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PHOENIX IS HOT./
NO, SERIOUSLY. LIKE, HOTTER THAN HOT. – DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE MERCURY CAN SOAR AS HIGH AS 115 DEGREES. RETAILERS SPRAY WATER MISTERS OUTSIDE STORES TO KEEP SHOPPERS COOL; PETS HAVE TO WEAR SHOES JUST TO SET FOOT ON THE SIDEWALK; AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU NEED OVEN MITTS TO DRIVE YOUR CAR!/
BUT, DESPITE THE INSANE DESERT HEAT, PHOENIX IS ONE INCREDIBLY ATTRACTIVE CITY. – RECENT DECADES HAVE SEEN PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATES FLOCK HERE TO SETTLE, ATTRACTED BY THE YEAR-ROUND SUNSHINE, RAPIDLY MAKING PHOENIX THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN THE US./
ALL OF THOSE ‘TRANSPLANTS’ FROM OTHER STATES, COMBINED WITH THE CITY’S CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MEXICO, AND ITS SIGNIFICANT NATIVE POPULATION, ALL LEND THE PLACE A UNIQUE + INTERESTING CHARACTER, REFLECTED IN THE CITY’S FOOD, ART, CULTURE, + ITS GENERAL VIBE./
THE F1FTY PHOENIX GUIDE AIMS TO UNCOVER 51 OF THE PLACES YOU NEED TO KNOW, NOT JUST IN PHOENIX ITSELF, BUT ALSO IN THE SURROUNDING VALLEY./
TIME TO SADDLE UP!
//
TALIESIN WEST
THE FORMER WINTER HOME + STUDIO OF ARCHITECT, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, IS NESTLED IN THE DESERT FOOTHILLS OF THE McDOWELL MOUNTAINS IN SCOTTSDALE. NOW A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE + NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, THE BUILDING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR TOURS, ALLOWING US ALL TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE ARCHITECT’S MOST PERSONAL CREATIONS. //
@wrighttaliesin //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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FUTURO COFFEE
THE MINIMALIST WHITE WALLS OF THE PALABRA SALON + GALLERY IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX SERVE AS THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR FUTURO COFFEE BAR. INNOVATIVE COFFEE DRINKS ARE SERVED IN HAND-THROWN CERAMICS, WHILE CUSTOMERS CAN LOSE THEMSELVES IN THE LATEST EXHIBITION ON SHOW. //
@futurocoffee //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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BACKYARD TACO
WE FELL FOR THE AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD SERVED UP BY BACKYARD TACO, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN TACOS AL CARBON, QUESADILLAS + TOSTADAS. FOUNDERS RUBEN + MARISELA ORIGINALLY STARTED SELLING THEIR DISHES FROM THEIR BACK YARD, UNTIL THEIR BACK YARD JUST WASN’T BIG ENOUGH ANYMORE, DUE TO THE DEMAND! THE COUPLE NOW SELL THEIR BRAND OF ‘MEXCELLENCE’ FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY – BUT SOMEHOW MANAGE TO RETAIN THAT HOMELY, AUTHENTIC FEEL. //
@backyardtaco //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
PHOENIX GENERAL
ESTABLISHED BY KENNY BARRETT + JOSHUA HAHN, PHX GEN IS A MODERN BOUTIQUE, SHOWCASING HIGH QUALITY, ETHICAL + SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL + INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS + ARTISTS. THEIR “NEW GENERAL STORE” CARRIES A CAREFULLY CURATED SELECTION OF CLOTHING, HOME GOODS + GIFTS, HELPING SHOPPERS TO TAKE A STYLISH PIECE OF THE MODERN DESERT CITY HOME WITH THEM. NOW WITH LOCATIONS UPTOWN + DOWNTOWN! //
@phxgeneral //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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MELINDA'S ALLEY
DIMLY-LIT SPEAKEASY BAR LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE RENAISSANCE PHOENIX DOWNTOWN HOTEL. A CAMOUFLAGED DOOR (AT THE BOTTOM OF A MASSIVE 70-FOOT MURAL OF ‘MELINDA’) LEADS TO THE SPACE, DECORATED WITH VINTAGE COUCHES, MIRRORS + LIGHTS. THE SOLID, EVER-CHANGING, COCKTAIL MENU ENSURES THAT THE ‘ALLEY’ IS NOT STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE. //
@melindasalleyaz //
RECOMMENDED BY:
SHELBY LIVINGSTON //
THE DINERSAUR
SELF-TAUGHT OLIVIA GIRARD ORIGINALLY SET UP HER ONLINE BAKERY IN 2016, OFFERING PLAYFUL, MODERN CREATIONS. THE ENTERPRISE HAS SINCE GROWN TO INCLUDE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE, WITH A SELECTION OF SEASONAL TREATS, FROM PASTRIES, SUCH AS THE ‘CUSTARD CHURROVER’, TO BANANA BREAD, PIES + COOKIES. //
@the.dinersaur //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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MONSOON MARKET
IS THIS THE COOLEST MARKET IN PHOENIX? QUITE POSSIBLY! – OWNERS MICHELA RICCI + KORAL CASILLAS HAVE SUCCEEDED IN CREATING A TRULY UNIQUE STORE IN THE CITY, STOCKING A WIDE ARRAY OF INTERESTING PRODUCTS FROM SMALL, INDEPENDENT BRANDS, INCLUDING SNACKS, NATURAL WINES + EVEN VINTAGE HOMEWARES FROM THE AMAZING ‘ENOUGH TO MELT’. THE SHREWDLY THRIFTED FIXTURES CREATE A TOTALLY ‘INSTAGRAMMABLE’ INTERIOR THAT HAS GAINED A LOYAL FOLLOWING IN THE VALLEY. //
@monsoonmrkt //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
HUSH PUBLIC HOUSE
A SUBURBAN SCOTTSDALE STRIP MALL IS THE UNLIKELY LOCATION OF ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST EXCITING RESTAURANTS, BUT THAT’S ALL PART OF ITS UNDERSTATED CHARM. CHEF DOM RUGGIERO’S UNASSUMING RESTAURANT OFFERS UP A MENU OF SMALL, SEASONALLY CRAFTED PLATES + DECADENT COCKTAILS. THE FREQUENTLY ROTATING MENU, TOGETHER WITH THE CLEAN, HIP DÉCOR, KEEPS DRAWING IN DINERS AGAIN + AGAIN. //
@hushpublichouse //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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GARDEN BAR PHX
THIS INNOVATIVE ‘GARDEN-TO-GLASS’ COCKTAIL BAR IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX FEELS MORE LIKE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME THAN A TRENDY BAR. - PROBABLY BECAUSE IT’S SET IN A QUAINT, CLEVERLY ADAPTED, 1914 BUNGALOW, WITH GUESTS SITTING IN VARIOUS ROOMS, OR THE OUTSIDE (DOG-FRIENDLY) PATIO. INVENTIVE SEASONAL COCKTAILS + GRAZING BOARDS KEEP CUSTOMERS HAPPY. //
@gardenbarphoenix //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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TOASTED MALLOW
A PLACE DEDICATED TO THE HUMBLE MARSHMALLOW? THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL VISION OF OWNER, TRICIA ARCE, WHO, TOGETHER WITH WIFE HAZEL, INVESTED ALL OF THEIR SAVINGS TO OPEN THEIR ONE-OF-A-KIND CAFÉ IN GILBERT, BACK IN 2014. SINCE THEN, THE MALLOWS HAVE GONE VIRAL + THE MENU HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL KINDS OF MALLOW-BASED TREATS, FROM CUPCAKES TO MILKSHAKES. BEYOND AMAZING. //
@toasted.mallow //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
HOLE IN THE ROCK
THIS POPULAR HIKING SPOT IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND + IS ONE OF THE EASIEST HIKES IN THE VALLEY, WITH A BIG REWARD: AFTER A SHORT CLIMB, THE ‘HOLE IN THE ROCK’ OPENS UP BEFORE YOU, REVEALING THE CITY SKYLINE IN THE DISTANCE. EARLY INHABITANTS APPARENTLY USED IT AS A CALENDAR TO MARK THE SUMMER + WINTER SOLSTICE; THESE DAYS, YOU CAN USE IT AS A PLACE TO SIT, RELAX + DRINK IN THE VIEW. //
Papago Park //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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PIZZERIA BIANCO
CHEF CHRIS BIANCO’S ORIGINAL DOWNTOWN PHOENIX LOCATION STILL SERVES UP HIS SIGNATURE PIZZAS + HAS EVEN BECOME SOMEWHAT OF A MECCA FOR PIZZA LOVERS. THE BIANCO FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS HAS EXPANDED FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, TO INCLUDE ANOTHER PIZZERIA, BAKERIES + A MORE FORMAL OFFERING, BUT ONE THING REMAINS TRUE – THE PIZZA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. //
@pizzeriabianco //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
ROOSEVELT ROW
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, ROOSEVELT ROW ARTS DISTRICT IS PACKED WITH VIBRANT STREET ART MURALS, HIP RESTAURANTS, BARS + TOP NIGHTLIFE SPOTS LIKE THE CHURCHILL + CHAM PANG LANES. THE PLACE IS ALWAYS BUZZING ON THE ‘FIRST FRIDAY’ OF THE MONTH, WHEN OPENING HOURS EXTEND INTO THE NIGHT + STREET VENDORS COME OUT IN FORCE. //
rooseveltrow.org //
RECOMMENDED BY:
F1FTY //
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YOUR RECOMMENDATION!
BECOME A PART OF OUR GROWING F1FTY COMMUNITY./ SHARE ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES IN YOUR CITY + HELP US CREATE A TRULY UNIQUE CITY GUIDE! //
#share_your_city
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YOU //
F1FTY PHOENIX // City Guide
This article has been edited with great care. Content was compiled based on facts available at the time of going to press. But cities live and breathe, and information is subject to change, so travellers are advised to check for updates from the respective location before your visit. All of the businesses mentioned in this guide were chosen at the discretion of F1FTY or its contributors. None of the brands or businesses featured paid for mentioning in any way.
All photos featured in this guide are copyright F1FTY, with the exception of: Cover (Credit: Robert Murray on Unsplash); Taliesin West (Credit: Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.; Forms part of the Selects Series in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive; Gift and purchase; Carol M. Highsmith; 2011; (DLC/PP-2011:124)); Futuro Coffee (Credit: Instagram @futurocoffee); Backyard Taco (Credit: Instagram @backyardtaco); Phoenix General (Credit: Instagram @phxgeneral); Monsoon Market (Credit: Copyright Monsoon Market); Hush Public House (Credit: Instagram @hushpublichouse); Toasted Mallow Credit: Instagram @toasted.mallow); Pizzeria Bianco (Credit: Instagram @pizzeriabianco). Some images have been edited.