BREAKFAST CLUB • ORANGE TABLE • SCRATCH PASTRIES After a hard night's partying at the clubs, Scottsdale's young and pretty refuel on pancakes and coffee at The Breakfast Club, while the bohemian crowd indulges in killer corned beef hash at The Orange Table, next door to the Scottsdale Center for the Arts. Another favorite is Scratch Pastries, for perfect quiches, mouthwatering croissants, and fancy French tea. Breakfast Club: 4400 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-222-2582, thebreakfastclub.us • Orange Table: 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall, 480-424-6819 • Scratch Pastries: 7620 E. Indian School Rd., 480-947-0057, scratchpastries.com
STINGRAY • KYOTO • RA To the serious raw fish enthusiast, be forewarned: The Scottsdale scene is as much about sake bombers as it is about sushi. But retro-futuristic Stingray dishes up ultra-fresh nigiri almost in spite of its beautiful-people appeal. Kyoto is a time-honored institution among the downtown set, and Ra is constantly bustling with locals and visitors alike. Stingray: 4302 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-941-4660, stingraysushi.com • Kyoto: 7170 E. Stetson Dr., 480-990-9374 • Ra: 3815 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-990-9256, rasushi.com
KAZIMIERZ • FINE'S CELLAR With more than 3,200 wines to choose from (yep, you read that number right), Kazimierz World Wine Bar is wine geek heaven. Its discreet rear entrance off Stetson Drive gives it a speakeasy vibe, perfect for a rendezvous. A couple blocks away, Fine's Cellar is both wine destination (proprietor Michael Fine is one of the Valley's best-known connoisseurs) and bistro, with contemporary American cuisine from chef Cullen Campbell. Kazimierz: 7137 E. Stetson Dr., 480-946-3004, kazbar.net • Fine's Cellar: 7051 E. Fifth Ave., 480-994-3463, finescellar.com
EDDIE'S HOUSE • TAGGIA • OLIVE & IVY We're not sure if it's our balmy weather or relaxed attitude, but Mediterranean cuisine seems to be a perfect fit for Arizona. At Eddie's House, chef Eddie Matney mixes Middle Eastern flavors with American comfort food, while Taggia chef Andrea Volpi is all about coastal Italian cooking. And upscale Mediterranean gets a stylish dose of California casual at leisurely Olive & Ivy. Eddie's House: 7042 E. Indian School Rd., 480-946-1622, eddieshouseaz.com • Taggia: 4925 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-424-6095, taggiascottsdale.com • Olive & Ivy: 7135 E. Camelback Rd., 480-751-2200, foxrc.com
CAFÉ ZUZU • TRADER VIC'S • ASIA DE CUBA • SUSHI ROKU Most hotel eateries serve a captive audience, but the restaurants at Scottsdale's trendiest lodgings aren't just for touristy types. The Hotel Valley Ho features Café Zuzu for contemporary American, as well as Trader Vic's for pupu platters and frou-frou cocktails. And if you're dressed to impress, check out the Mondrian's sleek Asia de Cuba or the W's hot new Sushi Roku. Café Zuzu and Trader Vic's: 6850 E. Main St., 480-248-2000, hotelvalleyho.com • Asia de Cuba: 7353 E. Indian School Rd., 480-308-1131, mondrianscottsdale.com • Sushi Roku: 7277 E. Camelback Rd., 480-970-2121, whotels.com/scottsdale
STETSON DRIVE RESTAURANT ROW There's an amazing assortment of restaurant personalities in this compact strip of high-style eateries. Neighbors Cowboy Ciao and Sea Saw are like night and day — the former has an eclectic energy, while the latter is an intimate, minimalist backdrop for James Beard winner Nobuo Fukuda's exquisite Japanese dishes. Along the SouthBridge side of the street (to the west), check out fashion-centric Canal (a catwalk runs right through the dining room), ritzy, refined Estate House, funky "Cal-Ital" joint Digestif (think handmade pastas and absinthe), and brand-new Metro Brasserie, where the Paris-meets-New Orleans theme extends from the menu to the décor.
Cowboy Ciao: 7133 E. Stetson Dr., 480-946-3111, cowboyciao.com
Sea Saw: 7133 E. Stetson Dr., 480-481-9463, seasaw.net
Canal: 7144 E. Stetson Dr., 480-949-9000, canalaz.com
Estate House: 7134 E. Stetson Dr., 480-970-4099, estatehouseaz.com
Digestif: 7114 E. Stetson Dr., 480-425-9463, digestifscottsdale.com
Metro Brasserie: 7114 E. Stetson Dr., 480-994-3663
LOS SOMBREROS This is Arizona — isn't there a Mexican restaurant on every corner? Well, in some parts of the Phoenix metro area, the answer would be an unequivocal yes. But Old Town Scottsdale isn't exactly a mecca for south-of-the-border cuisine. Your best bet for top-notch Mexican lies just a bit south of the downtown area, at Los Sombreros. Head to this charming, renovated vintage brick house for luscious mole poblano, melt-in-your-mouth lamb adobo, and decadent flan with almondrado tequila. A dozen different margaritas made with top-shelf tequilas, are also enticing. Take it from us, the back patio is the place to be when the weather's nice (which, around here, is almost year-round). 2534 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-994-1799, lossombreros.com
Atlas Bistro 2515 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-990-2433 atlasbistro.com
Arcadia Farms 7014 E. First Ave. 480-941-5665 arcadiafarmscafe.com
AZ 88 7353 E. Scottsdale Mall 480-994-5576 • az88.com
Bada Boom Pasta Room 4151 N. Marshall Way 480-214-2666 badaboomaz.com
Bandera 3821 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-994-3524 hillstone.com
Café Carumba 7303 E. Indian School Rd. 480-947-8777 cafecarumba.com
Café Monarch 6934 E. First Ave. 480-970-7682
Daily Dose 4020 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-994-3673
Don & Charlie's 7501 E. Camelback Rd. 480-990-0900 donandcharlies.com
Drift 4341 N. 75th St. 480-949-8454 driftlounge.com
Fusion 4441 N. Buckboard Tr. 480-423-9043 dinelocalaz.com
Frank & Lupe's Old Mexico 4121 N. Marshall Way 480-990-9844 frankandlupes.com
Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge 2122 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-429-9544 frashers.com
Furio 7210 E. Second St. 480-945-6600 furio.tv
Jewel of the Crown 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall 480-949-8000 jewelofthecrown.com
Los Olivos Mexican Patio 7328 E. Second St. 480-946-2256 losolivosrestaurant.com
Malee's Thai Bistro 7131 E. Main St. 480-947-6042 maleesthaibistro.com
Mandala Tea Room 7027 E. Fifth Ave. 480-423-3411 mandalatearoom.com
Mastro's City Hall Steakhouse 6991 E. Camelback Rd. 480-941-4700 mastrosrestaurants.com
Medizona 7217 E. Fourth Ave. 480-947-9500 medizonarestaurant.com
The Mission 3815 N. Brown Ave. 480-636-5005 themissionaz.com
Nello's 7213 E. 1st Ave.480-946-2020 nellosscottsdale.com
Old Town Tortilla Factory 6910 E. Main St. 480-945-4567 oldtowntortillafactory.com
Patsy Grimaldi's 4000 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-994-1100 patsygrimaldis.com
Pepin 7363 E. Scottsdale Mall 480-990-9026 pepinrestaurant.com
Pink Pony 3831 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-945-6697
Roaring Fork 4800 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-947-0795 roaringfork.com
Saddle Ranch Chop House 4321 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-429-2263 srretaurants.com
Salty Señorita 3636 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-946-7258 saltysenorita.com
Stax Burger Bistro 4400 N. Scottsdale Rd. 480-946-4222
Tandoori Times 6810 E. Fifth Ave. 480-794-1404 tandooritimes.com
Wildfish Seafood Grille 7135 E. Camelback Rd. 480-994-4049 eddiev.com
Zipps Sports Grill 7551 E. Camelback Rd.480-970-9507zipps-sportscafe.com
