Where to eat.

If a friend flew in tomorrow, this is the list we would hand them. In order.

1. 01

   Ocean 44$$$$

   Seafood + steak / Fashion Square

   If someone is visiting and wants one great Scottsdale dinner, this is the answer. Seafood, steak, flawless service.

2. 02

   Maple & Ash$$$$

   Steakhouse / Fashion Square

   Loud, expensive, and a genuinely great time. Order the tomahawk and let them run the table.

3. 03

   Virtu Honest Craft$$$Hidden gem

   Mediterranean / Old Town

   The quiet counter-pick. Tucked in the Bespoke Inn with handmade pasta and a string-lit backyard.

4. 04

   Bourbon Steak$$$$

   Steakhouse / Fairmont Princess

   Michael Mina inside the Princess. The duck-fat fries arrive before you order anything.

5. 05

   Roka Akor$$$$

   Japanese / Scottsdale

   Robata grill and sushi that hold up against anywhere. Sit at the grill counter if you can.

6. 06

   Lon's at the Hermosa Inn$$$$

   New American / Paradise Valley

   The prettiest patio in the Valley, at an adobe inn that feels a hundred miles from town.

7. 07

   Toca Madera$$$$

   Modern Mexican / Old Town

   Theatrical, loud and very Scottsdale. Exactly right when the night is supposed to be a night.

8. 08

   Fat Ox$$$$

   Italian / Scottsdale

   Modern Italian with wood-fired meats and pasta made in house. A safe recommendation that never disappoints.

9. 09

   Andreoli Italian Grocer$$ValueHidden gem

   Italian / North Scottsdale

   A strip-mall Italian grocer that eats like Italy. Porchetta sandwich, then the pistachio cake.

10. 10

    The Mission$$$

    Modern Mexican / Old Town

    Tableside guacamole, a dark romantic room, and the Old Town spot locals still actually go to.

Punches well above what you pay. Take the whole family without thinking about it.

• Andreoli Italian Grocer$$ValueHidden gem

  Italian / North Scottsdale

  A strip-mall Italian grocer that eats like Italy. Porchetta sandwich, then the pistachio cake.

• Doughbird$$Value

  Pizza / Scottsdale

  Pizza and rotisserie chicken, an easy everyone-agrees pick.

• POMO Pizzeria$$Value

  Pizza / Old Town

  Certified Neapolitan pies from an Italian-run kitchen.

• NYC Bagels & Bialys$ValueHidden gem

  Breakfast / Scottsdale

  Actual New York bagels, boiled and baked.

• Berdena's$Value

  Coffee / Old Town

  The Old Town coffee bar locals actually sit down in.

Times and prices move constantly, so treat these as a starting point and confirm before you go.

• The Italian Daughter$$$Hidden gem

  Italian / Scottsdale

  Daily 2:30-5:30pm, Thursdays also 2-6pm: $5 Martini Mondays, $5 Tortellini Tuesdays, half-off wine bottles Wednesdays, $28 Bottle + a Board Thursdays, $10 menu items at the bar (ABC15)

• The Mission$$$

  Modern Mexican / Old Town

  Guac-Tail Hour, daily 3-5pm at the Kierland location only: chips, salsa, guacamole and a bottle of wine for $20, $2 roasted corn gorditas, $5 ahi tuna tostadas, $6 chicken wings, half-off Tecate and frozen margaritas

• Fat Ox$$$$

  Italian / Scottsdale

  Daily 4-6pm: $12 craft cocktails, $9 select wines and sangria, $5-$6 select beer

• ZuZu$$$

  New American / Hotel Valley Ho

  Mon-Thu from 4pm: everything under $10, including featured draft beer, cocktails, house wines by the glass and tapas

• The Americano$$$$

  Italian / North Scottsdale

  Mon-Sat 4-6pm and all day Sunday: $13 specialty cocktails, $10 Spritz selections

• Citizen Public House$$$

  Gastropub / Old Town

  Daily: $12 draft cocktails, $4 rosemary roasted nuts, plus wine and snack specials

• EVO$$$

  Mediterranean / Scottsdale

  Daily 4-6pm: $5 select beers and well spirits, $6 wine or sangria, plus bites like the Margherita pizza

• Tell Your Friends$$$

  Cocktail bar / Scottsdale

  Wed-Sun 5-6pm: $15 specialty cocktails, $12 well highballs, $9 sommelier's choice wines, $5 beers

Announced but not open yet. Dates are the source’s, and they move.

• La La Land2026

  New American / Scottsdale

  One of the marquee names on Scottsdale's 2026 opening slate.

• Sogno Toscano2026

  Italian / Scottsdale

  Tuscan cooking joining the Scottsdale lineup.

• Toca Madera$$$$

  Modern Mexican / Old Town

  Theatrical, loud and very Scottsdale. Exactly right when the night is supposed to be a night.

• Dick's Hideaway$$Hidden gem

  New Mexican / Scottsdale

  A tiny, dark, beloved spot for red and green chile any time of day.

• The Mission$$$

  Modern Mexican / Old Town

  Tableside guacamole, a dark romantic room, and the Old Town spot locals still actually go to.

  Happy hour: Guac-Tail Hour, daily 3-5pm at the Kierland location only: chips, salsa, guacamole and a bottle of wine for $20, $2 roasted corn gorditas, $5 ahi tuna tostadas, $6 chicken wings, half-off Tecate and frozen margaritas

• SumoMaya$$$

  Modern Mexican / North Scottsdale

  Mexican-Asian fusion and a bottomless Sunday brunch.

• La Hacienda$$$$

  Modern Mexican / Fairmont Princess

  Upscale Mexican inside the Princess resort.

Also worth it: Blanco Tacos & Tequila

• Andreoli Italian Grocer$$ValueHidden gem

  Italian / North Scottsdale

  A strip-mall Italian grocer that eats like Italy. Porchetta sandwich, then the pistachio cake.

• The Italian Daughter$$$Hidden gem

  Italian / Scottsdale

  Family-recipe pastas and a room that hums on weekends.

  Happy hour: Daily 2:30-5:30pm, Thursdays also 2-6pm: $5 Martini Mondays, $5 Tortellini Tuesdays, half-off wine bottles Wednesdays, $28 Bottle + a Board Thursdays, $10 menu items at the bar (ABC15)

• Fat Ox$$$$

  Italian / Scottsdale

  Modern Italian with wood-fired meats and pasta made in house. A safe recommendation that never disappoints.

  Happy hour: Daily 4-6pm: $12 craft cocktails, $9 select wines and sangria, $5-$6 select beer

• La Zozzona$$$

  Italian / Old Town

  Italian cooking with Arizona flair.

• North Italia$$$

  Italian / Kierland

  Handmade pasta in a room that never empties.

Also worth it: Lou Malnati's, Doughbird, POMO Pizzeria, The Americano

• Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery$$

  Thai / Scottsdale

  Bangkok street food with real heat.

• Ling & Louie's$$

  Asian / Scottsdale

  Asian plates and sushi with polished service.

• JING$$$$

  Sushi / Kierland

  Globally inspired sushi, premium seafood and prime steaks.

• Toro$$$

  Asian / North Scottsdale

  Pan-Asian cooking done with real polish.

• RA Steak & Sushi$$$

  Sushi / Scottsdale Quarter

  Sushi and steak in the Quarter.

Also worth it: Roka Akor

• Ocean 44$$$$

  Seafood + steak / Fashion Square

  If someone is visiting and wants one great Scottsdale dinner, this is the answer. Seafood, steak, flawless service.

• Dominick's Steakhouse$$$$

  Steakhouse / Scottsdale Quarter

  USDA Prime steaks and a rooftop dining room that feels like a special occasion every time.

• Buck & Rider$$$

  Seafood + American / Scottsdale

  Fresh fish flown in daily, a raw bar worth the trip and a patio that fills fast.

• Mastro's City Hall$$$$

  Steakhouse / Old Town

  The definitive Old Town steakhouse night, live music included.

• J&G Steakhouse$$$$

  Steakhouse / The Phoenician

  Steakhouse classics and global seafood with a view.

Also worth it: Hand Cut Chophouse, Cholla Steakhouse and Lounge, Maple & Ash, Bourbon Steak, Bourbon & Bone, Monarch

• The House Brasserie$$$Hidden gem

  American / Old Town

  American comfort food with European touches in a 1930s home with a tree-shaded patio.

• Atlas Bistro$$$Hidden gem

  New American / Scottsdale

  A 4.7-star BYOB hidden gem, fine dining at real value.

• The Henry$$$

  American / Kierland

  All-day American in a room built for lingering.

• The Greene House$$$

  American / Kierland

  Comfortable American cooking on a great patio.

• Culinary Dropout$$

  American / Kierland

  Big plates, big room, yard games out back.

Also worth it: Hush Public House, Sel, The Canal Club, Hillstone, El Chorro, Lon's at the Hermosa Inn, The Collins, ZuZu, Citizen Public House

• The Peppersauce Cafe$$Hidden gem

  Breakfast / Scottsdale

  The go-to breakfast spot, eggs Benedict especially.

• Snooze, an A.M. Eatery$$

  Breakfast / Scottsdale

  Pancake flights and a line worth joining.

• Eggstasy$$

  Breakfast / Scottsdale

  Breakfast plates without the fuss.

• NYC Bagels & Bialys$ValueHidden gem

  Breakfast / Scottsdale

  Actual New York bagels, boiled and baked.

• The Breakfast Club$$

  Breakfast / Old Town

  Old Town brunch with a patio and a buzz.

• Schmooze$Hidden gem

  Coffee / Scottsdale

  Coffee and bagels in one stop.

• Berdena's$Value

  Coffee / Old Town

  The Old Town coffee bar locals actually sit down in.

• Fourtillfour$$

  Coffee / Old Town

  4.7 stars and 450-plus Cars & Coffee events. A scene as much as a cafe.

• Press Coffee$$

  Coffee / Scottsdale

  Golden Bean winner with eight locations around town.

• Echo Coffee$$Hidden gem

  Coffee / Scottsdale

  Scottsdale's only fully organic cafe.

Also worth it: Cartel Roasting Co.

• Postino Kierland$$

  Wine cafe / Kierland

  Boards and bottles, the north-side outpost.

• Pinnacle Brewing Co$$

  Brewery / Scottsdale

  Family-owned, European-inspired beers and a shaded dog-friendly patio.

• PHX Beer Co$$

  Brewery / North Scottsdale

  Beer and food right on Marguerite Lake, patio views included.

• Fate Brewing$$

  Brewery / Scottsdale

  Award-winning beer with a full kitchen behind it.

• Undertow$$$Hidden gem

  Cocktail bar / Scottsdale

  A below-deck tiki voyage, reservations only.

Also worth it: Tell Your Friends

• Virtu Honest Craft$$$Hidden gem

  Mediterranean / Old Town

  The quiet counter-pick. Tucked in the Bespoke Inn with handmade pasta and a string-lit backyard.

• Zinc Bistro$$$

  French / Kierland

  A Parisian bistro transplanted to the desert.

• True Food Kitchen$$

  Healthy / Scottsdale Quarter

  Seasonal, health-driven cooking that does not taste like a compromise.

• EVO$$$

  Mediterranean / Scottsdale

  Wood-fired Mediterranean with a bright patio.

  Happy hour: Daily 4-6pm: $5 select beers and well spirits, $6 wine or sangria, plus bites like the Margherita pizza

People’s Choice

Scottsdale picks its favorite.

Our top 10 is on the ballot. Vote for your favorite, and if the one you love is missing, write it in below. Enough requests and it makes the list.

1. 1

   Ocean 44

   Seafood + steak

   Vote
2. 2

   Maple & Ash

   Steakhouse

   Vote
3. 3

   Virtu Honest Craft

   Mediterranean

   Vote
4. 4

   Bourbon Steak

   Steakhouse

   Vote
5. 5

   Roka Akor

   Japanese

   Vote
6. 6

   Lon's at the Hermosa Inn

   New American

   Vote
7. 7

   Toca Madera

   Modern Mexican

   Vote
8. 8

   Fat Ox

   Italian

   Vote
9. 9

   Andreoli Italian Grocer

   Italian

   Vote
10. 10

    The Mission

    Modern Mexican

    Vote

No votes yet. Cast the first one.

One vote per person, per city. Change your pick anytime.