Guidebook to Local Eats, Drinks, and Things to Do...
Food, Coffee, Wine, and More!
Some of my local favorites as well as popular, hidden gems!
Family owned business that has been in Arizona for over 15 years. Love their falafel, hummus, and Arabic salad (they also have amazing feta!). *Closest spot for great take-out, right across the street!
Right off the 101 & Broadway, in an little hidden gem strip mall, they are a supermarket and deli dedicated to Mediterranean food. Part little grocery store stocks with everything from cheeses, olives, spices, dates, hummus, and Middle Eastern candies; along with halal meats: lamb, goat, beef and chicken to take home. So good!
9 habitants recommandent
Princess Market Mediterranean Deli and Restaurant
2620 W Broadway RdFamily owned business that has been in Arizona for over 15 years. Love their falafel, hummus, and Arabic salad (they also have amazing feta!). *Closest spot for great take-out, right across the street!
Right off the 101 & Broadway, in an little hidden gem strip mall, they are a supermarket and deli dedicated to Mediterranean food. Part little grocery store stocks with everything from cheeses, olives, spices, dates, hummus, and Middle Eastern candies; along with halal meats: lamb, goat, beef and chicken to take home. So good!
Great spot for woodfired pizza, wine, and a perfect place for a date night in Old Town Scottsdale
11 habitants recommandent
Pizzería Virtu
6952 E Main StGreat spot for woodfired pizza, wine, and a perfect place for a date night in Old Town Scottsdale
Harlow's is an old school, local staple for breakfast in Tempe. Ultra casual, comfort food like biscuits and gravy and regular black coffee.
46 habitants recommandent
Harlow's Cafe
1021 W University DrHarlow's is an old school, local staple for breakfast in Tempe. Ultra casual, comfort food like biscuits and gravy and regular black coffee.
Gertrude's is a beautiful restaurant located right next to the Desert Botanical Garden (with gorgeous views and patio).
17 habitants recommandent
Gertrude's
1201 N Galvin PkwyGertrude's is a beautiful restaurant located right next to the Desert Botanical Garden (with gorgeous views and patio).
Very good food, wine and service, as is the case with most Hillstone owned restaurants I've been to. The atmosphere is great and quality is consistent. The restaurant is a chain but you would never guess that. Only a 20 minute drive from the house (try their house made veggie burger!).
69 habitants recommandent
Houston's
6113 N Scottsdale RdVery good food, wine and service, as is the case with most Hillstone owned restaurants I've been to. The atmosphere is great and quality is consistent. The restaurant is a chain but you would never guess that. Only a 20 minute drive from the house (try their house made veggie burger!).
Board games, hundreds of them! The staff is there to explain the rules, there is a $5 cover. You can order coffee, food and drinks. Great spot to hang out and play some games.
15 habitants recommandent
Snakes & Lattes Tempe
20 W 6th StBoard games, hundreds of them! The staff is there to explain the rules, there is a $5 cover. You can order coffee, food and drinks. Great spot to hang out and play some games.
Perfect Pear is a local spot with a cute patio and good vegetarian options. It's right off of University Drive, very close to Mill Ave/ASU (try their happy hour!)
33 habitants recommandent
Perfect Pear Bistro
603 W University DrPerfect Pear is a local spot with a cute patio and good vegetarian options. It's right off of University Drive, very close to Mill Ave/ASU (try their happy hour!)
Caffe Boa is right off of Mill Avenue, it has an eclectic menu, and great natural wine list...
40 habitants recommandent
Caffe Boa
398 S Mill AveCaffe Boa is right off of Mill Avenue, it has an eclectic menu, and great natural wine list...
Fantastic food and wine. Beautiful design and decor with mellow atmosphere and music. In addition to the more traditional American dishes they also serve excellent sushi.
84 habitants recommandent
Hillstone Restaurant
2650 E Camelback RdFantastic food and wine. Beautiful design and decor with mellow atmosphere and music. In addition to the more traditional American dishes they also serve excellent sushi.
Breakfast Club in Old Town Scottsdale has been around for years. It's always busy and great for people watching. Lots of fun restaurants, dessert, and coffee places as well as art galleries and local wine tastings in this area.
235 habitants recommandent
Breakfast Club
4400 N Scottsdale RdBreakfast Club in Old Town Scottsdale has been around for years. It's always busy and great for people watching. Lots of fun restaurants, dessert, and coffee places as well as art galleries and local wine tastings in this area.
A little bit of a drive from Tempe, but I do like this unassuming Pizza spot in Phoenix. Great food and little bar area.
71 habitants recommandent
The Parlor Pizzeria
1916 E Camelback RdA little bit of a drive from Tempe, but I do like this unassuming Pizza spot in Phoenix. Great food and little bar area.
TDO Originals is a sweet, small wine and pastries/local goodies shop owned by Tracy Dempsey. They have limited hours, but it has such unique locally made gifts and a perfect spot to pick up a dessert and local bottle of wine!
TDOriginals and ODV Wines
TDO Originals is a sweet, small wine and pastries/local goodies shop owned by Tracy Dempsey. They have limited hours, but it has such unique locally made gifts and a perfect spot to pick up a dessert and local bottle of wine!
Wine + Craft Beer
Local shops for buying to go and great cafes, bars, etc...
A casual neighborhood craft beer and wine bar. Great rotating selection of draft beers and wines (right across the street from Sprouts Supermarket and in the same plaza as Xtreme Bean Coffee).Lots of beer and wine to choose from to drink inside or take to go. The draft beer selection changes frequently and there is something for everyone. Good spot to hang out. There is no food but you can bring your own or order delivery. Food trucks are available on some weekends.
Bottleshop 48 - Craft Beer & Fine Wine
3318 S McClintock DrA casual neighborhood craft beer and wine bar. Great rotating selection of draft beers and wines (right across the street from Sprouts Supermarket and in the same plaza as Xtreme Bean Coffee).Lots of beer and wine to choose from to drink inside or take to go. The draft beer selection changes frequently and there is something for everyone. Good spot to hang out. There is no food but you can bring your own or order delivery. Food trucks are available on some weekends.
Very casual. Right off of University, close to Mill Avenue/ASU. Huge selection with an attached bar space next door (liquor store on one side, low key bar next to it... the bartender is super friendly and may or may not be playing Star Wars on a continuous loop;).
8 habitants recommandent
Tops Liquors
403 W University DrVery casual. Right off of University, close to Mill Avenue/ASU. Huge selection with an attached bar space next door (liquor store on one side, low key bar next to it... the bartender is super friendly and may or may not be playing Star Wars on a continuous loop;).
Local brewery and restaurant, great beer and lots of seating indoor and outdoor.
187 habitants recommandent
Four Peaks Brewing Company
1340 E 8th StLocal brewery and restaurant, great beer and lots of seating indoor and outdoor.
Excellent local brewery with good food. I hear they make a great hazy IPA called False Promises.
22 habitants recommandent
Fate Brewing Company
201 E Southern AveExcellent local brewery with good food. I hear they make a great hazy IPA called False Promises.
Wine bar and restaurant with really good wine selection and some beers on tap. Atmospheric and fun. Great deal whenever they do their wine + bruschetta promotion "$25 Bottle of Wine & Bruschetta Board Every Monday & Tuesday after 8PM"
97 habitants recommandent
Postino Annex
615 S College AveWine bar and restaurant with really good wine selection and some beers on tap. Atmospheric and fun. Great deal whenever they do their wine + bruschetta promotion "$25 Bottle of Wine & Bruschetta Board Every Monday & Tuesday after 8PM"
Going downtown Phoenix? If you're a wine lover/wine geek it's a must visit. They also have a cafe and natural wine bar. Tell the owner, Craig, that Misty sent you! :)
7 habitants recommandent
Hidden Track Bottle Shop
111 W Monroe StGoing downtown Phoenix? If you're a wine lover/wine geek it's a must visit. They also have a cafe and natural wine bar. Tell the owner, Craig, that Misty sent you! :)
A hidden gem in downtown Phoenix with live performances and even an arcade game section. The place has a very fun dark and cozy atmosphere with good wine and drinks.
186 habitants recommandent
Valley Bar
130 N Central AveA hidden gem in downtown Phoenix with live performances and even an arcade game section. The place has a very fun dark and cozy atmosphere with good wine and drinks.
Carlson Creek is a family owned/run Arizona winery. They are in Old Town Scottsdale, where you'll find many more local wine tasting rooms! Try them all!
13 habitants recommandent
Carlson Creek
4142 N Marshall WayCarlson Creek is a family owned/run Arizona winery. They are in Old Town Scottsdale, where you'll find many more local wine tasting rooms! Try them all!
Sightseeing/Souvenirs
A beautiful spot to visit Papago Park. Gertrude's restaurant is on the property and has pretty desert views. Also very close to the Phoenix Zoo! Desert Botanical Garden also has a unique, small gift shop.
1231 habitants recommandent
Desert Botanical Garden
A beautiful spot to visit Papago Park. Gertrude's restaurant is on the property and has pretty desert views. Also very close to the Phoenix Zoo! Desert Botanical Garden also has a unique, small gift shop.
Kactus Jock
7229 E Main StNeed Arizona souvenirs/gifts? This is the place. It's in Old Town Scottsdale.
Outdoor/Active
Favorite outdoor spots for walking, running, biking or just enjoying the view. Or, take a yoga class inside with much needed air conditioning in the summer! ;)
Parc Papago
625 N Galvin PkwyGood local spot to hike, bike, or just see.
Right off of Mill Avenue in the heart of Tempe, near ASU! The walking/bike path goes almost all the way around the lake and connects to the “greenbelt”, that stretches several additional miles north. You can also get to Papago Park fairly quickly.
You can rent bikes, paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks and electric boats. Watercraft are available on Tempe Town Lake and Kiwanis Lake. Find shared GRID bikes, electric bikes and scooters throughout the city or rent trail bikes and road bikes from a local bicycle shop.
453 habitants recommandent
Tempe Town Lake
620 N Mill AveRight off of Mill Avenue in the heart of Tempe, near ASU! The walking/bike path goes almost all the way around the lake and connects to the “greenbelt”, that stretches several additional miles north. You can also get to Papago Park fairly quickly.
You can rent bikes, paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks and electric boats. Watercraft are available on Tempe Town Lake and Kiwanis Lake. Find shared GRID bikes, electric bikes and scooters throughout the city or rent trail bikes and road bikes from a local bicycle shop.
Zoo de Phoenix
455 N Galvin PkwyIt's a zoo!
One of the closest golf courses is at Talking Stick Resort, just a short drive up the 101 freeway!
94 habitants recommandent
Talking Stick Golf Club
9998 Talking Stick WayOne of the closest golf courses is at Talking Stick Resort, just a short drive up the 101 freeway!
Golfers! Papago is one of the closest golf courses to the house, here in Tempe, with great views. Very close to the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, and Gertrude's restaurant.
95 habitants recommandent
Papago Golf Course
5595 E Karsten WyGolfers! Papago is one of the closest golf courses to the house, here in Tempe, with great views. Very close to the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, and Gertrude's restaurant.
If you're going to Sedona, Bell rock is such a beautiful spot to park and take a scenic easy walk/hike among the red rocks and vortex energy.
7 habitants recommandent
Bell Rock Trail
Bell Rock TrailIf you're going to Sedona, Bell rock is such a beautiful spot to park and take a scenic easy walk/hike among the red rocks and vortex energy.
"SWIHA" is super close to the house. Check out their online yoga schedule for a drop in class!
6 habitants recommandent
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
1538 E Southern Ave"SWIHA" is super close to the house. Check out their online yoga schedule for a drop in class!
Coffee Shops (and some Tea;)
Cartel off of University/Mill area is a favorite, but they're all uniquely good in their own way!
Great local coffee shop. In addition to coffee, tea and some food selections they have a coffee roasting lab with events and classes.
14 habitants recommandent
Infusion Coffee & Tea
1300 E 8th StGreat local coffee shop. In addition to coffee, tea and some food selections they have a coffee roasting lab with events and classes.
Local favorite coffee spot, great atmosphere with industrial decor and lots of seating inside. An ideal place to put your headphones on and work. They have another location in Scottsdale, which is also great.
158 habitants recommandent
Cartel Coffee Lab
7124 E 5th AveLocal favorite coffee spot, great atmosphere with industrial decor and lots of seating inside. An ideal place to put your headphones on and work. They have another location in Scottsdale, which is also great.
Press Coffee - Nexa
100 E Apache BlvdAnother solid choice for good espresso.
Xtreme Bean Coffee is very close to the house, good local coffee, right next to BottleShop 48, and right across the street from Sprouts grocery store. Very casual, local spot!
22 habitants recommandent
Xtreme Bean Coffee Co
1707 E Southern AveXtreme Bean Coffee is very close to the house, good local coffee, right next to BottleShop 48, and right across the street from Sprouts grocery store. Very casual, local spot!
City/town information
Jerome is funky ghost town! It was once a gold and copper mining town, now a hippie, artsy, cute town with local wineries. Located high atop Cleopatra Hill between Sedona and Prescott, this historic mining town was founded in 1876. When gold was discovered in Jerome, miners, gamblers and bad boys of the old west flocked here. Saloons and bawdy houses were the entertainment after a hard days work. At one time, Jerome was the fourth largest town in the Arizona Territory with a rowdy population that reached over 15,000. Makes for a fun day drive!
476 habitants recommandent
Jerome
Jerome is funky ghost town! It was once a gold and copper mining town, now a hippie, artsy, cute town with local wineries. Located high atop Cleopatra Hill between Sedona and Prescott, this historic mining town was founded in 1876. When gold was discovered in Jerome, miners, gamblers and bad boys of the old west flocked here. Saloons and bawdy houses were the entertainment after a hard days work. At one time, Jerome was the fourth largest town in the Arizona Territory with a rowdy population that reached over 15,000. Makes for a fun day drive!
Sedona is a small town surrounded by giant red rocks and beautiful desert landscape. There are lots of shops, local art and restaurants. You can make the round trip in a single day or stop by on the way to the Grand Canyon.
883 habitants recommandent
Sedona
Sedona is a small town surrounded by giant red rocks and beautiful desert landscape. There are lots of shops, local art and restaurants. You can make the round trip in a single day or stop by on the way to the Grand Canyon.
Old timey mining and ghost town. Take ghost, mining, or jeep tours. Go visit Magic Kenny Bang Bang at the Seance Room!
171 habitants recommandent
Bisbee
Old timey mining and ghost town. Take ghost, mining, or jeep tours. Go visit Magic Kenny Bang Bang at the Seance Room!
Elgin/Sonoita is just an hour south of Tucson. It's a hidden gem of rolling hills, wide open spaces, and southern Arizona wine country. It has some of the best local wine and several casual wine tasting rooms! Worth the long day drive! *Stop at Dos Cabezas for great pizza and wine!
15 habitants recommandent
Elgin
Elgin/Sonoita is just an hour south of Tucson. It's a hidden gem of rolling hills, wide open spaces, and southern Arizona wine country. It has some of the best local wine and several casual wine tasting rooms! Worth the long day drive! *Stop at Dos Cabezas for great pizza and wine!
Arts/Books
Performances, concerts, open mic nights. Located right on the Tempe Town Lake
92 habitants recommandent
Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W Rio Salado PkwyPerformances, concerts, open mic nights. Located right on the Tempe Town Lake
My favorite local bookstore!! Super cute, filled with lots of fun trinkets to buy- great for picking up gifts and unique finds.
34 habitants recommandent
Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 S McClintock DrMy favorite local bookstore!! Super cute, filled with lots of fun trinkets to buy- great for picking up gifts and unique finds.
Gammage is right off of Mill Ave., in Tempe- check their schedule and go see a play!
Fun Fact: "In 1957, ASU past President Grady Gammage had a vision to create a distinct university auditorium on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU). He called on close friend and famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to assist with the project. As luck would have, Wright had a design prepared for an opera house in Baghdad, Iraq that did not come to fruition that he decided to use for this theater."
100 habitants recommandent
ASU Gammage
1200 S Forest AveGammage is right off of Mill Ave., in Tempe- check their schedule and go see a play!
Fun Fact: "In 1957, ASU past President Grady Gammage had a vision to create a distinct university auditorium on the campus of Arizona State University (ASU). He called on close friend and famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to assist with the project. As luck would have, Wright had a design prepared for an opera house in Baghdad, Iraq that did not come to fruition that he decided to use for this theater."