The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix

Nestled along the Camelback Corridor is The Ritz-Carlton. More of a small town in itself than a mere resort, it contains a 281-room hotel, Dove Mountain Golf Club, a fitness center, a heated outdoor pool, a sundeck, and three dining options: a bistro, a lounge, and a bar. The main restaurant, bistro 24, has earned the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine two years in a row. To pair with the exceptional list of red and white vino, the restaurant offers breakfast items like steel cut oatmeal brûlée, lunch sandwiches like crab cake and beef tenderloin, and dinners like veal osso bucco and lamb tenderloin. Happy hour is a must with $5 bar bites and drinks, including fried cheddar cheese curd with whole grain mustard aioli, truffle fries, sommelier’s wine of the day, and Bejeweled Bling (tequila, Cointreau, prickly pear). Not your kind of drink? The Ritz-Carlton also has a stellar afternoon tea Wednesday through Saturday with English tea service, finger sandwiches, fresh-baked scones, and French pastries – children always welcome.