I have to travel to Phoenix on business in a couple of weeks and will be staying in the Biltmore Fashion area for two days. I will likely have a little down time, the first day. Does anyone have suggestions for something to occupy a four to five hour block of time? Or suggestions where to eat while I’m there?
Thanks!
The “True Food Kitchen” is so good. Right there in the shopping area. Don’t let the gluten free/organic crunchiness of it scare you off. The food is really great!
Blanco Tacos +Tequila a good too!
Both sound great. Thanks!
The Desert Botanical Garden is close and very interesting. My favorite happy hour is at El Choro, with beautiful views of Camelback Mountain. I’ll second True Food Kitchen for healthier eating, but the only one I know of is up at Kierland Commons, which is a bit of a drive.
Thank you @toledo. I will check those out!
Desert Botanical,Gardens…terrific.
Or, if you have a car…the MIM…Musical Instrument Museum. It’s amazing. Instruments from around the world.
If you want an upscale and expensive…but fabulous evening out to eat…go to Nobuo at Teeter House. It’s an Asian restaurant,sort of Asian tapas…fabulously prepared…award winning chef…fabulous. $100 a person…or so.
Thanks @thumper1! Desert Botanical Gardens sounds like a winner. And I love Asian food, but $100 per person might exceed the travel allowance I get … unless I can convince our client to go with me, in which case a different budget applies.
Nobuo is also open at lunch on some days…and the costs are a LOT less.
If you go to the botanical gardens. I would suggest getting there for a docent led tour. It’s well worth doing. You will have to check the times when those docent led tours take place.
I would strongly suggest going first thing when they open if you can…it gets a bit hot later in the day.
The Henry is in the Biltmore area and is a fun place to eat. Good food, not too expensive. Chelsea’s Kitchen is also good and not too far. If you are taking a client to dinner, Wright’s at the Biltmore is the place. Expensive, but won’t disappoint.
@toledo, there is a True Foods in the Biltmore shopping mall, but not as nice, new, large, or trendy as the Kierland store. I recommend the panang curry at either.
I second the MIM! (Musical Instrument Museum) Definitely easy to spend 4 hours there. I was truly surprised by just how much was there and how much I (and the rest of the family) enjoyed it.
That Musical Instrument Museum is one of the best museums I have ever visited.
Pizzeria Bianco is outstanding. Can be tough to get in unless you go during off hours.
Though I love the Desert Botanical Garden and have been a member for the 18 years we’ve lived here, it is not close to the Biltmore area and the temps have already crept above 100 a few times. The DBG is not pleasant in the heat. I vote for the MIM which is closer, cooler, and also has an excellent restaurant:
The OP can easily enjoy several interesting (and flavorful) hours there:
Note that the museum is open 9-5, but the restaurant is only open 11-2.
There’s another pizzeria Bianco location just a few blocks west of the biltmore fashion mall, on camelback. If you like Mexican try the barrio cafe, about a 15 minute drive from the biltmore (you can google it, IIRC it’s won some awards). If you like to hang out in funky cafes sipping top-notch espresso drinks (raises hand), check out Lux Cafe in Phoenix; there’s a Bianco sammich shop next to Lux where you can grab lunch.
Another fun thing to experience is Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale. It’s about a 30 min drive from the Biltmore. And if you’re the outdoors type you could take a hike (literally); I think Camelback Mtn might be the closest but I’m not all that familiar wth options down that way. I think Camelback is a difficult hike, so if you go, don’t push it.
I think Kevin Binkley has some restaurants in the area as well; google binkley’s restaurants in Phoenix to see what comes up. His flagship restaurant in Cave Creek was the best in AZ for years, IMHO and may have won some awards, but he closed that location and shifted his base down to Phoenix somewhere. I’ll contradict myself and say that I tried a couple of his other locations and was less than impressed, but YMMV.
If you like to shop and are up for an adventure Nordstrom has their Last Chance clearance store in Phoenix. D and I have found some amazing deals there, but it’s not for anyone who doesn’t like to shop.
I have been to the MIM three times…and will go again!
We have sent many not musician friends there and they all liked it a lot!
That’s a good point @thumper1 – you do not even have to be a big music fan to enjoy the museum. Our son, the engineer, really enjoyed the exhibit on how a piano is made (don’t know if that one is permanent or not).
I just like standing in front of the famous rock 'n roll instruments listening to the music that was played on them. Once, they had an exhibit of costumes from famous rock females and the stories behind them. That one was fantastic. Now you’ve made me go look to see what the current exhibits are. Might need to head over there…
Thanks everyone! Looks like there is a lot to check out in that area. I’m looking forward to the trip a little more now!
My SIL lives in Tucson and loved a sushi restaurant that moved to Phoenix. It is called Sushi Ken ( in Tucson it was Sushi Ten). Also enjoyed the Phoenix art museum.