Here's a look at the best new and renovated venues in Phoenix/Scottsdale such as corporate event venues, party rooms, conference centers, restaurants with private rooms, unique venues, and more. These event and meeting spaces can accommodate groups large or small for winter entertaining including holiday parties, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, and private and corporate events.
This fall the Royal Palms Resort and Spa renovated its restaurant, T. Cook's, and added a new bar concept, the Mix Up Bar. The interiors from Bar Napkin Productions took inspiration from the colors of the desert and added boldly colored chairs, iron chandeliers, and rustic wooden tables. A private dining room at T. Cook's seats 12. The bar also has a space for small events, the Study, which seats 10. To accompany the redesign, new executive chef Paul McCabe developed a fresh menu.
The Chicago Cubs are opening an $84 million spring training facility in Mesa set to open by the end of the year. Built on the site of the the old Riverview Golf Course, the complex will include a 15,000-seat stadium with six suites, six restroom and concession areas around the concourse, and a 65,000-square-foot clubhouse and training center. Several areas are being built for groups including a left field rooftop party area, party decks along third base and first base, a right field party tent, and a kids area. Other features include a 120-person theater in the clubhouse, a picnic area, and a site for food trucks. Design touches include a cantilever roof, and light towers recall Chicago's Wrigley Field.
The JW Marriott Desert Ridge debuted a dining concept in September, Stonegrill, which replaced the former Blue Sage restaurant. Among the menu items are baked cage-free poached eggs with short rib; achiote grilled tofu and corn lettuce wraps; and applewood-smoked chicken. Stonegrill seats 225 in the restaurant and another 125 on its patio overlooking the resort’s Sage Court lawn.
Also new to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is Twenty6 Lounge, which also opened in September. The airy lounge features charcuterie, flatbreads and a gelato bar. The space has a modern Southwestern design with weathered woods, exposed brick, and sandstone. It seats 162 and overlooks a 100-seat patio that is studded with fire pits. A trellis has a built-in cooling system in warmer weather.
Vig Fillmore opened its third location in September. Featuring the historic William Edward Cavness House's brick interior and 100-year-old wood flooring, the 2,000-square-foot tavern is a combination of old and new. Guests can enjoy their meal by the outdoor fireplace, or play a friendly game in the Vig's boccie ball court. Buyouts are available.
The Gladly, opened this September, is a contemporary American restaurant in Anchor Centre in the Biltmore neighborhood. The space offers several spaces for events, including a patio that seats 55 or holds 65 for receptions, a semiprivate dinning room for 25, and a large private dinning room that seats 56 or holds 75 for receptions; full buyouts are available.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale recently changed 30 of its 210 rooms into "green rooms," offering earth-friendly features such as bulk amenity dispensers in the bathroom (with the same L’Occitane products as standard rooms), LED lighting, canvas linen and laundry bags, and other items. The Sonoran Desert property has 35,920 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
Wine Warehouse opened in North Scottsdale in September, combining the functions of a retail store, social club, wine bar, and warehouse. Guests can browse the wall-to-wall selection of wine and beer and enjoy their drinks at the tasting bar, at indoor table seating, or in the large patio. Buyouts of the 3,300-square-foot venue are available.
Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Phoenix recently opened Repose Salon & Spa. The second-floor space has 15 stylist stations, four treatment rooms for massages, two spa pedicure chairs, and two manicure tables. Guests can relax in a private lounge before and after treatments. The sleek space has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that overlook downtown Phoenix.
Popular food truck Pizza People opened a permanent location on Central Avenue in September. The 2,900-square-foot pub accommodates 100 guests inside and 40 outside. There is a lounge area with community tables for large groups, a bar for sports fans, and a private room. The pub serves the truck's signature pizzas as well as pub fare and an extensive drinks menu.
