Here's a closer look at Phoenix/Scottsdale's newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms and other spaces available for events this fall. The new and renovated Phoenix/Scottsdale venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings and more.
A note regarding COVID-19: Some of the venues listed here may not yet be available for hosting events due to COVID-19, or they may be operating at a lower capacity. As venues begin to slowly reopen across North America, we encourage event organizers to contact the venues to verify current capacity restrictions.
The Westin Tempe
When it opened in August 2021, The Westin Tempe became the largest new hotel to debut in Tempe in nearly four decades. The full-service property situated within the lively downtown district and business corridor has 290 guest rooms and suites and approximately 21,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. The hotel also has three distinct dining concepts including the signature ground-floor restaurant Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits exhibition kitchen and a prominent liquor tower. Skysill Rooftop Lounge, located on the 18th floor, has a pool, jacuzzi, cabanas, and a large video screen overlooking the metropolitan Phoenix area; it’s the highest open-air rooftop bar in town. Overall, interior decor and design incorporate elements inspired by Sonoran desert nature. The lobby features angular walls inspired by the state’s famous slot canyons, Terrazo floors, and sculptural concrete forms crafted by local artist SlabHaus that double as seating.
Photo: Courtesy of The Westin Tempe
The Italian Daughter
Opened in April, The Italian Daughter is an Italian restaurant and piano bar in North Scottsdale. The 5,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space includes an open dining room with room for 165 seated guests, an indoor bar and lounge area, and an outdoor seating area with a fireplace for full and partial buyouts for events and meetings. The menu features charcuterie and bruschetta boards, stone-fired pizzas, handcrafted pastas and specialty Italian entrees such as surf and turf, chicken parmigiana and slow-braised short rib. The beverage program includes premium cocktails and an extensive wine menu.
Photo: Courtesy of Carrie Willis
AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Downtown
The 13-story AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Downtown has 197 guest rooms and two suites. Opened in February, the hotel offers nearly 4,000 square feet of meeting space with two media salons and a boardroom. The largest-capacity space, the Sonoran Ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, holds 300 people. Also on-site is the AC lounge, which features signature hand-crafted cocktails, tapas and a patio with a water feature and fireplaces. The urban boutique hotel also features a penthouse fitness center, hydration stations and The AC Market.
Photo: Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Downtown
Desert Garden at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa
The newest outdoor venue at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa is the Desert Garden, slated to open in November. The space, located in a tranquil courtyard and surrounded by a grove of mesquite trees, uses natural textures, materials, landscaping and design to create an oasis-like environment. Guests enter the garden over a bridge of planked concrete pavers above a shallow reflecting pool—which makes for a dramatic entrance to an event. A blue palo verde tree is the space’s centerpiece, separating a 1,600-square-foot lawn from the 3,700-square-foot patio area. A waterfall wall serves as the backdrop. Sculptural garden benches, sitting steps, a contemplation garden with art and a small stage complete the space. The venue’s capacity is 350 for a seated event or 500 for a reception.
Photo: Courtesy of Desert Garden
Carcara
In January, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown will open its new Carcara restaurant, as one of the last stages of an extensive renovation of Arizona’s largest hotel. The new eatery (like the hotel) has a modern, open design meant to facilitate community. Helmed by executive chef Chaz Frankenfield, Carcara offers a locally sourced menu with Southwestern influences. The restaurant has 7,000 square feet of dining space including a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio. In all, there’s room to seat 276 guests. The restaurant features a central bar, indoor lounge area, main dining area with a 14-foot tree, and an outdoor lounge and dining area with a fireplace and two fire pits. There are also three private dining rooms for groups and small events.
Photo: Courtesy of Celano Design Studio
