Here's a look at the best new Phoenix/Scottsdale restaurants, hotels, party rooms, corporate event venues, conference centers, and private rooms to open this summer. These new and renovated Phoenix/Scottsdale venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, meetings, business dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, weddings, and more.
Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale added a new pool area in March. The OHasis Pool includes 1,500 square feet of space around the pool that can hold 80 guests for a banquet or 150 for a reception. The pool has two water features and is surrounded by palm trees.
One of the newest locations of the golf and entertainment concept, TopGolf Riverwalk opened in June in Scottsdale. The 65,000-square-foot space is available for buyout for 1,200 people. For smaller events, it has private rooms such as the 3,000-square-foot Signature Room, which holds 300 guests for receptions. The venue also has a rooftop terrace and perks such as free Wi-Fi and more than 200 HDTVs throughout the site.
Paul Martin’s American Grill—a new concept from the restauranteurs behind Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, and Chevy's—opened this spring in Scottsdale. The 7,700-square-foot restaurant renovated a former J. Alexander restaurant and has 166 seats indoors and 51 seats on a patio. A private dining room seats eight.
Amara Resort & Spa, located in Sedona, wrapped up a renovation in June. The changes touched the 100 guest rooms, common areas, and 136-seat restaurant, which was renamed SaltRock. The Kimpton property has 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space, much of which overlooks Sedona's red rocks.
Located in the Hilton Village in Scottsdale, TapHouse Kitchen, a 3,500-square-foot restaurant, opened in March. Serving modern American cuisine, the eatery has rustic decor including warm woods and brick walls, as well as quirky details such as chandeliers made of wine bottles. The restaurant seats 144 and has a patio that is air-conditioned during the summer.
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort is expanding its outdoor event space. The new Anasazi Courtyard will double in size to 8,000 square feet, holding 800 guests for open-air receptions. The upgrades also include new flooring, lighting, umbrellas, chairs, and landscaping.
The Pressroom, a 14,000-square-foot space formerly known as the Madison Events Center, opened downtown in February. The venue has a new audiovisual system and holds as many as 1,000 people for concerts, performing arts events, and private events. The owners have two adjacent lots that can be used for outdoor events of 4,000 people.
Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale renovated its pool area this spring, adding the Stageline Mobile Stage to accommodate concerts and other events. The area now has professional-grade sound and lighting and holds more than 4,000 concertgoers. The resort also added a day lounge pool, which is a shallow pool that holds 16 lounge chairs. The area has 27 cabanas with flat-screen TVs, furniture, ceiling fans, and refrigerators.
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour opened in the historic Luhrs Building downtown in June. The semi-industrial space has soaring ceilings and concrete columns, with an exhibition-style central bar. It seats 120 at banquettes and high-top tables and holds 140 for receptions.
The Wyndham Garden Phoenix Midtown renovated its restaurant this summer and gave it a new name, the Liberty Kitchen. Now serving upscale comfort food, the restaurant also has its own bar. It adjoins to outdoor space with games such as bag toss, ping-pong, and sand volleyball. The hotel has 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and its ballroom holds 250 for banquets or seats 300 conference-style.
