Here's a look at new Phoenix/Scottsdale hotels, conference centers, restaurants, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this summer. 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.
Blending the atmosphere of a rustic farmhouse with nautical design elements, the Herb Box opened its third location in April. The 3,100-square-foot restaurant in midtown Phoenix has a modern, airy feel, with high ceilings, exposed wood beams, chandeliers, and whitewashed walls. Three spaces are available for events: The main dining room seats 90, the patio seats 56, and a private dining area seats eight. An in-house sound system and an HDMI-equipped television are available for events. The menu offers a fresh take on American cuisine, including a number of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan items.
In May, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain added a retreat designed to promote wellness and reflection. The 3,500-square-foot Spa House is sleek and spacious, with a full kitchen, dining room, living room, in-house treatment room, wrap-around patio, and private outdoor pool. The house sleeps eight guests, and four neighboring Terrace Suites add room for eight more. Spa House can hold indoor cocktail receptions for 30 guests or use the lawn for events of as many as 80. A spa concierge is available to arrange experiences such as meditative coloring books or bedtime aromatherapy massages.
James Beard-nominated chef Gio Osso opened Nico Heirloom Kitchen in May in Gilbert. The 3,217-square-foot restaurant can accommodate 130 seated guests, and planners can use two 50-inch televisions for audiovisual presentations. Design touches such as an open kitchen and a patio herb garden create a comfortable yet upscale atmosphere. The cuisine ranges from light fare to a 50-ounce prime tomahawk rib eye, all focusing on Italian family recipes and made with local ingredients.
Nook Kitchen opened its second location in April in downtown Phoenix. Serving American cuisine with Italian influences, the 2,100-square-foot restaurant seats 115 guests in the swanky dining room and 33 on the patio. The venue is attached to the 170-room Hilton Garden Inn, but thoughtful touches like a bar with built-in charging stations and a nine-foot illuminated wine tower make Nook a destination in its own right.
Thirsty Lion, a mini-chain of upscale gastropubs, opened its eighth location in May in Gilbert's SanTan Village. The 7,500-square-foot space includes two patios that can be used for private events; each can seat about 50 people.
With the opening of Sel in April, Scottsdale has a new fine dining destination that focuses on simple, global cuisine. Seasonal artisan cocktails complement elegant dishes. The restaurant includes 1,500 square feet of indoor space and 1,500 square feet of outdoor space, each of which can seat about 50 guests. For events, there is an in-house speaker system, which can be heard both inside and outside.
Celebrated burger chain Shake Shack opened a location in Fashion Square in late February. The casual 3,3000-square-foot eatery features custom architecture, a community-oriented design, and wood reclaimed from a former local tobacco farm. Meeting planners can reserve the dog-friendly 1,500-square-foot patio, which has 53 seats and includes a fire pit and a foosball table.
Holiday Inn Suites Phoenix Airport North opened Burger Theory, a new dining outlet, in March. Patrons can enjoy more than 30 varieties of craft beer alongside a custom burger menu that includes more than 4,000 combinations. Burger Theory seats 100 guests in an open layout. Between the hotel and the restaurant, the venue offers a total of 11,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. A third-party audiovisual team can be brought in as needed.
In April, Aloft Scottsdale opened in Scottsdale's Entertainment District. This hip and casual hotel from Starwood houses 126 guest rooms, all of which include amenities such as keyless entry controlled by smartphones, access to the onsite fitness center, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Meeting planners can reserve the Tactic Room, a 426-square-foot space that can seat 40 people theater style, as well as the 1,300-square-foot W XYZ Bar & Lounge, a trendy onsite outlet with a patio and views of Camelback Mountain.
Old Town Scottsdale welcomed Social Tap American Eatery in April. Measuring 6,000 square feet, Social Tap can seat 250 guests or accommodate 350 cocktail-style. Indoor and covered outdoor seating is available, along with craft beer and spirits and American and Mexican cuisine. Audiovisual equipment includes a microphone, DVD player, AppleTV, music plugins, and 30 television screens.
