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 spring. 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.
Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson
December 2022 brought the opening of Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson. Spanning six stories, the brand-new hotel houses 237 guest rooms and 15 suites, as well as rooftop executive lounges, a sixth-floor bar with mountain views, a gastropub-style restaurant, and a resort-style swimming pool. The property also features 15,000 square feet of meeting space for groups of various sizes. The Kasota Ballroom (pictured) seats 550 theater style, 300 classroom style, and 400 for banquets; the Ironwood Ballroom seats 230 theater style, 140 classroom style, and 160 for banquets; and a boardroom seats 25 for banquets and 18 for conferences. The 3,000-square-foot Mountain Glow Lawn can be reserved for outdoor gatherings. And full-service AV support is available during events upon request.
Photo: Courtesy of Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson
Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel
The highly anticipated Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, opened in Sedona in February 2023. With 40 glass-enclosed atriums (that are actually individual guest rooms) spread over a three-acre property in Red Rock Country, the adults-only resort is an exclusive destination for VIP, high-end guests. Each atrium features floor-to-ceiling, bronze-tinted windows; a mini-kitchen complete with complimentary refreshments that are replenished daily; on-demand, self-serve wine dispensers; elegant, live-edge wood furnishings; and private rooftop decks. In the two-story lobby building, guests will find a 1,000-square-foot meeting room (pictured) that seats 30 people, along with the five-treatment-room Velvet Spa. The resort’s on-site Forty1 restaurant can be reserved for buyouts of up to 32 guests as well, with additional seating available on an outdoor patio, weather permitting. Fast-casual dining concept The Drifter, housed in a custom Airstream, serves lunch and snacks poolside. Here, seasonal programming ranges from yoga to sound healing to stargazing.
Photo: Jeff Zaruba
Egyptian Motor Hotel
A classic, midcentury motel in downtown Phoenix got a modern makeover when Egyptian Motor Hotel reopened its doors in January 2023. The retro hotel’s 49 guest rooms are available with king or bunk beds and feature all sorts of fun touches—like in-room guitars, retro-style refrigerators, and Marshall Bluetooth speakers. Throughout the property, guests will find other unique eye-catchers, including neon signage, one-of-a-kind murals, lawn games, and a water feature. A 250-seat entertainment venue, Egyptian Live, can be rented out for private events and performances, and some guest rooms even feature views of the stage from balconies and porches. The hotel is also home to Chilte, a Mexican street food concept.
Photo: Courtesy of Egyptian Motor Hotel
UnderTow
UnderTow opened in Gilbert’s Agritopia in October 2022. This immersive tropical bar is memorable both for its Instagram-worthy cocktails and unusual decor. (Think: carved Tiki statues, colorfully moody lighting, florals, stone, rope, grates, and other materials and accents that follow the unique theme.) There are four cocktail menus—Chapter 1, 2, 6, and 7—for guests to mix and mingle over at UnderTow, and each starts off by telling a unique story of a spice trader's adventures. With tables, bar stools, and booths, the 1,500-square-foot space seats 44 guests.
Photo: Grace Stufkosky
Crust Simply Italian and The Blue Heron
In November 2022, Gilbert became home to the third location of Crust Simply Italian, a neighborhood restaurant that serves generous portions of pizza, pasta, and other authentic Italian favorites. The entire establishment spans roughly 5,300 square feet. Inside, the restaurant seats 76 guests in the dining room and 31 at the bar, with capacity for an additional 72 on the outdoor patio. This homey spot also features a sophisticated, speakeasy-style cocktail lounge, dubbed The Blue Heron, complete with its own menu and distinct space. Italian bites are served here courtesy of Crust Simply Italian's kitchen, but The Blue Heron team prides itself on celebrating "the lost art of classic drink making." The neighborhood cocktail lounge can seat up to 30 people in the lounge, 20 at the bar, and 25 on a private patio.
Photo: Courtesy of Crust Restaurants
Pacific Workplaces Phoenix-Midtown
Phoenix City Square welcomed a state-of-the-art co-working and office space in March 2023. Pacific Workplaces Phoenix-Midtown spans 13,148 square feet, which is made up of five designated meeting rooms that are each designed to be flexible enough to accommodate between three and 50 attendees. These rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, electronic whiteboards, VoIP, AppleTV, and Zoom Rooms technology. A reception and lounge (pictured), plus other common areas, offer a more social setting for groups to gather for events. Coffee, tea, water, and snacks are always on hand, and outside catering can be arranged in advance.
Photo: Courtesy of Pacific Workplaces Phoenix-Midtown
