35 Best Restaurants in Southwestern Utah, Utah

On the stunning grounds of the Boulder Mountain Lodge and a frequent James Beard Award semifinalist, this remote eatery—its creative, oft-changing menu is inspired by indigenous, Western range, Southwestern, and Mormon pioneer recipes—is worth the 40-mile drive from Torrey or 25-mile drive from Escalante along scenic Highway 12. The amiable chef-owners (and cookbook authors) source many ingredients they use—in dishes like braised beef with kale, tomatoes, and green-chile polenta; and pappardelle with smoked trout and farm veggies—come directly from their own organic farm or one of the area's sustainable purveyors.

This cheerful food truck, which doles out superb burgers with imaginative toppings, along with fries and soft drinks, parks in different parts of Torrey (often beside The Chuckwagon hotel)—check their Facebook page for the latest hours and address. Favorites among these over-the-top creations include the burger topped with gooey mac-and-cheese, smoked bacon, coal-roasted green chilies, and whole grain mustard; and another slathered with pulled pork, cream cheese, pickled jalapeños, and barbecue sauce. 

You can watch your handmade artisanal pizza being pulled from the fires of the brick oven, then sit back and enjoy a seasonal pie layered with ingredients like house-made fennel sausage and wood-roasted cremini mushrooms. The creamy vanilla gelato layered with a balsamic reduction and sea salt is highly addictive.

But for a smattering of colorful papel picado (cut paper) flags strung along the ceiling and some neon Mexican beer signs, this unassuming eatery on the east side of Torrey lacks much in the way of ambience. The plates brimming with vibrant sauces, fresh vegetables, and tender steak, chicken, and seafood, however, hint at why this relatively new Mexican restaurant has such a passionate following. Service is friendly and knowledgeable, too.

Stop by this cheerful coffeehouse with hanging plants and several tables on a spacious side patio to fuel up before your big park adventure or to grab some healthy sustenance for later. Hearty cacao-acai and chipotle aioli–quinoa bowls, toast with goat cheese and fresh strawberries, bagels with the requisite schmears, breakfast burritos, and house-made granola are among the tasty offerings. There's also a nice selection of camp mugs, travel tumblers, and coffee-related gifts.

This warm and inviting log cabin–style restaurant—operated by a local tour operator that also runs a camp store and cabin and camping compound—is a great place to sit back and relax after a day of hiking, fly-fishing, or road-tripping. Try one of the creatively topped pizzas, a veggie sandwich, or an apple-pecan-arugula salad, or drop in for a well-crafted (Fair Trade) coffee and a light breakfast to kick off the day.

This hip sidewalk café and bakery on the ground floor of a downtown St. George apartment building is a pleasing option for both decadent sweets—think passionfruit-coconut–glazed doughnuts and blood-orange tarts—and filling sandwiches on crusty house-baked breads. Notable drink options include brown sugar–cinnamon lattes and high-octane cold brews.

This charming patisserie and bistro in the center of downtown is a favorite stop for lattes and cold brew; crepes and salads; heartier dinner specials (salmon, filet mignon, ratatouille); and ethereal pastries and sweets, including a rotating selection of chocolate, berry, lemon, and seasonal tarts. It's also perfect for stocking up on picnic supplies before a hiking or biking adventure. In warm weather, you can dine on the cute patio out front.

This fun stop along scenic Highway 12, about 13 miles east of Escalante, was constructed by the late artist and inventor Bradshaw Bowman, who began building it when he was in his eighties and spent two years finding and transporting the 13 Douglas-fir logs surrounding the structure. The distinctive eatery with amazing views serves a daily-changing array of made-from-scratch soups, bagel sandwiches, tamales, oatmeal pancakes, salads, and decadent desserts, plus exceptional coffee and espresso drinks. Open from March through October, the café also rents two overnight accommodations in a nearby cabin.

A charming patio overlooking Ancestor Square with contemporary Southwestern art on the walls provides a romantic setting for enjoying contemporary American fare with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, many from the owners' private organic garden. Consider chorizo-stuffed quail with a tamarind glaze, followed by a juniper-brined bone-in pork chop with stuffed pears and smoked-tomato relish, and don't pass up the standout sides that include chipotle bread pudding, zucchini fritters, and blue cheese–walnut–stuffed pears. The white chocolate cheesecake tower is a standout among several excellent desserts.

What you could easily mistake for a classic diner with its black-and-white-checkered floor and green-vinyl seats is actually one of the few restaurants in the state specializing in the boldly flavored cuisine of the Andes. At this friendly café across from downtown Hurricane's civic park, enjoy classics like grilled rotisserie chicken with Peruvian spices and chilies, Venezuelan arepas stuffed with shredded beef, and fried rice with seasoned ham, eggs, and vegetables. Alcohol isn't served, but there is a selection of seasonal fruit juices.

In a handsomely restored little house in the tree-lined, historic village of Santa Clara—about 15 minutes west of downtown St. George—this sweet, cozy neighborhood restaurant with seating in a colorful front garden serves extraordinarily tasty, locally sourced contemporary American–Mediterranean fare. It's worth the trip to this slightly off-the-beaten-path locale to savor coconut labneh with spicy harissa, charred heirloom tomatoes, and hazelnut dukkah and seared skirt steak with jalapeño-parsley chermoula. The desserts change nightly and are also tantalizing.

The sophisticated contemporary Mediterranean fare served in this snazzy bistro with a cathedral ceiling and an open kitchen would hold its own in any big city. Start off your evening with escargot with herbed garlic butter or French onion soup, before graduating to gnocchi with sautéed lobster tail or pan-seared duck breast with a cherry reduction and truffle-dusted potatoes.

This beautifully designed adobe oasis in the Kayenta Art Village in Ivins, about 10 miles northwest of St. George, offers gracious indoor and outdoor seating, the latter overlooking fragrant high-desert gardens and the surrounding red rock ramparts. Pronounced zay-tah-vah, the space began as a coffee bar and is still a source of lattes and mochas, but you'll also find an eclectic selection of globally inspired all-day fare, including blue-corn waffles, ham ciabattas, peach-glazed organic chicken, and wild mushroom burgers. Weekend brunch is extremely popular.

This laid-back Springdale institution has been delighting locals and tourists since the late 1980s, offering a well-rounded menu that includes fresh fish and pasta dishes, but the emphasis is on creative Southwestern fare, such as roasted-sweet-potato-and-pork tamales and chili-rubbed rib-eye steak. Craft beers and the popular house-made sangria complement the zesty cuisine.

Drop by this airy, contemporary, downtown coffeehouse—which adjoins a yoga studio that offers a wide range of classes—for the best espresso drinks in town, including bourbon barrel–aged cold brew and crème brûlée cappuccinos. There's also an extensive menu of flavored lemonades and fresh-squeezed juices, plus tasty breakfast items like blackberry parfait and chai oatmeal.

Local cowboys still pony up to the back porch for meals at this laid-back restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau. The grill serves eclectic contemporary fare like spicy fried chicken sandwiches with coconut-peanut sauce, and seared trout with lemon-herb butter and charred lemon. During the day across the courtyard, Burr Trail Outpost is a funky coffeehouse serving light snacks and showcasing local art, furniture, and crafts.

Edison bulbs, timber walls, local landscape photos, and actual stacked cords of wood impart a rustic-elegant ambience at this casually upscale restaurant just 4 miles beyond Zion National Park's East Entrance, at Zion Mountain Ranch. Bison, beef, and lamb raised on Utah and Colorado ranches form the backbone of a contemporary American menu that also always features at least one vegetarian option and usually trout or salmon as well. It's a 15-minute drive from Orderville itself but a convenient and inviting stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner when traveling to or from the park.

From the Western-style interior and creaky floors to the smoker out back, this rustic café has an aura of Texan authenticity—there are cowboy collectibles and game trophies lining the walls. No surprise that barbecue is the specialty here, and the restaurant has its own house-made sauce, with ample portions of favorites, such as ribs, mesquite-flavored beef, and pulled pork, along with lighter sandwiches and salads.

This quirky food truck–style café beside Canyons of Escalante RV Park doles out filling and flavorful Mexican and Southwestern standbys, including prodigious chicken or beef burritos with Oaxacan and Jack cheese and house-made green salsa, and seasoned-cod tacos with aioli. There's ample seating on the cheerful patio. Alcohol isn't served, but there is a nice array of zero-booze drinks, from lemonade to horchata.

Try to snag a table on the tree-shaded semicovered patio at this contemporary upscale bistro on the west edge of downtown—it's especially romantic for enjoying a margarita or a glass of cider from neighboring Etta Place Cider. Run by a husband-and-wife team with extensive experience at some of Salt Lake City's top restaurants, this locavore-minded eatery specializes in creatively prepared dishes focused on both "hunted" (elk filet, duck breast) and "gathered" (wild mushrooms, mountain trout) ingredients. 

This colorful storefront eatery in historic downtown Hurricane pours one of the region's best cups of coffee, a fine prelude or follow-up to the salads, sandwiches, hearty omelets, homemade soups, flavorful pastas, and generous hamburgers on the menu. If you have the time, linger outside on the shaded patio and watch the hummingbirds.

Cabin decor, friendly service, and canyon views are the hallmarks of this dinner spot 10 minutes southeast of downtown Cedar City by car. Expect traditional, hearty steak house cuisine: teriyaki beef kebabs, prime rib, and shrimp scampi, accompanied by loaded baked potatoes, deep-fried zucchini, and similar sides. Save room for the warm apple crisp à la mode or another of the delicious desserts. Hunting trophies decorate the log cabin–style interior, and in winter deer feed outside while logs blaze away in the big stone fireplace inside.

Prepare for an active day with a filling breakfast, or reward yourself after a long hike with lunch or dinner at this welcoming Southwestern café with a big, inviting patio offering stunning mountain views. The pork verde breakfast burrito and huevos rancheros are hearty and delicious, and excellent lunch and dinner options include flame-broiled garlic burgers topped with provolone cheese and shrimp tacos with a creamy lime sauce.

Don't be fooled by the name—coffee and tea are the only brews here, but pastries aren't the only thing on the menu. Build a sandwich of meat, egg, cheese, and more on a freshly baked bagel, croissant, artisan bread, or one of four flavors of wraps. For dinner, chicken, steak, quesadilla, and tostada are added to the menu. Enjoy your meal in the spacious dining room or people-watch from the outdoor patio.

Festival-goers, take note: This is the best bet for a late-night bite after the show.

This inviting, art-filled restaurant at the Flagstone Inn has one of the only all-vegetarian menus in southern Utah, but even avowed carnivores have been known to rave about the green chile–and–Swiss cheese Impossible burgers and the inventive pizzas—including the "hot mess," with vegan Italian sausage, chèvre, shishito and serrano peppers, and a bourbon sauce. There's an impressive selection of craft beers and ciders.

As the name suggests, this airy contemporary restaurant is a meat-lover's paradise. Starting with tri-tip eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles at breakfast, pulled-pork sandwiches, carne asada nachos, and bacon-mushroom-cheddar burgers follow. You'll find a few shrimp options, including a po'boy sandwich, and some veggie dishes like spicy cauliflower tacos. No alcohol is served. There's a branch in St. George, too.

One of the closest dining options to Capitol Reef National Park, this casual and lively pizza and barbecue place is located at The Rim Rock Inn, which has its own respectable but more expensive restaurant, but The Patio is perfect for tasty, reasonably priced food and beer after a long hike. Save room for the chunky homemade brownie with ice cream.

This upbeat, art-filled eatery inside the town's former post office focuses on slow-cooked meals made from scratch, such as the Kanab-A-Dabba-A-Doo burger, a half-pound patty topped with Hatch chilies, bacon, cheddar, and avocado, and a chargrilled bison tenderloin with a fig demi-glace. Several excellent vegan options are available, too, such as yellow coconut curry with miso-marinated tofu.