Cibo Pizzeria

For a desert town, Phoenix has a surprisingly large number of Italian restaurants. Cibo Pizzeria (it’s pronounced CHEE-boh) is one of the best. The downtown restaurant serves signature wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, salads, saltimbocca bread and fresh limoncello made from a family recipe by chef Guido Saccone. But aside from the house-made pasta, killer burrata and wine list, Cibo also boasts some next-level atmosphere. The lush garden patio is one of the finest in Phoenix – between the lights and the gentle chatter, it literally twinkles – and the 1913 bungalow, with its exposed brick, creaky hardwood floors, and soft glow from the windows, doesn’t hurt the vibe, either. Reservations are highly recommended. Would-be weekend walk-ins take note: It’s usually all booked up.