Restaurant in Sedona, United States
Creek-side dining that earns its price.
Cress on Oak Creek is Sedona's strongest case for dining as destination: alfresco tables set at the edge of Oak Creek, with red rock views and a French-influenced menu that reaches $66+ per person. The five-course prix fixe is the dinner format to book; Sunday brunch is the smarter return visit. Reservations required for dinner and easy to secure.
If you're comparing Sedona dining options, Cress on Oak Creek pulls ahead of most alternatives not because of its menu alone, but because of where it sits: directly on the banks of Oak Creek, on the grounds of L'Auberge de Sedona, with red rock formations framing every meal. For a special-occasion dinner or a Sunday brunch with genuine setting payoff, this is the strongest choice in Sedona. Visitors staying elsewhere in town should still make the trip. The five-course prix fixe is the format to book if you want the full experience; the Sunday brunch is the smarter move if you're returning or want something less formal.
Cress on Oak Creek occupies a position in Sedona that few restaurants can match on geography alone. The restaurant sits within the L'Auberge de Sedona resort, where alfresco tables are set with linens and fresh-cut flowers at the creek's edge. The renovation that created the current dining destination was designed specifically to close the distance between diner and water, and it shows: the creek runs just below your feet, moving over red rock as meals progress. Birds move through the canopy overhead; a heron reportedly makes regular appearances. This is not ambient nature as backdrop. It is the main visual event of the meal.
The kitchen operates under a French and European influence despite the Southwest address, which makes Cress an interesting counterpoint to the regional cooking you'll find at Che Ah Chi or Mii amo. The cuisine pricing lands at $$$, meaning a typical two-course meal runs $66 or more per person before drinks. The wine list is similarly priced at $$$, with 325 selections across a 4,140-bottle inventory that covers California, France, and notably, Arizona producers. For a wine-focused table, the list is deeper than what you'll find at most Sedona competitors.
Service is one of the stronger data points here. The inspector notes that the waitstaff operate with a practiced fluency that doesn't call attention to itself — plates and cutlery appear and disappear without interruption. At this price tier, that's the baseline expectation, but it's not always the reality in resort dining rooms. General Manager Sarah Baird oversees operations. The dress code is resort casual, which in practice means you don't need to pack a jacket, but shorts and flip-flops will feel out of place at dinner.
The five-course prix fixe is the anchor of the dinner menu and the format that makes the most of the setting and the kitchen's range. A vegetarian version is available. Sunday brunch runs the spectrum from morning fare, including bourbon-glazed brioche French toast and smoked salmon Benedict, through to afternoon-style plates like steak frites and a burger with smoked cheddar and garlic aioli. For returning visitors who have done the prix fixe dinner, Sunday brunch is a lower-commitment way to come back to the creek. Reservations are required for dinner and suggested for all other meals.
Booking is direct. Unlike many destination restaurants in resort towns, Cress does not require weeks of advance planning for most visits, though dinner reservations on weekends will fill faster. If you're planning around a specific weekend date, book at least a week ahead to secure your preferred time. The leading time to sit outside is spring (March through May) and fall (September through November), when Sedona temperatures are comfortable for alfresco dining. Summer heat and monsoon season make evening timing more important; aim for the earliest dinner seating if you're visiting July through August. The outdoor setting is the point, so plan around conditions that let you stay in it.
Parking is handled by valet. The restaurant accommodates kids, has gluten-free options, and offers private dining for groups. For a full picture of where Cress fits among Sedona's options, see our full Sedona restaurants guide. If you're planning a broader trip, our Sedona experiences guide, bars guide, and wineries guide cover the rest of the itinerary.
Cress on Oak Creek is at 301 L'Auberge Lane, Sedona, AZ 86336, on the grounds of L'Auberge de Sedona. Valet parking is available. Reservations are required for dinner; book via the L'Auberge de Sedona website. The restaurant is kid-friendly and offers gluten-free and vegetarian options. Private dining is available for groups. For the outdoor creek-side tables, request specifically when booking — they go faster than indoor alternatives.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cress on Oak Creek | American Southwest | Finding ways to get you closer to the creek was the idea behind the complete renovation of L’Auberge de Sedona’s waterside dining destination, Cress on Oak Creek.; WINE: Wine Strengths: California, France, Arizona Pricing: $$$ i Wine pricing: Based on the list\'s general markup and high and low price points:$ has many bottles < $50;$$ has a range of pricing;$$$ has many $100+ bottles Selections: 325 Inventory: 4,140 CUISINE: Cuisine Types: French, European Pricing: $$$ i Cuisine pricing: The cost of a typical two-course meal, not including tip or beverages.$ is < $40;$$ is $40–$65;$$$ is $66+. Meals: Lunch and Dinner STAFF: People General Manager: Sarah Baird; **Our Inspector's Highlights At your feet, the creek trickles over Sedona’s enchanting red rocks as you drink and dine alfresco at intimate tables set with linens and fresh-cut flowers.The outdoor location set within the sanctuary of L’Auberge de Sedona’s grounds — complete with birds twittering back and forth among the leafy branches — provides an immersive experience in nature.Choose a five-course prix fix for the ultimate feast. There's also a vegetarian option.Forks disappeared and reappeared with barely a notice from diners — the show performed by the well-rehearsed waitstaff went almost unnoticed.Indulge in Sunday brunch, where you can savor morning staples like bourbon-glazed brioche French toast or the smoked salmon Benedict or afternoon favorites like steak frites or a burger topped with butter lettuce, tomato, smoked cheddar and garlic aioli.** **Things to Know As if the service and food weren’t enough to keep you satisfied, look for a hovering heron overhead, which often appears, disappears and then reappears.The dress code at Cress on Oak Creek is resort casual.Reservations are required for dinner and suggested for other meals.** **Treatments:** Amenities Bar Dinner Gluten-free options Kid friendly Outdoor seating Private dining Reservations recommended Resort casual Valet parking Vegetarian options **Amenities:** 301 L’Auberge Lane, Sedona, Arizona 86336 | Easy | — | |
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What to weigh when choosing between Cress on Oak Creek and alternatives.
Yes, the restaurant has a bar on site. That said, Cress on Oak Creek is primarily a dining destination rather than a drinks-first venue — the outdoor creek-side tables are the main draw. If you're coming for the setting, a full table reservation makes more sense than a bar seat.
Reservations are required for dinner and recommended for other meals, so don't assume walk-in availability. Sedona draws heavy visitor traffic year-round, and L'Auberge is a sought-after resort property. Book at least one to two weeks ahead for weeknight dinners; further out for weekends or Sunday brunch.
Yes — the menu includes gluten-free options and a vegetarian alternative to the five-course prix fixe, so plant-based diners are specifically accommodated rather than improvised for. Mention restrictions at the time of booking to give the kitchen advance notice.
Cress on Oak Creek is the clearest option for a formal, multi-course dinner in a natural setting in Sedona. For something more casual with red rock views, Sedona has several patio restaurants along the 89A corridor. If the creek-side setting is the main pull for you, there's no direct like-for-like alternative in the area.
It's one of the stronger cases for a special occasion in Sedona. The five-course prix fixe format, linen-set outdoor tables, attentive service, and creek-side location within L'Auberge de Sedona's grounds all align with milestone dining. Pricing sits at $$$, so expect to spend accordingly — but the setting delivers more than most rooms at that price point.
Sit outside if you can — the entire premise of the restaurant is the creek view and the red rock surroundings. Dress code is resort casual, valet parking is available, and the five-course prix fixe is the format to choose if you want the full experience. Sunday brunch runs a broader menu including items like brioche French toast and smoked salmon Benedict alongside heartier lunch dishes.
Possible, but the format doesn't especially favour it. The prix fixe dinner structure and romantic outdoor setting are geared toward pairs or small groups. Solo diners may find the bar a more comfortable entry point than a linen-set table for one. Worth calling ahead to check what's available.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
