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 spring. 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.
Hotel Valley Ho
Scottsdale’s historic Hotel Valley Ho debuted an $18 million room renovation in February. The 214 guest rooms and suites now feature a more refined look that blends the hotel’s iconic midcentury-modern charm with a softer color palette of blues and pinks inspired by the beauty of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Throughout the property, guests can enjoy the VH Spa, OHasis Pool, ZuZu Restaurant, and more than 33,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Valley Ho
Postino WineCafe Peoria
In January, Postino WineCafe opened a new location at The Park at 83 in Peoria. Located adjacent to the Peoria Sports Complex, aka spring training headquarters for two Major League Baseball teams, the space is adorned with vintage baseball cards, music memorabilia, and other nostalgic decor. The wine and food menus both change seasonally, with more than 30 wines available by the glass and a curated selection of charcuterie boards, bruschetta, and shareable plates. The dining room seats 119, the bar seats 19, and the patio seats 88.
Photo: Upward Projects
Lane Park
The 8,000-square-foot gaming venue Lane Park opened in June in Old Town Scottsdale. In total, the space can accommodate 200 guests, and buyouts are available for 80 or more. With distinct areas for games like bowling, ice curling, and ax-throwing, the trendy, playful space is equipped with microphones, speakers, and multiple TVs meeting planners can use to personalize their messaging. The kitchen churns out a range of food styles, from upscale hors d'oeuvres to traditional Italian fare.
Photo: Courtesy of Lane Park
Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort
In October 2024, Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort revealed updates to its entire Azu/West Pool Complex, including the addition of a patio and a full-service bar that bring the total square footage of this area to 10,000 square feet. The 10,000-square-foot Silverman Terrace also got a makeover, including new landscaping and resurfacing with synthetic grass. The latter is the hotel’s largest meeting area, with space for 1,000 guests for cocktail-style receptions and 500 for seated meals. Guests can stay in one of the property’s 312 one- and two-bedroom suites.
Photo: Courtesy of Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort
Tiki Taka
Tiki Taka opened at Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort in January. The brainchild of restaurateur Richard Blais, the venue serves shared plates that highlight Japanese and Spanish flavors using ingredients local to the American Southwest. Guests can order unique dishes like cold hamachi pizza with pickled daikon, crispy soft-shell crab escabeche, spot prawns a la plancha, and sushi. The restaurant seats 30 inside and 108 on the open-air patio.
Photo: Donna Dotan
Tesota
Tesota set up shop in Uptown Phoenix in May with a menu that draws inspiration from Mediterranean, Asian, and South American cuisine. Dishes are at once fun, flavorful, and refined, with options like stuffed sandwiches, wagyu beet burgers, rotisserie chicken, and yakisoba noodles. Designed to be warm and inviting, the space is filled with thoughtful decor like live greenery, tufted leather booths, and eye-catching artwork. The restaurant seats 150 guests and the patio accommodates 60.
Photo: Courtesy of Tesota
The Mexicano
After a fire last year, January marked the return of The Mexicano with a new look and a new menu. Now adorned with greenery, the eatery exudes an open, airy feel for both indoor and outdoor dining. The reopening also brings exciting additions to the menu, like Mexican pork osso bucco, chorizo-stuffed squash blossoms, and quesadilla tacos.
Photo: Courtesy of The Mexicano
Toro Scottsdale
Toro Scottsdale, a sophisticated restaurant from chef Richard Sandoval, opened at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in September. The destination eatery takes diners on a culinary journey through the flavors of Central and South America, with a beverage menu that highlights South American wines. Inside, guests enjoy their meals seated among leather banquettes, vibrant greenery, and moody lighting, while outside, the Sunset Bar overlooks the resort’s 18-hole golf course. The space can accommodate events for up to 500 guests.
Rendering: Courtesy of Toro Scottsdale
Velvet Taco
November brought the opening of Velvet Taco in Old Town Scottsdale, the brand’s first Arizona outpost. The from-scratch menu reimagines traditional tacos by incorporating global flavors; think Kobe smash burger tacos, spicy chicken tikka tacos, and chicken and waffle tacos. With bright pops of color, eye-catching murals, and natural wood textures, the space exudes a vibe that’s at once chic, fun, and inviting. The bilevel venue spans 3,081 square feet, with seating for 88 guests inside and 20 on the outdoor patio.
Photo: Courtesy of Velvet Taco Inc.
