontons and a small soup with the entrée and rice. Ask for white rice specifically if you prefer it. Both fried rice and white rice are available.  

For appetizers, they offer egg rolls, fried wontons, potstickers, or crab puffs. For your entrée, their proteins include beef, chicken, pork, and fish, all served with a variety of vegetables and sauces. They have a few vegetarian dishes as well. 

They’re open a few hours in the middle of the day, and a couple in the evening to provide service for lunch and dinner. They are closed on Sundays.  Looking for Chinese food in Prescott?  You’ve found it here.

---

Which of these restaurants in Prescott, Arizona do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!