Cave Creek, Arizona

Where to eat.

Think of this as a friend who lives here. 49 places we would actually send you to, starting with the ten that matter most.

The top 10 in Cave Creek10

If a friend flew in tomorrow, this is the list we would hand them. In order.

Harold's Cave Creek Corral$$
Steakhouse / Cave Creek Rd
A western saloon and restaurant at 6895 E. Cave Creek Road serving steaks, chops, salads and pot roast.
Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse$$
Barbecue / Cave Creek Rd
A cowboy restaurant at 6811 E. Cave Creek Road serving burgers, barbecue, steaks and sandwiches.
The Horny Toad Restaurant$$
American / Cave Creek Rd
A Southwestern and barbecue restaurant at 6738 E. Cave Creek Road.
Tonto Bar and Grill$$$
New American / Rancho Manana
An American and Southwestern restaurant at 5736 E. Rancho Manana Boulevard with golf-course views.
Local Jonny's$$
American / Cave Creek Rd
A tavern and cafe at 6033 E. Cave Creek Road serving breakfast, lunch, drinks and a focused happy-hour menu.
El Encanto$$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
The one with the lagoon and the ducks. Order a margarita on the patio and stay longer than you meant to.
Keeler's Neighborhood Steakhouse$$$
Steakhouse / Carefree
A Carefree steakhouse highlighted by the town's official tourism dining guide.
Confluence$$$
New American / Carefree
A contemporary Carefree restaurant focused on locally sourced ingredients and creative dishes and cocktails.
English Rose Tea Room$$
Tea Room / Carefree
A Carefree tea room for afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones and pastries.
Venues Cafe$$
New American / Carefree
A Carefree cafe at 34 Easy Street serving salads, sandwiches, entrees and cocktails.

Times and prices move constantly, so treat these as a starting point and confirm before you go.

Local Jonny's$$
American / Cave Creek Rd
Happy hour is Fridays and Saturdays from 3 to 6 p.m., dine-in only. The current menu lists $2 off draft and bottled beer, $2 off house Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, and food from $9 to $15.
Keeler's Neighborhood Steakhouse$$$
Steakhouse / Carefree
Happy hour is daily from 3 to 5 p.m. The restaurant's menu dated Aug. 6, 2026 lists $10 food features and a $13 burger, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich or prime-rib sliders with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage. Menu and pricing are subject to change.

The five we would send you to first in each category, plus everything else worth knowing.

El Encanto$$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
The one with the lagoon and the ducks. Order a margarita on the patio and stay longer than you meant to.
Ofrenda$$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
Modern Mexican in the Cave Creek Rd corridor.
Stumblina's Cantina$$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
Cantina with a patio and a name that tells you the tone.
Desert Cave Mexican Food$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
Quick, cheap, and better than it needs to be.
Fantastico's Mexican Food$
Mexican / Cave Creek Rd
Counter-service Mexican on the main drag.

Also worth it: Chipotle

Cowboy Pizza Co.$$
Pizza / Cave Creek Rd
Pies with a western streak.
Brugo's Pizza$$
Pizza / Cave Creek Rd
Neighborhood pizza in the Cave Creek Rd plaza.
Oregano's$$Chain
Italian / Cave Creek Rd
The Arizona chain, north-valley outpost.
Mod Pizza$Chain
Pizza / Carefree Hwy
Build-your-own on Carefree Highway.
Giordano's Trattoria Romano$$$
Italian / Carefree
Roman trattoria cooking, white tablecloth energy.

Harold's Cave Creek Corral$$
Steakhouse / Cave Creek Rd
A western saloon and restaurant at 6895 E. Cave Creek Road serving steaks, chops, salads and pot roast.
Keeler's Neighborhood Steakhouse$$$
Steakhouse / Carefree
A Carefree steakhouse highlighted by the town's official tourism dining guide.
Happy hour: Happy hour is daily from 3 to 5 p.m. The restaurant's menu dated Aug. 6, 2026 lists $10 food features and a $13 burger, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich or prime-rib sliders with the purchase of an alcoholic beverage. Menu and pricing are subject to change.

Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse$$
Barbecue / Cave Creek Rd
A cowboy restaurant at 6811 E. Cave Creek Road serving burgers, barbecue, steaks and sandwiches.
The Horny Toad Restaurant$$
American / Cave Creek Rd
A Southwestern and barbecue restaurant at 6738 E. Cave Creek Road.
Tonto Bar and Grill$$$
New American / Rancho Manana
An American and Southwestern restaurant at 5736 E. Rancho Manana Boulevard with golf-course views.
Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue$$Hidden gem
Barbecue / Cave Creek Rd
Slow-smoked and sold until it runs out, which it does. Go early.
Hideaway Grill$$
American / Cave Creek Rd
Patio bar with live music and a crowd that arrives on two wheels as often as four.

The Grotto Cafe$$
Breakfast / Cave Creek Rd
Small, warm, and busy every weekend morning.
Brunch$$
Brunch / Cave Creek Rd
Named for exactly what it does best.
Black Mountain Cafe & Gears Bar Lounge$$Hidden gem
Breakfast / Carefree
A Carefree cafe and bar lounge highlighted by the town's official tourism dining guide.

Janey's Coffee Co. & Bodega$
Coffee / Cave Creek Rd
Coffee, pastries and a little grocery corner. The morning meeting spot.
Village Coffee & Creperie$
Coffee / Cave Creek Rd
Crepes both sweet and savory, plus a properly pulled espresso.
Dutch Bros$Chain
Coffee / Cave Creek Rd
Drive-thru coffee on Cave Creek Rd.
Starbucks$Chain
Coffee / Carefree Hwy
Carefree Highway location.
Carefree Coffee Roastery$
Coffee / Carefree
Roasting on site, which you can smell from the walk up.

Also worth it: Grind & Gears

Big Earl's Greasy Eats$Hidden gem
Burgers / Cave Creek Rd
A 1950s-style drive-in at 6135 E. Cave Creek Road serving sandwiches, burgers, milkshakes and floats.
Le Sans Souci$$$Hidden gem
French / Bella Vista Dr
A French restaurant at 7030 E. Bella Vista Drive in Cave Creek.
It's a Divine Bakery$
Bakery / Cave Creek Rd
Two locations on Cave Creek Rd, which tells you how the pastries go.
The City Creamery$
Dessert / Cave Creek Rd
Ice cream stop in the middle of the walkable stretch.
Jersey Mike's$Chain
Sandwiches / Carefree Hwy
Carefree Highway sub stop.