Nestled along the banks of Oak Creek in Sedona lies a tucked-away bed and breadkfast aptly named Creekside Inn. Ensconced on two-and-a-half secluded acres, shaded by sycamore, cottonwood, and oak trees, Creekside Inn is just minutes from Sedona’s best hiking trails, shops, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants. Yet, because of its secluded location, it feels like an undiscovered oasis. “It’s a secret garden,” agrees owner Adam Goldberg, while sharing the area’s homestead history. “The facility next door was a dairy barn, and the Inn was the house where the family lived. So, this was one of the original bed-and-breakfasts in Sedona.”
The laid-back yet upscale comfort of this bed-and-breakfast is reflected in the charm of its six suites, all offering guests a private entrance, outdoor seating area, gas or wood fireplace, and amenities such as a mini-fridge and coffeemaker. Each well-appointed suite varies in size and décor. You might want to reserve the romantic Moonstone Suite (pictured above) with its jetted tub and large deck overlooking the creek. We also love the rustic warmth of the Amber Suite with its Western flair, and the chic Onyx Suite with wood-burning fireplace. The two-room Honeymoon Suite even has a sitting room decorated with antique furnishings. “We layer on the amenities to enhance your experience and touch on all the senses of hospitality,” notes Goldberg.
With its prime location, the Inn is the ideal home base for exploring the beauty of this extraordinary destination. Spend the day perusing the art galleries, hiking Sedona’s majestic Red Rocks, and exploring the wineries of the Verde Valley. Or leave your car behind and take advantage of the Inn’s proximity to the city’s finest.
A ten-minute stroll brings you to Tlaquepaque, Sedona’s famed arts and crafts shopping center. Modeled after a traditional Mexican village, meander among cobble-stoned walkways and stone fountains as you explore the art galleries, shops, and restaurants. Quench your thirst with local brews at Oak Creek Brewery and Grill, explore Arizona wines at Vino Zona or cool down with a margarita at El Rincon’s Restaurante Mexicano. To fuel your exploration, grab lunch on the patio at Secret Garden Café, or plan dinner at René for sophisticated European fare. For an even shorter jaunt, a five-minute walk from the Inn will reward you with beautiful red rock views at Molé, one of Sedona’s best Mexican restaurants, or The Hudson, a fun local favorite.
Creekside Inn itself is a foodie destination, offering a made-from-scratch breakfast menu inspired by local farmers markets. Your welcome packet will include the menu options that will be delivered to your private patio. Simply check off your choices and deposit the menus in the mailbox at the main entrance. Each morning, a gentle knock alerts you to coffee and tea service. One delivery might find your caffeine jumpstart accompanied by warm cinnamon sugar-dusted churros, while another brings creamy lemon posset, gilded with blueberries and wedges of pizzelle cookies. A short time later, your entrée arrives, allowing you to indulge in gourmet farm-to-bed dishes such as breakfast tacos or burritos with handmade tortillas, organic eggs, and house salsas. Eggs Benedict on housemade sourdough English muffins or fluffy-crispy yeasted waffles may also fill your belly. In the afternoon, visitors are surprised with sweet treats such as chocolate-covered strawberries or tangy lemon bars with rosemary shortbread crust.
The Inn will also happily fulfill any special requests for lunch and picnics, but for a one-of-a-kind gourmet dining experience, arrange for a Creekside Inn Farm dinner led by executive chef Daren Dawn. These exclusive tasting menus are a seasonally-driven celebration of Arizona flavors, which I first enjoyed this past winter with a sublime five-course fireside repast. More recently, I dined with the A Taste of AZ team for a spectacular summer feast. For our service, Dawn was joined by chefs Brittani Smith (Dawn’s wife and the Inn’s general manager) and Katelyn Thomson, along with pastry chef Clara Adele Baltes.
At dinner, Verde Valley growers were spotlighted, such as Da’ Nede’ Farms in a delicious microgreen salad tossed with grilled nectarines, candied walnuts and lemon-maple dressing. The chefs showcased My Girlfriends Garden in a velvety caramelized corn bisque with Yuma corn, pancetta, and lemon crema. Pasture-raised, grass-fed beef from Tres Hermanas Ranch took center stage in dishes such as a melt-in-your-mouth braised short rib taco with chile d’arbol and a juicy tenderloin accompanied by sweet potato puree, plum wine sauce, and herbaceous sauce verte. The perfect finale was an outstanding dark chocolate-fig custard tart with candied juniper berry crunch, creme fraiche meringue, and fig-port wine sauce followed by a dreamy honey cake with lavender panna cotta and mesquite honey-roasted peaches.
Its bucolic setting also makes Creekside Inn a popular wedding destination, as the entire property can be booked as a private venue. With such a talented kitchen team, the Inn can accommodate any dietary restriction and tailor events to any theme—from chicken tinga tacos and tres leches to tamarind-glazed chicken wings and pad Thai; from French onion soup and red wine-braised short ribs to hummus and falafel. “It’s awesome to have this talented team and their partnership,” says Goldberg. “We really have fun with the menus and people love them.”
Personalized service, mouthwatering cuisine, and an intimate setting all contribute to the Creekside Inn experience and an authentic sense of place. “We want it to feel like your home, but with better food,” laughs Goldberg. The next time you head to Red Rock Country, book a stay at this hidden gem for an unmatched Sedona home-away-from-home.
Creekside Inn Sedona is located at 99 Copper Cliffs Drive, Sedona, Arizona. Phone: 888-257-2050
Written by Christina Barrueta
Photography by Luke Irvin