Amara Resort and Spa is Kimpton's newest Sedona property. It has undergone a recent renovation and is nestled in a prime location - within walking distance of uptown Sedona's restaurants and shops, but tucked away from the hustle and bustle with grand views of Camelhead and Snoopy Rock.

Colorful flourishes and Native American accents are design elements at this 100-room boutique hotel.

Amenities include a hosted evening wine hour, complimentary coffee and tea service daily, in-room yoga mats, loaner bikes, the award-winning Amara spa, pet services, a fitness center, and a striking infinity-edge heated saltwater pool overlooking Oak Creek.

We checked into our comfortable room stocked with a warm welcome!

We settled in and then headed to the lobby living room for Amara's complimentary wine hour hosted from 5-6 pm daily.

SaltRock Kitchen at Amara, one of my favorite restaurants in Sedona, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bright and airy dining room features a wall of brightly-hued spoons, and the picturesque patio is anchored by a water feature and fire pit.

Next on my Amara staycation agenda was an interview with SaltRock's Executive Chef Massimo de Francesca and his delicious menu. You can read that article here. (note: Chef Massimo has since moved to Kimpton Seafire Resort, with Chef Logan Stephenson the new executive chef)

After the photo shoot of Chef Massimo's mouthwatering dishes and hearing his descriptions and inspirations, we were eagerly looking forward to the tasting menu he had planned for the four of us. What a fantastic feast! All 13 courses showcased this talented chef's culinary skill and we could see why many are crowd-pleasing signature dishes.

Deviled egg with pasilla-maple syrup, bacon-onion marmalade and grain mustard

Escolar ceviche with pickled onion, chili popcorn, and avocado mousse

Southwest shrimp with lemon grits and smoked poblano-tomatillo sauce

Roasted mini-bell peppers with chipotle aioli, scallion, and sesame

Roasted corn soup with cilantro crème and grilled corn with lime and cotija cheese

Wild mushrooms with smoked pine needles, pine nut gremolata, and Mexican chocolate

Lamb tostadas with smoked goat cheese and tomatillo-apple salsa

Duck confit tacos with eggplant mole, guacamole, and napa cabbage

Achiote chicken with cilantro-jalapeño risotto, piñon sauce, and pomegranate seeds

Swordfish with tomatillo-pineapple puree, mango-black bean salsa, jicama, and lime buttermilk

Dulce de leche pudding with coconut and vanilla rum cream

Chile-chocolate torte with peanut butter and bananas

The next day found us soaking up Sedona beauty on the patio as we lingered over lunch at SaltRock Kitchen after checking out. We also had a chance to chat with Sous Chef Keith Hedges and General Manager Stephanie Bloink-Adams.

SaltRock Kitchen is also home to my favorite cocktail spot in Sedona. Learn more about Ardi Dulaku and his craft cocktails on my interview linked here.

We bid farewell to this beautiful resort with an al fresco lunch of creamy roasted corn soup with red pepper, cilantro crème, and crispy tortilla strips, a juicy green chile cheeseburger with smoked cheddar, and a decadent S’mondae with vanilla ice cream, Mexican chocolate syrup, marshmallows, and graham cookies drizzled with spiced coffee.

It was hard to leave this beautiful spot, but we'll be back!

I was hosted by the Kimpton Amara Resort and our stay was complimentary.

Sedona: Amara Resort and Spa