Here's a closer look at Phoenix/Scottsdale's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Phoenix/Scottsdale venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
L’Auberge de Sedona
Located 90 minutes outside Phoenix, uber-luxury resort L’Auberge de Sedona unveiled a renovation of its Garden Ballroom in May. As many as 150 guests can gather in the exquisite 2,400-square-foot space, which features expansive glass openings, floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings, and a wood-burning fireplace. The adjacent outdoor patio (pictured) is included in rentals of the space, enabling planners to take advantage of alfresco views of the famed Sedona red rocks. Elsewhere on the 11-acre property, guests can enjoy yoga and wellness activities, the L’Apothecary Spa, and the Cress on Oak Creek restaurant.
Photo: Courtesy of L’Auberge de Sedona
Pour Decisions Old Town
March brought the debut of Pour Decisions Old Town, a 9,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor rooftop venue in Old Town Scottsdale. With a casual, welcoming atmosphere and a view of Camelback Mountain, the restaurant offers a menu with elevated bar food favorites like street tacos and flatbread pizzas. For complete buyouts, the venue can accommodate 700 guests cocktail style, with smaller spaces available for more intimate groups. Among several areas, the rooftop bar accommodates as many as 150 for receptions; an interior dining area with a private bar seats 50; and the back patio includes a stage and seating for 125.
Photo: Ryan Cordwell
The Green Woodpecker
In December, The Green Woodpecker beer hall opened in Phoenix's Park Central Mall, in the space formerly occupied by a gift shop of the same name. Along with a full bar and curated rotating selection of world-class beers, the menu includes a small selection of bites, like carved-to-order al pastor tacos, homemade tortilla chips, and fresh salsas. The 5,194-square-foot venue includes several areas for groups, including the 1,902-square-foot indoor area and 1,632-square-foot, 986-square-foot, and 674-square-foot patios.
Photo: Courtesy of The Green Woodpecker
Puttshack Scottsdale
June brought the opening of Puttshack, a high-energy, 25,000-square-foot venue in Scottsdale Quarter. The entertainment complex is home to the world’s first tech-infused mini-golf experience, where the golf balls keep track of every stroke and tally the scores. The interactive course is nostalgia-themed, with holes inspired by classic games like Connect 4 and Pac-Man, and nightclub-style lighting makes the entire space feel swanky and sleek. Full buyouts can accommodate as many as 401 guests, with private spaces available for smaller groups both indoors and outside. On the food menu, guests will find upscale, shareable plates inspired by cuisines around the world.
Photo: Courtesy of Puttshack Scottsdale
The Spot at Arcadia
American Coastal cuisine is on the menu at The Spot at Arcadia, which opened in November 2022. In addition to a robust beverage program, the menu includes dishes like shrimp tacos, lobster rolls, and barbecued brisket. Between the 4,750-square-foot West Patio, the 750-square-foot North Patio, the 2,000-square-foot dining room, and the 500-square-foot ice cream parlor, the restaurant can accommodate as many as 142 total seated guests. The space is prewired for microphones and DJs, features 36 TV screens controlled by one iPad, and boasts games at every table to encourage interaction.
Photo: Courtesy of The Spot at Arcadia
W Scottsdale
For events with exclusive guest lists, the two-bedroom Extreme WOW Suite 701 at W Scottsdale opened in February. Accessed via a private elevator, the midcentury modern suite features a private outdoor balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, a full kitchen, and luxe decor inspired by the local landscape and culture. Spanning 2,932 square feet, the suite can accommodate as many as 32 seated guests. In total, W Scottsdale encompasses 241 rooms and suites. Event spaces elsewhere in the hotel include the 10,000-square-foot WET deck, a 3,500-square-foot indoor ballroom, and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor terrace. Full AV capabilities are available via Encore.
Photo: Courtesy of W Scottsdale
Arboleda
In February, Arboleda opened its doors in North Scottsdale. The menu features traditional Mediterranean dishes with modern twists, made with ingredients sourced from Arizona farmers and purveyors. Diners can enjoy dishes like charred Portuguese octopus, red royal shrimp, and 28-day dry-aged rib-eye. The design of the space follows suit, with a 14-foot-tall olive tree as a centerpiece, along with floor-to-ceiling windows and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The indoor-outdoor restaurant includes rentable spaces like a private dining room that seats 50 and accommodates 80 for cocktail receptions; the North Patio that seats 20 and fits 35 for receptions; and the South Patio, with room for 35 seated guests and 50 for receptions.
Photo: Courtesy of Arboleda
Museum of Illusions Scottsdale
Museum of Illusions Scottsdale opened on the Arizona Boardwalk in March. The 5,800-square-foot interactive museum features more than 60 mind-bending exhibits and installations that dazzle and delight as many as 160 guests for buyouts. While the venue doesn’t offer in-house food and beverage services, the staff can recommend outside caterers as well as DJs and entertainers.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Illusions Scottsdale
