Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill is Chef Lisa Dahl’s most architecturally ambitious Sedona restaurant, a Latin-inspired fine dining destination perched atop a scenic bluff with panoramic red rock canyon views. Opened in 2015, Mariposa pairs bold Latin American cuisine drawn from Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay with one of the most striking dining rooms in Sedona, featuring 23-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and a sweeping outdoor terrace.
About Mariposa
Mariposa, Spanish for “butterfly”, opened in 2015 as Chef Lisa Dahl’s evolution beyond Italian cuisine. Inspired by extensive travels through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, where Lisa cooked and trained with multiple chefs, the restaurant brings Latin American flavors, wines, and cocktails to Sedona’s red rock country.
The architecture is exceptional and intentional. The property sits atop a scenic bluff surrounded by red rock canyons. Visitors arrive through 13-foot-tall gates flanked by four fire-wok butterfly globes, then onto a terrace that surrounds the main dining room’s 23-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. The expansive grounds include a large lawn and a motor court designed as a massive compass. The butterfly motif throughout symbolizes spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life, themes deeply personal to Chef Dahl.
Mariposa is part of Lisa Dahl’s six-restaurant Sedona family, alongside Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano (1995), Cucina Rustica (2003), Pisa Lisa Woodfired Pizza (2 locations), and Butterfly Burger.
The Cuisine
Lisa Dahl’s approach at Mariposa: “The food must be bold to match the strong forces of Sedona’s landscapes and architecture.” A Latin-inspired menu provides creative latitude, drawing from her South American culinary travels. Dishes feature wood-grilled meats, fresh seafood, ceviches, empanadas, and Latin-influenced preparations using locally sourced organic produce.
The bar program emphasizes Latin wines (notably Argentine Malbecs and Chilean reds) and Latin-inspired cocktails. Lisa Dahl’s 2022 cookbook A Romance With Food: Latin Inspired Cooking captures the culinary inspiration that drives Mariposa’s menu.
Plan Your Visit
Cuisine: Latin-inspired, fine dining (Argentine, Chilean, Uruguayan influences)
Location: Scenic bluff above Sedona with panoramic red rock canyon views
Atmosphere: Architectural showstopper, 23-foot windows, sweeping terrace, butterfly motifs
Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially for sunset seating, book at SevenRooms
Dress code: Smart casual to dressy
Best for: Anniversaries, proposals, sunset dinners, celebration meals
Price range: $$$ (fine dining)
For exact address, current hours, and reservations, please visit Mariposa’s official website or call directly. The restaurant is part of the Dahl Restaurant Group, which welcomes nearly 450,000 guests annually across all five Sedona restaurants and employs close to 300 people.
The View
Mariposa is one of the few Sedona restaurants where the view itself is part of the dining experience. The bluff-top setting with floor-to-ceiling windows and the sweeping terrace deliver the kind of red rock panoramas that visitors travel to Sedona for, best experienced just before sunset, when the rocks turn brilliant red and orange. Aperitivo on the terrace before dinner is a Mariposa tradition worth planning around.
Why Visit Mariposa
Mariposa is the right choice when you want a fine dining experience that captures everything distinctive about Sedona, bold cuisine, architectural drama, and unforgettable red rock views. The Latin-inspired menu sets it apart from other Sedona fine dining options (most of which are Italian or American/Western), giving visitors a different kind of culinary adventure on their trip. For special occasions where atmosphere matters as much as the food, few Sedona restaurants compete.
Looking for other Sedona dining options? Visit our complete guide to Sedona restaurants, featuring locally trusted favorites updated by Sedona’s Best since 1992.