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There are so many neighborhoods to explore when visiting Phoenix so when visiting it can be a tough choice to decide what’s best?
Depending on your interest, here are our top neighborhoods to see when visiting the Arizona desert!
Old Town has a little bit for everyone.
This is my favorite neighborhood, that’s why I live here! 😂
If you are looking for amazing restaurants and bars then staying in the center of everything will allow you to walk everywhere.
Lodging
Old Town has great hotels choices; Hotel Valley Ho, The Scott Resort & Spa, and The W Scottsdale are the best choices and right in the middle of all the action!
If you are looking for a more serene area with a relaxed atmosphere, stay closer to Camelback Mountain and check out the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain or The Phoenician. These upscale resorts will blow you away with luxury and are still close enough for a short 8 min to the entertainment district.
Feasts & Festivities
Our favorite dining options in Old Town are;
Beverly on Main for amazing drinks and a surprising amount of vegetarian options
Craft 64 for the best pizza
Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers for a game day burger
Olive and Ivy for a nice dinner
aaaand...
Maple and Ash for a fancy fun brunch, phew.
Old Town is full of bars, so don’t forget to check out the oldest bar in Scottsdale, Rusty Spur Saloon for a REAL cowboy experience 😏🤠
When the tourists are out of town for the holidays, the Coach House is standing room only, filled with locals Thanksgiving Eve. Closer to the 25th, the bars' countless Christmas lights fill all who enter with a warm nostalgic spirit. 🎅🏽🎄🤶🏽
(Best places to party in Scottsdale REEL)
For the dance crowd, meaning US 💃🏽🕺🏽 😁, check out Bottled Blonde. There’s a great day bar, Boondocks Patio & Grill, and for live music and a nice craft cocktail, Kazimierz Wine & Whiskey Bar. 🎺 (check out our REEL)
Old Town is also great for shopping with its many Native American craft and art stores. We recommend Native Art Market because it's Indigenous-owned & operated so the proceeds go directly to local artists.
North Scottsdale is a lot more family friendly and moves at a much slower pace than Old Town to its south.
The Kierland Commons has great shopping and restaurants. One of my favorite spots for dinner is Mamá Por Dios, a fun Mexican restaurant,
… with a pool party in the summer!
The Mission Kierland, Culinary Dropout are great for dinner and Snooze, an A.M. Eatery are reliable go-to’s for recovering with a deliciously filling brunch.
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa or Fairmont Scottsdale Princess are great lodging options in the area and are only 15-20 minutes from the Old Town.
A more intimate experience and the downtown is so vibrant!
This southeast neighborhood is about 20 minutes from Scottsdale. Although it has a much slower vibe, Chandler has some great options for bars and restaurants.
Original ChopShop is a great option for breakfast, opening at 7AM. SanTan Brewing, the largest craft brewery in the state, is also open from brunch all the way through dinner. For some nice Italian food, hit up Crust Simply Italian.
For local lodging, The Copper House AZ or the Crowne Plaza & Resort Phoenix Chandler Golf Resort are the best options.
Food, festivities, and football.
This is where the State Farm Stadium is located, home of the Arizona Cardinals professional football team and hosting the Super Bowl this February 2023!!!
If you're visiting the area to watch a game, the location is very convenient, although not really near the nightlife. Old Town is a 30-minute drive and you’re also about 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix.
Gameday, however, this is where you want to be! There are a lot of really fun places to eat, drink, and shop merrily all within walking distance of the Renaissance, the main lodging option, overlooking the massive structure of the coliseum.
Surrounded by bars and great options for dining, the Stadium adjacent to a giant commercial shopping/ hotel complex, the Westgate Entertainment District.
For shopaholics, there's the Tanger Outlets, and within just a few minutes walk there’s Topgolf and Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar!
Downtown Phoenix - Roosevelt Row
A great option for those who love art and a lively nightlife.
Like Us!!!
This downtown Phoenix area is only 15 minutes from Old Town and offers so many fun options.
AirBnB or VRBO are easy options to rent within the eclectic collection of unique homes in the artistic urban community. For more traditional lodging options, there’s the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown or the Westin Phoenix Downtown, both in the heart of the city.
Am I cool enough to eat here?!
For breakfast be sure to check out the Breakfast Bitch. For late night drinks check out the Killer Whale Sex Club or Sazerac. Dinner at Palma or Jackalope Gastropub for the best truffle burger in town.
There is also a monthly art walk, First Friday Roosevelt Row, a fun night out.
Getting Around
The Phoenix area has so much to offer and luckily almost all of it’s within a 30 minutes drive. Golf courses here are amazing and the hikes are breathtaking. Rent a car so you can explore as much as possible!
I love driving in the desert. Every direction you look is the most beautiful mountain landscape or perfect orange red sunset. It's crazy that you can always just see at least 30 miles in every direction. And the traffic, although busy by local standards, is a relatively breeze compared to the maze of winding, tree-lined roads of the North East.
One last tip, once you’re done with your day’s exploits, try to get to bed early enough so you can fill your next day with even more, Dope Life Adventure.
Our Dope Life Continues...
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