10 New Phoenix/Scottsdale Venues for 2019 Summer Entertaining and Events

Merkin Vineyards opened a wine bar in Old Town Scottsdale in April. The farm-to-table, vine-to-glass concept serves and pours varietals that can be grown and produced in Arizona, along with beers by Arizona-based craft breweries. The kitchen churns out locally sourced tapas like beet “tartare,” vindaloo-spiced cauliflower, and pork belly with smoked ricotta. Between bar stools and tables, the 1,600-square-foot space seats as many as 75 guests.

Agave del Scottsdale opened in June, offering a new option for upscale Mexican cuisine in the city. The menu includes authentic dishes like queso fundido, octopus ceviche, and chicken enchiladas with mole. From the bar, guests can enjoy an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals, along with wine and fresh-fruit cocktails. In total, the elegant, 2,500-square-foot restaurant holds 260 guests for receptions. For smaller events, the back area of the dining room is ideal for parties of as many as 30 seated guests or 40 for cocktail-style receptions, while the 650-square-foot patio has space for many as 60 seated guests or 80 for receptions.

As of February, the fourth floor of the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown is home to the cocktail lounge Little Rituals. The stylish, modern space features touches like custom globe chandeliers and an Arizona-theme mural, as well as upscale culinary elements like hand-stamped ice, fresh-squeezed juices, and dozens of house-made syrups, tinctures, and foams. A dedicated menu of food-and-drink pairings features innovative dishes like vegan beet carpaccio, carbonara lo mein, and rice pudding infused with seasonal fruit. The 2,145-square-foot venue can hold private and semiprivate events with as many as 80 seated guests.

In March, Fat Ox in Scottsdale added a 600-square-foot semiprivate event space. Situated adjacent to the main dining room, the new Fireplace Room includes its own bar and seats 40 guests or holds 50 for cocktail-style receptions. The room’s decor channels the style of Milan, with blue-suede chairs, glass and wood tables, and a working fireplace. On the menu, guests find rustic Italian fare such as burrata di bufala, hand-crafted garganelli pasta with truffle butter and speck, and barolo-braised short ribs. Spanning 7,000 square feet, the indoor-outdoor restaurant seats 350.

The Maggiore Group opened its fourth Hash Kitchen location in Arcadia in June. Measuring 3,900 square feet, the bright, open restaurant seats 100 guests and features contemporary decor and Instagram-friendly graphic walls. On the menu, guests find a mix of indulgent breakfast and bar options like s’mores French toast, cannoli pancakes, and boozy cereal shooter flights, along with traditional favorites like smoked salmon frittatas and eggs Benedict.

Gilbert welcomed Sandbar Mexican Bar & Grill in March. The menu includes Mexican and Southwestern sports bar fare like carnitas tacos, jalapeño mac and cheese, burritos, and churros. Featuring colorful, Mexican-style decor, the 12,500-square-foot, indoor-outdoor venue seats as many as 750 guests. Patio games, mounted TVs, surfboard-style tables, and mosaic artwork create a relaxed atmosphere.

In April, the Mission in Kierland Commons in North Scottsdale added a retractable wood dividing wall that allows for the creation of a private event room. Located on the 1,000-square-foot mezzanine of the bi-level Latin American restaurant, the space includes a dedicated bar and accommodates 60 seated guests or 80 for cocktail receptions. The sophisticated, Spanish Colonial-style decor features natural wood punctuated by wrought-iron and brassy metallic accents, leather chairs, and a staircase lined with blocks of Himalayan salt. The menu includes options like grilled street corn, Tecate-battered mahi mahi, and chorizo porchetta cooked over pecan and mesquite. In addition to traditional events, planners can arrange for experiences like chef demonstrations and tequila tastings.

In April, Thunderbird Lounge joined the lineup of businesses located in the historic Wagon Wheel Building in Melrose. While the 1,000-square-foot interior seats 44, the venue offers 5,000 square feet of outdoor space that can accommodate as many as 500 guests. The funky neighborhood bar features fun elements from the 1970s and 80s, like vintage lamps, a jukebox, a cigarette machine, and retro video games. Audio and video hookups are available for presentations and music.

VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen, where the menu specializes in Cajun, Creole, and Caribbean cuisine, opened in April. The kitchen at the casual Tempe venue serves crowd-pleasers like shrimp and grits, deep-fried catfish, and pulled pork po’boys. With decor that includes dark wood flooring, a colorful jazz-theme mural, and exposed brick walls, the 5,150-square-foot restaurant can be rented out for parties of as many as 80 seated guests. Outside, a 1,100-square-foot corner patio is adorned with lush trees, black-and-white striped umbrellas, and eye-catching red seating for 60.

Broken Yolk Cafe opened a franchise in Chandler in April. Spanning 4,000 square feet, the bright, welcoming restaurant seats about 200 in the main dining room, 30 at outdoor tables, and 25 in a private event room that features a 65-inch Smart TV. The menu specializes in breakfast favorites like Belgian waffles, stuffed French toast, and huevos rancheros.