The Lowdown Verdict
The elevated patio is the reason to come. The food is honest American comfort fare — solid, not spectacular. The brunch menu outperforms dinner. Best used for a casual mid-morning meal on the Gallery Row / AZ-179 corridor 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-179, Ste D
Sedona, AZ 86336
Hillside Sedona / Gallery Row
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 Patio — What You're Actually Paying For
The Hudson sits in the Hillside Sedona shopping center on AZ-179 — the Gallery Row corridor between the "Y" junction and Tlaquepaque — which is both its advantage and its limitation. The patio is perched on the hillside above the shopping center and looks out toward the red rock formations visible from that stretch of AZ-179. It's a genuinely good view for a shopping-center 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 patio is a good view from a convenient Gallery Row location — photogenic, enjoyable, not the area's most dramatic. If you're already browsing the AZ-179 galleries and want to eat with a view rather than drive across town, The Hudson is the play.
The interior dining room is comfortable and well-designed — exposed brick, dark wood, warm lighting — but the patio is the reason most visitors come. Request a patio table explicitly when booking; it fills before the interior on busy days.
Parking note: Hillside Sedona has its own on-site lot shared with the shopping center's shops and galleries. It can fill on busy weekend afternoons — arrive a little early rather than counting on immediate parking.
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 build-your-own Bloody Mary bar is a genuine draw — 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 Gallery Row 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 comfort fare — 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 elevated patio, a strong brunch program, and easy access from the Gallery Row / AZ-179 corridor. For visitors who don't have a dinner reservation elsewhere and are already browsing that part of town, 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. The patio 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 patio is exposed — midday summer heat (95–105°F) limits outdoor 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 patio tables without advance booking. Patio 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 patio Bloody Marys.
See Sedona Audio Tours →