The Westin Phoenix Downtown Is Right in the Middle of Everything

Hotel
Written By Chris Hall

The Westin Phoenix Downtown

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. This one has a great outdoor space with a pool—a fun touch in the middle of the city—and is within walking distance of some of the best restaurants and cocktail bars in town (namely Pizzeria Bianco and Bitter & Twisted… go to both).

Reviews

My time here at the Westin / Downtown Phoenix felt much too short. It was so good as a matter fact, that I was starting to feel like I screwed up with my hotel choices for this trip and that I should’ve booked two nights here instead of one.

If you’re looking for stylish digs in downtown Phoenix, the Westin is it.
- Scott Leazenby, scottleazenby.com

What’s Nearby

Phoenix is a driving town, but that doesn’t mean your vacation should be stuck in traffic. At the Hall of Yum, we’re basing our internal hotel scores on what’s within 1km (roughly .6 miles)—roughly how far the average person is willing to walk for food. Plus, the walk will help you burn off some of those calories.

SKIP TO:

Breakfast / Coffee • Lunch • Dinner • Drinks

Breakfast / Coffee / Carbs

1. Matt’s Big Breakfast - .5 miles

It’s hard to say what the best Matt’s Big Breakfast location is, but this one is the replacement of the original, and is probably the cultural hub. Expect classic breakfast foods done better than anywhere else, like the famous chop and chick—a perfectly cooked pork chop with a runny egg and a side of either home fries or hash browns. They do lunch too, but if you’re coming in from out of town, stick to breakfast.

2. Songbird Coffee & Tea House - .6 miles

Songbird is a pleasant little coffee shop in a funky part of downtown where old houses have been converted to businesses. The coffee is solid—probably not the best in the city, but it’s really good—but the real appeal is the spot. The patio is so lovely, there’s a front porch swing you should probably sit on if no one else is, and the people are so so nice.

Also great…

  • 3a. Cartel Roasting Co. - .3 miles

  • 3b. Dialog - .6 miles

  • 3c. FUTURO - .5 miles

  • 3d. Press Coffee - 700 ft.

Lunch

1a. Arizona Wilderness DTPHX - .6 miles

Am I cheating putting Arizona Wilderness here for lunch? No. Sure, it’s a brewery and could fit nicely into the drinks section, but the food at AZ Wilderness is also top-tier. Most people go for their burgers or tacos, but my play is a basket of duck-fat fries and some confit chicken wings. And I always pair it with the weirdest sounding sour or saison on the menu. No one makes a funky beer like they do.

1b. Bad Jimmy’s - .4 miles

I was always a plump burger guy—something I could order to temp, with a pile of stuff on top to make it interesting. But then I had an A+ smash burger—not at Jimmy’s—and became a convert. There’s just something about the caramelized beef and the simple toppings that make a classic smash a perfect burger. And Bad Jimmy’s makes the best one in town. Don’t skip the other stuff though—they’re specials are sometimes pretty special.

Also great…

  • 3a. Cocina 10 - .2 miles

  • 3b. Cornish Pasty Co. - 700 ft.

  • 3c. Via Della Slice Shop - .4 miles

Dinner

1. Pizzeria Bianco - .5 miles

If you’re heading to Phoenix for a trip, chances are you’ve heard of Pizzeria Bianco. The New York Times says it’s one of the best pizza shops in America, it’s a multi-James Beard Awards winner, and was featured on the first episode of Chef’s Table: Pizza. Chris Bianco is simply a pizza wizard, and you owe it to yourself to go at least once.

2. Pa’la - .3 miles

Pa’la downtown is what would pop out if you asked ChatGPT to create a sophisticated urban date spot. Lots of wine, live jazz on some nights, lots of wood-fired food plated with obvious technique, perfectly dim lighting, and enough fancy touches around to make the night feel special. Just don’t mistake the downtown location for the original—the food their is also yummy, but the vibe is much more casual.

Also great…

  • 3. Pomo - .4 miles

  • 4a. Anhelo - .3 miles

  • 4b. Cibo - .6 miles

Drinks

1. Bitter & Twisted - .3 miles

Cityscape - 1 W Jefferson St

Is Bitter & Twisted the best cocktail bar in Phoenix? Maybe. Does it have the most bonkers menu? Probably. Should you go right after you check in to your room? If it’s open, absolutely. And make sure you sit at the bar if it’s your first time—there’s nothing like getting a visual sample of everything on the menu.

2. Little Rituals - .4 miles

Cityscape - 132 S Central Ave

You might feel a little weird going from your hotel to another hotel’s bar, but you can take solace in the fact that the Westin is much nicer, and it’s all part of the same hotel group. Whatever. Little Rituals is strangely on the 4th floor of the Courtyard by Marriott, but don’t let that fool you. Just about every national list of best hotel bars has it included, and every journalist in town sings its praises. It’s definitely worth your time.

Also great…

  • 3. Barcoa Agaveria - .6 miles

  • 4a. Quartz - .3 miles

  • 4b. Valley Bar - 800 ft.

  • 6a. Coabana - .3 miles

  • 6b. Hanny’s - .2 miles

  • 6c. Melinda’s Alley - 800 ft.

  • 6d. The Whining Pig - .4 miles

  • 10a. Bar Bianco - .6 miles

  • 10b. Central Records - .5 miles

  • 10c. Cobra Arcade Bar - .5 miles

  • 10d. Floor 13 Rooftop Bar - 700 ft.

  • 10e. Lucky’s Indoor Outdoor - .6 miles

  • 10f. Ghost Donkey - .6 miles

  • 10g. Melinda’s Alley - 800 ft.

  • 10h. Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub - 700 ft.

  • 10i. Stardust Pinbar - .4 miles

  • 10j. The Farish House - .6 miles

  • 10k. The Rose Garden - .2 miles

Chris Hall
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