The Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria is one of the premier resorts in Phoenix. It boasts a lot of history, fun pool areas, and quality dining options for you to choose from.
In this article, I’ll walk you through all of the different dining options at the Arizona Biltmore. I’ll give you some insight into the menu and prices and also provide you with some suggestions that we really enjoyed.
Table of Contents
Arizona Biltmore Dining overview
You’ll find many dining options at the Arizona Biltmore including:
- McArthur’s
- Renata’s Hearth
- The Wright Bar
- The Spire Bar
- Saguaro Pool
- Paradise Pool
- The Cafe
- In-room Dining
Below, I’ll talk about what each of these has to offer.
Related: Full Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review
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McArthur’s
This restaurant once went by the name of Frank and Albert’s but is now called McArthur’s (named in honor of Albert Chase McArthur, the hotel’s architect).
It’s a restaurant with a cool vibe and is home to a bar along with a pool table, shuffleboard, and foosball table. Large flatscreen TVs also aren’t hard to find.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and during our stay we tried them for both breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast did not disappoint at all.
I would highly, highly recommend you to try out their lemon cream pancakes with blueberry compote. The lemon flavor is subtle and paired nicely with the compote. Warm maple syrup is provided but use it sparingly (or not at all).
Related: Tips for Planning Your Dining When Traveling
It’s an amazing breakfast dish and if you want something savory consider going with a classic like eggs Benedict which also lived up to expectations. It came with a choice of a hash brown slab or seasonal fruit.
Tip: If ordering for two, ask them to split up the pancakes and savory dish so that you can each have your own plate of each dish.
On another morning we tried the breakfast sandwich and the Belgian waffle, which came loaded with freshly cut strawberries, whipped cream, and a drizzling of Nutella.
I felt Day 2 breakfast options were pretty good but not quite as good as what we chose the first day.
Brad also decided to give the loopy milk a try which was essentially a twist on a white Russian but in a gnarly saguaro glass dressed in nothing other than Fruity Pebbles. It hits light with only a hint of vodka balanced out with a bit of creaminess and Fruity Pebble sweetness.
They also offered other cocktails with breakfast including mimosas and bloody Marys.
If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:
- Greek Yogurt & Berries – $17
- Bakery Basket – $18
- Belgian Waffle – $18
- Lemon Cream Cheese Pancakes – $19
- Classic Breakfast – $18
- Biltmore Benedict – $23
- Breakfast Sandwich – $19
- Smoked Salmon & Bagel – $26
- Huevos Rancheros – $24
- Loopy Cereal Milk – $18
You can find the full menu here.
For lunch, we went with the Nashville style chicken sandwich and the fish tacos. Both of these meals were very enjoyable.
The juicy chicken sandwich was fresh with a nice spicy kick and came with crispy, well-seasoned fries. Think of it as a gourmet Popeyes chicken sandwich. Very mouthwatering.
The fish tacos were bursting with flavor and fresh cilantro goodness. They are on the smaller and lighter side so if you have a larger appetite you might want to supplement these with an appetizer or go with something heavier.
After the smashing success of our lunch entrées we decided it would be worth giving desert a try. We definitely made the right decision because the chocolate cookie skillet with ice cream was a major hit. The cookie was perfect: warm with a crisp outside and chewy center. Doesn’t get much better than that.
If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:
Starters
- Spinach Cream Dip – $18
- Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail – $24
- Parmesan Fries – $20
Hot Sandwiches
- Grilled Cheese – $19
- Impossible Burger – $25
- The Big BLT – $21
- Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich – $24
Entrees
- Lobster Mac & Cheese – $38
- Steak Frites – $58
- Ensenada Fish Tacos – $25
You can find the full menu here.
Renata’s Hearth
Renata’s Hearth is an upscale and Old World Latin eatery with a smoky focus.
The first thing you need to know about eating at Renata’s Hearth is that you might want to make reservations.
We showed up around 6:45 PM on a Tuesday evening in non-peak times (during the summer) expecting that we would be able to just walk in and get a table. But there was a small wait.
They do take your number and will text you when your table is ready. It was kind of perfect because it gave us some time to check out other areas of the resort without the fear of missing our name being called.
I could imagine that things pick up a lot during peak season so I would consider making a reservation for dinner. Reservations can also be made for McArthurs.
After making our way past the guacamole and Spanish charcuterie cart, the craft cocktail cart, and the beautiful hanging lanterns, we were seated at a table tucked away at the end of the restaurant.
We started off with the flight of salsa that offered totopos, chicharrones, smoked cashew salsa, salsa verde, Renata’s pico, salsa roja, and San Marzano salsa.
It was the perfect starter at a restaurant like this and I loved the smoky undertones in some of the flavors. The chicharrones also stood out, light and crunchy with a little bit of tang.
We definitely wanted to try out the Los Muertos cocktail which is a margarita served with serrano-infused reposado tequila, activated charcoal, agave, lime juice, black lava salt, and smoke. It came with a lot of smokiness and a heck of a presentation, too.
For our main dishes, we ordered the Chilean Seabass and the Prime New York Strip
The Seabass was fluffy and buttery and did not disappoint. The fish had a near perfect balance of crispiness on top with tenderness on the inside. It was easily one of the best entrées I’ve had at a hotel restaurant in quite a while.
Meanwhile the pre-cut New York strip was paired with salsa verde and perfectly cooked. The steak, finished off with a light sprinkling of flaky salt, just melted in the mouth.
Overall, the dinner items were extremely pleasing and we felt great about our dinner selections.
If you’re curious about prices here is a look at some of the prices:
Starters
- Guacamole – $16
- Spanish Cured Meats & Cheeses – $32
- Homemade Salsa Flight – $19
Entrees
- Steelhead Trout – $34
- Chile Relleno – $26
- Roasted Chilean Seabass – $44
- Prime New York Strip – $58
For The Table
- Mesquite-Smoked Whole Jidori Chicken – $55
- Tomahawk – $120
- Crispy Slow Cooked Pork Belly Roast – $46
You can find the full menu here.
Later on, we decided to order dessert from the restaurant and pick it up instead of ordering from room service. We went with the churros and the chocolate cake.
The churros were warm and tasty, especially with the cream sauce that came along side.
On the other hand, the chocolate cake was pretty underwhelming. It’s one of those “chocolate cakes” that have only the faintest hint of chocolate in them. Not really the best selection for chocolate lovers.
The Wright Bar
The Wright Bar is one of the iconic features of the hotel and just a beautiful bar.
The bar itself is a bit small and so it likely gets very crowded during peak times. But there is lounge seating in the adjacent area in the lobby and also outside so you can probably easily find a place to sit.
The servers in these areas were very attentive so it was not hard to put an order in.
Here’s a look at the extended seating area which is where we decided to hang out for a while.
Since this bar is known for inventing the Tequila Sunrise ordering one from here was a must. These are old school Tequila Sunrises, though. They hit harder and are more straight to the point than more modern iterations.
You can find the full menu here.
Spire Bar
The other main attraction when it comes to drinking and eating venues here is the Spire Bar, located in the center of the resort. You can almost feel yourself getting pulled towards the Spire Bar as you make your way through the hotel premises.
The name is inspired by the 30 foot spire that stands next to the bar and pays tribute to Wright’s legacy via scallop-patterned mosaics. Look at it lit up brilliantly below.
This outdoor bar has a cool vibe with lots of blue mood lighting, water features, cozy fire pits, and plenty of open lounge seating. The bartenders were also very nice and attentive as well.
This would be a great place to catch a game with the large TVs hanging from the center of the bar as if you were in an arena. Good views are offered for everyone.
Brad ordered up a Pink Eldorado cocktail and if you like grapefruit juice this is your drink.
I was feeling a little bit crazy so I ordered up a mocktail called the Tiki Take Away. If you like ginger, it’s the perfect alternative to the more ginger-intense Mule drink and strikes a good balance thanks to the addition of lime juice and cool coconut water.
We were curious as to how good the bar food would be so we decided to order a margarita pizza for dinner from the Spire Bar. It was a tasty pizza on the lighter side with a satisfying crunchy crust. Perfect for folding or rolling up your slice.
You can find the full menu here.
The Saguaro Pool
We didn’t get a chance to try out the food or drinks at the Saguaro Pool but here is the menu that you can choose from.
Related: Arizona Biltmore Pools Review (Crazy Slide!)
Paradise pool
The paradise pool also will offer a selection of food and drink and you can find the menu here.
In-room dining (room service)
Although we did not try the in-room dining, below are the menus with prices.
Final word
It’s honestly kind of rare to have dining at a 4-star hotel meet your expectations at every corner and every meal.
But that’s exactly what happened during our stay at the Arizona Biltmore.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner all delivered on a high level and so did all of the drinks and cocktails.
So if you’re looking for a resort that will deliver a quality dining experience, I doubt you will be let down by the Arizona Biltmore.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
