SugarJam is, hands down, our favorite spot for brunch. That’s thanks to chef and owner Dana Dumas’ expert kitchen skills and creativity. At SugarJam, every detail goes the extra mile. Butter for the pancakes or waffles is infused with vanilla, and the syrup gets an upgrade with rum and pecans. The French toast is made with challah doused in Grand Marnier and griddled to a crisp, creme brulee-esque crust. The grits are creamy, the shrimp are plump and perfectly cooked, and the chicken and waffles are so crispy and flavorful that we can’t stop thinking about them. On the weekends, DJs bring the party, so grab a mimosa flight and get your day off to a delicious and decadent start.

In the corner of a shopping center in Moon Valley, a quaint red brick building churns out the best vegan brunch in town. Start with an iced coffee or matcha latte and take in the sights and sounds of the welcoming, homey restaurant. Next, dive into some biscuits topped with very convincing sausage gravy or a burrito stuffed with the house scramble, made with tofu, vegan cheese, potatoes, sausage, onions and beans. For something a little unusual, try the breakfast flatbread topped with the same tofu scramble, vegan cheese and fresh pico de gallo. All of the plates here are hearty and healthy, and everything is 100% plant-based. Later in the day, Vegan & Vine serves lunch, dinner and wine. All are excellent, but we love stopping by this spot to start our day.

Chef Dana Dumas started serving at her North Scottsdale brunch restaurant in 2022. And while many brunch spots have opened around the Valley since then, no one can touch her French toast. Along with egg and cinnamon, the bread gets a dunk in Grand Marnier, which caramelizes into a crackly crust when it hits the griddle. Served with rum pecan syrup, this is the best French toast in town. But Dumas doesn’t stop at sweets. Try her buttery grits topped with giant shrimp or flavorful fried catfish. The menu is rounded out with eggs and bacon brunch staples along with cocktails and mimosas. On the weekends, DJs make the brunch experience into a party. Quieter weekday mornings are perfect for savoring the delights from the kitchen.

At the end of a strip mall off Thomas Road, Presidio Cocina Mexicana churns out some of the best burritos, chilaquiles and breakfast tacos in the city. The small restaurant features a long row of bar stools overlooking the open kitchen and coffee bar. Booths and a few stand-alone tables line the rest of the narrow space, and on weekend mornings, almost every seat is filled. This restaurant serves Michoacán-style fare, which materializes at brunch in the form of spicy salsas, hearty tamales and warming pozoles. Start your day with a steaming bowl of rich, red-tinted soup or opt for the classic huevos rancheros, served with creamy refried beans, fried potatoes and chorizo, and spicy ranchera salsa. Pair it all with a hot caramel latte or a cool and creamy horchata at this upbeat and welcoming spot.

SugarJam has hands down the best French toast in Phoenix. And the rest of the brunch menu is pretty outstanding as well. Chef and owner Dana Dumas moved her small bakery to bigger digs a few years ago and expanded the menu to fit the space. Her famous pies are still available but so are full brunch plates and cocktails. If you, like us, are hard-pressed to decide between chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and that amazing French toast, don’t fret — the French toast comes as a side dish that can be paired with other items. We recommend ordering a side for the table so all of your brunch mates can taste the magic. On the weekend, SugarJam knows how to turn up, so come prepared for a party. If you prefer a quieter setting to enjoy your morning meal, we recommend visiting on a weekday.

If you’re brunching in metro Phoenix, you might as well brunch in paradise. A visit to Rita’s Cantina & Bar on the premises of the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa can feel like a staycation in and of itself. Sea salt and caramel pancakes followed by a sea salt scrub at the spa? There are worse ways to cure a hangover. Brunch at Rita’s entails endless Mexican- and American-inspired breakfast and lunch creations; an all-you-can-eat option that features made-to-order omelets, French toast, and plenty more; plus a full bar. Try the brunchery’s signature cocktails, the Camelback Sunrise and Rita’s Margarita with espolon blanco, triple sec, agave, and lime.

If you want the full brunch experience, meaning the breakfast cocktails and sticky sweets and wide savory selection and good coffee and a scene, then Tucson-based Prep & Pastry is the spot. The pastry counter of the on-canal Scottsdale location has some circus skills, from a croissant with puff and shatter to passion fruit pavlova and praline eclair. The plated brunch dishes are just as creative. Highlights include a peanut-butter-and-jelly French toast on Japanese milk bread, breakfast poutine with pork belly, and a cast-iron duck confit with cherries and goat cheese that could masquerade as a dinner entree. Drinks are thoughtful riffs on brunch classics, and they tend to disappear fast in the pleasant blur of a meal that reaches everything that the idea of brunch promises, but almost never actually delivers.  

A stone’s throw from the canal in downtown Scottsdale, this Tucson import has been drawing the hungry morning hordes since its first days. It’s easy to see why. When you open the front door to the cavernous dining room and look left, your eyes land on a pastry bar. This isn’t your 200-year-old Parisian emporium of long bread and pain au chocolate. Rather, at this counter you can score gigantic cinnamon rolls, croissant doughnuts, and brioche stuffed with “Mexican hot chocolate.” The pastry case’s whimsy also runs through the sit-down menu, replete with a PB&J French toast on Japanese milk bread and a duck confit hash with cherries. Also nicely weird: a deep morning cocktail selection.

Bringing up the Phoenix neighborhood staple Windsor as a brunch option after a lengthy night fueled by laughs and libations is the most assured way to win the debate with your friends about where to nurse your party wounds and reminisce about the night before. Let’s face it: Brunch is mainly about quelling the hangover that screams for your immediate attention from the howling, depths of your core. In such a frail condition, you want to know that you’re going somewhere that is devoid of judgmental eyes and also unwavering when it comes to the quality of grub, booze, and atmosphere. We get it. Your demonic hangover demands a shady patio, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, endless coffee, biscuits and gravy, french fries, and — oh, dear God — a bacon cheeseburger? Okay, this might be more serious than we thought. Get to Windsor’s brunch, stat.

Ah, brunch — the most important meal of the weekend. When we’re in the mood for not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch, we stop by Fàme Caffe in central Phoenix. It’s usually busy, but the line to order moves quickly, so don’t delay in choosing what to eat. We love the veggie scramble — eggs, goat cheese, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli — with house potatoes, or if we’re more in the mood for something sweet, the French toast crafted from sturdy country bread is also a wise choice. The lunch menu has plenty of delights as well, from the avocado grilled cheese to the garden kale salad. Also, Fàme has a standout selection of that most important brunch component: cocktails. There are plenty of a.m. favorites to choose from, including carajillos, greyhounds, palomas, and our favorite, the raspberry peach Bellini.

Duza’s Kitchen is the kind of quiet neighborhood cafe whose reputation is built mostly by word of mouth. Tucked into the historic Coronado neighborhood, the breakfast-and lunch-only restaurant offers a refined, globally inspired menu that seems to offer something for everyone. The brunch menu, designed by chef-owner Mensur Duzic, runs the gamut from apple-spiced hot cereal to French crepes to Mexican breakfast tortas. With a dining room replete with local art and tables dressed in fresh flowers, and a spacious outdoor patio with tables tucked into the shade of mature cottonwoods, the setting is ideal for a cozy weekend brunch.

There’s something for every kind of brunch-er on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Windsor. The chic neighborhood eatery offers hearty morning fare, including biscuits and gravy and eggs Benedict, as well as healthier options such as quinoa oatmeal and The Simple Life, which includes eggs, an English muffin, bacon, and fruit — all delicious. Our favorite indulgence, however, is the homemade donut holes — a baker’s dozen of warm, cinnamon-coated orbs served with vanilla mascarpone and strawberry jam. And then there’s the booze. Choose from $5 Bloody Marys, which you can trick out with spices, salts, pickles, and garnishes from Windsor’s cart; $5 cocktails; and even $5 pitchers of beer. Throw in a few good friends and some pleasant weather, and there’s no better way to spend the morning.

Chef Bernie Kantak’s grits, served during brunch with a thick slice of buckboard bacon and a side of toast, are totally worth getting out of bed for on a Sunday morning. Gussied up with truffle oil and shaved Pecorino Romano, they’re creamy and light. In fact, the Grits and Eggs is one of our favorite dishes on The Gladly’s concise Sunday menu — though with options ranging from the restaurant’s famous Chopped Salad to smoked chicken wings or chilaquiles, we’d like to think this is a menu with something for everyone. The Gladly’s brunch cocktails also are worthwhile. You can have your mimosa upgraded to include a scoop of seasonally flavored sorbet, and the restaurant’s Bloody Marys come spiked with locally made Homeboy’s Hot Sauce.  

Readers Choice: Snooze

Sitting on the spacious outdoor patio at Bink’s Midtown while you look out on the neighborhood brings a sense of community that’s rare to find at restaurants in this town. We’ve spent more than one Sunday morning digging into chef Kevin Binkley’s seasonal fare while feeling deeply appreciative of the beautiful surroundings and great company. It’s a bonus that the Sunday brunch menu offers something for just about every type of diner. Classic brunchers will appreciate dishes such as the green chile braised pork served in a hot skillet with a cheddar drop biscuit and an egg cooked sunny side up. There’s also a selection of cold and hot local produce, with options that include peaches with avocado, crema, sunflower seeds, and lime-tarragon vinaigrette during the summer. And the cinnamon roll — a large, freshly baked treat with butterscotch sauce and cream cheese frosting — is worth the calories.

Whatever brunch spot you’re thinking about at the moment probably isn’t quite like The Mission. With its chandeliers, ornate mirrors, and backlit wall of salt blocks, the low-lit room takes on the kind of seductiveness usually reserved for moonlit evenings. And the modern Latin temptations from chef Matt Carter — comfortably spiced red chilaquiles with meltingly tender pork; delicate corn pancakes topped with Dungeness crab and heady smoked Oaxacan pasilla crema; and spicy Peruvian chicken with pecan-kissed waffles and bacon-studded maple syrup — are as apt to get you out of bed as back into it. Not such a bad thing for a relaxing weekend, especially with a fresh mimosa to help in the decision-making.

It would be enough to feast on unlimited chorizo con huevos, red menudo, chiles rellenos, and other Mexican staples at Rio Mirage’s brunch — all served with a glass of sparkling champagne. But what makes this Sunday treat especially worthy of a nod are the fresh-off-the-grill, piping-hot tortillas delivered in a woven basket right to your table.

You simply can’t go wrong with the classics — rice, beans, chips, and salsa — added to the build-your-own taco station, and the menudo, light on hominy but packed with beef stomach and a slightly thickened red sauce, defies the version of the dish you’d find in most Mexican restaurants. Satisfy your sweet tooth with pan dulce, a sugar-coated sopaipilla, or a churro stuffed with an apple-flavored filling. There’s a mix of chopped watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberry for a less indulgent end to your all-you-can-eat experience.

Paola Embry, co-owner of Christopher’s Restaurant & Crush Lounge in Central Phoenix and the CEO of Wrigley Mansion, the Valley landmark just a few blocks away, has rejuvenated this onetime chafing dish cornucopia into a stylish and colorful selection of exquisite eats. Flush with fine cheeses, fresh fruits and produce, jumbo shrimp and crab legs, and house specialties like baby lamb chops and pan roasted salmon, the spread also features an omelet station, an enticing eggs Benedict, a dazzling array of desserts, and unlimited mimosas. And the breathtaking views of the city from the mansion’s hilltop home make this brunch a mouthwatering and memorable affair that’s bound to impress any dining guest.

We spend all week eating yogurt and fruit for breakfast so that when the weekend rolls around, a bit of indulgence can be forgiven. When we’re craving a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs morning meal with a Latin twist, Ticoz’s weekend brunch is the only thing that satisfies. This chic, trendy lounge transforms into a classy mid-morning venue to linger over a rich brunch. The 3 Egg Gringo Breakfast, frittata, or French toast sticks should be enough to satisfy the breakfast purists. For the rest of us, there’s pork chile verde huevos rancheros and our favorite, the Mexican eggs Benedict: two lightly sweetened corn cakes topped with spicy chorizo, poached eggs, and a rich chipotle hollandaise. Add a $3 mimosa or bloody Mary to make your stellar Latin brunch go down even easier.

Brunch, that magical pairing of breakfast and lunch, is an underrated meal often flippantly associated with the word “buffet.” Eye-rollers may want to direct their attention to the Mediterranean Market Buffet at T. Cook’s, the cozy restaurant located inside the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Every Sunday, in an elegant room done up in colonial Spanish architecture — with palm trees literally growing through the roof — patrons pick up an empty plate and make their way to tables laden with fresh fare and custom creations. Breakfast types will enjoy housemade breads and tasty omelets (Hint: Let the chef surprise you with his own creation), while the lunch set will appreciate fresh seafood, grilled veggies, and marinated cheeses. But hey, at $33 a person, who says you need to pick a side? Just make sure you save room for a treat or two from Executive Pastry Chef Travis Watson’s tempting dessert selection.

Without a doubt, the kind of brunch that really romances us is one where the food is better than run-of-the-mill breakfast, and the setting transports us to a different time and place. Such is the charm of brunch at Lon’s, located at the historic Hermosa Inn. This is pure Southwestern beauty, inside and out — beautifully manicured desert grounds, and rustic but classy Southwestern décor in the dining room. The brunch menu features some seriously impressive dishes, from tasty brioche “monkey bread” (fresh out of the oven, with an irresistible cinnamon and pecan aroma) to perfect sliders made with beef tenderloin and scrambled eggs. Got a sweet tooth? Then don’t miss the lemon ricotta pancakes, stacked like sculpture and gilded with huckleberry compote. Although we’re glad brunch is available Saturday and Sunday, Lon’s has live jazz only on Sundays. You know when to find us here.

Everybody already knows that The Mission is one of Old Town’s sexiest dinner destinations — those chandeliers and candles everywhere create a moody, decadent kind of glamour — but it’s just as cool a hangout during the day. We’re huge fans of the weekend brunch menu, which has some unique and unforgettable dishes. Crave savory in the a.m.? Go for the delicious scrambled eggs with chorizo, grilled flour tortillas, and chipotle grits, red chile chilaquiles topped with a gooey fried egg, or delicate corn pancakes topped with Dungeness crab, fresh cilantro, and lip-smacking smoked Oaxacan pasilla crema. Or, if you like to start your day with a little sugar, try the dessert-like cinnamon pecan waffles with dulce de leche crema. Expertly crafted brunch cocktails like mimosas and the “Mission Mary,” as well as French press coffee, are worth lingering over.

We’re not sure what Heaven is like, but we imagine it to be something like T. Cook’s lavish, all-you-can-eat “Mediterranean market buffet” brunch. Like the romantic Royal Palms Resort itself, brunch here is beautiful beyond belief, as mouthwatering as the glossy pages of food porn in Gourmet magazine. Everything is exquisitely displayed, from delicate pink slices of prosciutto and moist smoked salmon to abundant platters of roasted red peppers and portobello mushrooms, grilled asparagus, egg dishes, and fresh mozzarella with ripe tomato and basil. There are baskets of fresh rolls and bread, glasses brimming with shrimp cocktail, and all kinds of fruit. And freshly baked cookies, cakes, tarts, and other confections take up an entire table of their own. Under ordinary circumstances, all this temptation would lead us into a feeding frenzy, but the gentle strains of live classical guitar and the genteel atmosphere in the dining room make our gluttony somehow seem elegant. This is paradise found.

It’s finally the weekend, and after last night’s overindulgence, we need hair o’ the dog, big-time. A Bloody Mary sounds like the ultimate cure, so we’re on a mission to get to The Mission for a perfectly crafted version of this classic a.m. cocktail (or maybe a mimosa if we have a sweet tooth). Then we can dig into a scrumptious Latin brunch that never fails to make us smile. At this stylish Old Town spot, decorated with chandeliers and dripping candles for a decadent vibe, morning munchies get a glamorous spin. Think corn pancakes with Dungeness crab, cilantro, and smoked pasilla crema; chorizo scrambled eggs with chipotle grits; and cinnamon pecan waffles with dulce de leche crema. In the midst of a long workweek, The Mission’s satisfying brunch is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Whenever we need a reminder of just how good we have it here in the Valley of the Sun, we have to head to T. Cook’s spectacular Sunday brunch to put ourselves in the right frame of mind. Just setting foot on the Royal Palms property is enough to lighten our hearts — certainly one doesn’t need to be a guest at the resort to appreciate its lush landscaping, stunning views of Camelback Mountain, and romantic Mediterranean courtyards. And inside T. Cook’s, the energy is soothing and sophisticated, with sunlight brightening the elegant dining room as a classical guitar player serenades guests.

The buffet is as gorgeous as it gets, a decadent, all-you-can-eat spread, with artfully arranged platters of smoked salmon, egg dishes, roasted and grilled vegetables, shrimp cocktail in martini glasses, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and several kinds of soft rolls and bread. Just as delightful (or maybe more so, if you have a sweet tooth) are pastry chef Pierino Jermonti’s exquisite tarts, cakes, cookies, and bonbons, which take up a few tables of their own. Thanks to T. Cook’s, Sunday’s our favorite day of the week.

Different moods call for different kinds of breakfast. Some days, it’s a greasy, gut-busting American-style spread with pancakes and bacon and eggs. Other times, we prefer something lighter — and kind of French — like an omelet or some crepes. And then there are times when nothing but savory, spicy Mexican dishes will do. When that last craving kicks in, Richardson’s always delivers, with some of the heartiest a.m. eats in town. (Although they serve it ’til 4 p.m. on weekends, so don’t worry about sleeping in and missing out.) We’re fond of the perfect huevos rancheros, smothered in Richardson’s legendary New Mexican-style chile, as well as the outstanding breakfast burrito. And carne adovada, a heaping platter of smoked pork simmered in red chile, is the perfect splurge to start the day. Honestly, we can’t think of a time when we’re not in the mood for that.

A lot’s been written about chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza’s creative, contemporary Mexican fare, from the fresh guacamole with pomegranate seeds, prepared tableside, to her hauntingly delicious cochinita pibil, fork-tender pork that’s been slow-cooked for 12 hours.

Indeed, we still think Barrio Café is worthy of every “Best of” we’ve given it. But brunch here is still — ’til now, anyway — an unsung pleasure, with distinctive dishes you won’t find anywhere else in town.

The crepa de chorizo is a dreamy concoction, with spinach, spicy sausage, and queso fresco rolled up in a hollandaise-covered crepe, while the pastel de calabazas con queso, a veggie-stuffed omelet slathered in spicy tomatillo sauce, will wake your taste buds right up. And if that’s not enough of a morning boost, try Barrio Café’s tequila-soaked version of the bloody Mary, the sangrita. Now that’s our kind of eye-opener.

When we can’t stand the thought of Denny’s, and only a classy brunch will do, El Chorro Lodge is our choice for a leisurely Sunday-morning feast. The menu has an old-school vibe — chipped beef, anyone? — not for any intentionally retro-chic reason, but because El Chorro’s a Valley institution (just look around at the properly dressed clientele, which looks as if it’s been coming here for decades). Eggs Benedict is the house specialty, from traditional and vegetarian versions to the delectable salmon lox Benedict and mouthwatering filet mignon Benedict. There are also expertly cooked omelets, some of the best French toast around (made with homemade cinnamon bread and golden raisins), and a selection of brunch-worthy sandwiches and salads. Superb coffee and fresh-squeezed juice are a couple more pluses. Truth be told, we could easily fill up on El Chorro’s legendary sticky buns (complimentary with every meal), but if we saw somebody eating a plate of El Chorro’s fine corned beef hash, we’d probably be insanely jealous.

Yeah, it’s a little ridiculous to start off a lazy Sunday with not just eggs and bacon, but also a mound of prawns and crab claws. But when you’re filling up your buffet plate at this stylish restaurant, the main dining room at the Arizona Biltmore, such delicacies seem not decadent but perfectly normal. For $28, the Biltmore serves up one of the tastiest buffets in town, and the menu offers plenty of great options for diners who like their meal delivered. Add a mimosa for $9.25 and make the afternoon really lazy.

There’s something inherently difficult about trying to take your dad out for brunch. In a city where there’s an IHOP or a Denny’s on almost every corner, it’s easy to fall back on sub-standard breakfast fare and tell yourself Dad doesn’t know any better. Don’t fall into the trap. Caf Zuzu at the Valley Ho Hotel offers the same comfort food as the chain slop house, but in a much cleaner, more pleasing environment. We particularly like the Ho’s thickly cut Virginia bacon, and the Denver omelet’s not bad, either. It’s a little more expensive, but don’t worry Dad’ll probably insist on paying.

For us, the best Sunday brunch is enjoyed at the table, with the food coming to us. Buffets are so much work. We’d rather relax in a beautiful setting with strong coffee and fresh juice. That’s why our favorite place to brunch is Lon’s, where we feel like we’ve been invited to dine with good friends — who happen to be good cooks with impeccable taste. Lon’s is in one of the most beautiful settings in town (you’ll feel far out of town, in fact, when you enter the grounds), and the food is equally lovely. Dishes like eggs Megargee (poached eggs on wood-grilled natural beef steak and English muffin with grilled tomatoes, asparagus and smoked chile hollandaise) are served family-style at the table, so you can graze without getting up. Or try the warm cornmeal griddle cake with hazelnuts and sun-dried cranberries with huckleberry sauce. Not as hungry? You can order a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Your food will still come with a lovely setting on the side.

We love fancy hotels, but we don’t like getting gussied up, particularly on a Sunday morning. That’s why the brunch at the Hyatt’s Squash Blossom is so perfect. No one expects you to dress up. Oh yeah, and don’t get us started on the food. Well, since you asked, we recommend that you starve yourself all day Saturday, because this is a serious pig-out. Along with the piles of fresh fruit, omelets cooked to order and mounds of baked goods, the Squash Blossom offers both paella and Caesar salad stations, as well as carved meats.

Loosen those sweatpants, and belly up to the omelet bar. Readers’ Choice: The Phoenician

We love fancy hotels, but we don’t like getting gussied up, particularly on a Sunday morning. That’s why the brunch at the Hyatt’s Squash Blossom is so perfect. No one expects you to dress up. Oh yeah, and don’t get us started on the food. Well, since you asked, we recommend that you starve yourself all day Saturday, because this is a serious pig-out. Along with the piles of fresh fruit, omelets cooked to order and mounds of baked goods, the Squash Blossom offers both paella and Caesar salad stations, as well as carved meats.

Loosen those sweatpants, and belly up to the omelet bar. Readers’ Choice: The Phoenician

We love fancy hotels, but we don’t like getting gussied up, particularly on a Sunday morning. That’s why the brunch at the Hyatt’s Squash Blossom is so perfect. No one expects you to dress up. Oh yeah, and don’t get us started on the food. Well, since you asked, we recommend that you starve yourself all day Saturday, because this is a serious pig-out. Along with the piles of fresh fruit, omelets cooked to order and mounds of baked goods, the Squash Blossom offers both paella and Caesar salad stations, as well as carved meats.

Loosen those sweatpants, and belly up to the omelet bar. Readers’ Choice: The Phoenician

Sundays are for sleeping in. Unless we’ve got a reservation for brunch at El Chorro, in which case we might not sleep Saturday night at all. Brunch is served in the cool months, October through May. El Chorro is stunningly beautiful, nestled below the red cliffs of Echo Canyon of Camelback Mountain. It’s historic, built in 1934 as a school for girls. As a resort, it’s played host to celebrities like Clark Gable and Milton Berle. Many of the staffers are original characters, including the owners, Joe and Evie Miller (Joe started there as a bartender in 1952). The spread is much more intriguing than the typical eggs, bacon and Danish buffets, and excitingly retro. The magic begins with free sticky buns (homemade cinnamon rolls). Then it’s on to eggs Benedict (classic, with turkey, filet mignon or vegetarian), a Spanish omelet, curried chicken salad, salmon fettuccine, chicken livers and eggs, chipped beef, beef stroganoff, or shrimp Louie. Now that’s worth waking up for.

Sundays are for sleeping in. Unless we’ve got a reservation for brunch at El Chorro, in which case we might not sleep Saturday night at all. Brunch is served in the cool months, October through May. El Chorro is stunningly beautiful, nestled below the red cliffs of Echo Canyon of Camelback Mountain. It’s historic, built in 1934 as a school for girls. As a resort, it’s played host to celebrities like Clark Gable and Milton Berle. Many of the staffers are original characters, including the owners, Joe and Evie Miller (Joe started there as a bartender in 1952). The spread is much more intriguing than the typical eggs, bacon and Danish buffets, and excitingly retro. The magic begins with free sticky buns (homemade cinnamon rolls). Then it’s on to eggs Benedict (classic, with turkey, filet mignon or vegetarian), a Spanish omelet, curried chicken salad, salmon fettuccine, chicken livers and eggs, chipped beef, beef stroganoff, or shrimp Louie. Now that’s worth waking up for.

With just 166 rooms but Four Diamonds, it’s clear that the Royal Palms understands how class cohabits with intimacy. Rather than catering to the masses and impressing with sheer quantity, Royal Palms puts exquisite effort into the tiniest details of every single element of its operation.

While other brunches use the flash factor of acres of food to draw oohs and aahs, T. Cook’s offers a refined finish to the weekend, offering a prix fixe menu of à la carte Mediterranean-inspired classics. While we’re not leaving as gluttons, what we do eat is guaranteed to be the very best in its league.

If we’re feeling dainty, we can go for the $19 cold buffet, an all-we-can-eat extravaganza of fresh seafood, smoked salmon, gourmet salads, grilled vegetables, fruits, cheeses, breads, pastries and more. If we want to supplement — or substitute — our feast, we can select from T. Cook’s regular breakfast and lunch. This means classy dishes like spinach and oven-dried tomato quiche; white truffle and fontina cheese omelet with chicken leek sausage; asparagus and wild mushroom soup; lobster and avocado with butter lettuce, shaved fennel and garlic jus; or seared pork tenderloin with sweet potato pancake, Savoy cabbage and apples.

All this in a brilliant, Southwestern hacienda setting lush with gardens, and T. Cook’s is truly something for a special Sunday.

With just 166 rooms but Four Diamonds, it’s clear that the Royal Palms understands how class cohabits with intimacy. Rather than catering to the masses and impressing with sheer quantity, Royal Palms puts exquisite effort into the tiniest details of every single element of its operation.

While other brunches use the flash factor of acres of food to draw oohs and aahs, T. Cook’s offers a refined finish to the weekend, offering a prix fixe menu of à la carte Mediterranean-inspired classics. While we’re not leaving as gluttons, what we do eat is guaranteed to be the very best in its league.

If we’re feeling dainty, we can go for the $19 cold buffet, an all-we-can-eat extravaganza of fresh seafood, smoked salmon, gourmet salads, grilled vegetables, fruits, cheeses, breads, pastries and more. If we want to supplement — or substitute — our feast, we can select from T. Cook’s regular breakfast and lunch. This means classy dishes like spinach and oven-dried tomato quiche; white truffle and fontina cheese omelet with chicken leek sausage; asparagus and wild mushroom soup; lobster and avocado with butter lettuce, shaved fennel and garlic jus; or seared pork tenderloin with sweet potato pancake, Savoy cabbage and apples.

All this in a brilliant, Southwestern hacienda setting lush with gardens, and T. Cook’s is truly something for a special Sunday.

It’s too difficult to decide what to order from Marquesa’s amazing menu. This Mobil Four-Star restaurant is also one of two AAA Five-Diamond restaurants in Arizona, and serves cuisine from one of Spain’s best-kept secrets: Catalan, blended with Italian and French influences. The feast never ends at this market-style brunch, with highlights like sautéed shrimp with saffron potatoes and truffles cradled in licorice mustard-seed sauce; fire-roasted couscous; paella Valenciana with lobster, chicken, pork, shellfish, chistora and saffron rice cooked in clay casuelas; braised quail; veal empanada; turkey with hazelnut polenta; and duck with cauliflower purée, lentil and sausage. And, of course, caviar. Our single lament? The open-air extravaganza is served only from mid-September through June.

Marquesa is definitely the best of the brunch bunch.

It’s too difficult to decide what to order from Marquesa’s amazing menu. This Mobil Four-Star restaurant is also one of two AAA Five-Diamond restaurants in Arizona, and serves cuisine from one of Spain’s best-kept secrets: Catalan, blended with Italian and French influences. The feast never ends at this market-style brunch, with highlights like sautéed shrimp with saffron potatoes and truffles cradled in licorice mustard-seed sauce; fire-roasted couscous; paella Valenciana with lobster, chicken, pork, shellfish, chistora and saffron rice cooked in clay casuelas; braised quail; veal empanada; turkey with hazelnut polenta; and duck with cauliflower purée, lentil and sausage. And, of course, caviar. Our single lament? The open-air extravaganza is served only from mid-September through June.

Marquesa is definitely the best of the brunch bunch.

Anyone can serve a huge Sunday brunch. It takes alarmingly little skill to toss together pedestrian scrambled eggs, table after table of mayo-based salads, endless wheels of cheeses, chicken done in by chafing dishes, and roast beast carved by sleepy resort staff.

Most skilled chefs can easily fashion a high-quality, dainty Sunday brunch, too. A talented chef can impress with sumptuous à la carte entrees, perhaps fancied up with a trip to fussy salad and dessert tables. But that’s little more than an excellent lunch, isn’t it? And let’s admit it: Brunch isn’t a true treat unless it’s all-you-can-eat.

Marquesa has captured the best of both. The Mobil Four Star/AAA Five Diamond restaurant unites inspired Catalan cuisine with Italian and French influences for a drop-dead gorgeous unlimited tasting experience.

We don’t eat for weeks in anticipation of a mid-morning tour of Marquesa’s market-style nirvana. And not just to allow for greater gluttony, but to better savor the delicacies put forth by chef Reed Groban. The menu changes per availability of ingredients, but we can always count on the radiant treasures of the Mediterranean.

It’s almost an embarrassment of riches, but we struggle bravely through, feasting on duck with cauliflower puree, lentil and sausage; fire-roasted couscous; paella; braised quail; veal empanada; turkey with hazelnut polenta; and caviar.

Does Marquesa’s brunch cost a little more? At $49 per person, yes. But it’s so satisfying that it’s the only meal we’ll want to eat that day. And since the open-air brunch isn’t offered during the heat of summer, we’ve got some time to save up the cash, and the calories.

Anyone can serve a huge Sunday brunch. It takes alarmingly little skill to toss together pedestrian scrambled eggs, table after table of mayo-based salads, endless wheels of cheeses, chicken done in by chafing dishes, and roast beast carved by sleepy resort staff.

Most skilled chefs can easily fashion a high-quality, dainty Sunday brunch, too. A talented chef can impress with sumptuous à la carte entrees, perhaps fancied up with a trip to fussy salad and dessert tables. But that’s little more than an excellent lunch, isn’t it? And let’s admit it: Brunch isn’t a true treat unless it’s all-you-can-eat.

Marquesa has captured the best of both. The Mobil Four Star/AAA Five Diamond restaurant unites inspired Catalan cuisine with Italian and French influences for a drop-dead gorgeous unlimited tasting experience.

We don’t eat for weeks in anticipation of a mid-morning tour of Marquesa’s market-style nirvana. And not just to allow for greater gluttony, but to better savor the delicacies put forth by chef Reed Groban. The menu changes per availability of ingredients, but we can always count on the radiant treasures of the Mediterranean.

It’s almost an embarrassment of riches, but we struggle bravely through, feasting on duck with cauliflower puree, lentil and sausage; fire-roasted couscous; paella; braised quail; veal empanada; turkey with hazelnut polenta; and caviar.

Does Marquesa’s brunch cost a little more? At $49 per person, yes. But it’s so satisfying that it’s the only meal we’ll want to eat that day. And since the open-air brunch isn’t offered during the heat of summer, we’ve got some time to save up the cash, and the calories.

You can tell instantly when your nacho-maker does not have their heart in the craft. Haphazardly strewn ingredients, chips too thin to lift their body weight in cheese — some kitchens display an utter disregard for the user experience, not to mention the fundamental architecture, of nature’s greatest snack-meal. Angel’s Trumpet, by contrast, shows a reverence for the form while reimagining it. The protein on the gastropub’s New Mexican nachos is a drift of tender green chile pork and a layer of toothsome beans. They schmooze with pico de gallo and a relatively restrained layer of shredded cheddar that seems not to mind the supporting rather than the starring role. The whole hillock comes in a bowl with ramekins of green and red sauce to slather indiscriminately or to parse out like praise. At $17 and robustly proportioned, this is a meal masquerading as an appetizer. They’ll even crack a pair of eggs on it for an extra $3 to brunchify it. Do eggs belong on nachos? You’ll have to unhinge your jaw and decide for yourself.

We haven’t found anything chef Doug Robson does that we don’t like, so it’s no surprise that his downtown eatery, Gallo Blanco, produces one of our favorite cocktails in the city. The classic paloma, composed of tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda, is expertly rendered here with a salt rim. It’s simple and refreshing, with just a hint of sweetness, and it works well at brunch, dinner or even lunch (hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere). Gallo Blanco’s paloma is a perfect foil to the menu options; try it alongside some brunchtime chilaquiles, a platter of street tacos or the popular La Bomba al pastor sandwich.

With his other two restaurants, Gallo Blanco and Otro Cafe, chef Doug Robson has already shown us what he can do when creating modern Mexican eateries — crave-worthy, consistently good dishes served in cozy environments. Tesota’s vibe is equally welcoming, and the menu is full of globally influenced dishes. Starters give you options like plump harissa shrimp, where sweet and heat interact, leaving juices to get soaked up by an accompanying baguette. Entrees range from noodle dishes, including a yakisoba and a puttanesca, showing worldwide inspiration. Vegetables are prominently featured and are never treated like afterthoughts. A charred cabbage is made complete with a yogurt masala topping and pistachio pesto. A white sweet potato with miso butter, pepitas and crème fraiche in its orbit is another star. Weekend brunch in nice weather comes with a live jazz soundtrack on the patio.

“This is really nice.” We must have said it half a dozen times during our first visit to Volanti. The restaurant at the Scottsdale Airport draws both travelers and townies and has plenty to satisfy both. Volanti serves lunch, dinner, happy hour and weekend brunch out of its casually chic dining room, but trust us: You want to eat outside. The restaurant’s second-floor patio gives you a gorgeous view of the McDowell Mountains, and below you, the airport goes about its business. We often stop mid-sentence to watch a landing or admire the way the changing light highlights the nearby peaks. With a solid cocktail menu (try the Postcard, which comes with a little souvenir of your visit) and tasty food, Volanti is a unique and delightful dining experience.

There’s no shortage of spots in the Valley for an energetic party brunch. If you’ve got more ambitions for your day than splitting a boozy fishbowl with your friends followed by a nap, a neighborhood breakfast spot is probably more your speed. The Eleanor, which was opened by one of the owners of Fate Brewing Co. in 2023, offers a charming, midcentury space with a modern breakfast menu. Order a Buddha bowl, indulgent churro French toast and savory toasts topped with avocado or soft scrambled eggs. The Eleanor serves plenty of traditional eats, too. The blueberry pancakes are light and fluffy, blanketed with a jammy blueberry compote. While most breakfast spots serve pancakes with a walloping dollop of butter and a jug of syrup, at The Eleanor, the cakes come with a premixed maple butter to pour. Made in-house, the craveable condiment perfectly blends velvety richness with sweet maple.

Elegant food in a cozy setting — that’s Le Sans Souci. The little restaurant on the border of Carefree and Cave Creek celebrated its 30th anniversary this summer. That’s three decades of classic French fare —dishes such as duck l’orange, sole meuniere, croque monsieur and creme caramel — served graciously in a low-ceilinged brick home with tile floors and tasteful prints dotting the walls. When you eat at Le Sans Souci, you’ve got options, including a prix-fixe dinner menu, an a la carte dinner menu, lunch, brunch and even an early bird menu if you feel like dining before 5:45 p.m. There’s a full bar for all your cocktail needs, and lovely desert views as you enter and leave the parking lot. En conclusion, c’est tres chic.

This growing group of like-minded, music loving, socially conscious women around the Valley is becoming a force to be reckoned with on the scene. DJ M-80 (Mandie Smith), DJ Jasper K (Karen “Jasper” Cristobal Gacula), DJ Kate Scratch Fever (Katy Mason) and their collaborators work with a variety of venues — bars, restaurants, local events — to spread the joy and strength of music while working steadfastly to help local nonprofits provide needed services to people around the greater Phoenix area. These DJs bring a wealth of music background and knowledge, as well as incredible taste in headbanging and bopping tunes. Adding them to your event ensures good times that are likewise good for your soul.

The term “one-stop shop” is an overused term, and one that is often applied to places that don’t quite deserve that descriptor. The Uptown Phoenix Farmers Market, however, easily slides into that category. When it’s go time, the vast parking lot of the church that hosts the event doubles as a place to park as well as a festival loaded with rows of vendors. Get fresh produce, locally raised meats, handcrafted breads, pickled snacks and perhaps some cute attire. That hardly covers what you’ll find. Additionally, coffee and food vendors are on site where you can grab breakfast or brunch and sip and munch while you shop. Maybe you need your knives sharpened or a handblown glass lamp? This place has you covered. It’s also unofficially a dog park, as many customers and wanderers show up with their furry pals in tow. Yes, of course, there are vendors with pet products. This massive market happens every Saturday with a smaller version on Wednesdays.

Flagstaff eatery The Toasted Owl Cafe flew down to Phoenix to open its first Valley location last fall. Located on Camelback Road in The Newton shopping center, this cozy brunch spot is filled with owl decor everywhere you look, from antiques to artwork, and it’s all for sale. The restaurant is known for its giant and delicious cinnamon rolls, which make an excellent appetizer to share over coffee. Next, dig into a hearty burrito or steaming hot omelet. One of the best parts? The Toasted Owl has a second version of its large menu that’s entirely vegan, meaning there’s something for everyone in your group at this Flagstaff staple in Phoenix.

Is it your mom’s birthday? Maybe Mother’s Day is coming up, and you want to treat her to brunch. Lon’s at The Hermosa is the perfect place. This scenic brunch destination has a picturesque patio filled with blooming flowers and the soft ripple of the central water fountain. Tables are sprinkled throughout, situated underneath umbrellas and the dappled shade of large, old trees. Your mom will feel special before she’s even seen the mimosa menu. Pick your bubbly and fruit flavor, and then dig into some shared appetizers such as the famous sticky monkey bread or rock shrimp cocktail. Next, enjoy a fresh salad or one of the restaurant’s brunch entrees ranging from a loaded eggs Benedict to strawberry pancakes. After eating, sit and enjoy the songbirds tweeting in the trees, or take a jaunt around the gorgeous grounds of The Hermosa Inn.

Whether you’re seeking a fresh-baked flaky pastry on the go or want to sit down and savor it with a cup of coffee, JL Patisserie should be your go-to spot. It offers several varieties and even a few to take home and cook yourself. A croissant with smoked ham and Swiss cheese is the perfect way to ease into a Saturday morning. Or, finish off brunch or one of its weekend specials with the sweetness of a chocolate coconut pecan scone. Scottsdale is the flagship location, opening nearly a year before the central Phoenix spot took over the space of an ice cream shop in December 2019. The display case is filled with what seems like endless options — savory or sweet. And what French cafe is complete without an offering of macarons? JL Patisserie offers 13, from Earl Grey and rose lychee to more standard fare like strawberry, lemon and vanilla. Do yourself a favor and spend a morning exploring what this cafe has to offer.

Kristen Martinez said she’d never return to Arizona, but life had other plans. The noise rap artist who founded musical act Moodie Black toured with Puscifer in 2022 and moved back to the Valley in 2023, but her focus since returning has been on food. While Martinez was living in Minneapolis, she built a successful eatery centered on what she calls “new era Tex-Mex” that pulls from childhood memories growing up in El Paso, Texas. First getting off the ground in the Valley with the food trailer MB Foodhouse, serving taquitos, tacos and wings, Martinez has taken Moodie Blacks inside the kitchen of Tempe’s Yucca Tap Room. There, Martinez is serving a growing menu that includes smash burgers, hot chicken tortas and a selection of brunch bites on the weekend. And, there’s more good news for fans of Martinez: She hasn’t hung up her mic and is beginning to book shows for Moodie Black, too.

Venture to Litchfield Park for a colorful and fun restaurant serving the best pozole in town. Alebrijes Cafe & Grill is the perfect place to enjoy a laid-back brunch. The place is popular, so waiting for a table and then for your food to arrive can take some time. Thankfully, the cocktails and coffees are delicious and will hold you over just fine. The menu is packed with options — many of which are drenched in rich red or black mole — but the pozole stands out. A large clay bowl is filled to the brim with savory broth packed with hominy kernels and tender pork. Fresh radishes, onions and a squeeze of lime brighten up each bite, and you’ll be sure to drink every last drop.

It’s tough to be a gay bar in 2024. LGBTQ+ people are welcomed in most nightlife spots, even celebrated as drag shows — once the domain of gay bars — make their way into brunch joints across the Valley. So the demand for queer-only safe spaces isn’t what it used to be. And that demand further eroded thanks to apps, which meant the gays no longer needed a bar to make friends and cruise for romance. But there’s a reason Charlie’s has thrived since its opening in 1984 — giving the people what they can’t find anywhere else. There’s a massive dance floor, multiple bars and a spacious outdoor area. When it’s not summer, that massive patio space makes for a packed Sunday Funday. Guys in thongs gyrating on boxes don’t hurt, either. Neither does Charlie’s Tacos, a food truck that serves tasty bites to the public who approach it from Camelback Road or patrons on the patio, who line up on the weekend before its 7 p.m. opening to order tacos, quesadillas, nachos and more. To be sure, Charlie’s offers the traditional gay bar staples, including show tunes, drag shows, karaoke and an underwear night. But it shines by hosting special events. Big gay sports tournament in town? Charlie’s will welcome those jocks. A tamale and salsa competition? Yep, they offer that, too.

Plop down a redo of dilapidated auto repair and body shops in the Melrose District, add not one but two bars offering Golden Girl Margs and some kitschy shops, and complete the look with some midcentury flair, and what did you think would happen? You can’t swing a rosemary and black pepper fry from Yum Bar around The Royale and not hit a gaggle of well-appointed gay men arriving for drag brunch. This place brings the boys to the yard. Literally — there’s a cute courtyard with artificial turf. Yum Bar, which opened in January, is the heart of the development, hosting charity fundraisers, tea dances and Pride events when it’s not serving up its eponymous burger, Melrose Bowls and specialty cocktails. The project is the work of Mark Howard and Rocco Menaguale, the same creative force behind Fez, which continues to attract an LGBTQ+ crowd after nearly 20 years, and queer-friendly Bliss ReBAR, which closed in 2022.

Melrose District restaurant Valentine has been one of the Valley’s most buzzed about since it opened in late 2020. The restaurant and its team have landed on lists and racked up notable awards and nominations, including a James Beard nod for Chef Donald Hawk in 2022. For all the pomp surrounding Valentine, the restaurant and its stellar team — led by Blaise Faber and Chad Price — continue to work, refine and experiment, while staying true to their valentine, the ingredients and history of Arizona. The restaurant is equipped to be an all-day affair, and it’s well worth it to indulge in the trifecta of offerings for brunch, dinner and drinks at its slightly hidden Bar 1912, because each offering peels back another layer to the complexity of Arizona cuisine, integrating local and indigenous ingredients. Whether taking out a foodie or just an eater, there’s plenty to love about Valentine.

Forget opening at 2 p.m.; Rum Runner’s Bar stars slinging suds at 6 a.m. every single day. Even if you’re looking to do more than simply get smashed by noon, you can use all that time to your strategic advantage. That means whether you’re augmenting weekend brunch with more drinking, or starting your night out on the town at 1:30 p.m., Rum Runner’s will be there to cater to your many needs. And it’s not just that this bar is basically like some real-world “Cheers” — it’s got a decidedly impressive set of amenities. On top of your standard bar offerings, there are great deals (like the one for to-go margaritas), free all-day pool, shuffleboard and semi-regular goldfish racing, which has to be seen to be truly believed. Is the pirate theme a little silly? Sure, but then that’s sort of the point, as it makes for a perfect level of gimmickry to enhance your partying. In the end, Rum Runner’s is not just a neighborhood bar but a one-stop shop for having fun on your own dang schedule.

Looking for a brunch backdrop that’ll make all eyes envious of your Instagram? The Canal Club at The Scott provides a 1930s Havana-inspired ambiance that gives all the vibes. Known for its photogenic spots and Cuban cuisine, try pulling a seat at the bar and shooting underneath the Canal Club sign while drinking a Sin & Santeria, or snagging the corner booth for the green, jungle wallpaper while you check out IG Stories. Don your favorite flowy dress, floppy hat, and raffia heels for photos, and don’t forget your best accessories — food and drink, of course. Go classic with a Cubano sandwich or go sweet with churro doughnut holes. Pair with a Cocojito cocktail and your best brunch babes for photo and video content.

On a weekend morning, the line starts forming at Fàme early. By brunch time, it winds around the building at the little shopping center on Central Avenue. But customers don’t mind the wait, because the breakfast is that good. Once it’s finally your turn, slide up to the counter and order through a large window that gives a peek into the trendy seating area inside. We recommend starting with a Caramelito, made with caramel, cinnamon, espresso, and almond milk, or the equally delicious Muddy Waters, a coffee and matcha tea mashup. Next, it’s onto the food. If you’re looking to indulge, you can’t go wrong with the decadent Monte Cristo. Thick slices of country bread are filled with a fried egg, nutty Gruyere cheese, and ham before the whole thing is showered with powdered sugar. This is a knife-and-fork type of sandwich, and we recommend spreading a little of the berry jam on each bite. Southwest-inspired dishes make for a slightly lighter meal, including the trio of breakfast tacos, the chilaquiles, or the huevos rancheros. Place your order, secure a table number, and head inside. There, you’ll sit in an airy restaurant with an open kitchen, and a modern-meets-farmhouse vibe, the perfect way to start your day.

Assuming you don’t live in or near Cave Creek, it may take you a while to get up to Le Sans Souci. But we promise the drive is worth it. Open since the ’90s, Le Sans Souci (it means “without worry”) serves authentic French fare during brunch, lunch, and dinner in its cozy, tiled dining room. We always want to start with the onion soup, preferably topped with melted cheese and a small piece of bread. The Crepes Delice, two crepes packed with mushrooms and crab in a bechamel sauce, is rich and filling, or if we’re craving something more casual, the croque monsieur sandwich takes us back to afternoons in Paris cafes. And with a dessert menu that offers classic delights such as crème brûlée and cherries jubilee, we always leave Le Sans Souci full and satisfied.

This gluten-free eatery serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch from its location at 40th Street and Thomas Road in Arcadia. The biscuit and gravy, a fresh-baked garlic cheddar biscuit topped with sausage gravy and served with two eggs your way, is a great option for those who may not otherwise be able to eat the dish. Chicken and waffles come in several varieties, from classic to popcorn to hot chicken, and a churro and Belgian waffle are also on the menu. The baked goods at Jewel’s are also delicious, whether you go for Fruity Pebble-topped doughnuts or a chocolate chip cookie. The cute cafe is a non-glutinous dream, with breakfast and lunch options for the entire family, including grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. Cocktails are also on the menu, with margaritas, mimosas, and bloody marys.

If you’re out for a bachelorette party in Old Town Scottsdale, Wine Girl is inevitably on the schedule of events. So if you show up at the new hotspot, be prepared to be surrounded by brides-to-be and their upbeat bridal parties at this girls-trip destination. There are Instagram-friendly backdrops, a rope swing, neon signs, cute merch, and of course, plenty of options to rosé the day away. Whether you live in Scottsdale or are just visiting, don your best pastel-colored brunch outfit and pretend to be a socialite for the day. Sip on a glass of prosecco with a frozen popsicle inside or pair a bottle of Kim Crawford with a hummus plate, charcuterie board, or pesto flatbread perfect for sharing with the girls — the wine girls, that is.

Escape the city with a glass of wine on the patio at Garage-East. Here, the hours slip away and conversation flows along with the wine. Co-owner Brian Ruffentine traded a high-intensity career of fighting fires to open the laid-back wine bar with his wife, Megan. The bar finds its home in the second building of Barnone, a collaborative space in Gilbert where many local small businesses sell their wares. Inside, the bar embodies the barn vibe, with plenty of wood paneling. Outside, the feel is more pastoral, with white picket fences, Adirondack chairs, and string lights. The wine list is long and ever-rotating. The Garage East Tempranillo is a favorite, along with the unique “cocktail wine” creations including the bright orange, herbal Sonoran Spritz and the fruit-infused Breakfast Wine. Brunch, sandwiches, and boards help keep the wine going down smoothly throughout the day.

Politics, climate change, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ dismal record — there’s a lot in Phoenix life that weighs us down. But it’s easy to rise above it all at From the Rooftop, the bar atop the Cambria Hotel near Roosevelt Row. High above the city streets, we can feel our troubles melt away as we enjoy some light bites and sip on a cocktail. We’re partial to the fried Brussels sprouts with balsamic, lemon zest, and bacon bits, and the Pool Vibes, a cocktail made with lime vodka, agave, cranberry, lemon, and lime juice. Sunset is obviously the optimal time to hang out at From the Rooftop for the best views, but the weekend Beats & Brunch events are a big draw, too.

It’s hard for a first-timer to find Lux Central. There’s no sign, and Google Maps will send you to what looks like an empty building on Central Avenue. The entrance is around back, and you’ll know you’re there because you’ll start to see effortlessly glamorous people who all look hipper and happier than you could ever hope to be. Although being surrounded by all these pretty people makes us feel ugly and unstylish, we still like going to Lux Central. As a cafe, it’s something of a five-tool player, offering coffee, baked goods, brunch, dinner, and booze, and staying open late (midnight on weekdays, 2 a.m. on the weekends). That means that pretty much anytime you stop in, you’ll find a decent crowd of people whose clothes and tattoos and haircuts and mannerisms you can study in the hopes of becoming cooler.

There are plenty of brunch spots around the Valley where you can take your youngsters, but how many of them have a splash pad? Luci’s at The Orchard can make that boast. Here, you can grab a protein-packed power bowl or catch up with friends over mimosas without worrying about where to stick your kids. If you want to lean into family time, swing by the gourmet market, pick up a book from the Little Free Library, or grab some tasty gelato over at Splurge, the restaurant’s in-house sweet shop. By then, though, your kiddos might be tuckered out from all the outdoor water play (you’re welcome). 

The ride was supposed to be a preconditioning workout to get us primed for a planned 40-mile ride around South Mountain. We got an early start with our riding partner, who would lead the morning’s trek. But after only about seven or eight miles of pedaling through local neighborhoods and canal paths on a perfect early-spring morning, we landed at O.H.S.O. for its “beer brunch.” From there, any thought of improving our fitness level was pure fantasy. O.H.S.O., which has four Valley locations, touts its Arcadia pub as bike- and dog-friendly, with a patio facing the nearby well-used Arizona Canal trail that, at that point, is just north of Indian School Road. We ordered avocado toast, which with the beer was $13. The price was good enough to justify a second beer. Yes, the bike ride home seemed very long indeed. We’ve been back to O.H.S.O. on two wheels a couple of times since then, but planned it better — this is best done after, not during, the ride.

If you live in any part of the Valley remotely west, north, or even central, driving to Handlebar Diner can start to feel like a road trip pretty quickly. But that’s almost part of the experience, a vibe the residents of Eastmark, the large-scale, master-planned community in southeast Mesa where Handlebar Diner is located, don’t get. This Valentine-style diner is small inside, but the patio, with its flatscreen TVs, picnic tables, and outdoor lighting, is where you’ll want to spend breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or just drinks. Some suggestions include the Vietnamese-style wings, Adam’s Mac and Cheese, Highway 44 raviolis, the Eastmark Cobb, and the Keto Smothered Chicken. For those cool nights on the deck, order local, imported, or domestic beers off the menu of libations, or go for a house cocktail like the Chef’s Hurricane or Handlebar Mule.

Try to think of a Phoenix restaurant where Frasier and Niles might dine. What would be their chez away from chez? Cue Geordie’s. The historic Wrigley Mansion’s gourmet eatery, Geordie’s Restaurant, offers kitchen space to the James Beard Award-winning Chef Christopher Gross. He and his experienced culinary team plate many European dishes, including French cooking in the form of caviar, duck confit, foie gras, and the chocolate tower loved ’round the city. Geordie’s Restaurant offers lunch, dinner, small plates, happy hour specials, and one of the most exciting brunches in town. The extensive wine list offers more than 800 bottles, many from France, and all selected by award-winning wine director Paola Embry. Wrigley Mansion also offers verandas, patios with twinkling city views, five private dining rooms, and the elegant Jamie’s Wine Bar.

Do you want to trick your carnivore friends into abandoning their sinful, meat-eating ways by showing them how stupidly good vegetarian food can be? Then go to The Coronado and prepare to be confused: Its veggie burgers are so good you’ll forget you’re not eating meat. The goat cheese and jalapeno marmalade quesadilla is so absurdly delicious it won’t matter that your hands are crazy sticky and your mouth is on fire just a little bit. The Coronado also has brunch specials that vary from week to week, outside seating, beer on tap, games in the back, and an array of beautiful and tasty baked goods.

Food allergies and sensitivities definitely make eating out more challenging; for those who require gluten-free food, options can be limited and not always tasty. But in Jewel’s Cafe, the gluten-sensitive among us have a place where everything on the menu is safe to eat, and it’s all delicious. Jewel’s does breakfast, brunch, and lunch; highlights include the award-winning Nashville hot chicken sandwich, the chicken and waffles, and the chorizo burrito. The baked goods here also are incredible; on any given day you might find red velvet cheesecake bars, chocolate chip scones, or peanut butter bacon brownies. What we’re saying is, Jewel’s isn’t a great gluten-free eatery — it’s a great place to eat that happens to be gluten-free.

Bliss / reBAR is the ultimate after-work go-to and late-night hangout, complete with an expansive wraparound patio — ideal for tank-top season. There’s liquor, a big dining room and bar, and the Moonlight Menu from 10 p.m. to midnight. And if the amazing crowd and unisex restrooms aren’t proof enough this is a fantastic gay bar, Bliss / reBAR also hosts Sunday events like Chillaxin Sunday Phunday with a live DJ, Karaoke Kraziness, weekend Champagne brunch, and sometimes, BLUSH — better known as the drag brunch experience. There are also daily specials like all-day happy hour on Monday, and 20-percent-off Wednesdays. But mostly, this downtown nightlife spot has a proud and supportive atmosphere that is welcoming to everyone.

This Saturday farmers market — which bustles at Brown Avenue and First Street, walkable from the nearby brunch nexus — offers some of everything. In the tight arrangement of stands, you will find a slew of prepared-food vendors peddling food from salsa to barbecue brisket to Syrian desserts. The Valley’s very best farms, like Blue Sky Organic Farms and McClendon Select, take up ample real estate here. More interesting still may be a few of the smaller stands, like Brother Nature Farms, where you can find rare heirloom tomatoes, wonky herbs, and specialty lettuces. And Chmachyakyakya, the stand of Mark Lewis, a man of mystery who makes tea from ocotillo flowers, and lunch from other foraged desert life.

They say you eat with your eyes first, which is to say that merely seeing food that looks appealing can make you hungry. Which might explain why we always leave Ruze Cake House with a pile of treats. The Old Town Scottsdale bakery continues to make some of the loveliest goodies in town. On any given day, you might find smooth, perfectly round macarons topped with chocolate and nuts, adorned with icing, or painted with a design; flawlessly decorated cookies (the bakery’s Instagram account reveals themes like floral, stars and stripes, and marbled with gold accents); and eye-popping cakes for special occasions. Ruze recently began offering a limited brunch menu, and it’s no surprise they do beautiful meals just as well as they do gorgeous desserts. And don’t worry: When it’s time to dig in, everything we’ve encountered has tasted just as good as it looks.

Although many chefs are content to smother tortilla chips in red sauce, chef Doug Robson of Gallo Blanco takes a different approach with his chilaquiles recipe. Served as a short stack of oven-crisped corn tortillas, the Gallo Blanco chilaquiles are pasted together with a blend of melted Chihuahua and Oaxaca cheese, and then topped with two fried eggs. The tortillas soak up the kitchen’s lovely, fire-roasted tomatillo salsa. To eat it, you slice into it like a round cake. The Gallo Blanco take on this classic Mexican brunch staple is decadent and not to be missed.

It would take an iron will to resist the surplus of delicious foods awaiting you at Mekong Plaza, the shopping and dining complex in Mesa that’s home to the Mekong Supermarket and more than a dozen restaurants. You can easily make a day out of exploring the Asian snack bars, boba tea joints, noodle bars, and well-stocked Asian grocers at Mekong. You’ll find everything from fragrant pho at unPhogettable, sous vide bowls at Kingo Bowl, dim sum brunch at Mekong Restaurant, delicious Chinese pastries at AA Ozzy Bakery, and boba tea in every flavor imaginable at Tea, Snow & Coffee. Bring your food-obsessed friend and prepare to stay awhile.

Two hours might seem like a long way to drive for breakfast, but we’d travel for days to get to Coppa Café. This sweet café on Flagstaff’s main drag (not Route 66 — the other main drag — the useful one with the Target) is mismatched in all the right ways with vintage tables and chairs, flowers on the table, and if you’re lucky, a guy in the corner playing classical guitar. Match that with amazing food — we tried the prosciutto and egg tarte flambé, a.k.a. breakfast pizza. Call it anything you want: It was delicious, and the house-made bacon is a must-try, even if you’re stuffed. Coppa Café is open for brunch and dinner, as well as happy hour. We’ll be back.

There’s no fighting it. Athleisure is comfortable, and the trend is apparently here to stay. Nobody in Phoenix does gym chic quite like R&R Surplus. Founded by Steve and Andi Rosenstein, the couple behind The Duce, the workout wear label and its CenPho storefront offer outfits that’ll look great at spin class, brunch, and while you stress your way through a Trader Joe’s trip. We’re partial to the drapey hoodies, lightweight dusters, and super-soft leggings. But regardless of the piece you pick, it’s all but guaranteed to be comfy, casual, and stylish without being showy. Which, you know, is the whole point of athleisure.

Listen up, parents. St. Francis doesn’t just have one kids’ menu. No, Aaron Chamberlin’s hip central Phoenix eatery has two: lunch and dinner and brunch. The offerings are smart — healthy (simple fruit salad) and a little naughty (iron skillet chocolate-chip pancake). Chicken breast, cheese pizza, a “big” hamburger with fries — it’s hard to imagine that junior won’t be pleased. And, get this: Kids 12 and under eat for free. So order an extra Dark and Stormy cocktail, because gray skies are gonna clear up around the dinner table. And if not, ask to be seated upstairs, where it’s a little noisier than the rest of the restaurant. (You’re welcome.)

It is not easy to find Dick’s Hideaway on 16th Street. Even when you do know what you’re looking for, don’t be embarrassed if you walk by it a couple of times before you realize that those doors with the iron bars on them are actually the entrance to a tiny restaurant where it’s best to sit at the bar. Once you’re inside, don’t even bother with the small side room or the hightops. Just pull up a bar stool and prepare to be treated like family by the bartenders. Whether it’s for brunch, lunch, happy hour, or dinner, the bar is where it’s at in Dick’s Hideaway. You’ll feel like a regular in no time.

We asked a hardcore hiker for his favorite early-morning hike — the one offering the best view of the sunrise. He laughed and replied, “The sun is the last thing I want to see on an early-morning hike!”

Buzzkill. But, hey, we get it. In Phoenix, it’s a race against the heat. So instead of a mountaintop, we have a different suggestion for getting a bird’s-eye view of the desert sunrise: a ride in a hot air balloon. There are several companies that offer rides at all times of the day — some even include a champagne brunch! — in different parts of the Valley, so we’ll leave the Googling to you. Enjoy the view and hold on tight.

Readers Choice: Camelback Mountain

“Snooze” might be in the name, but this Denver-based brunch spot is anything but boring. From the retro-futuristic design to the seasonal pancakes and eggs Benedicts, Snooze makes the most important meal of the day one of the easiest to enjoy. The fact that it offers a nearly full bar and menu of morning cocktails also helps, and when it comes to Bloody Marys, the restaurant pulls out all the stops. There’s a classic Bloody Mary — called the Straight Up or Spicy — but also a list of more creative takes on your hangover’s best friend. We like the Gazpacho, made with cucumber and pepper and garlic-infused vodka, and the Boss Hog, a seriously upgraded Bloody that features bacon-infused bourbon with Snooze’s house Bloody mix.

You never know who you’ll run into at Great Wall Cuisine on Sunday mornings. We’ve seen local politicians, chefs, and everyone in between standing outside the unremarkable strip mall restaurant waiting for a table. The inevitably large and diverse Sunday crowd gathers and waits (sometimes for up to an hour) because Great Wall is the best place in metro Phoenix for Chinese brunch. If you’ve never had dim sum at Great Wall, the experience can be overwhelming. Immediately after you take your seat, cart after cart of delicate shrimp shumai, fried noodles, and gelatinous pigs feet will roll by — all you have to do is grab anything and everything you want to try. The noise, the crowd, and the unique flavors of the Chinese cuisine can be difficult to handle, but once you’ve mastered the art of dim sum-style dining, you’ll be addicted to the restaurant’s high quality and diverse spread.

When it comes to dog-friendly restaurants, O.H.S.O. takes the phrase to a new level. Lots of places will tolerate your four-legged friend, but few (if any) make your pooch feel as welcome as this Arcadia spot, the original O.H.S.O. location. Dog owners and their canines are openly encouraged to dine and drink on the restaurant’s spacious back patio, which even features booths equipped with carabiners for your pet’s leash. The décor also shows how much this place loves your pet, with framed photos of smiling pups covering much of the outdoor wall space. What’s more, every four-legged guest gets a bowl of water and a free dog treat, which are made with spent grain from the brewing process. We particularly love bringing our furry children to hang out during Sunday brunch, when we’ve seen as many as a dozen dogs of all sizes enjoying the scene.

Over at Vintage 95, the name says it all — it’s pretty much all about the wine. Sure, the cozy, swanky Chandler lounge serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, but for the Southeast Valley’s wine connoisseurs, this spot is the ideal place to geek out. With a 13-page list of wines sold both by the bottle and by the glass, there’s a lot to peruse. Do you go for a bottle of Arizona Stronghold or a glass of Roux Père & Fils’ Chardonnay? It might take you a while to mull over the full list, but immersing yourself in the selection of local, domestic, and international wines in red, white, and rosé definitely is an adventure worth exploring.

Just about everybody likes a Pimm’s Cup. That’s because the gin liqueur-based drink is light and fresh with either lemonade or ginger beer, citrus slices, and cucumber. During brunch at Windsor, you can get all that cocktail goodness super-sized to pitcher quantity for just $5 — pretty much the most outrageously good deal on cocktails in town. Garnished with fresh mint, the drink is totally refreshing. Unfortunately, it’s only on the menu weekends from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., but you can’t really expect a deal that good to be available all the time. Plus, Pimm’s Cup is a great brunch drink, and a whole pitcher of it means there’s maybe even enough to share with your brunch companions.

You, the reader, have spoken. Thousands of you voted in our Readers Poll and chose your favorite places to eat, drink, dance, hike, shop, and generally recreate. Here it is, Phoenix, your choices in the 2014 Best of Phoenix Readers Poll. Let the discussions begin:

MEGALOPOLITAN LIFE

Best Urban Legend | Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine

Best Arts Festival | First Friday

Best Music Festival | McDowell Mountain Music Fest

Best Culinary Festival | Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Best Beer Festival | Oktoberfest (Tempe)

Best Casino | Talking Stick Resort

Best Independent Movie Theater | Harkins Camelview 5

Best Luxury Movie Theater | AMC Esplanade

Best Place to Be Seen |Crescent Ballroom

Best Art Gallery | Phoenix Art Museum

Best First Friday Hangout | Angels Trumpet Ale House

Best Graffiti Artist | Dumperfoo

Best Mural | Angels Trumpet Ale House

Best Phoenician to Follow on Instagram | Moon Mermaid

Best Phoenician to Follow on Twitter | Rustlers Rooste

Best Politician | Kyrsten Sinema

Best TV Newscaster | Lin Sue Cooney

Best News Radio Station | KTAR 92.3 FM

Best Spoken-Word Series | AZ Storytellers

Best Library | Burton Barr

FUN & GAMES

Best Hiking Trail | Camelback Mountain

Best Rock Climbing Gym | AZ on the Rocks

Best Go-Karts | K-1 Speed

Best Hotel Pool | The Clarendon Hotel

Best Water Park |Wet ‘n’ Wild

Best Golf Course | The Phoenician

GOODS & SERVICES

Best Coffee House | Lux

Best Coffee Roaster | Cartel Coffee Lab

Best Farmers Market | Downtown Phoenix Public Market

Best Place to Buy Wine | Total Wine

Best Liquor Store | Total Wine

Best Head Shop | Sky High Smoke Shop

Best Medical Marijuana Edibles | Giving Tree

Best Medical Marijuana Concentrates | Giving Tree

Best Customer Perks at a Medical Marijuana Dispensary | Giving Tree

Best Nursery | Moon Valley Nursery | Best Spa | Camelback Inn

Best Record Store for CDs | Zia Record Exchange

Best Record Store for Vinyl | Zia Record Exchange

Best Boutique | Frances

Best Place to Buy Vintage Clothing | Buffalo Exchange

Best Place to Buy High-End Antiques | Brass Armadillo

Best Place to Buy Antiques on a Budget | Brass Armadillo

Best Art Supply Store | Arizona Art Supply

Best Shopping on Mill Avenue | Hippie Gypsy

Best Shopping on Roosevelt Row | MADE

Best Shopping on Grand Avenue | 11th Monkey

Best Mall | Scottsdale Fashion Square

Best Bookstore | Changing Hands

Best Comic Book Shop | Gotham City Comics

Best Used Bookstore | Bookmans

LA VIDA

Best Upscale Mexican Restaurant | Barrio Cafe

Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant | Valle Luna

Best Burrito | Carolina’s

Best Tacos | Valle Luna

Best Tortillas | Carolina’s

Best Salsa | Valle Luna

Best Latin Club | Karamba

Best Margarita | Z’Tejas

FOOD

Best Chef | Silvana Salcido Esparza (Barrio Cafe)

Best Food Truck | Short Leash Hot Dogs

Best Place to Take a Foodie | Quiessence

Best Place to Take a Scenester | Crescent Ballroom

Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner | The Farm at South Mountain

Best Authentic Arizona Restaurant | Los Dos Molinos

Best Downtown Lunch | Phoenix Public Market Cafe

Best Sunday Brunch | The Vig

Best Seafood | The Salt Cellar

Best BBQ | Honey Bear’s BBQ

Best Steak House | Durant’s

Best French Restaurant | Vincent on Camelback

Best Vietnamese Restaurant | Pho Thanh

Best Thai Restaurant | Thai Basil

Best Japanese Restaurant | RA Sushi

Best Chinese Restaurant | P.F. Chang’s

Best Indian Restaurant | Tandoori Times

Best Mediterranean Restaurant | Pita Jungle

Best Jewish Deli | Chompie’s

Best German Restaurant | Haus Murphy’s

Best Italian Restaurant | Oregano’s

Best Italian Deli | DeFalco’s Italian Eatery

Best Gourmet Pizza | Pizzeria Bianco

Best Pizza Slice | NYPD Pizza

Best Wings | Long Wong’s

Best Grilled Cheese| 2 Fat Guys Food Truck

Best Hot Dog | Ted’s Hot Dogs

Best Hamburger | Smashburger

Best Sushi | RA Sushi

Best Crepes | Crepe Bar

Best Vegetarian Restaurant | Pita Jungle

Best Vegan Restaurant | Green

Best Gluten-Free Bakery | Jewel’s Bakery and Cafe

Best Bakery | Chompie’s

Best Cupcake | Sprinkles

Best Candy Store | See’s

Best Ice Cream | Cold Stone Creamery

Best Place for a First Date | Postino

Best Restaurant for Kids | Sweet Tomatoes

Best Place to Dine with Your Dog | O.H.S.O.

Best View | Camelback Mountain

Best Patio Dining | The Vig

Best Place to Eat at the Bar| Valle Luna

Best Hangover Breakfast | Matt’s Big Breakfast

NIGHTLIFE

Best Place for a Twilight Drink | Hanny’s

Best Happy Hour | The Vig

Best Local Beer | Four Peaks’ Kiltlifter

Best Seasonal Beer | Four Peaks’ Pumpkin Porter

Best Brewery | Four Peaks

Best Wine Bar | Postino

Best Sangria | La Grande Orange

Best Bloody Mary | The Vig

Best Old School Cocktails | Durant’s

Best Bartender | Samantha Young (Rosie McCaffrey’s)

Best DJ | John Holmberg

Best Radio Morning Show | John Jay and Rich

Best Alternative/Rock Radio Station | KUPD 97.9 FM

Best R&B Radio Station | KZON 101.5 FM

Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station | KJZZ 91.5 FM

Best Country Radio Station | KMLE 107.9 FM

Best Venue for Local Acts | Crescent Ballroom

Best Venue for National Acts | Crescent Ballroom

Best Nightclub |Crescent Ballroom

Best Blues Club | Rhythm Room

Best Country and Western Nightspot | Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Best Weekly Dance Night | Obscura at Rips

Best Dance Floor | Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Best Gay Bar | Charlie’s

Best Lesbian Bar | Bliss ReBar

Best Dive Bar| Bikini Lounge

Best English Pub | George & Dragon

Best Irish Pub | Rosie McCaffrey’s

Best Sports Bar | Zipps Sports Grill

Best After-Hours | Welcome Diner

Best Bar for Day Drinking | The Vig

Wake up! It’s a new day — and last night seems to be ruining it with the gift of a massive hangover. Never fear, Dick’s Hideaway is here to smack the sick right out of you. Dick’s take on the classic brunch cocktail is kicked up with a hefty dose of spice in the tomato juice mixture prepared special by the chefs at Dick’s sister restaurant, Rokerij. Added to Pinnacle vodka and garnished with lime, pickled asparagus, and celery, this Bloody Mary is in a league of its own when it comes to flavor. But the best part of this Bloody Mary experience is the shot of beer to chase the spicy concoction. It totally balances out the heat and eases you back into the normally functioning world, being the good cop to the cocktail’s bad-cop cure.

Locally crafted coffee and fresh-made breakfast and brunch items might seem out of place on the fast food and chain-ridden intersection of Seventh Avenue and McDowell, but thanks to owner DJ Fernandes (Tuck Shop, Astor House), they’re a breath of fresh air that we hope stays in the neighborhood. From crunchy-coated Portuguese doughnuts to New Orleans-style French toast drizzled with whiskey caramel sauce to a Mexican Benedict, Vovomeena’s menu reads like a culinary travelogue — one whose dishes you’ll enjoy consuming in a lively space and over a cup of Japanese cold-brewed iced coffee.

This cheery, mother-daughter eatery in Ahwatukee serves up big, bursting-with-color dishes of fresh vegetables and grains, fruit-packed smoothies and veggie juices, and an ever-changing array of homemade sweet treats. There are very good lunch and dinner items here — like bulky “Rainbow” wraps, a lively, Southwestern-inspired blue corn taco salad, and a nutty and spicy stir-fry called the Dragon. Brunch, featuring dishes like a light but hearty Lumberjack sandwich and egg or tofu scrambles with veggies, is worth noting as well. And (bonus) in addition to the all-vegetarian — and very often vegan — menu, there are gluten-free and raw options as well.

One of the Valley’s best-kept secrets, the Roastery of Cave Creek was started by Dave Anderson as a small operation that roasted estate-grown organic coffee for some of the best local restaurants. Chances are you’ve sipped this expertly roasted coffee once or twice without even knowing it. If you have had a cup of joe with your breakfast or brunch at Matt’s Big Breakfast, Bertha’s Café, or Vovomeena, you have tasted the divine elixir that results from these exceptional coffee beans. There are several single varietals and blends available from ROC2, but they all have in common a great sense of balance, full-bodied flavor, and rich smoothness. These beans can be purchased directly at the roastery or by e-mailing orders@therocc.me. The blend made especially for Bertha’s Café can be purchased at the restaurant.

There are quite a few accessible hikes for all ages and levels within the big city, including a handful at South Mountain, but for beginners to experience the best that a day hike has to offer (without feeling so much strain that it brings on feelings of loathing for the outdoors), a trip to McDowell Mountain Preserve is in order. It takes about an hour to drive to this sprawling park way out east in Scottsdale, but it’s well worth the time to traverse the 40 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback-riding trails. Aptly named, the Scenic Trail takes hikers through a 3.5-mile meandering path that begins in easy washes and then gently slopes up and through the Lousley Hills. As you follow the loop, you’ll stumble on incredible sights like the silhouette of Four Peaks in the distance, the lush land surrounding the nearby Verde River, and classic Sonoran Desert features like fallen saguaro. After a couple hours of hiking, sprawl out for a picnic in the ramadas near the trailhead, or swing through Fountain Hills to quickly get back to civilization and stop for brunch.

You, the reader, have spoken. Thousands of you voted in our Readers Poll and chose your favorite places to eat, drink, dance, hike, shop, and generally recreate. Here it is, Phoenix, your choices in the 2013 Best of Phoenix Readers Poll:

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT

Best Alternative/Rock Radio Station: 98 KUPD

Best Arts Festival: First Fridays

Best Blues Club: Rhythm Room

Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: KJZZ 91.5

Best Country and Western Nightspot: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Best Country Radio Station: KMLE 107.9

Best Dance Floor: Crescent Ballroom

Best Dive Bar: Yucca Tap Room

Best Dubstep DJ: DJ J.Paul

Best First Friday Hangout: Bud’s Glass Joint

Best Gay Bar: Bliss/reBar

Best Graffiti Artist: Lalo Cota

Best Hip-Hop DJ: DJ Madd Rich

Best Hipster DJ: Djentrification

Best House DJ: Pete Salaz

Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5

Best Latin Club: Karamba

Best Latin DJ: DJ Kyko

Best Lesbian Bar: Cash Inn Country

Best Local Band: Jimmy Eat World

Best Mural: Barrio Café

Best Music Festival: McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Best New Nightclub: Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

Best News Radio Station: KJZZ 91.5 FM

Best Oldies Radio Station: 94.5 KOOL FM

Best Place to Be Seen: Crescent Ballroom

Best Place to See a Comedy Show: Tempe Improv

Best Politician: Kyrsten Sinema

Best R&B/Hip-Hop Radio Station: Power 98.3 FM

Best Radio Morning Show: John Jay and Rich (104.7 FM)

Best TV Newscaster: Lin Sue Cooney

Best Venue for Local Acts: Crescent Ballroom

Best Venue for National Acts: Crescent Ballroom

Best Vintage Nightclub: Durant’s

Best Weekly Dance Night: Tongue Tied at Apollo’s

FOOD and DRINK

Best After-Hours: Denny’s

Best Authentic Arizona Restaurant: Carolina’s Mexican Food

Best Bakery: Paradise Bakery & Café

Best BBQ: Honey Bear’s BBQ

Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Chinese Restaurant: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Best Culinary Festival: Scottsdale Culinary Festival 

Best Cupcake: Tammie Coe Cakes

Best Downtown Lunch: Pita Jungle

Best English Pub: George & Dragon Pub

Best Farmers Market: Downtown Phoenix Public Market

Best Food Truck: Short Leash Hot Dogs

Best French Restaurant: Coup Des Tartes

Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphy’s

Best Gluten-Free Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Gourmet Pizza: Pizzeria Bianco

Best Grilled Cheese: The Grilled Cheese Food Truck

Best Hamburger: Smashburger 

Best Hangover Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast

Best Health Food Store: Sprouts Farmers Market

Best Hot Dog: Ted’s Hot Dogs

Best Ice Cream: Cold Stone Creamery

Best Indian Restaurant: Delhi Palace

Best Irish Pub: Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant

Best Italian Deli: DeFalco’s Italian Deli & Grocery

Best Italian Restaurant: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro

Best Japanese Restaurant: RA Sushi

Best Jewish Deli: Chompie’s

Best Margarita: Z’Tejas

Best Martini: Durant’s

Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best New Restaurant: Queen Creek Olive Mill

Best Patio Dining: House of Tricks

Best Pizza Slice: NYPD Pizza

Best Place for a First Date: Cibo Urban Wine Café & Pizzeria

Best Place for a Twilight Drink: Postino

Best Place to take a Foodie: Queen Creek Olive Mill

Best Place to Take a Scenester: Crescent Ballroom

Best Restaurant for Kids: Peter Piper Pizza

Best Salsa: Valle Luna Mexican Restaurants

Best Sangria: Chelsea’s Kitchen 

Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar Restaurant   

Best Specialty Cocktail: Citizen Public House

Best Steak House: Durant’s 

Best Sunday Brunch: La Grande Orange Grocery 

Best Sushi: RA Sushi

Best Tacos: America’s Taco Shop 

Best Thai Restaurant: Thai Basil 

Best Tortillas: Carolina’s Mexican Food

Best Upscale Mexican Restaurant: Barrio Café

Best Vegan Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Pho Thanh Restuarant

Best View: Camelback Mountain

Best Vintage Restaurant: Durant’s

Best Wine Bar: Postino Wine Café

Best Wings: Native New Yorker

SHOPPING and SERVICES

Best Art Supply Store: Arizona Art Supply

Best Bookstore: Changing Hands

Best CD Store: Zia Record Exchange

Best Comic Book Shop: Gotham City Comics

Best Mall: Scottsdale Fashion Square 

Best Nursery: Moon Valley Nursery

Best Place to Buy Antiques on a Budget: My Sister’s Attic 

Best Place to Buy High-End Antiques: Brass Armadillo Antique Mall

Best Place to Buy Wine by the Bottle: Total Wine & More

Best Spa: Dolce Salon & Spa 

Best Vintage Boutique: Sweet Salvage

Best Vinyl Store: Zia Record Exchange

SPORTS and RECREATION

Best Casino: Talking Stick Resort

Best Go Karts: K1 Speed

Best Golf Course: Arizona Biltmore

Best Hiking Trail: Piestewa Peak Summit Trail

Best Hotel Pool: The Phoenician

Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club

Best Rock Climbing Gym: AZ on the Rocks

Best Valley Sports Legend: Pat Tillman

Best Water Park: Wet n’ Wild Waterpark

A rough day, a hot afternoon, a leisurely brunch — we’d be hard-pressed not to come up with an excuse to suck down a margarita. But in any and all of the above cases, it’d better be good.

Gallo Blanco bartenders shake up a variety of margaritas with grapefruit juice, jalapeño, prickly pear, and Grand Marnier, but we prefer to stick to what’s old-school and proven to last. At Gallo, that’s the Margarita Classico. The classico has two ingredients: fresh-squeezed citrus and Sauza tequila. (Okay, and the truly mandatory salt on the rim.) But those two ingredients are hard to get right — and because Gallo Blanco does, we’ll forever be coming up with excuses to go back.

Lucky for us, the fire that took down the original location of Richardson’s in 2009 spared the kitchen, meaning its secluded spillover lounge, Dick’s Hideaway, could keep on serving up its crazy-good New Mexican fare for breakfast. Breakfast is served every day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and diners can grab one of the few available seats (and get familiar with their neighbors, fast) before selecting from platefuls of exceptional eats like pork chops braised in green chile with eggs, huevos rancheros, homemade green chile meatloaf, or one of several kinds of eggs Benedict (go with the stellar carne adovada version with jalapeño Hollandaise sauce). On the weekends, you’ll find the same menu for brunch at the new Richardson’s and adjacent Rokerij restaurants just up the street. Bonus.

Café Monarch is untraditional in terms of restaurants, in that it’s a one-man show that’s as much an experience as it is a fine-dining restaurant. That one man is Chef Christopher Van Arsdale, and his mission is to create fresh and innovative American cuisine that caters to the needs of each guest. He’s your chef, your waiter, and your busboy all wrapped up in a gracious package. Enjoy your meal on the garden patio or inside the small dining room, where you can watch him bustle around the kitchen. During brunch, you’ll get one of two choices: sweet or savory. Like candied ginger atop baked almond French toast with almond butter and fresh blueberry sauce. Or a goat cheese-packed egg strata with spinach, roasted artichoke hearts, and basil-chicken sausage on the side. Light lunches make use of seasonal produce, with dishes like baked goat cheese and berries, turkey breast panini with orange cranberry relish, and chicken basil salads with heirloom tomatoes. The main event, though, is family-style dinner, like chutney-dressed lamb chops, garlic rosemary braised short ribs, and smoky barbecue pork tenderloin. Be forewarned, it’s BYOB, and you might want to make sure you take advantage of this, because a one-man show tends to move at a slower clip than a fully staffed kitchen. Go, at first, for the experience, but we guarantee it’s the food that will have you returning for more.

John Sagasta gave new meaning to the term “kick it up a notch” when he ditched Conspire (the anarchist, vegan doughnut-shilling commune) down the street to open his own joint, Jobot. Jobot’s nothing fancy, just a narrow coffee bar with a shaded, misted patio. But with peeling paint, concert fliers, a chalkboard menu, and the best crêpes and coffee in town, it’s got all the elements necessary to satisfy even your friends who’ve upped and moved to Portland (but who somehow show up back in town all the time). Come by for a nutella/banana crêpe, or maybe chorizo (meat lovers are welcome here), or go whole hog and wait for Beats and Brunch, Jobot’s Sunday brunch event soon to make a comeback (details on Jobot’s website). And keep an eye out for Nachobot, the nacho bar Sagasta plans to open next door.

Bring a group of friends to Phoenix Palace to experience the ultimate in Chinese brunches — dim sum. Har gow, shu mai, char siu bao, dan tat. To the uninitiated, this list may just look like a jumble of syllables. To those who enjoy good dim sum, that list is anything but unintelligible. Delicate har gow rice-wrapped shrimp balls, steamed shu mai dumplings, snowy char siu bao buns filled with tender barbecued pork, and eggy custard-filled dan tat tarts are all pitched by ladies pushing carts loaded to the max with these delights and more. Enjoy the hot tea, engage in a good amount of pointing (to bridge the language barrier), and don’t be afraid to try new things, because most dishes on the menu are about three bucks. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to tackle the chicken feet.

You can drink a bloody Mary any time of the day, but the optimum time is mid-morning, just after you’ve somehow managed to get out of bed, hangover headache pounding, and showed up a few minutes late to that brunch date you poorly scheduled the day before. “Hair of the dog” doesn’t sound appetizing, but in the hands of the Vig Uptown’s capable bartenders, the morning-after elixir is something special. Garnished with lemon, lime, olives, and liberally peppered, the Vig’s take on the classic a.m. drink hits like a punch to the face — a delicious, spicy, invigorating punch in the face. We suppose you don’t have to be in the throes of last night’s indiscretions to enjoy one of these babies, but it certainly helps.

Have you been to a secret supper club? And we don’t mean one of those quasi-secret-but-everyone-on-Twitter-knows-about-it events that keep popping up like, well, pop-ups. We mean really secret. Like, don’t-tell-the-health-department secret.

If not, you might want to try to hook up with Chef Woody (a.k.a. Forrest Rosh), who’s been throwing dinner parties in his mother’s North Phoenix backyard since last November.

Rosh, 22, is a graduate of Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale. He’s worked at the Wrigley Mansion and the House at Secret Garden. He knows his way around a professional kitchen. But one day he decided to go basic. He made a web site and put up some flyers. No specifics about the menu were given. Through word of mouth, 25 people made a “suggested donation” of $40 on PayPal, BYOB’d it, and found their way to a seven-course meal in Eduarda’s backyard. The place settings came from Goodwill, but no one skimped on the food. That first menu included cold and hot soup shooters, pork belly cilantro salad, a cheese board, warm butternut squash and arugula salad, sorbet intermezzo, salmon cakes, hanger steak with mac ‘n’ cheese and Brussels sprouts, and finally a semifreddo for dessert. The meal went on for three hours.

Since Woody’s Underground is not a restaurant, Rosh cannot charge money, tax, or tip for the experience, and he and his family do not have any relationships with health inspectors, fire marshals, or PR agencies. Think of it as a dinner party for strangers. At the end of the first evening, the family broke even. They considered it a smashing success.

Preparation and service is a family affair. Rosh uses nothing more than the standard fridge and sink, a four-burner stove, and a lot of organization to pull it all off. His sister helps with the management, and a slew of teenage cousins are brought in to bus, plate, and clean. While space is a challenge at times, careful planning has made everything work so far.

The second event was a brunch, which attracted more guests, followed by an all-you-can-eat pasta supper designed to reach a broader demographic. But with space for just 40 in Mom’s backyard, Chef Woody’s going to have to get creative.

He’s been thinking ahead. For his meals, Rosh relies on local farms and retailers as much as possible and presents a list of his suppliers to the guests in hopes of promoting their businesses. He also is hoping to start a vegan line of baked goods to sell at local small business and farmers markets — Woody’s Goodies.

As fall approaches and the temperature cools, Rosh is beginning to plan the next backyard events, and considering hosting events at other private homes. Instead of planning bigger parties, the goal for the moment is to keep things small. You know, underground.

Best Sports Bar, Downtown Phoenix: Alice Cooper’s Town

Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam

Best Lesbian Bar: Amsterdam

Best Martini: AZ 88

Best Bookstore: Barnes & Noble

Best TV Newscaster: Beverly Kidd

Best Pop-Up Restaurant: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Downtown Lunch: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Take a Foodie: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Happy Hour, Central Phoenix: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Happy Hour, Downtown Phoenix: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Neighborhood Bar, Central Phoenix: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Neighborhood Bar, Downtown Phoenix: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Upscale Mexican Restaurant: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Margarita: Black Chile Mexican Grill

Best Vintage Clothing: Buffalo Exchange

Best Spa: Camelback Inn

Best Hiking Trail: Camelback Mountain

Best Independent Film Theater: Camelview 5

Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant, South Phoenix: Carolina’s

Best Coffee House, Tempe: Cartel Coffee Lab

Best Neighborhood Bar, Tempe: Casey Moore’s Oyster House

Best Venue to See National Acts: Celebrity Theatre

Best Ice Cream: Cold Stone Creamery

Best Dive Bar: The Coach House

Best Music Festival: Country Thunder

Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo

Best Italian Deli: DeFalco’s Italian Eatery

Best Indian Restaurant: Delhi Palace

Best Latin DJ: DJ Kyko

Best Hip-Hop DJ: DJ Madd Rich

Best Steak House Durant’s

Best Place for a Twilight Drink: Elements at Sanctuary

Best First Friday Hangout: Firehouse

Best New Restaurant: Firehouse

Best Happy Hour, Scottsdale: Firehouse

Best Sports Bar, Scottsdale: Firehouse

Best New Nightclub: Firehouse

Best Dance Floor: Firehouse

Best Weekly Dance Night: Firehouse

Best Neighborhood Bar, Scottsdale: Firehouse

Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Firehouse

Best After-Hours Scottsdale: Firehouse

Best Place to Be Seen: Firehouse

Best Arts Festival: First Friday

Best Gastropub: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Happy Hour, Tempe: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Sports Bar, Tempe: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Local Beer: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best Politician: Gabrielle Giffords

Best Sports Bar, South Phoenix: Gallagher’s

Best English Pub: George & Dragon

Best Sunday Brunch: The Good Egg

Best Antiques on a Budget: Goodwill

Best Comic Book Shop: Gotham City Comics

Best Happy Hour, North Phoenix: Half Moon Sports Grill

Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphy’s

Best Art Supply Store: Hobby Lobby

Best Barbecue Restaurant: Honey Bear’s

Best Morning Radio Show: JohnJay & Rick KISS 104.7

Best Alternative/Rock Radio Station: KEXX 103.9

Best Hip-Hop Radio Station: KISS 104.7 FM

Best Country Radio Station: KMLE 107.9

Best Happy Hour, Southeast Phoenix: Kona Grill

Best News Radio Station: KTAR 92.3

Best Jazz & Blues Band: KYOT 95.5 FM

Best Sangria: La Grande Orange

Best Graffiti Artist: Lindsay Monti

Best Neighborhood, Mexican Restaurant,Scottsdale: Los Olivos

Best Vegan Restaurant: Loving Hut

Best Coffee House, Downtown Phoenix: Lux

Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant,Tempe: Macayo’s

Best Venue for Local Acts: Marquee Theatre

Best Hangover Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast

Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club

Best Wings: Native New Yorker

Best Sports Bar, Southeast Valley: Native New Yorker

Best Slice of Pizza: NYPD Pizza

Best Italian Restaurant: Oregano’s

Best Mural: Oregano’s

Best Chinese Restaurant: P.F. Chang’s

Best Restaurant for Kids: Peter Piper’s Pizza

Best Pet Groomer: PetSmart

Best Hotel Pool: The Phoenician

Best Way to be Gluten-Free: Picazzo’s Organic Italian Kitchen

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Gourmet Pizza: Pizzeria Bianco

Best Place for a First Date: Postino Winecafe

Best Wine Bar: Postino Winecafe

Best Japanese Restaurant: RA Sushi

Best Blues Club: The Rhythm Room

Best Irish Pub: Rosie McCaffney’s

Best View: Rustler’s Rooste

Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar

Best Neighborhood Bar, Southeast Valley: SanTan Brewing Company

Best Sports Bar, North Phoenix: Santisi Brothers

Best Sports Bar, West Valley: Santisi Brothers

Best Specialty Cocktail: Santisi Brothers

Best Neighborhood Bar, North Phoenix: Santisi Brothers

Best Neighborhood Bar, West Valley: Santisi Brothers

Best Culinary Festival: Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Best Mall: Scottsdale Fashion Square

Best Latin Night: Sky Lounge

Best Hamburger: Smashburger

Best French Restaurant: Sophie’s Bistro

Best Cupcakes: Sprinkles

Best Health Food Store: Sprouts

Best Coffee House, South Phoenix: Starbucks

Best Coffee House, North Phoenix: Starbucks

Best Coffee House, Central Phoenix: Starbucks

Best Coffee House, West Valley: Starbucks

Best Coffee House, Southeast Valley: Starbucks

Best Coffee House, Scottsdale: Starbucks

Best Sushi: Stingray Sushi

Best Casino: Talking Stick Resort

Best Bakery: Tammie Coe Cakes

Best Hot Dog: Ted’s Hot Dogs

Best Place to See a Comedy Show: Tempe Improv

Best Country and Western Nightspot: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Best Place to Buy Wine by the Bottle: Total Wine & More

Best Golf Course: Troon North

Best Neighborhood, Mexican Restaurant, North Phoenix: Valle Luna

Best Neighborhood, Mexican Restaurant, West Valley: Valle Luna

Best Neighborhood, Mexican Restaurant, Southeast Valley: Valle Luna

Best Place to take a Scenester: The Vig

Best Place to Be Seen: W Hotel Scottsdale

Best Local Band: Whiskey Six

Best Thai Restaurant: Wild Thaiger

Best CD Store: Zia Record Exchange

Best Happy Hour, South Phoenix: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Happy Hour, West Valley: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Sports Bar, Central Phoenix: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Neighborhood Bar, South Phoenix: Zipps Sports Grill

During our probably-too-long drinking career, the bloody Mary had ranked near the bottom of our desired beverage list, hovering somewhere around a Smoker’s Phlegm (Jägermeister and mayonnaise) in the gross department. That’s until we hit up Carly’s Bistro during its weekend brunch and ordered the eatery’s version of the drink, which includes V8, vodka, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, pickle and olive juices, various spices, horseradish, and hot sauce. And, wow, Carly’s version of this hair-of-the-dog remedy actually rocks, especially when a lovely bartender by the name of Ann makes the beverage.

What’s the secret to success for this always-hoppin’ winebar (which cloned itself last year, yet still has its mojo)? Somehow, the folks at Postino have found the sweet spot of style, service, and accessible food, whether you’re talking a lively weekend brunch with friends, after-work vino and a bite, or a cozy, candlelit meal with a date. The selection of salads, bruschetta, cheeses, and sandwiches is simple but perfectly suited to go with one of the wines from the eclectic rotating menu; you can also buy by the bottle and take a little bit of the fun vibe home with you. Cheers to the good life at Postino.

RESTAURANTS

Best (Smoothie) Boost: Jamba Juice

Best New Restaurant: Jimmy’s of Chicago

Best Mexican Restaurant: Los Dos Molinos

Best Italian Restaurant: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro

Best Thai Restaurant: Thai Basil

Best Indian Restaurant: Delhi Palace

Best Japanese Restaurant: Ra Sushi

Best Chinese Restaurant: Flo’s

Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Little Saigon

Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphy’s

Best French Restaurant: Vincent on Camelback

Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best English Pub: George & Dragon Pub

Best Irish Pub: Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub

Best Pizza: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro

Best Chocolate: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Best Gourmet Bakery: Sprinkles Cupcakes

Best Place for a Frozen Treat: Cold Stone Creamery

Best Coffee House: Lux Coffee Bar

Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar Restaurant

Best Sushi: Ra Sushi

Best Deli: Chompie’s

Best Steak House: Durant’s

Best Fine Dining: Durant’s

Best Wings: Native New Yorker

Best BBQ: Honey Bear’s BBQ

Best Hamburger: Five Guys Burgers & Fries

Best Hot Dog: Ted’s Hot Dogs

Best Sunday Brunch: The Farm at South Mountain

Best Downtown Lunch: My Florist Café

Best Place for a First Date: House of Tricks

Best Place for a Twilight Drink: Sanctuary

Best Wine Selection: Postino Winecafé

Best Margarita: Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill

Best Martini: Blue Martini

Best Hangover Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast

Best View: Rustler’s Rooste

Best Patio Dining: The Farm at South Mountain

Best Restaurant for Kids: Rainforest Cafe

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Udupi Café

Best Vegan Restaurant: Green

PHOENIX LIFESTYLE

Best Protector of Our City: Phoenix Police Department

Best Superhero: Steve Nash

Best Fight for Justice: New Times

Best Costume Shop: Easley’s Fun Shop

Best Place to Tone Up: LA Fitness

Best Place to Soup Up a Getaway Car: Vivid Racing

Best Place to Sharpen Your Fighting Skills: AZ Combat Sports

Best TV Newscaster: Mark Curtis

Best News Station: KSAZ Fox 10

Best Alternative/Rock Radio Station: X103.9 FM

Best Country Radio Station: KMLE Country 108

Best R&B/Hip-Hop Radio Station: 104.7 KISS FM

Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: 95.5 KYOT

Best Radio Morning Show: Johnjay and Rich

Best Golf Course: Biltmore Golf Club

Best Spa: Dolce Salon & Spa

Best Salon: Dolce Salon & Spa

Best Bookstore: Changing Hands Bookstore

Best Hiking Trail: Echo Canyon — Camelback Mountain

Best Hotel Pool: JW Marriott Desert Ridge

Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5

Best Place to Get Pierced: Club Tattoo

Best Tattoo Shop: Club Tattoo

Best Paintball: Tempe Paintball

Best First Friday Hangout: The Roosevelt

Best Place to Buy Vintage Clothing: Buffalo Exchange

Best Place to Buy Antiques: Brass Armadillo

Best Place to Buy Wine by the Bottle: Total Wine & More

Best Casino: Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino

Best Annual Event: Arizona Renaissance Festival

Best Pet Groomer: Wag N’ Wash

Best Health Food Store: Sprouts

Best Med-Spa: Red Mountain Med Spa

Best Mall or Shopping Center: Scottsdale Fashion Square

Best Yoga Studio: Urban Yoga

Best Comic Book Shop: Atomic Comics

MUSIC and NIGHTLIFE

Best Place to Find a Damsel in Distress: Dos Gringos

Best Place to Witness a Costumed Pub Crawl: Mill Avenue

Best Rooftop View: Clarendon Hotel

Best Bar Concept: Sandbar

Best Nightclub: Axis/Radius

Best Local DJ: DJ Rocko

Best Weekly Dance Night: Thursdays at Margarita Rocks

Best Dance Floor: Devil’s Martini

Best Latin Club: Sky Lounge

Best Blues or Jazz Club: The Rhythm Room

Best Place to Buy Local Music: Zia Records

Best Venue for National Acts: Dodge Theatre

Best Venue for Local Acts: Marquee Theatre

Best Music Festival: Country Thunder

Best Place to See a Comedy Show: The Comedy Spot

Best After-Hours: Charlie’s

Best Country and Western Nightspot: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral

Best Bar for Watching the Game: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Sports Bar: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Dive Bar: Bikini Lounge

Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam

Best Lesbian Bar: zGirl Club

Best CD Store: Zia Records

Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club

Best Local Band: Whiskey Six

Best Bar for Conversation: Casey Moore’s Oyster House

Best Beer Selection: The Lost Leaf

Best Specialty Cocktail: White Rabbit at SideBar

Best Wine Bar: Postino Winecafe

Best Place to Be Seen: W Hotel

Best-Looking Bar Staff: Tilted Kilt

Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Dos Gringos

MOST POPULAR WRITE-IN CATEGORIES

Best Happy Hour: R Bar at Camelback Inn

Best Art Supply Store: Arizona Art Supply

Best Sunday Omelet: Buzzberry

Best Gluten-Free Restaurant: Nourish

Best Country Club: Arizona Country Club

The Dreamy Draw is a lovely place, but it’s not named for its oasis-like beauty. It earned the designation back in Phoenix’s Territorial days, when workers from the Rio Mercury Mine near Squaw Peak would wander the area in a daze, high on mercury fumes, after their shifts.

You’ll see that same thousand-yard stare on dust-covered folks who wander into this storied restaurant/watering hole on the Draw, but today’s victims are just a little pooped out from hiking the Peak, which is now, of course, called Piestewa.

And there’s nothing like two or three original hand-tossed margaritas and some fresh fish tacos on the foliage-choked patio at Aunt Chilada’s (which sits on the original site of the general store that served the Rio Mine) to snap a poor hiker back to reality.

Those who trek on weekend mornings can look forward to the special brunch menu, which includes a gurgling chocolate fountain. Yum.

Local Breeze owner Sid Campbell pays homage to the now-defunct Pischke’s (where he was a longtime cook) by bringing a laid-back touch of the tropics to the middle of this desert metropolis. Situated in the historic Cavness House, just beyond the heart of downtown, Local Breeze is the perfect antidote to a stressful day, especially if you sit on the sprawling patio. Here, you can while away a lunch hour or a balmy evening stretched out at a big table or lounging on a comfy couch, sipping an ice-cold “mojito” lemonade and feasting on casual American eats. Oversize salads, sandwiches, and burgers are just a few of the possibilities, along with weekend brunch. Sailing away to an island paradise may not be an option for most of us, but thankfully, we can always cruise over to Local Breeze.

Wine-lovers are the first to line up for good sangria, but getting a beer drinker to try the fruity wine cocktail is like getting a child to eat foie gras instead of chicken strips. That’s why we’re sold on Ticoz’s passion fruit sangria. Everyone we’ve cajoled into drinking the stuff — from our beer-swilling husbands to Harley-riding, whiskey-drinking Cousin Lou — can’t get enough. Cloudy magenta in color, Ticoz’s red sangria is made with Oak Creek Cabernet and a splash of real passion fruit, pineapple, and orange juices. The citrus notes are the highlight, masking the bitter taste some wine-haters complain about. It’s also light and refreshing enough to accompany Ticoz’s awesome weekend brunch. But don’t be fooled. It’s way too easy to down a couple or three of these before you even notice the buzz, so take your time and feel free to load up on Ticoz’s massive taco salads or a hearty gringo breakfast of chicken-apple sausage and farm eggs before driving home.

RESTAURANTS
Best New Restaurant: Liberty Market
Best Mexican Restaurant: Valle Luna
Best Italian Restaurant: Oreganos Pizza Bistro
Best Thai Restaurant: Thai Basil
Best Indian Restaurant: Delhi Palace
Best Japanese Restaurant: Ah-So Sushi and Steak
Best Chinese Restaurant: Flos Chinese
Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo Vietnamese Cuisine
Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphys German Restaurant
Best French Restaurant: Sophies A French Bistro
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Spices Mediterranean Kitchen
Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewery
Best English Pub: George & Dragon English Restaurant and Pub
Best Irish Pub: Rla Bla
Best Pizza: Oreganos Pizza Bistro
Best Gourmet Bakery: AJs Fine Foods
Best Chocolate: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Best Cupcakes: Sprinkles Cupcakes
Best Frozen Yogurt: Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt
Best Gelato: The Gelato Spot
Best Coffee House: Lux
Best Sushi: Zen 32
Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar Restaurant
Best Deli: Chompies
Best Steak House: Durants
Best Fine Dining: Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort
Best Wings: Native New Yorker
Best BBQ: Honey Bears BBQ
Best Hamburger: The Chuckbox
Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle
Best Sunday Brunch: The Phoenician
Best Downtown Lunch: Fez
Best View: Compass at Hyatt Regency Phoenix
Best Patio Dining: K ODonnells American Bar & Grill
Best Restaurant for Kids: Rainforest Cafe
Best Place for First Date: Caffe Boa (on Mill)
Best Place for a Twilight Drink: AZ 88
Best Hangover Breakfast: Over Easy

PHOENIX LIFESTYLE

Best Local Visionary: Jerry Colangelo

Best TV Newscaster: Beverly Kidd, KTVK

Best News Station: 12 News KPNX

Best Alternative/Rock Radio Station: 96.9 FM

Best Country Radio Station: 102.5 FM

Best R&B/Hip-Hop Radio Station: 104.7 FM

Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: 95.5 FM

Best Radio Morning Show: NPR Morning Edition KJZZ 91.5 FM

Best Golf Course: Troon North Golf Club

Best Spa: Camelback Inn

Best Bookstore: Changing Hands Bookstore

Best Hiking Trail: Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon

Best Hotel Pool: Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch

Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5

Best Place to Get Pierced: Club Tattoo

Best Tattoo Shop: Lady Luck Tattoo

Best First Friday Hangout: Bikini Lounge

Best Place to Buy Vintage Clothing: Buffalo Exchange

Best Place to Buy Antiques: Brass Armadillo Antique Mall

Best Casino: Casino Arizona

Best Health Food Store: Trader Joes

Best Mall or Shopping Center: Scottsdale Fashion Square

Best Yoga Studio: Inner Vision Yoga

NIGHTLIFE

Best Bar Concept: Cadillac Ranch

Best Nightclub: Martini Ranch

Best Local DJ: DJ Epidemic

Best Weekly Dance Night: Solstice Saturdays at Bar Smith

Best Dance Floor: Whiskey River

Best Latin Club: Sky Lounge

Best Blues or Jazz Club: The Rhythm Room

Best Place to Buy Local Music: Zia Records

Best Venue for National Acts: Dodge Theatre

Best Venue for Local Acts: Celebrity Theatre

Best Music Festival: Tempe Music Festival

Best Country and Western Nightspot: Toby Keiths I Love This Bar and Grill

Best Place to See a Comedy Show: Tempe Improv

Best After-Hours: Charlies

Best Bar for Watching the Game: Zipps Sports Grill

Best Local Band: Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers

Best Dive Bar: Yucca Tap Room

Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam

Best Lesbian Bar: Z Girl Club

Best Record Store: Zia Records

Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club

Best Bar for Conversation: Casey Moores

Best Wine Bar: Postino Winecaf

Best Sangria: Caffe Boa (on Mill)

Best Margarita: ZTejas Southwestern Grill

Best Martini: Blue Martini

Best Specialty Cocktail: Belgian Chocolate Infused Vodka Martini, Satara Thai Cuisine

Best Beer Selection: Yard House

Best Place to Be Seen: W Scottsdale

Best-Looking Bar Staff: Tilted Kilt Pub

Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Dos Gringos Most popular suggestions for categories we forgot:

Best Salon: JonRic International Salon & Day Spa

Best Healthy Restaurant: DLish Drive Thru

Best Happy Hour: The Lodge

Best Auto Performance Upgrades: Evolution Motorsports

If you’re tired of seeing the Suns lose, but you still want to see an NBA star in person, we’ve got just the place for you. We have it on insider knowledge that most visiting NBA teams and some NFL teams stay at one and only one hotel in Phoenix — the Ritz-Carlton at Camelback and 24th Street.

We’ve seen Phil Jackson in the bar, and we hear this is where Kobe Bryant gets his breakfast in bed when visiting Phoenix. Shaquille O’Neal may have even enjoyed the spa treatments here (before moving to Phoenix himself).

A single room can cost $1,200 a night at the Ritz, but you need not be an overnight guest to buy a drink at the bar or eat brunch in the restaurant — both of which are on the first floor. So next time you’re bored and you know a visiting NBA or NFL team is in town, head to the Ritz. You might just bump into somebody famous.

El Chorro Lodge is a bastion of old-school cool, the kind of place where you can rely on stiff cocktails, a leisurely Arizona-glam atmosphere, and classic dishes like shrimp Louie, sautéed chicken livers with bacon, tableside chateaubriand, or a glorious mesquite-broiled prime steak. But there’s something else worth going for, and it’s not on the menu. It’s El Chorro’s homemade sticky buns, so decadently memorable that they have a cult following. Once you taste these babies — they give you a basket of them at the beginning of each meal, no matter if it’s brunch or dinner — you’ll understand. They’re hot out of the oven, each soft swirl of dough soaked in a sweet, sticky glaze of butter and melted brown sugar. Every bite is ethereal, and it’s really hard to not to spoil our appetite when they land on our table. Ultimately, when forced to choose between finishing our steak or polishing off another sticky bun, we inevitably give in to gooey bliss.

RESTAURANTS
Best Shaved Ice: Bahama Bucks
Best Popcorn: Harkins Theatres
Best Funnel Cake: Arizona State Fair
Best Corn Dogs: Ted’s Hot Dogs
Best Cotton Candy: Arizona Diamondbacks (Chase Field)
Best Fry Bread: Fry Bread House
Best New Restaurant: Market Bistro at Kierland
Best Mexican Restaurant: Barrio Café
Best Italian Restaurant: Harley’s Italian Bistro
Best Thai Restaurant: Malee’s Thai Bistro
Best Indian Restaurant: Indian Delhi Palace
Best Japanese Restaurant: Hana Japanese Eatery
Best Chinese Restaurant: China Chili
Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo Vietnamese Cuisine
Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphy
Best French Restaurant: Sophie’s Bistro
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle
Best Brewery: Four Peaks
Best English Pub: George & Dragon
Best Irish Pub: Rúla Búla
Best Pizza: Spinato’s Pizza
Best Cupcakes: Sprinkles
Best Chocolate: Wicked Bakery
Best Gourmet Bakery: Wicked Bakery
Best Gelato: Gelato Spot
Best Coffee House: Lux Coffeebar
Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar
Best Salad Bar: Sweet Tomatoes
Best Deli: Dilly’s Deli
Best Steak House: Durant’s
Best Wings: Native New Yorker
Best Gourmet Salad: Market Bistro at Kierland
Best BBQ: Honey Bear’s BBQ
Best Hamburger: Delux
Best Sunday Brunch: The Phoenician
Best Downtown Lunch: zpizza
Best Place for a First Date: Harkins Theatres
Best Place for a Twilight Drink: Sanctuary
Best Margarita: Z’Tejas
Best Martini: AZ 88
Best Hangover Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast
Best View: elements at Sanctuary
Best Patio Dining: Oregano’s
Best Restaurant for Kids: Red Robin
Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Green
Best Vegan Restaurant: Green

PHOENIX LIFESTYLE
Best Makeup Boutique: MAC
Best Place to Get Pierced: Halo Precision Piercing
Best Tattoo Shop: Club Tattoo
Best Local Amusement: Castles -n- Coasters
Best Indoor Kart Racing: F1 Race Factory
Best Costume Shop: Easley’s Costume and Fun Shop
Best TV Newscaster: Mark Curtis
Best News Stations: Fox 10
Best Alternative Rock Station: KEDJ The Edge 103.9
Best Country Radio Station: KMLE Country 108
Best R&B/Hip-Hop Radio Station: KZZP 104.7 Kiss FM
Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: KJZZ 91.5
Best Radio Personality: Johnjay and Rich
Best Golf Course: Troon North
Best Spa: Camelback Inn
Best Manicure/Pedicure: White Lotus Salon and Spa
Best Bookstore: Changing Hands Bookstore
Best Hiking Trail: Camelback Mountain
Best Resort Pool: The Phoenician
Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5
Best First Fridays Hangout: The Lost Leaf
Best Place to Buy Vintage Clothes: Buffalo Exchange
Best Place to Buy Vintage Furniture: Retro Redux
Best Casino: Casino Arizona

NIGHTLIFE
Best Place to See a Comedy Show: The Comedy Spot
Best Place to See a Drag Show: Charlie’s
Best Arcade: Dave & Buster’s
Best Place to See a Magic Show: Tempe Improv
Best Burlesque: Scandalesque
Best Bar Concept: Poet Bar
Best Bar/Club Nightclub: La Femme Wednesdays at Six
Best Dance Club: Axis/Radius
Best Place to Buy Local Music: Zia Records
Best Club for Salsa: Pepin
Best Club for the Blues: Rhythm Room
Best Dance Floor: SKYE Fine Dining
Best Venue for National Acts: The Marquee Theatre
Best Venue for Local Acts: Modified Arts
Best After-Hours: Mickey’s Hangover
Best Country and Western Nightspot: Tom Ryan’s
Best Bar for Watching the Game: Santisi Brothers
Best Sports Bar: Zipps Sports Grill
Best Dive Bar: Bikini Lounge
Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam
Best Lesbian Bar: Cash Inn
Best CD Store: Zia Records
Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club
Best Local Band: A Boy Named Sioux
Best Bar for Conversation: Casey Moore’s Oyster House
Best Beer Selection: The Yardhouse
Best Place to Be Seen: Olive & Ivy
Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Iguana Mack’s

BEST SUGGESTIONS FOR A CATEGORY WE FORGOT…
Best Microdermabrasion: Celebrity Skin
Best MedSpa: Nu U MedSpa

Out on the town in Scottsdale? You can expect to wait in a long line, even after the sun comes up, particularly if you want to get into the hottest brunch spot. We’ve been known to ditch The Breakfast Club on a Saturday morning — the wait’s just too long for our delicate constitution — but if you’re intent on cinnamon challah French toast with a side of partied-hard scenesters, put in the time and you won’t regret it. The coffee’s strong, the vibe is hip, and hey, what else do you have to do? The clubs don’t open again for many hours.

No, you really can’t have too much of a good thing. Chef Vincent Guerithault clearly knew he had a winning formula with his long-running Saturday market, which takes place during nonsummer months in the parking lot outside of his eponymous fine-dining establishment. So, a few years ago, taking the idea a step further, he opened Vincent’s Market Bistro, right on the same property, giving fans of the market — and folks who weren’t up for a fancy feast next door — the chance to enjoy casual French fare all year long. Serving breakfast, lunch, early dinner, and weekend brunch, the kitchen turns out lovely salads, grilled fish and meat prepared Provenal-style, perfect omelets, and traditional dishes like tartiflette (a baked crock full of potatoes, Reblochon cheese, onions, ham, and bacon), as well as classic coq au vin. Complimentary croissants and dessert are thoughtful touches that turn any meal here into a delightful occasion.

RESTAURANTS

Best New Restaurant: Don Guido’s

Best Mexican Restaurant: Macayo’s

Best Upscale Italian Restaurant: Harley’s Italian Bistro

Best Neighborhood Italian Restaurant: RigaTony’s

Best Thai Restaurant: Malee’s Thai Bistro

Best Indian Restaurant: Indian Delhi Palace

Best Japanese Restaurant: RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

Best Chinese Restaurant: China Chili

Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo Vietnamese Cuisine

Best German Restaurant: Black Forest Mill German Restaurant

Best French Restaurant: Sophie’s — A French Bistro

Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company

Best English Pub: George & Dragon English Restaurant and Pub

Best Irish Pub: Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub and Restaurant

Best Pizza: Zpizza

Best Cupcakes: Wicked Bakery

Best Ice Cream: Cold Stone Creamery

Best Candy: See’s Candies

Best Chocolate: Godiva (Chandler Mall)

Best Gourmet Bakery: Wicked Bakery

Best Gelato: The Gelato Spot

Best Coffee House: In the Raw

Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar

Best Salad Bar: Sweet Tomatoes

Best Deli: Jason’s Deli

Best Steak House: Durant’s

Best Wings: The Native New Yorker

Best Gourmet Salad: Zpizza

Best BBQ: Honey Bear’s Bar-B-Q

Best Hamburger: delux

Best Chili: Hail Mary’s

Best Sunday Brunch: The Phoenician

Best Downtown Lunch: Zpizza

Best Place for a First Date: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro

Best Place for a Twilight Drink: elements at Sanctuary

Best Margarita: Z’Tejas Grill

Best Martini: AZ 88

Best Hangover Breakfast: Harlow’s Cafe

Best View: elements at Sanctuary

Best Patio Dining: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro

Best Restaurant for Kids: Uncle Bear’s Bar & Grill

Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle

Best Vegan Restaurant: Green, New American Vegetarian

This swank soul food eatery and cocktail bar, with its African-themed paintings, sexy lighting, and heavy alcoholic pours, sets the ideal atmosphere for local musicians to jam out groove-oriented standards and originals in the cozy and crowded lounge. The music is geared toward straight-ahead aficionados and provides a great introduction to jazz newcomers. Players known to sit in include the infectious organist “Papa” John DeFrancesco (father of esteemed Hammond B-3 organist Joey), the fireballing percussionist Dowell Davis, and funky bass guitarist Mike Howard. If the high-energy sonic chops whet your appetite, sink your teeth into the catfish dinner entree, a honking fillet served with your choice of two sides such as collard greens, candied yams, and dirty rice. The restaurant also features a Sunday jazz brunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. and more beats until 4 p.m. before the free lounge jam burns down the house from 7 to 11 p.m.

Dammit, we know our gol-darn greens! We’ve spent many years in the Deep South. We’ve dined repeatedly at the (sadly) now-closed Stacy’s soul food restaurant, as well as Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe and Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles, in Phoenix. We’ve even brunched at Roscoe’s over in La-La Land. All of them do, or did (in Stacy’s case), a mean plate of collards. But the recently remodeled joint on Indian School Road, just west of the 51, called Memphx has the best greens we’ve ever tasted anywhere. The owners, who hail from (you guessed it) Memphis, Tennessee, and right here in Phoenix (MEM-PHX), are on their way to turning their place into the best soul food restaurant in the area. Now, we weren’t too fond of their concept of putting fried chicken and catfish into taco shells (guys, you’re taking the Memphx thing too far!), but we’d go back again and again just for the greens with ample smoked turkey mixed in. There’s obviously a secret ingredient, but the cook admits that she uses not just collard greens, but turnip and mustard greens as well. She substitutes the ham hocks that would be used in the Deep South with the smoked turkey (it’s an obvious sop to health nuts, but you can’t tell the difference really). She admits that she seasons the concoction with garlic and jalapeos, but will reveal nothing else. If you go there, ask for a double order of the greens (one order’s just $1.75), and an order of Memphx’s hushpuppies. For the uninitiated, a hushpuppy’s a ball of fried cornbread so named because at fish fries in the South, bits of the cornmeal batter from the catfish would be scooped out of the deep fryer, cooled and thrown to the begging yard dogs, with the admonition: “Hush, puppy!” As for us, we can’t stop talking about these greens.

Restaurants

Best New Restaurant: Pink Taco
Best Mexican Restaurant: Bitz-ee Mama’s Restaurant
Best Upscale Italian Restaurant: Tomaso’s
Best Neighborhood Italian: Times Square Pizzeria
Best Thai Restaurant: Malee’s Thai Bistro
Best Indian Restaurant: Taste of India
Best Japanese Restaurant: RA Sushi Bar Restaurant
Best Chinese Restaurant: Fate
Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo Vietnamese Cuisine
Best German Restaurant: Haus Murphy’s
Best French Restaurant: Sophie’s — A French Bistro
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Pita Jungle
Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Company
Best English Pub: George & Dragon English Restaurant and Pub
Best Irish Pub: Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub
Best Fish and Chips: Pete’s Fish & Chips
Best Pizza: Zpizza
Best Bakery: Paradise Bakery
Best Gelato: The Gelato Spot
Best Coffee House: Willow House
Best Seafood: The Salt Cellar Restaurant
Best Fig Dish: Vincent on Camelback
Best Apple Pie: Bill Johnson’s Big Apple
Best Ribs: Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que
Best Salad Bar: Sweet Tomatoes
Best Deli: Chompie’s Delicatessen
Best Steak House: Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Best Wings: Wingstop
Best Caesar Salad: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro
Best BBQ: Honey Bear’s Bar-B-Q
Best Hamburger: Delux
Best Chili: Roaring Fork
Best Sunday Brunch: Sugar Daddy’s
Best Downtown Lunch: Durant’s
Best Place for a First Date: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro
Best Place for a Twilight Drink: Elements at Sanctuary
Best Margarita: Z’Tejas Grill
Best Martini: AZ 88
Best Appletini: Amsterdam
Best Hangover Breakfast: Matt’s Big Breakfast
Best View: Elements at Sanctuary
Best Patio Dining: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro
Best Restaurant for Kids: Eatza Pizza
Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle
Best Vegan Restaurant: Green, New American Vegetarian

Phoenix Lifestyle

Best Sinner, Sports World: Barry Bonds
Best Sinner, Political World: Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Best TV Newscaster: Kent Dana
Best News Station: KSAZ-TV Channel 10
Best Alternative Rock Radio Station: KEDJ-FM 103.9 The Edge
Best Country Radio Station: KNIX-FM 102.5
Best Classical Radio Station: KBAQ-FM 89.5
Best Rock Radio Station: KUPD-FM 97.9
Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: KJZZ-FM 91.5
Best Radio Personality: Liz Boyle
Best Public Golf Course: Papago Park
Best Miniature Golf Course: Golfland-Sunsplash
Best Spa: The Healing Arts Day Spa
Best Bookstore: Changing Hands Bookstore
Best Hiking Trail: Echo Canyon, Camelback Mountain
Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5
Best First Friday Hangout: Soul Invictus Gallery & Cabaret
Best Place to Go Thrifting: Goodwill
Best Market for Produce: Sprouts Farmers Market
Best Outdoor Garden: Desert Botanical Garden
Best Fruit Selection: Sprouts Farmers Market
Best City Park With Trees: Encanto Park
Best Place to Turn Your Black Thumb Green: Desert Botanical Garden
Best Place to Pretend You’re in the Garden of Eden: Desert Botanical Garden
Best Reptile Store: Pets, Inc.

Clubs, Etc.

Best Casino: Casino Arizona
Best Bar Concept: e⁴
Best Place to Buy Local Music: Zia Record Exchange
Best Club for Salsa: Pepin
Best Club for Blues: The Rhythm Room
Best Club for Swing: Club Red Swing
Best Venue for National Acts: Glendale Arena
Best Venue for Local Acts: Marquee Theatre
Best After-Hours: Mickey’s Hangover
Best Country and Western Nightspot: Handlebar-J
Best Bar for Watching the Game: Buffalo Wild Wings
Best Sports Bar: Zipps Sports Grill
Best Dive Bar: Bikini Lounge
Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam’s
Best Lesbian Bar: e-lounge
Best CD Store: Zia Record Exchange
Best Pool Hall: Clicks Billiards
Best Local Band: Brimstone Flowers
Best Bar for Conversation: Casey Moore’s Oyster House
Best Beer Selection: Yard House
Best Place to Be Seen: SIX Lounge
Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Dos Gringos
Best Place to See Snakeskin Boots: Pink Taco

RESTAURANTS
Best Casino-Style Buffet: Casino Arizona
Best New Restaurant: Market Bistro
Best Mexican Restaurant: Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen
Best Upscale Italian: Tomaso’s
Best Neighborhood Italian: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro
Best Thai Restaurant: Malee’s
Best Indian Restaurant: Indian Delhi Palace
Best Japanese Restaurant: Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant
Best Chinese Restaurant: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Cyclo
Best German Restaurant: German Corner
Best French Restaurant: Sophie’s A French Bistro
Best Mediterranean Restaurant: Haji-Baba Middle Eastern Food
Best Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Co.
Best English Pub: George & Dragon English Restaurant and Pub
Best Irish Pub: Rla Bla
Best Fish and Chips: Pete’s Fish & Chips
Best Pizza: Pizzeria Bianco
Best Bakery: Paradise Bakery
Best Ice Cream: Cold Stone Creamery
Best Coffee House: Starbucks Coffee
Best Seafood: Salt Cellar Restaurant
Best Deli: Chompie’s Delicatessen
Best Cheap Steak House: Monti’s La Casa Vieja
Best Wings: Long Wong’s
Best Caesar Salad: Market Bistro
Best Barbecue: Honey Bear’s Bar-B-Q
Best Hamburger: Fuddruckers
Best Chili: Wendy’s
Best Sunday Brunch: Mickey’s Hangover
Best Downtown Lunch: Kincaid’s Steak Chop & Fish House
Best Place for a First Date: Six
Best Place for a Twilight Drink: elements
Best Margarita: Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen
Best Martini: Six
Best Hangover Breakfast: Mickey’s Hangover
Best View: Compass Room
Best Patio Dining: El Chorro Lodge
Best Restaurant for Kids: Peter Piper Pizza
Best Vegetarian Restaurant: Pita Jungle
Best Restaurant for South Beach Diets: Fogo e Brasa

PHOENIX LIFESTYLE
Best Billiards/Gaming Store: Connelly Billiards
Best Splurge After Hitting the Jackpot: Biltmore Fashion Park
Best Pro Athlete: Steve Nash
Best TV Newscaster: Katie Raml
Best News Station: KTVK Channel 3
Best Public Golf Course: Rolling Hills Golf Course
Best Miniature-Golf Course: Fiddlesticks
Best Politician: John McCain
Best Spa: Camelback Inn Scottsdale
Best Bookstore: Borders Books & Music
Best Casino Slots in AZ: Casino Arizona
Best Texas Hold ‘Em: Casino Arizona
Best Hiking Trail: Piestewa Peak
Best Independent Film Theater: Harkins Camelview 5
Best First Friday Hangout: Bikini Lounge

CLUBS ETC.
Best Place to Go Thrifting: Savers
Best Market for Produce: Sprouts Farmers Market
Best Bathroom Jockey: Ocean Club
Best Casino-Style Entertainment: Casino Arizona
Best Casino-Style Bar: Chez Nous
Best Off-Track Betting: McDuffy’s
Best Bar Carpet: Durant’s
Best Place to Buy Local Music: Zia Record Exchange
Best Club for Salsa: Mythos
Best Club for Blues: Rhythm Room
Best Club for Swing: Venue of Scottsdale
Best Venue for National Acts: Celebrity Theatre
Best Venue for Local Acts: Marquee Theatre
Best After-Hours: Mickey’s Hangover
Best Country and Western Bar: Handlebar-J
Best Alternative Rock Radio Station: KEDJ-FM 103.9 (The Edge)
Best Country Radio Station: KNIX-FM 102.5
Best Classical Radio Station: KBAQ-FM 89.5
Best Rock Radio Station: KUPD-FM 97.9
Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station: KYOT-FM 95.5
Best Radio Personality: Dave Pratt
Best Bar for Watching the Game: McDuffy’s
Best Sports Bar: Fox Sports Grill
Best Dive Bar: Coach House
Best Gay Bar: Amsterdam
Best Lesbian Bar: E-Lounge
Best Adult Entertainment Club: Babe’s Cabaret
Best CD Store: Zia Record Exchange
Best Pool Hall: Mill Cue Club
Best Local Band: Rhythm City Express
Best Bar for Conversation: Six
Best Beer Selection: Delux
Best Place to Be Seen: Six
Best Place to Find a One-Night Stand: Six

We interviewed a dozen different caterers, in search of one who would handle every last detail of a casual Sunday night cocktail-and-hors d’oeuvres party for 90 people. Then we remembered the chic buffet dinner we’d enjoyed at a friend’s wedding, catered by Dad’s. The chefs had fused Italian cuisine with a Mexican fiesta menu and made it work. We worried that Dad’s fancy service and tasty vittles would come with fancy prices attached, but we needn’t have. After much comparison shopping, we discovered that Dad’s — which has been in business since 1975 — offers the most for less. They said “yes” to every one of our requests — glass wine goblets, black tablecloths, white wood chairs, and a separate china service for the birthday cake we planned to serve — and “no” when we asked if we’d get charged extra for last-minute changes or a fudged head count. Dad’s offers breakfast and brunch menus, and upscale-but-still-affordable cold buffets. It’ll put together a casual dinner for 10 or a fancy feast for a hundred, and can customize any menu with a little notice. A complete bar service is available, and Dad’s efficient, attractive waitstaff will even stay after to clean up.

As its name implies, it’s a hamburger joint. But what other burger-n-bun shack offers Saturday afternoon tea (Long Island, though), a champagne Sunday brunch, prickly pear margarita parties, Sex and the City viewing parties, service-industry happy hours, karaoke, dollar disco daze, gay lifestyle festivals and fashion shows? Only the same place that, alongside its certified Angus beef burgers, proudly serves Dom Perignon. What better to complement a bleu cheese and bacon burger than a bottle of the $150 sparkly? It adds a certain joie de vivre to a chile size smothered in onions, or a meaty mushroom burger loaded with Cheddar and jack. Mary, you make us proud.

As its name implies, it’s a hamburger joint. But what other burger-n-bun shack offers Saturday afternoon tea (Long Island, though), a champagne Sunday brunch, prickly pear margarita parties, Sex and the City viewing parties, service-industry happy hours, karaoke, dollar disco daze, gay lifestyle festivals and fashion shows? Only the same place that, alongside its certified Angus beef burgers, proudly serves Dom Perignon. What better to complement a bleu cheese and bacon burger than a bottle of the $150 sparkly? It adds a certain joie de vivre to a chile size smothered in onions, or a meaty mushroom burger loaded with Cheddar and jack. Mary, you make us proud.

We interviewed a dozen different caterers, in search of one who would handle every last detail of a casual Sunday night cocktail-and-hors d’oeuvres party for 90 people. Then we remembered the chic buffet dinner we’d enjoyed at a friend’s wedding, catered by Dad’s. The chefs had fused Italian cuisine with a Mexican fiesta menu and made it work. We worried that Dad’s fancy service and tasty vittles would come with fancy prices attached, but we needn’t have. After much comparison shopping, we discovered that Dad’s — which has been in business since 1975 — offers the most for less. They said “yes” to every one of our requests — glass wine goblets, black tablecloths, white wood chairs, and a separate china service for the birthday cake we planned to serve — and “no” when we asked if we’d get charged extra for last-minute changes or a fudged head count. Dad’s offers breakfast and brunch menus, and upscale-but-still-affordable cold buffets. It’ll put together a casual dinner for 10 or a fancy feast for a hundred, and can customize any menu with a little notice. A complete bar service is available, and Dad’s efficient, attractive waitstaff will even stay after to clean up.

El Chorro Lodge is a Valley landmark, lauded for its historic roots, graceful foothills setting and famous sticky buns — massive cinnamon rolls that come with every meal. But just as worthy of fame are the most delectable eggs Benedict anywhere in Maricopa County. El Chorro doesn’t underestimate the power of these beauties, featuring them at Sunday brunch, but also daily at lunch and dinner.

The classic needs no improvement: two eggs, lovingly poached to a hot liquid center, stacked with grilled Canadian bacon atop crisp English muffins, then smothered in heavenly rich hollandaise. El Chorro even offers an alternative: How about a turkey Benedict, the breast arriving juicy and bacon-wrapped? Or filet mignon instead of Canadian bacon? Even vegetarians are considered, with a sunny-flavored mix of grilled tomato, asparagus, eggs and hollandaise. Eggscellent!

“Conference Resort” rarely conjures images of fine dining. And the name describes this property perfectly. It caters primarily to large groups; we can’t even get a table without being asked which company we’re with.

But, hey, we’ll lie about our affiliations if it gets us seated for the surprising sustenance served here. This is old-style class all the way, rich with tableside presentation and a grande dame atmosphere of ornate chandeliers and brocade fabrics. Food is over-the-top classic. Remember appetizers like beef consommé (stocked with root vegetables, tomato concasse and fresh basil), or prawns Provençal, sautéed with garlic and pimientos? Entrees even sound elegant: Lobster Lord Randolph, truffled and flambéed in Courvoisier; and duckling aux framboise with raspberry bigarade sauce. Sunday brunch is something special, too, served with unlimited champagne and made-to-order omelets, eggs Benedict, carved prime rib, smoked salmon and retro-but-loved deviled eggs and thick-sliced pté.

For creative, quiet, unexpectedly elegant dining, Palm Court is our best frond.

El Chorro Lodge is a Valley landmark, lauded for its historic roots, graceful foothills setting and famous sticky buns — massive cinnamon rolls that come with every meal. But just as worthy of fame are the most delectable eggs Benedict anywhere in Maricopa County. El Chorro doesn’t underestimate the power of these beauties, featuring them at Sunday brunch, but also daily at lunch and dinner.

The classic needs no improvement: two eggs, lovingly poached to a hot liquid center, stacked with grilled Canadian bacon atop crisp English muffins, then smothered in heavenly rich hollandaise. El Chorro even offers an alternative: How about a turkey Benedict, the breast arriving juicy and bacon-wrapped? Or filet mignon instead of Canadian bacon? Even vegetarians are considered, with a sunny-flavored mix of grilled tomato, asparagus, eggs and hollandaise. Eggscellent!

“Conference Resort” rarely conjures images of fine dining. And the name describes this property perfectly. It caters primarily to large groups; we can’t even get a table without being asked which company we’re with.

But, hey, we’ll lie about our affiliations if it gets us seated for the surprising sustenance served here. This is old-style class all the way, rich with tableside presentation and a grande dame atmosphere of ornate chandeliers and brocade fabrics. Food is over-the-top classic. Remember appetizers like beef consommé (stocked with root vegetables, tomato concasse and fresh basil), or prawns Provençal, sautéed with garlic and pimientos? Entrees even sound elegant: Lobster Lord Randolph, truffled and flambéed in Courvoisier; and duckling aux framboise with raspberry bigarade sauce. Sunday brunch is something special, too, served with unlimited champagne and made-to-order omelets, eggs Benedict, carved prime rib, smoked salmon and retro-but-loved deviled eggs and thick-sliced pâté.

For creative, quiet, unexpectedly elegant dining, Palm Court is our best frond.