Pizzeria Bianco Might Make the Best Pizza in America
Food critics love Pizzeria Bianco because of its simplicity—the pizzas are all so well crafted, and the ingredients just taste better than other places. Foodies (do we use that word anymore?) love it because the whole vibe just feels special. But people who don’t care about ingredients or the craft of it all sometimes come away feeling underwhelmed. “Pizza’s pizza, amirite?” “No, Jim, it’s not.”
Glai Baan Is the Original Best Thai Place in Phoenix
In a city filled with mediocre Thai food—mostly of the fast-casual variety—we almost aren’t worthy of something as delicious as Glai Baan. The flavors and smells are just out of control, and the cocktails are as unique as they are delicious. The only downside is that getting in can be a chore (make a reservation!) and the parking situation is a little wild. Maybe show up in a Lyft.
Bitter & Twisted Put Phoenix Cocktails on the Map
Do you like cocktails? If so, Bitter & Twisted basically put downtown Phoenix on the cocktail map. It’s got everything—classic drinks, tiki drinks, serious drinks, in-house creations. And there’s a photobooth you’re obligated to get a picture from before you go.
Valentine Might Make the Best Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in Phoenix
Valentine is one of those strange unicorn restaurants that kind of nails it no matter when you show up. The breakfast/brunch is amazing, the pastries are out of this world, and the coffee is delicious. And then you show up for dinner and it’s also amazing, and there’s a whole cocktail situation that might be the best part of it all.
Century Grand / Platform 18 Is a Cocktail Fantasyland
Here, you make a 90-minute reservation to experience cocktail Disneyland, complete with Disney-quality lighting and sound, screens embedded in windows and portholes to make you feel like you’re on a ride of sorts, and a team that dials the bit up to an 11. Some people might call it a gimmick—just nod and be happy you don’t have to fight with them for reservations. Ever since 50 Best listed Platform 18 as one of the best bars in N. America, they’re not easy to come by.
Bacanora Is the Most Exciting Restaurant in the Valley
Bacanora is, without a doubt, the most exciting thing going in Phoenix right now. It’s up for James Beard awards. National mags are saying it’s one of the best restaurants in America. Local mags are saying it’s the best thing since sliced bread. If you like big flavors and meats cooked over fire (think backyard steaks and the best pollo asado), you’re in for a treat.
Call Her Martina Makes the Best Guac in Phoenix
The drinks are solid, the entrees are solid, but the star of the show for me was the Guacamole + Ribeye Chicharron. Just picture it in your mind—perfectly seasoned guacamole with little pops of pomegranate, mixed in with little chunks of smokey ribeye. I can’t believe I’ve never had guac like this before. It just makes so much sense.
Espiritu Is the Most Exciting Thing in Downtown Mesa
If you’re dying to go to Bacanora but can’t get a reservation (or don’t want to drive), just head over to Espiritu in downtown Mesa. The food isn’t exactly the same, but the DNA is all there. Bold flavors, lots of meat (and seafood), cool vibes. And as an added bonus, the cocktails are pretty incredible.
Persepshen Is the Best Version of Gourmet Home Cooking
I don’t know how to say this without it sounding like a backhanded compliment—I promise it’s not. Persepshen feels like what happens when your friend who has good taste and is an amazing cook decides to open a restaurant (the husband-and-wife team behind it both have high-level pro experience, but nothing could train you for this). There’s really nothing like it in the Valley.
JL Patisserie Has the Pastries You Dream About
Most shops, I just nod politely and move on to something with more protein, but at JL I just can’t fight it. The croissants are too good. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside, perfectly airy in the middle, and have that perfect amount of butter to let you know you’re alive.
Ms. White’s Golden Rule Cafe Is the Original Soul Food Champ
The first time I had chicken and waffles was at Lolo’s, back in the early 2000’s. Soul food wasn’t a new concept to me or anything, but this seemed different. It was incredible. At some point I found out that Lolo was the grandson of Ms. White, whose restaurant had been a downtown staple for decades. And that was that. I went, found the perfectly cooked chicken fried steak I was hoping for, and was a forever fan.
Earth Plant Based Cuisine Does Vegan Mexican Right
If you’re looking for vegan food in the Valley, you really only have one good option per neighborhood—this isn’t Portland, LA, or Seattle. Fortunately for those on the western side of downtown, Earth might be the best vegan spot in the city. The menu has a lot of your typical vegan fare—wings, a burger, and alt-milkshakes (the milkshakes here are really pretty amazing)—but the real star of the show is the Mexican food.
Testal Makes Burritos for the Burrito Purist
At Testal, the burrito is a lovely thing, filled with only a few ingredients that are designed to tickle the palette in different ways. If you just eat one, you won’t feel like a disgusting mess at the end, sweating the excessive calories your body doesn’t instantly store as fat. If you eat two though, which is definitely something I do, you certainly will… so maybe don’t be like me.
Bad Jimmy’s Makes Me Believe In Burgers Again
One trip to Bad Jimmy’s opened my eyes to what a burger was meant to be, and how it was meant to be thought about. Burgers needed to simultaneously care a little bit less, and a little bit more. Less pretension, more Maillard reaction. And not just a little smash done by some sad high-school kid—I’m talking a smash that caramelizes those edges, pushing meat far beyond the confines of its bun. Hell yeah.
Killer Whale Sex Club Is Really More of a Cocktail Bar
Killer Whale Sex Club is a really good cocktail bar. It’s irreverent, but it’s also a buttoned-up experience. The drinks are on point, the room itself is nicer than you’d expect, and the whole vibe just feels right. You should probably go.
Barcoa Agaveria Has the Tequila You’re Looking For
You get tequila, you get mezcal, you get bacanora, and you get sotol (which isn’t agave, but still in the ballpark). Upstairs is a casual bar with your margaritas, Palomas, and micheladas, and downstairs is a serious drinking situation with infusions, branded ice, and mood lighting. I think the downstairs spot is more for me, but I appreciate options.
Bar Cena Is the Chillest Scottsdale Bar in Town
If you like Hush Public House but want to trade some of the food stuff for cocktail stuff, Bar Cena is your spot. It’s right next door, is owned by the same people, and has, uh, more cocktails and less food. That’s not to say the food isn’t the same quality though—the Muffuletta Croquettes were on Don Armato’s best bites of 2023 (in Phoenix New Times), and Phoenix Magazine didn’t mention cocktails at all in their review.
All Pierogi Confirms That Dumplings Are the Best Food
Everyone likes pierogis and everyone likes potatoes. Even you. I suppose if you don’t like pierogis you can get other things like kielbasa sausage, goulash, and schnitzel, but realistically these things will come with some pierogis on the side. Don’t fight it. The pierogis always win.
Belly Is Sweaty, Chaotic, and Super Delicious
When talking about Belly, I’ll hear words like “overrated” and “not authentic” from some, then “the most fun” and “so delicious” from others. All I can say is that it’s not for everyone—it has a strong young person vibe—but who it’s for, it’s really for. So don’t listen to anyone about Belly. Just go and see if those steamy shower bubbles ring true.
Anhelo Is Downtown’s Premier White-Tablecloth Experience
Glide in, sit down at a proper white-tablecloth restaurant, and feast on ridiculous things like Beef Wellington and foie gras torchon. The wine list is also supposed to be outstanding, but I’m more of an Anhelo Manhattan kind of guy. Bring three, please.