These 14 Phoenix restaurants are closed for a summer break

When the temperatures rise in the Valley, restaurants and bars see fewer customers. The snowbirds and tourists have left and locals often use the time to get away and out of the heat. It’s a challenging season that can make or break restaurants. Some eateries adjust their hours to accommodate the slower summer pace. For others, summer brings the perfect time to close the doors for a few weeks and take a break.

This is the time of year when it pays to double-check a restaurant’s hours before you head out. These 14 Valley eateries will take some time off this summer.

Barcoa Agaveria

829 N. First Ave.
Barcoa Agaveria packs a casual cantina and a luxe craft cocktail lounge together under one roof in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The bar is taking a break through July 13 for “some much-needed TLC,” per an Instagram post announcing the hiatus. 

La Purisima Bakery

Multiple locations
The family-run La Purisima Bakery has closed its three locations for a short vacation. A Valley fixture for Mexican pastries and bread, La Purisima’s ovens will turn back on in Phoenix and Glendale again, starting on July 14.

Los Dos Molinos

1044 E. Camelback Road
8646 S. Central Ave.
The two Phoenix locations of the fiery, family-run New Mexican restaurant Los Dos Molinos are on summer recess until July 14. Luckily, if you need a top-shelf margarita or devilishly spicy adovada burrito slathered in red chile, the third Valley location, in Mesa, is open.

Green Woodpecker

3110 N. Central Ave., #185
The midtown Phoenix bar and taqueria Green Woodpecker went on a short break starting July 9. When the neighborhood joint reopens on July 14, it’ll host a DJ set with Case and Friends.

Persepshen

4700 N. Central Ave.
The hyper-local, organic restaurant Persepshen has closed until July 23. Chefs Jason and Katherine Dwight make everything in-house, down to the condiments at their acclaimed Uptown farm-to-table restaurant. The couple and their team are taking a few weeks off from the kitchen, but will be back at it, crafting a rotating, sustainable, seasonal menu later this month.

Giovanna’s Pizza

10135 E. Vía Linda, C113, Scottsdale 
Giovanna’s Pizza, a Scottsdale Italian joint, is closed for July. The family-run pizzeria will reopen on Aug. 1, serving pies, calzones, pasta, wings, subs and salads. 

FnB

7125 E. Fifth Ave., #31, Scottsdale
The venerable, vegetable-forward Old Town Scottsdale restaurant FnB closed for a summer vacation after its June 26 service. James Beard Award-winning chef Charleen Badman and winemaker Pavle Milic’s restaurant celebrates Arizona ingredients in each pour and on every plate. FnB returns for dinner starting on Aug. 5. 

The Farm at South Mountain

6106 S. 32nd St.
The Farm at South Mountain boasts three dining options in an idyllic setting in South Phoenix: the counter-service, picnic-friendly Farm Kitchen; the breakfast-and-brunch patio Morning Glory Cafe; and the farm-to-table fine-dining spot Quiessence. These eateries all rely on outdoor seating, so they hit pause when the temperatures rise. Quiessence will be closed until July 23. Morning Glory Cafe reopens on Aug. 27 and the Farm Kitchen returns on Sept. 16.

Litchfield’s at the Wigwam

300 E. Wigwam Blvd. Litchfield Park
Litchfield’s, the signature restaurant at the Wigwam Resort, closed for renovations on June 1. The elevated American restaurant serves pecan wood-fired steaks and recently added a bougie brunch. The summer renovation “will elevate the restaurant’s look and feel while preserving the character, hospitality and culinary experience that have defined Litchfield’s for generations,” a press announcement said. The resort’s other dining options, Red Allen’s Bar & Grill and Wigwam Bar, remain open. Litchfield’s is anticipated to unveil its refreshed space in early fall.

Ocotillo

3243 N. Third St., Suite A
Octollio, the midtown restaurant with modern design and a swoon-worthy patio oasis, started its summer break on June 29. Diners can stop in before then to get a taste of Ocotillo’s wood-fired summer menu or book their fall reservation. Ocotillo will reopen on Aug. 3. 

Atlas Bistro

2515 N. Scottsdale Road, #18, Scottsdale
Atlas Bistro, the 25-year-old fine dining restaurant sibling to Atlas Wine Shop, served diners through June 27. Now, the Scottsdale Road restaurant is closed in July and August for its summer break. The bistro hasn’t yet announced a specific date when diners will once again be able to B.Y.O.B. and enjoy the tasting menu.

SHIV Steakhouse

7373 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
SHIV Steakhouse announced on social media that it closed for the summer on June 12. The swanky Old Town Scottsdale steakhouse is known for steaks presented tableside, live entertainers roving the dining room and a dedicated Dessert Room. The restaurant did not share a reopening date in its post but said, “This seasonal pause allows our team to prepare for an even stronger return later this year.”

Stroll Coffee

3015 N. 16th St.
Stroll Coffee, the inventive specialty coffee pop-up that planted roots at Dig It Gardens, hosted its last service on May 31. Its owners have not yet shared where the mobile cafe will return this fall. In the meantime, watch Stroll Coffee’s social media for special drops of bottled coffees, syrups and ice cream.

Upcoming: Glai Baan

2333 E. Osborn Road
The revered Thai kitchen helmed by co-owner Cat Bunnag shuts down for about five weeks every summer. The cozy restaurant and its charming patio will go dark starting on July 26, Bunnag said. The team will often post scenes from travels to Thailand during this time, just to whet fans’ appetites until the Glai Baan reopens in early September.

Do you know about other restaurants taking a summer hiatus? We’re updating this list throughout the summer; tell us about other spots by emailing sara.crocker@newtimes.com.