The Westin Phoenix Downtown Is Right in the Middle of Everything
You kind of know what you’re getting with a Westin hotel—it’s going to be bordering on top-tier luxury, the rooms will be clean and comfortable, and it’s going to be near all the stuff you want. It’s not the Ritz, so don’t expect that level of perfection, but it’s pretty perfect for a downtown Phoenix stay.
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.
The Best Restaurants and Bars in Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is the cultural center of Phoenix—it’s got tall buildings in the core, the Roosevelt district full of indie restaurants and bars along the northern border, and concert venues, arenas, and hotels spread throughout. It’s got James Beard Award winning restaurants, Spirited Award winning cocktail bars, cheap eats, high-end dining, and everything in-between. If you’re looking for the best of the best, you’re in the right spot.
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.
The 23 Best Places to Eat (and Drink) In Scottsdale
Scottsdale just has all the stuff you want when you just want to forget about real life: fancy resorts, fancy shopping, golf courses, hiking trails, spas—all your bases are covered. From a food standpoint, that means big dollars, not only from tourists, but also from the people who can afford to live like that year-round. And big dollars equals fancy. Sometimes fancy schmancy.
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.
Where to Eat (and Drink) For Every Meal in the East Valley
The East Valley, consisting of Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, and Gilbert, is a practically a metro area in itself with nearly a million residents and seemingly never-ending growth. But until recently, it’s been a bit of a dead spot for memorable food, consisting mostly of national chains and third (or fourth) valley locations. Things are improving rapidly though. It's exciting.
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.
Tía Carmen Is the Perfect Scottsdale Resort Restaurant
Tia Carmen is about as pretty as a hotel restaurant can get. Every detail is well thought out—so many textures, so many details, such a nice flow. And if you show up as a vacationer or a staycationer, the vibe is just about perfect. You can casually flow in, flow out, pop to your room for a sec, and head over to the incredible J.W. Marriott pool for a swim.
Shimogamo Is the Best Japanese Spot in the East Valley (Maybe the Whole Valley?)
The East Valley—Gilbert in particular— has plenty of good restaurants, but it’s definitely lacking ones that are nice. Date night nice. Let’s spend a lot of money on your birthday nice. Shimogamo is that. When you go to Shimogamo, you kind of feel like you’re somewhere important. It’s not the fanciest place in town, but it’s very elegant.
Sauvage Wine Bar and Shop Is Like Hanging at Your Coolest Friend’s House
Sauvage is an interesting little place. At its core, it’s a wine bar—specifically, a natural wine bar with perhaps the most interesting wine list in town. Go pick up a bottle one day after work. You’ll love it. But once nighttime hits (or sometimes during morning popups!), it’s really more of a true hangout. A place you can go grab a wine and politely dance to some DJ playing something that’s not your typical club music.
Pyro Is Japanese for the Fancy Steakhouse Crowd
Pyro is what happens when a trendy restaurant group decides to dabble in Japanese food that’ll appeal to people who might not normally spend top dollar at a Japanese restaurant. Like sure, you could spend gobs of money at Shinbay or Shimogamo, but if sushi isn’t really your thing and you’d really prefer American portions of protein (as opposed to 4 oz. A5 Wagyu plates), Pyro is the ticket.
Across the Pond is like Clever Koi, but Sushi
At Across the Pond, the play is sushi standards. There aren’t a lot of gimmicky rolls (but they do exist)—the majority of the menu is super clean sashimi and nigiri, which is a lovely thing. And the cocktail menu is fantastic, which probably isn’t such a shock, as Clever Koi has been shipping out top-tier cocktails since day 1. But really, who calls the Pacific Ocean a pond? The name makes my eye twitch.
First & Last Is a Very Nice Little Restaurant, Seemingly For Nice People
First & Last is billed as a nice restaurant for nice people. Or maybe it’s just nice food for nice people. Either way, it works. The food is broadly Italian—although the place doesn’t necessarily feel culturally Italian—and the vibe is very put together. It’s not “nice” per se, but nice enough to go for a business lunch or a casual date. I think “smart” is the word I’m going for.