Anhelo Is Downtown’s Premier White-Tablecloth Experience
I had a friend who lived in the Orpheum Lofts (where Anhelo is now located) in downtown Phoenix for a bit. It was this beautiful, exposed-brick apartment overlooking downtown with a real old-school doorman at the entrance. In my 20+ years of living in Phoenix, it’s still the only place I’ve been to that truly feels like it’s in a big city. It feels important. So when Anhelo moved in, it kind of made sense. Sure, I can’t really imagine parking in downtown and walking any distance with a tie and nice shoes on during our Phoenix summers, but nothing sounds nicer in, say, November. 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.
Where: Downtown / Website: anhelorestaurant.com / Reservations: OpenTable
Reviews
January 11, 2023 / NIKKI BUCHANAN
Phoenix Magazine: Dining Review: Anhelo
Anhelo is exactly what Downtown needs – an elegant haven for grown-ups who crave sophisticated food, great wine and polished service. It’s my new anhelo.
June 20, 2019 / Chris Malloy
Phoenix New Times: Cafe Review: A Freewheeling Young Chef Fills an Old Space in Downtown Phoenix
Though Jacobo has serious neighbors and occupies a serious space, he retains an endearingly casual, playful thread. You can tell this young chef has fun. He is slowly settling in, starting to winnow closer toward his culinary identity, and plating food that can be pretty tasty. If he can hone his menu and tighten a few dishes while retaining what makes him different, his free approach may make him a fixture of the downtown dining scene for years to come.
Awards + Accolades
+1 Yumpoint
2024 Foodists Awards: Exceptional Culinary Experience - Winner
+1 Yumpoint | APRil 27, 2023 / ASONTA BENETTI AND LAUREN TOPOR
Thrillist: The Best Restaurants in Phoenix Right Now
Nestled inside a 1930s art deco building downtown and helmed by chef Ivan Jacobo from the West Valley, Anhelo showcases some of the best local talent. Jacobo grew his successful pop-up into a sleek and modern dining room, where his menus are crafted from fresh and seasonal ingredients. Evergreen entrees like duck with Arizona honey and lavender or his signature beef Wellington are expertly executed.
