Here's a look at the best new Phoenix/Scottsdale restaurants, corporate event venues, hotels, conference centers, and private and party rooms to open for events this summer. These new and renovated Phoenix/Scottsdale venues can accommodate groups large or small for private and corporate events, conferences, meetings, weddings, business dinners, teambuilding activities, cocktail parties, and more.
Located at the Yard in Tempe's Farmer Arts District, Culinary Dropout opened in December. The casual venue is geared for fun; staff don't wear uniforms and guests can participate in games like ping-pong, corn hole, and foosball. The entire venue seats 700 guests or holds as many as 1,400 for receptions. For private events, the 4,235-square-foot Showcase Room can be configured for receptions of 400 guests or seated dinners for 200, and the room's blank-canvas style offers planners the opportunity to create a distinct look and feel. The menu features pub-type appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrées, along with a unique antipasti menu. Audiovisual capabilities include four plasma TVs, wireless and handheld microphones, a built-in sound system, and Wi-Fi.
Within easy reach of Tempe, Scottsdale, and Sky Harbor International Airport, Sheraton Mesa Hotel opened in the spring. The resort-style property offers 34,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, which includes 13 meeting rooms, three pools, and three restaurants. The largest room, the Canyon Ballroom, seats 1,400 guests theater-style. The hotel has 121 guest rooms, 51 junior suites, and eight V.I.P. suites.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill opened a branch in Old Town Scottsdale in February. The venue, with 8,500 square feet of interior space and a 1,500-square-foot patio, holds 388 guests for receptions. The private dining room seats 90 or holds 171 for receptions. A gastropub-style menu showcases seasonal and local ingredients in dishes varying from sushi to Scotch eggs. At the bar, several local craft beers are available on tap, along with fresh fruit cocktails and a sizable wine list.
After an extensive renovation, Cibo e Vino reopened in March. The restaurant more than doubled its size from 2,200 square feet to 4,500 square feet. A new patio features brightly colored umbrellas that create an inviting, comfortable atmosphere. A second patio can hold private receptions of 75 guests. The entire venue seats 225 guests. Executive chef and owner John Collura and his kitchen staff dish out modern Italian cuisine like pistachio-crusted sea bass and margherita pizzas, all made fresh on site.
Located in North Phoenix and offering both mountain and city views, the free-standing event venue Chateau Luxe opened in April. The 60,000-square-foot space is divided into a selection of smaller spaces, including the Bellazo Ballroom, which seats 700 or holds 1,000 for receptions; the Tuscano Ballrom, which seats 450 or holds 500 for receptions; and the Chapel/Valentino Ballroom, which seats 200 guests or holds 300 for receptions. The space evokes luxury, with design touches like rich fabrics, terrazzo tile, and custom-designed chandeliers. Audiovisual capabilities include wireless microphones, customizable digital signage, professional lighting, streaming options, and HD TVs. Private greenrooms include amenities like a billiards table, makeup stations, and dressing rooms.
After a six-month, $8 million renovation, Hilton Phoenix Airport relaunched in January with updates to all 259 guest rooms and suites as well as its public areas. The hotel offers 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, along with two courtyards that provide an additional 6,000 square feet. The largest room, the Grand Ballroom, seats 225 guests classroom-style, 480 theater-style, or 312 banquet-style. PSAV is on site to handle audiovisual needs, and catering is provided in house.
Convenient for travelers, Four Points by Sheraton at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport opened in May. The select-service hotel features 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Catering is available from the on-site restaurant and lounge. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi, airport shuttle service, bottled water, and coffee. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool or head to the public Toka Sticks Golf Club, located just steps away.
Centrally located in North Tempe, Hampton Inn & Suites Tempe opened in January. The hotel offers 780 square feet of event space for small meetings and social events. In total, the space seats 50 guests classroom-style or 75 theater-style. The venue offers a projector, a microphone, a built-in sound system, and a 60-inch flat-screen TV for audiovisual needs, as well as free Wi-Fi and parking for guests. The hotel has a free meeting room rental for groups that book 10 nights.
Boasting a coveted corner location in Old Town Scottsdale, the Montauk restaurant completed a renovation in February. The venue recalls the breezy, laid-back vibe of an East Coast beach house, with a Northeast coastal menu that includes items like clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fish tacos. The bar features a large wine selection, but a popular option is a punch bowl cocktail, which serves about 10 people. With 3,400 square feet of indoor space and three outdoor patios totaling 2,000 additional square feet, the venue seats 240 or holds 380 for receptions. Audiovisual capabilities make it easy for planners to set up anything from a DJ or live music to PowerPoint presentations and projections.
Two Brothers Tap House opened in Old Town Scottsdale in January. The upscale neighborhood pub serves farm-to-table fare, complemented by an extensive beer program featuring local, seasonal, artisan, and year-round brews. The space spans more than 10,500 square feet and seats 348 guests (288 inside, 60 on the patio). A 16-seat, audiovisual-equipped private dining room is available for more intimate gatherings. A second-floor brewery, which will hold 200 guests for receptions, is scheduled to open later this summer.
