Antiquing and Drinking

I get to travel to some really fun places in my “real” job as a travel journalist and, last year, that place was Scottsdale, Arizona. It was at peak temperatures during that time, over 100 degrees, so that added some challenges to my exploring, but the shopping scene was unmatched!

Where to Shop

Antique Trove is a sprawling suburban antique mall with truly the best of everything, including MCM decor, swung vases, vintage records, and countless collectibles.

Cosanti was the gallery, studio, and residence of Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri, known for his futuristic designs and bronze and ceramic wind bells. He studied at Taliesin.

Scottsdale Marketplace in Paradise Valley has both antiques and new gift and home decor items.

Where to Eat

Citizen Public House is one of the best in town, with upscale American cuisine. Popular dishes include pork belly pastrami and yellowfin tuna. The chopped salad was another favorite plus the barrel-aged cocktails.

Craft 64 makes everything fresh in-house, including dough and mozzarella for its pizzas, and has 36 local Arizona craft beers on tap.

Farm and Craft focuses on healthy and sustainable dishes made with farm-fresh ingredients. Breakfast highlights include the breakfast burrito, acai bowl, and avocado toast, paired with coffee and pressed juices.

Hash Kitchen has the state’s largest build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and is the perfect spot to go with the girls. Expect hashes, over-the-top pancakes, and chilaquiles.

The Montauk is buzzy, especially during the themed brunches. There’s often a DJ and plentiful menu options to share with friends like the chips and dip and Mediterranean platter.

Prep and Pastry has all the classics like eggs Benedict and shakshuka, along with smoked salmon hash and chickpea scramble. They also have fresh pastries made daily.

Where to Drink

The Drunk Munk is a classic tiki bar with brightly colored decor and a happy hour menu with discounted snacks and mai tais.

Goldwater Brewing has three locations in the area, all with the company’s wide range of craft beer styles.

LDV Winery offers award-winning wines that are vegan, zero residual sugar, gluten-free, and additive-free.

Rusty Spur Saloon is an old-school bar straight out of the Wild West. It offers cold beer and nightly live music.

Established in 2016, Scapegoat Beer and Wine is a small Scottsdale craft beer and wine bar that prides itself on providing exceptional service.

Wine Girl is a popular wine bar where you can enjoy a wide variety of styles. Merkin Vineyards is another favorite, produced on 110 acres of estate vineyards in the Verde Valley. You can also see the region for yourself by booking a Verde Valley Wine Tasting tour.

Where to Stay

Hotel Valley Hoopened in 1956 and has hosted a wide array of celebrities from Bing Crosby to Zsa Zsa Gabor. The 241-room has motel-style rooms as well as sprawling suites in the tower, as well as two pools, a spa, and an onsite restaurant.

The Scott Resort & Spa in Old Town is full of light with a plant-filled lobby. The 204 rooms are set around the two pools, including a sand-bottom pool popular with families. The full-service spa offers massages and other treatments.

What to See Nearby

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) boasts the best of contemporary art, architecture and design from around the corner and around the globe with rotating exhibits throughout the year.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West is an UNESCO World Heritage Site where the famed architect lived until his death.