Here's a look at new Phoenix/Scottsdale eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this spring. The new and renovated Phoenix/Scottsdale venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Clever Koi opened in Gilbert in November. The 3,600-square-foot Asian restaurant can seat 152 guests. The venue offers complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the entire space, and all of the bar seats and bar tables are equipped with USB chargers. Mid-century decor includes black leather booths as well as four-tops that can be combined to create long tables that seat 26 people per row.
Chef Matthew Carter and longtime restaurateurs Mark Drinkwater and Brian Rabb opened Fat Ox Restaurant & Lounge in Scottsdale in November. Guests here enjoy ingredient-driven dishes derived from rural Italy, like hand-pulled cheeses, house-made pastas, and slow-roasted meats. A sommelier oversees the extensive wine list, which includes vintages from around the world. The venue offers 7,000 square foot of flexible space—including 2,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor private dining space—with seating for as many as 350 guests.
Open since November, the Hash Kitchen in North Scottsdale specializes in brunch by day and turns into an event space after 3 p.m. The 4,800-square-foot venue includes a lounge and options for indoor and outdoor seating of as many as 140 guests. The decadent, chef-driven cuisine includes lump crab and sweet potato hash, herb fried chicken, Oreo cookie pancakes, and banana split brioche French toast.
Located in downtown Tempe, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tempe completed the first round of renovations in October. The 128-room hotel includes an 888-square-foot meeting room that can accommodate 60 guests at rounds and features flip charts, a white board, LCD and digital projection, a DVD player, and a podium. In addition to facilities like an outdoor heated pool and 24-hour fitness center, guests can take advantage of complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi access. On-site catering is available for events.
Since January, Old Town Scottsdale has been home to the swanky martini bar Ellure Lounge. The sleek decor includes a live entertainment stage, a main bar, a dance floor, and plush seating. Measuring 5,000 square feet, the space can accommodate 300 guests for cocktails. A 150-person V.I.P. room with its own entrance is available for events.
Residence Inn Phoenix Desert View at Mayo Clinic unveiled a renovation in October. The hotel’s 208 one- and two-bedroom suites were all updated to include modern kitchens, new sofas, refreshing colors, and contemporary decor. Three meeting rooms total 2,400 square feet; meeting Rooms A and B can each seat 60 guests classroom-style, 18 in a U-shaped set-up, or 30 for banquets, and they can be combined for larger groups. The Executive Boardroom seats 10. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and audiovisual equipment is available to rent.
Agritopia, a unique agricultural community in Gilbert, opened Barnone, a marketplace for the craft movement, in February. The space is adorned with wood paneling, iron work, and subway tiles, and it is home to storefronts for 11 local craftspeople varying from winemakers to woodworkers. An adjacent space, Final Assembly, is available for private events. The 750-square-foot space accommodates 50 people cocktail style or 40 in a classroom set-up. The venue includes Apple TV, a large screen with projection, and a small stage. Catering is available from four restaurants located in the Agritopia complex.
Pedal Haus Brewery in downtown Tempe completed a renovation in October. The 14,000-square-foot venue now includes an expanded brewing system, a 500-square-foot private dining/tasting room, a 1,000-square-foot 1970s-inspired lounge, a 1,200-square-foot redesigned beer garden, and a 2,100-square-foot elevated gaming area. The venue accommodates groups of as many as 40 seated guests in the interior dining area, 50 seated guests at the bar, 75 guests cocktail style in the lounge, 250 people in the beer garden, and 25 people in the private dining room. The food menu includes hearty gastropub fare like lobster mac and cheese, green chili bacon burgers, and fish and chips.
As of January, luxury car showroom Lusso Fine Motor Cars in North Scottsdale is available for private events as Lusso Events Scottsdale. Boasting dramatic 28-foot ceilings and exposed rafters, the 26,000-square-foot open-space facility has three spaces for events: a 12,000-square-foot showroom, a 5,000-square-foot showroom, and a 3,000-square-foot V.I.P. area. The space accommodates seated dinners for as many as 550 guests, classroom-style events for 450, or theater-style events or receptions for 1,000 guests.
Ladera Taverna y Cocina opened in Sunnyslope in December. The authentic Mexican menu strays from the usual tacos and quesadillas, focusing on creative, colorful dishes like crispy red snapper and chiles rellenos. Throughout the restaurant, touches such as talavera tiles, rustic chandeliers, and a fireplace create a mission-style hacienda feel. Between the patio and indoor space, the 3,300-square-foot restaurant can accommodate 312 guests for receptions.
