The Lowdown Verdict
The rooftop patio is the reason to come. The food is honest American brasserie — solid, not spectacular. The brunch menu outperforms dinner. Best used for a casual mid-morning meal in Uptown before or after Tlaquepaque or the vortex sites. Don't book it over Mariposa for a special dinner; do book it for a relaxed weekend brunch with a view.
Location
671 AZ-89A
Sedona, AZ 86336
Uptown Sedona
Hours
Daily 11:30 AM–9 PM
Weekend brunch 10 AM–2 PM
Verify seasonally
Price
$$
Lunch $14–$26
Dinner $22–$38
Reservations
Recommended weekends
Book via OpenTable
5–7 days ahead peak
The Rooftop — What You're Actually Paying For
The Hudson sits on AZ-89A in the middle of Uptown Sedona, which is both its advantage and its limitation. The rooftop patio is elevated above the street-level tourist shops and looks eastward toward the red rock formations — Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the buttes of the Village of Oak Creek area are visible on a clear day. It's a genuinely good view for an Uptown location.
The honest comparison: Mariposa's cliff-edge patio faces directly into the formations from an elevated hillside in West Sedona and is dramatically more immersive. The Hudson's rooftop is a good view from a convenient Uptown location — photogenic, enjoyable, not the area's most dramatic. If you're already in Uptown and want to eat with a view rather than drive west, The Hudson is the play.
The interior dining room is comfortable and well-designed — exposed brick, dark wood, warm lighting — but the rooftop is the reason most visitors come. Request a rooftop table explicitly when booking; it fills before the interior on busy days.
Parking note: Street parking on AZ-89A fills by mid-morning on weekends. Use the Jordan Road parking structure (2 min walk, $2/hr) or ride the Sedona Shuttle to avoid the Uptown parking scramble.
Lunch vs. Dinner vs. Brunch — The Strategy
The Hudson operates differently by meal period, and choosing the right one makes a meaningful difference to your experience. Here is the honest breakdown:
Weekend Brunch (10 AM–2 PM) — Best Option
The strongest menu. Eggs Benedict variations, the avocado toast is genuinely well-constructed, French toast with seasonal fruit compote. The Bloody Mary bar is the best in Uptown Sedona — build-your-own with fresh horseradish, pickled vegetables, and actual flavor. Reserve 5–7 days ahead for weekend brunch; it fills fast. Patio fills before interior on sunny days.
Weekday Lunch (opens 11:30 AM) — Best Value
Open by 11:30 AM. Walk-ins typically seated within 10–15 minutes on weekdays. The lunch menu covers burgers, sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads — solid execution, reasonable prices by Sedona standards. Best window: 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM, before the Uptown tour and shopping crowd hits around 12:30–1:30 PM. Post-noon a 20–30 minute wait is common even on weekdays in season.
Dinner (from 4 PM) — Skip If You Have Options
Dinner is the weakest of the three periods relative to the alternatives available in Sedona. The menu is competent American brasserie — short rib, salmon, chicken preparations — but if you can get a reservation at Mariposa or Dahl & Di Luca, take it. The Hudson dinner works well as a fallback when other reservations aren't available, or for a casual group dinner where the goal is convenience over cuisine.
What The Hudson Is Not
The Hudson is not the right choice if your primary goal is an exceptional dinner. For that, Mariposa is Sedona's answer. It is not a destination restaurant in the way Elote Cafe is — where the food is the entire point and people plan their Sedona trip around it.
What it is: a well-positioned casual-upscale American restaurant with a genuinely enjoyable rooftop patio, a strong brunch program, and easy access from Uptown. For visitors who don't have a dinner reservation elsewhere and are already in Uptown, it's a reliable, comfortable choice with a view that photographs well.
What to Order
Brunch Must-Orders
Build-your-own Bloody Mary
Eggs Benedict (classic or crab cake)
French toast with berry compote
Lunch Standouts
Hudson burger (smash-style, well-seasoned)
Southwest chicken flatbread
Seasonal salad with local greens
Drinks
Bloody Mary (brunch only)
House margarita (solid, not premium)
Local Arizona craft beers on draft
Reservation Strategy by Season
The Hudson's capacity pressure varies significantly by season. Here is what actually works:
Spring & Fall (Mar–May, Sept–Nov) — Peak Pressure
Sedona's busiest tourist periods. Book weekend brunch via OpenTable 7+ days ahead. Rooftop fills by 10:30 AM on Saturdays. Weekday lunch walk-ins are feasible before noon; expect waits after 12:30 PM.
Summer (June–Aug) — Hot But Manageable
The rooftop is exposed — midday summer heat (95–105°F) limits patio appeal. If visiting in summer, aim for the 11:30 AM opening slot before the sun is directly overhead, or go for dinner after 6 PM when it cools. Weekend brunch reservations still recommended but easier to get last-minute.
Winter (Dec–Feb) — Walk-In Friendly
Winter is the easiest season for walk-ins. Sedona's shoulder season means most days have open rooftop tables without advance booking. Rooftop seating has heaters for cooler days. The winter light on the red rocks from the patio is often softer and more photogenic than the harsh summer midday light.
Sedona Tours & Experiences on Viator
Pair brunch at The Hudson with a morning jeep tour or vortex walk. Viator lists Sedona's top operators with verified reviews.
Browse Sedona Experiences on Viator →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Sedona Vortex Circuit Audio Tour
Do the vortex circuit before brunch at The Hudson. GPS-guided, works offline. All 4 vortex sites, then rooftop Bloody Marys.
See Sedona Audio Tours →