Looking to take a break from the triple digits? We were desperate for an escape from the heat and needed a change of scenery so we decided to head south to the tiny town of Bisbee. The quaint town has charm oozing from every red brick building, happens to be about 25 degrees cooler then Phoenix, is so dog friendly it's almost comical, and, to our surprise, home to more then a few outstanding restaurants.
Once you pull in to the tiny mining town, your first stop should be the Old Bisbee Brewing Company. A micro brewery in the truest sense, the shoebox-sized brewing company has been in business for just over a year but is already pumping out a couple of really great craft brews. We won't lie and say they are all good - a couple still need a little work - but they all have potential. Pull up a stool in the pint-sized tap room and order the sampler flight to find your favorite. We took a liking to the unique and refreshing Mountain Lime Lager and the smooth Double Hopped IPA. Wander out to the back door to their brand new patio and take in the fresh air and cool weather while enjoying the scenery of the picturesque town below.
A little ways down the street at the end of peddler's alley sits the colorful and charming POCO. They too have a lovely patio and often have live bands in late afternoons. But the real draw is the food. It's fresh, seasonal, organic, Mexican and VEGAN! Even if you love a giant piece of charred flesh, POCO might be able to sway you in the vegetarian direction. Be sure to order the insanely good nachos and the "chicken" or "carne asada" burritos are mind-blowing. Save room for dessert - the ladies in the kitchen make a mean vegan cupcake.
If it's morning sustenance that you need, don't miss out on Savory Spot's lush patio and killer biscuits and gravy. The quaint café serves traditional breakfast meals that are so good they put more then half of the breakfast joints in Phoenix to shame and they won't charge you an arm and a leg - the most expensive item on the menu is a $7 burger. The service is beyond friendly and you'll never see the bottom of your coffee cup. The biscuits and gravy are a must, the French toast is simple perfection and the eggs Benedict is fantastic.
On your way out of town, stop at Bisbee's Screaming Banshee Pizza. The repurposed gas station has been named one of Arizona's top 25 restaurants by Arizona Highways. The wood fired pizzas are topped with fresh mozzarella and array of interesting toppings from your basic pepporoni to a savory buffalo wing style pizza. Do not leave without ordering the cheesecake bites! If you don't, you'll probably be regretting it the whole drive back. Trust us on this one -- we're still thinking about them.
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