Hey friend! Looking for some quick tips on where to eat, play, and stay in Scottsdale? Keep reading for a detailed list for all things Scottsdale local.
Scottsdale is quickly becoming a hot-spot for young travelers and bridal parties! There is no question why. The town is filled with trendy eats, resorts, airbnb's, clubs, and bars which are all surrounded by beautiful dessert landscapes. So, if you have a few days to spare, try out this adorable town.
â‹™ Related: The Perfect Sedona Weekend 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 see. So, if you are traveling during "the rona" - this is a perfect guide for you!
Where to Stay in Scottsdale
You're in one of the cutest towns - make sure your "home" for the few days you are there represents all the vibes of Scottsdale!
Use this link & get $35 off your first trip using Airbnb!
Airbnb's are a beautiful way to expose yourself to the local cultures and experiences. Boy, is this place an amazing representation of what LOCAL means. The owner, David, showcases 10 different artist from the area in various parts of this home. He also hooks up artwork to the Alexa's within the home (just like the gif shows)!
Artwork includes: Wall mural by @dadsocks, the couch by Chase Warren Design, an image grouping from James Angel, art in bedrooms by Lily Reeves, Zanereti, Hamster Studios, and Red Tree Studios.
Basically, David thought of everything. Details in the kitchen (there's marg glasses, shot glasses, kitchen-aide blender, a pour over, etc.), a soaking tub and walk-in shower combo, and a helping Guest book filled with locations to eat and drink.
The apartment complex was built in 1958 and modeled after Post-War SoCal "garden apartments". This place is the perfect location for a Scottsdale trip. It is a 15 minute walk to Old Town and a 20 minute drive to Phoenix or Tempe - basically under 30 minutes from anywhere in the city.
Also, David's place is the perfect insta-spot.
You could seriously take pictures for a whole day in this place! Truly adorable.
Check out @davidkmarshall_for the listing.
Where we would also stay:
Airbnb: Use this link and get $35 off of your first trip!
*THE FAMOUS: Girls' Getaway at The Pink Cactus
+ more on my "wish list"
Hotels:
Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows - a concept by Hyatt, Scottsdale
The Scott Resort & Spa - where I want to stay for sure next time!
Pro tip: If you don't stay at a place with a pool, you can purchase a resort pass here.
What to do in Scottsdale
You want to do more in AZ, don't go when it's 116 degrees & Corona-time.
Old Town Scottsdale - The "energetic heart" to Scottsdale
9 walkable neighborhoods filled of art, shops, sports, and history
We walked a majority of the area, and by far my favorite stop in was The Mercantile of Scottsdale! An indoor market that is home to local businesses, creators, and merchants to bring their best products forward. A great solution for a one-stop-shop in the dead of summer. They are also doing DIY classes. While we were there, a letter brushing class was happening! It was fantastic to listen in, but I quickly regretted not checking the schedule before coming in.
Check out:
Downtown Tempe - The downtown hot spot of ASU students! It is filled with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, stores (of all sorts), and a beautiful river walk area at Tempe Beach Park. *most everything was closed during COVID-19
Carefree, AZ - surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert sits this gem with good eats, great history, and an extremely relaxing atmosphere. If you like to golf, you may want to check out one of the 4 courses in the area.
Cave Creek - We drove through this part of town when we were leaving. I wish we would have had more time to explore. It looked interesting, to say the least.
Things we didn't get to, but would love to check out:
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.
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.
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
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.
