City Guides

A Local’s Guide to Phoenix

Hundreds of thousands will be descending upon Phoenix, Arizona this weekend for both the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix and, of course, Super Bowl LVII—as fans take in one of the most evenly matched championship games in recent memory between two powerhouse teams, Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs (not to mention Riri’s half time show). We hit up one of the city’s very own, The Walking Dead star Josh McDermitt, for a local’s guide to the valley of the sun.

The Final Season of The Walking Dead is now streaming on Netflix

WEATHER

“From April to October, you’ll fry your face off. November to March, you’ll fry your face off a little less and maybe need a jacket in the morning.”

LAY OF THE LAND

OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE
“Nightclubs, restaurants, shopping.”

SOUTH SCOTTSDALE
“Where the people who want you to think they’re rich live.”

NORTH SCOTTSDALE
“Where the rich people actually live.”

PARADISE VALLEY
“Where the really rich people live.”

DOWNTOWN
“Killing it more and more.”

ROOSEVELT
“Arts district. Great bars, great restaurants, and boutique shops central.”

PHOENIX
“Old money. Horses, ranch style homes, solid restaurants and bars.”

TEMPE
“Arizona State Univ., Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake, fun college vibes, bars, and great music venues.”

WHERE TO STAY

ARIZONA BILTMORE

“Old Phoenix. Tucked in between Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain. Superb. Great pools. One has a giant slide for the kids.”

Photo Courtesy of Arizona Biltmore

2400 E Missouri Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.955.6600

THE CAMBY

“Basically any professional sports team in town for a game stays here. Bring a sharpie for autographs.”

Photo Courtesy of The Camby

2401 E Camelback Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.468.0700

THE HERMOSA INN

“Boutique. Quiet. Charming. Paradise Valley.”

Photo Courtesy of The Hermosa Inn

5532 N Palo Cristi Rd / Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 / 602.955.8614

ROYAL PALMS RESORT

“Stay where the U.S. Presidents stay when they’re in town. If you’re into that sort of thing.”

Photo Courtesy of Royal Palms Resort

5200 E Camelback Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85018 / 602.283.1234

WHERE TO EAT

BACANORA

“Phenomenal Sonran-style food cooked over a giant Santa Maria. James Beard nominated. Order everything.”

Photo Courtesy of Bacanora

1301 Grand Ave Unit 1 / Phoenix, AZ 85007 / 602.612.4018

GLAI BAAN

“Thai street food. Their dumplings will make you question what you’ve been doing with your life.”

Photo Courtesy of Glai Baan

2333 E Osborn Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.595.5881

VALENTINE

“Delicious food, super cool vibe and secret speakeasy in the back. Brunch, dinner, anything goes.”

Photo Courtesy of Valentine

4130 N 7th Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.612.2961

CAROLINA’S

“I would eat every meal here if I could. And if you don’t buy a dozen tortillas on your way out then you didn’t deserve to come to Phoenix.”

Photo Courtesy of Carolina’s

1202 E Mohave St / Phoenix, AZ 85034 / 602.252.1503

MRS. WHITE’S GOLDEN RULE CAFE

“Soul Food. Old Phoenix. Fried Chicken, Oxtails, Mac… You name it.”

Photo Courtesy of Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe

808 E Jefferson St / Phoenix, AZ 85034 / 602.262.9256

DURANTS

“Old school steakhouse. Walk in through the kitchen like Ray Liotta.”

Photo Courtesy of Duranta

2611 N Central Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.264.5967

WHERE TO DRINK

KILLER WHALE SEX CLUB

“Super cool vibe. Great cocktails. They have a wall of butts (literally Polaroids of people’s butts). You can order the drink “shirt off my back” and you get the bartender’s shirt and a shot or drink. And there’s the name lol.”

Photo Courtesy of Killer Whale Sex Club

922 N 6th St, Phoenix / AZ 85004 / 520.352.7768

ROUGH RIDER

“Enter through the lobby of an office building. Love letter to Teddy Roosevelt in bar form. Incredible cocktails, incredible food.”

Photo Courtesy of Rough Rider

1001 N Central Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.675.0439

HANNY’S

“End the night here with some late night pizza, but save a little room for a few more kick-ass cocktails. Creepy doll museum downstairs, wtf.”

Photo Courtesy of Hanny’s

40 N 1st St / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.252.2285

THUNDERBIRD LOUNGE

“Divey bar with old 80s arcade games.”

Photo Courtesy of Thunderbird Lounge

710 W Montecito Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.283.4621

WHERE TO BRUNCH

EL CHORRO LODGE

“Old Phoenix. Sit on the patio. Sticky Buns. They set those down when you sit down and they’re dangerous. It’s just across the street from Camelback Mountain. Hike in the morning, then pop over for brunch and feel better about the buns.”

Photo Courtesy of El Chorro Lodge

5550 E Lincoln Dr / Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 /480.948.5170

THE OCOTILLO RESTAURANT AND BAR

“Big outdoor space. Also has a bitchin’ night vibe.”

Photo Courtesy of Ocotillo

3243 N 3rd St / Phoenix, AZ 85012 / 602.687.9080

LA GRANDE ORANGE

“Arcadia neighborhood. Anything on the menu. Then buy some trinkets in the market or a bottle of wine from the shop.”

Photo Courtesy of La Grande Orange

4410 N 40th St / Phoenix, AZ 85018 / 602.840.7777

WHERE TO HIKE

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

“The standard for hiking in Phoenix. Make sure you’re hydrated or they’ll have to rescue you with a helicopter like they did with me. Twice!”

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS

“Look for the Lost Dutchman Mine and the hidden gold. Just kidding, don’t. It doesn’t exist… or does it?”

TOM’S THUMB

“North Scottsdale, up by Four Seasons Resort. Different feel from other hikes.”

WHERE TO DAY TRIP

WEST FORK TRAIL, SEDONA

“Sedona. 90 mins away. Get into some spiritual vortex shit and bask in the red rock.”

W Fork Trail / Sedona, AZ 86336 

DOS CABEZAS WINEWORKS

“Sonoita, Near Tucson. Arizona has some amazing vineyards and their wines are winning awards around the world. If you can’t make it to Sonoita, you can visit their tasting room, Garage-East in Gilbert.”

Photo Courtesy of Dose Cabezas Wineworks

3248 AZ-82 / Sonoita, AZ 85637 / 520.455.5141

WITH THE KIDS

ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER

“This place will turn you into a lover of science.”

Photo Courtesy of Arizona Science Center

600 E Washington St / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.716.2000

HYATT SCOTTSDALE RESORT AT GAINEY RANCH

“HUGE pool, like a water park.”

Photo Courtesy of Hyatt Scottsdale

7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd / Scottsdale, AZ 85258 / 480.444.1234

SPRING TRAINING

“Hotdogs and sunburns.”

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

“Take the kids on a bike ride through the Papagos up to the Garden.”

1201 N Galvin Pkwy / Phoenix, AZ 85008 / 480.941.1225

WHERE TO GOLF

“Throw a dart at a map and go play where it lands. Seriously. Golf Mecca.”

THE GOLF CLUB AT DOVE MOUNTAIN

“Marana, AZ. I shot over 200 here lol.”

6501 W Boulder Bridge Pass / Marana, AZ 85658 / 520.572.3500

TPC SCOTTSDALE STADIUM

“Play where the WM Phoenix Open is, but without the crazy crowds at the 16th hole.”

17020 N Hayden Rd / Scottsdale, AZ 85255 / 480.585.4334

THE BOULDERS CLUB

“North or South. Carefree, AZ. Awesome rocks to bounce your balls off of.”

34631 N Tom Darlington Dr / Carefree, AZ 85377 / 480.488.9028

CAMELBACK GOLF CLUB

“Scottsdale. Beautiful views of the mountains in Phoenix.”

7847 N Mockingbird Ln / Scottsdale, AZ 85253 / 480.596.7050

WHERE TO GO FOR MUSIC

THE VAN BUREN

“Saw The War on Drugs here twice. Rufus du Sol before they exploded. Bob Moses. Standing room only but intimate.”

Photo Courtesy of The Van Buren

401 W Van Buren St / Phoenix, AZ 85003 / 480.659.1641

CHARS LIVE

“Been sneaking in here to listen to the blues since I was a teenager.”

Photo Courtesy of Chars Live

4631 N 7th Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.607.5568

COPPER BLUES

“Catch a comedy show and then filter out into the bar afterwards for live music and drinks.”

Photo Courtesy of Copper Blues

50 W Jefferson St / Phoenix, AZ 85003 / 480.719.5005

AND FINALLY

“Hydrate! Seriously. Hydrate. It sneaks up on you. Heat Exhaustion is no joke and I’ve had it more times than I like to admit.”

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