8 restaurants with good views

Combine good food with ideal weather and remarkable views and you’ve got the makings of a memorable meal. And Arizona has all these things. The state could very well have been designed for dining al fresco.

Who wants to stay inside when you can grab a table out on the patio? Enjoy vistas of red rocks or tall mountains or sparkling water or even shiny vintage trailers beneath a big Arizona sky. Treat life like a stylish and comfortable picnic by eating outside at every opportunity.

Here are eight of the best restaurant patios in Arizona, from casual to sophisticated, that serve up a side of the great outdoors with every meal.

More:Here are 3 of the most scenic drives in Arizona and how to do them

Jerome: Haunted Hamburger

Eating at the Haunted Hamburger is a highlight of any Jerome visit. This former boardinghouse clings to the side of the mountain, sneering at gravity. The dining room offers big picture windows but snag a seat outside if possible, either on the covered deck or at the back-side View Bar where big vistas stretch across the entire Verde Valley.

The menu features chicken, fish, ribs and salads but come on — you’re sitting in a place called the Haunted Hamburger. Treat yourself to a generous slab of ground beef cradled on a cushiony bun baked fresh on the premises.

The Haunted Burger is piled high with an unholy combo of bacon, green chiles, grilled onions, guacamole and Swiss and cheddar cheeses. Or stick with the basic cheeseburger and drag it through the well-stocked toppings bar.

Details: 410 Clark St., Jerome. 928-634-0554, https://thehauntedhamburger.com.

More:Head to Jerome for this hauntingly good plate of pasta

Cottonwood: Pizzeria Bocce Patio Bar

This swank pizzeria in Old Town Cottonwood helped define the city’s rising culinary scene, creating a spot that is sophisticated and authentic.

Chef Michelle Jurisin traveled to Italy to become certified by Verace Pizza Napoletana. Pizzas are made the traditional way, using imported Caputo flour to form crusts that are hand-stretched. They’re topped with fresh ingredients and cooked in a wood-burning oven.