Carrie's Guidebook
Food scene
This is our favorite restaurant in all of Phoenix. Laid back with great atmosphere and delicious food. If you go for brunch, I recommend the Richardson’s combo. Rokerij is connected to it, Dick’s Hideaway is right down the street - all 3 have the same menu.
63 locals recommend
Richardson's Cuisine of New Mexico
6335 N 16th StThis is our favorite restaurant in all of Phoenix. Laid back with great atmosphere and delicious food. If you go for brunch, I recommend the Richardson’s combo. Rokerij is connected to it, Dick’s Hideaway is right down the street - all 3 have the same menu.
Best known for their bruschetta boards. Great ambience, beer and wine selection, and on Mondays & Tuesdays after 8pm they run a board and a bottle special. There are a few other locations in the valley.
215 locals recommend
Postino Central
5144 N Central AveBest known for their bruschetta boards. Great ambience, beer and wine selection, and on Mondays & Tuesdays after 8pm they run a board and a bottle special. There are a few other locations in the valley.
Thai food! Small space but they have some outdoor seating, great ambience.
66 locals recommend
Glai Baan
2333 E Osborn RdThai food! Small space but they have some outdoor seating, great ambience.
Wood fired pizza downtown. String lights, cute outdoor seating and the inside was converted from a house.
191 locals recommend
CIBO
603 N 5th AveWood fired pizza downtown. String lights, cute outdoor seating and the inside was converted from a house.
Traditional pasty (somewhat similar to a calzone) with a ton of variety of fillings, this one of my favorite places to take visitors. There are a few other locations in town: Tempe, Mesa & Scottsdale.
209 locals recommend
Cornish Pasty Co
3800 N Goldwater BlvdTraditional pasty (somewhat similar to a calzone) with a ton of variety of fillings, this one of my favorite places to take visitors. There are a few other locations in town: Tempe, Mesa & Scottsdale.
Welcome Diner
929 E Pierce StClassic American diner food fancied up a bit + booze.
Contemporary take on Mexican food. Great cocktails. Fun and lively space.
75 locals recommend
Gallo Blanco
928 E Pierce StContemporary take on Mexican food. Great cocktails. Fun and lively space.
Sakana Sushi & Grill
5061 E Elliot RdSushi & teppanyaki - delicious and affordable.
Shipping containers turned into multiple bars and restaurants. Open air space, usually pretty lively.
70 locals recommend
The Churchill
901 N 1st StShipping containers turned into multiple bars and restaurants. Open air space, usually pretty lively.
Fine dining - everything is delicious, order as much variety as you can!
165 locals recommend
Steak 44
5101 N 44th StFine dining - everything is delicious, order as much variety as you can!
Los Dos Molinos
1044 E Camelback RdThe Main Ingredient Ale House & Cafe
2337 N 7th StTheir green chile stew is my favorite!
Angry Crab Shack
2808 E Indian School RdCasa Corazon Restaurant
2637 N 16th StVecina
3433 N 56th StSightseeing
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N Central AveHeard Museum
2301 N Central AveThis is one of the most difficult trails in Phoenix, but a great view and only 10 minutes or so from the casita.
489 locals recommend
Piestewa Peak
This is one of the most difficult trails in Phoenix, but a great view and only 10 minutes or so from the casita.
I LOVE bringing first time visitors here. It’s a great little scenic walk for a few hours.
1231 locals recommend
Desert Botanical Garden
I LOVE bringing first time visitors here. It’s a great little scenic walk for a few hours.
You can easily spend two days in here, truly fascinating if you’re a music lover.
652 locals recommend
Musical Instrument Museum
4725 E Mayo BlvdYou can easily spend two days in here, truly fascinating if you’re a music lover.
Papago Park
625 N Galvin PkwyStardust Pinbar
401 W Van Buren StPinball with a secret entrance and drinks.
Crescent Ballroom
308 N 2nd AveBar with live music, trivia, food, outdoor seating.
SUP and kayak rentals in Mesa - really friendly staff, you can make it into a great little day trip on the lake.
No Snow Stand Up Paddleboards
3654 N Power RdSUP and kayak rentals in Mesa - really friendly staff, you can make it into a great little day trip on the lake.
Arcade games and booze - walkable to many other bars and restaurants downtown
137 locals recommend
Cobra Arcade Bar
801 N 2nd StArcade games and booze - walkable to many other bars and restaurants downtown
Unique immersive art: makes for great travel photos & cool place to hang when it’s too hot outside
46 locals recommend
Wonderspaces Arizona
7014 E Camelback RdUnique immersive art: makes for great travel photos & cool place to hang when it’s too hot outside
Bars and Tap Rooms
They have an amazing selection of wine and beer, fun atmosphere, very close uber ride! Usually they have a food truck out front at night.
36 locals recommend
The Wandering Tortoise
2417 E Indian School RdThey have an amazing selection of wine and beer, fun atmosphere, very close uber ride! Usually they have a food truck out front at night.
Fun atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, solid menu and full bar.
233 locals recommend
O.H.S.O. Eatery & nano-Brewery
4900 E Indian School RdFun atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, solid menu and full bar.
Food trucks outside on the weekend, live music most nights, amazing selection of beer and wine, staff is super friendly.
The 1227 Taproom
1227 East Northern AvenueFood trucks outside on the weekend, live music most nights, amazing selection of beer and wine, staff is super friendly.
Craft beer focused with full bar. Food is delicious. Usually have sports on the tv unless there is live music. Indoor and outdoor seating. Women owned business.
6 locals recommend
Original Gravity
4700 N 12th StCraft beer focused with full bar. Food is delicious. Usually have sports on the tv unless there is live music. Indoor and outdoor seating. Women owned business.
Dive bar! Owned and operated by a Midwesterner. It’s dark, the drinks are cheap, and the people are fun.
24 locals recommend
Swizzle Inn
5835 N 16th StDive bar! Owned and operated by a Midwesterner. It’s dark, the drinks are cheap, and the people are fun.
Sazerac
821 N 2nd StGreat cocktail lounge. Dimly lit, funky vibe, good music.
Walkable from the casita (two blocks)! Best hazy IPA I’ve ever tasted - cheers!
48 locals recommend
Wren House Brewing Company
2125 N 24th StWalkable from the casita (two blocks)! Best hazy IPA I’ve ever tasted - cheers!
Another local brewery: great beer, great food, great vibe - large outdoor space.
84 locals recommend
Arizona Wilderness DTPHX
201 E Roosevelt StAnother local brewery: great beer, great food, great vibe - large outdoor space.
Great patio with yard games and a pizza oven, 70s decor inside with some arcade games & board games.
15 locals recommend
Thunderbird Lounge
710 W Montecito AveGreat patio with yard games and a pizza oven, 70s decor inside with some arcade games & board games.
Coffee, booze or boozy coffee - really chill place to hang, inside or out.
172 locals recommend
Sip Coffee & Beer
3617 N Goldwater BlvdCoffee, booze or boozy coffee - really chill place to hang, inside or out.
Pemberton PHX
1121 North 2nd StreetCoffee / Breakfast
Froth Coffee Roasters
1447 E McDowell RdDeseo Coffee
2330 E McDowell RdLux Central
4402 N Central AveSip Coffee & Beer
3617 N Goldwater BlvdRichardson's Cuisine of New Mexico
6335 N 16th Stfàme caffe
4700 N Central AveSnooze, an A.M. Eatery
2045 E Camelback RdMatt's Big Breakfast
825 N 1st StLuanas Coffee and Beer
1502 W McDowell RdFunky, hip interior, vintage styling, fun vibe