The Vig

This haute hotspot’s pub sensibilities shine through as a better-than-average neighborhood spot. Quality selections of tap beer and bottled wine are a starting point here. Once drinks have been chosen, it’s time to order something from the varied food menu, which leans toward “gastro-pub” territory without being too wild. There’s also a nice variety of […]

The Wayward Taphouse

The Wayward Taphouse arrived during the COVID era, a time when Phoenix was in great need of patios. The outdoor seating here seems to have been arranged with care. There are good sun and shade options, the space is outside food- and dog-friendly, and it’s surrounded by the casitas (which many know were once prisoner-of-war […]

Welcome Diner

Welcome Diner 2.0, now situated at that hot Garfield District intersection at Pierce and 10th streets, doesn’t have the same snug charm as its original location a block away. What it does have is a crisp, retro look, marrying its neon pink-and-blue sign with the diner’s seating options — which is to say, booths, a […]

Whining Pig Downtown

The Whining Pig has amassed a mini-empire of craft beer and wine bars across the Valley. But we’re partial to stopping into the downtown location for a brew before catching a concert or game. Chalkboard-painted walls, funky lights and the voluminous list of hundreds of craft beers and wines available for purchase all add to […]

Xanadu Coffee Co.

After years in the coffee wholesale and roasting business, Randall Denton opens his own shop with partner Jessica Bueno to highlight their own coffee philosophy. About 90 percent of Xanadu’s coffee comes from a single estate, small co-ops, or micro-lots. The teas come from