A food-lovers paradise. We were only in town for a few days... we needed way more time to eat our way through this city. We will be back soon!
⋙ Related: The Perfect Sedona Weekend Guide + Scottsdale Guide
Tips to reading this blog:
Anything highlighted and underlined is a link to somewhere with more information.
There's a "would do next" section in every part. This is to help me for the next time we go and also for YOU to know the extras you can add to your trip!
NOTE: We experienced Sedona during COVID-19, so not everything was open that we would have loved to have eaten and drank at. So, if you are traveling during "the rona" - this is a perfect guide for you!
Where to eat and drink from a foodie mind -
I was overwhelmed with the amount of places to eat and drink at in Scottsdale! They probs have one of the best selections of eats.
⋙ If you are from AZ, can you please explain why bruschetta is served EVERYWHERE? Seriously, DM me and explain what y'alls obsession is. (:
We ordered the Blue Hawaii Bowl, the summer Watermelon Colada, and the Lillikoi Toast.
A perfect breakfast or snack! We were amazed by the colors in their foods. They do an amazing job capturing your eye with their eats. Not to mention they have a fantastic staff and adorable atmosphere. + They have a huge menu of healthy options.
Build it yourself Bloody-fricken-Mary Bar. Can I get a 'hell yeah' from the brunch-crowd? Their menu will leave you scrambling. Just close your eyes and point to something. You can not go wrong here. We ordered the Cannoli Donuts, Cristina's Tamale Cakes (the best), Carnitas Hash, a Mimosa Flight, and a bomb-ass made-to-order Bloody Mary!
We drove over to check-out some antique shops and found this hidden gem.
Hotdogs served in Naan bread. Unusual? Yes. Good? Yes. We ordered some Cauliflower Sweet and Spicy Wings, The Olive hotdog, and a half dozen of their finest donuts.
Diego Pops - do not miss Happy Hour!
Diego Pops is everything I imagined Scottsdale to be. A trendy spot filled with beautiful and eager west-coast youngsters who are down to have a good time. I loved it. They would do really well in Las Vegas. Just saying.
We sat down at the bar with 3 minutes till the end of Happy Hour (sorry bartender), and ordered the guac, salsa, street corn, and Brussels Sprout Nachos. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE NACHOS! After dissolving all that food, and the bartender being shocked we wanted more, we slid in with an order of the Coconut Lemongrass Ceviche (my good lord the flavor in this badboy leaves me drooling), a side of plantains, and four tacos: Grilled Adobo Chicken, Braised Green Chili Chicken, Charred Skirt Steak, and the Al Pastor. No regrets there!
Oh, don't worry. We ordered some delish drinks to wash down all the food we were eating.
They embody Italian gelato by using only the best ingredients and machinery directly imported from Italy. Seriously, the best gelato I've ever had!
I absolutely love gelato, so finding this local gem was the highlight of my trip. All the staff is extremely friendly and eager to explain their process. Their gelato flavors are. extremely unique and hold so much flavor. Plus, how cute is that little cone?
One of the recommended stops on the Scottsdale Wine Trail. It was a fantastic stop after dinner. We loved each of the wines we tried and I am still obsessing over their Pomegranate sorbet. You can continue on your wine-walk adventure by going to Aridus Wine, Carlson Creek, LDV Winery, and Salvatore Vineyards.
Known for their bruschetta, this intimate wine cafe leaves you feeling refreshed and comfortably full. Good for breakfast or dinner! Their menu is really simple - snacks, boards, bruschetta, soup, salad, & panini's. I put my camera down this night and just enjoyed dinner (I couldn't resist taking the two, not-so-good, pictures below though). We ordered the Skewers, Mixed Greens salad, and 4 of the Bruschetta: Brie, Apple, & Fig, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, & Basil, Prosciutto Di Parma, Fig, & Mascarpone, and Burrata, Bacon, Arugula, & Tomato.
Eats and Drinks We Would Do Next:
There is a ton we would love to check-out. Visit my Yelp Collection for AZ to have a closer-look.
Foodie Spots
Timo Wine Bar - The outdoor patio is so adorable. Heard the bruschetta and wine is great here!
Original Chop Shop - a local must-shop for some healthy and delicious eats. Salads and bowls are their main attraction.
Starlite BBQ - Iron Skillet Cornbread and Mesquite Grilled Beef Ribs? Yes, please. They have two sister companies - Ocotillo and Josh.
Hula's Moden Tiki - Good drinks and various taco options right in Old Town. Good simple eats option.
Sip Coffee & Beer Garage - Charlie likes beer, I like Coffee - perfect. Seriously though, heard the coffee is great.
*The Clever Koi - Rumor has it - this is the best ramen people have ever had.
*Restaurant Progress - Someone wrote a. review that said "The food doesn't just speak to you, it screams." This is a bold statement. Every single item on the menu sounds like a burst of flavor. + the restaurant is adorable. Sad we didn't get a chance to try it out.
Ghost Ranch - Far from average, Insta-worthy atmosphere and food. This spot looks like it takes Mexican food to a new lever.
The Mission - A fan favorite amongst locals and visitors. They get busy! Make a reservation if you plan to come on a weekend. This place is causal but nice. You will find many celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
*Taco Madera - This place looks dope. The drinks and atmosphere are what I was and still am dying to go for. The restaurant looks like it should be in Tulum, Mexico.
Little Miss BBQ - known to have the best BBQ in Phoenix. Sometimes there is a long-ass line... that's always a good sign for good grub.
Pizzeria Bianco - Apparently the best pizza....ever sits in this cute. homey environment. Good for take-out or dine-in!
As for Bars: due to all the bars being closed when we went to Scottsdale because of damn "Rona", we did not have a chance to ask locals their favorite spots. If anyone has any good recommendations, please send them over to me! IG - @codimusler. Thanks!
Itinerary - Can't wait for you to live it up!
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Day trippin' or extending your stay? You might want to...
If you are looking to double up you're trip or take a drive, head over to my travel guide on Sedona to see some of the hot spots you can visit.
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