With the amazing Spring and Fall weather in Phoenix, you can enjoy dining outdoors. Read on for my picks of 6 of the best patios in Phoenix.a vibe!
Some of the best weather in the world is in Arizona in the early spring. Days are warm and sunny, but there’s almost always a great breeze to keep things cool. Evening temps drop as soon as the sun sets, making it ideal for cozy outdoor dining around a firepit or under heaters. Because of that great weather, some of my favorite outdoor dining experiences are in the Phoenix area. If you find yourself in Arizona in the spring (or late fall), book a spot at one of these restaurants and ask for a table outside to enjoy the best patios in Phoenix.
What Makes a Great Patio in Phoenix?
When determining this list of the best patios in Phoenix, I had difficulty deciding which places to include. Some are great because of the vibe, while others offer fun people-watching while you eat. Some provide breathtaking views that often have me exclaiming wow. Each is different and offers a unique experience under the blue skies of the Sonoran Desert.
CALA Scottsdale
When Scottsdale’s celebrity chef, Beau MacMillan, left his role as Executive Chef at elements, it wasn’t to retire. Instead, he worked with Executive Chef Peter McQuaid to launch CALA in Downtown Scottsdale.
CALA, named after Cala Road in Mallorca, transports you to the Mediterranean. You can sit on the impressive 1,750-square-foot patio (complete with a 40-foot patio bar and cabanas) and sample Mediterranean coastal flavors.
The restaurant is located inside The Senna House hotel, so it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, as well as weekend brunch and weekday happy hour. I dined at CALA for dinner and enjoyed the food, the ambiance, and that great patio.
What to Eat at CALA
I tried a variety of dishes and was not disappointed. We started with the flaming saganaki, flambéed tableside. You must try this fantastic Greek cheese appetizer if you’ve never had it. The Kasseri cheese is served in a cast iron skillet. The wait staff tops it with a squeeze of lemon and pours Greek brandy over it before lighting it on fire. Once the theatrics are over, you can dish up the warm, gooey goodness served with house-made focaccia.
The pasta is all house-made as well. The CALA Bolognese is available with traditional pork, beef, and veal or served with red lentils for a vegan take on the classic. I also recommend sharing one of the pizzas before your main course. We had the Funghi, a vegetarian pizza of black truffle and mushrooms, mozzarella, feta, caramelized onions, and chives.
We opted to share the Chilean seabass, which was perfect after all the appetizers. The seabass was served over spiced beluga lentils and topped with shaved fennel and saffron aioli.
You can supplement your meal with craft cocktails or options from the wine menu. The patio fills up fast when the weather is exceptional, so book beforehand.
Carcara
I’ve watched downtown Phoenix evolve over the past three decades. It is definitely exciting to watch the restaurant scene changing and evolving. One of my favorite downtown eateries is Carcara, located at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix. One of the best things about Carcara is that it’s across the street from the Herberger Theater Center, where you can catch the excellent performances of the Arizona Theatre Company. Carcara is the perfect spot to dine before a night at the theater.
Patio Dining at Carcara
The concept for the restaurant is to honor what Arizonans call the “Five Cs”—cotton, copper, citrus, climate, and cattle. Those five things have been the driving force behind the state’s economy until recent years. To honor that history, Carcara uses those items in its decor. Even the handcrafted cocktails celebrate Arizona’s heritage.
The patio at Carcara is definitely one of the best patios in Phoenix. It is 2,000 square feet and opens onto the main dining room. With the wall of windows pushed aside in good weather, it becomes a massive 7,000-square-foot dining room. Sitting on the patio and watching the downtown traffic go past is fun. And there’s a fireplace for chilly evenings.
The Food at Carcara
I’ve dined at Carcara several times now and have repeatedly been satisfied. I always start with the Baja Shrimp Ceviche. It has cucumber, orange, tomato, cilantro, and serrano chiles. There is just enough kick to make any one of the cocktails hit the spot.
For cocktails, we’ve tried several of those. Both my husband and I have our favorites. I loved the Boynton Canyon Trail, named for my favorite hike in Sedona. It features Don Julio Blanco, watermelon, lemon, basil, and sparkling rosé. My husband enjoyed the Cathedral Rock with Cruzan rum, Del Maguey Mezcal, Blue Curacao, lime, pineapple, and chipotle pineapple syrup. It was a charming blue! He also enjoyed the Wagon Wheel, a smoked old-fashioned made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon.
After drinks and appetizers, we moved on to the entree. On my last visit, I sampled the shrimp and grits. While I greatly enjoyed those, my favorite is the prime ribeye steak with a blood orange beurre rouge.
I recommend trying the Chocolate Dream for dessert. I was skeptical when I saw it was gluten-free, but it was one of the best desserts I’ve sampled. There are chocolate sponge layers with milk and white chocolate mousse, all covered in a silky dark chocolate ganache.
Hearth ’61 at Mountain Shadows Resort
I really love Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley. There’s a feeling of peace and tranquility there that I don’t always find at other resorts. It sits at the base of Camelback Mountain and dates back to 1959. However, it was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2017. In addition to the great hospitality and phenomenal views, you’ll find great food at Hearth ’61.
Hearth ’61 is named after the year when Paradise Valley officially became an incorporated town. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Charles Wiley and Chef de Cuisine Yulissa Acosta, the restaurant serves modern American cuisine. Chef Acosta says she gets her inspiration from the bounty of local, organic ingredients.
Hearth ’61 Boasts One of the Best Patios in Phoenix
To call the views from the Hearth ’61 patio stunning seems far too cliche. It always catches my breath, and on our last visit, my husband and I both found ourselves sitting quietly, without speaking or eating, watching the sun turn Camelback Mountain a gorgeous orange at sunset.
I love the firepits, where I usually start with a before-dinner drink. The patio is almost an extension of the dining room thanks to a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. If you dine at Hearth ’61 in the hotter months or a storm blows in, you can still get those great views from inside.
The Food at Hearth ’61
I’ve had the privilege of dining here several times over the years. Every meal is exceptional, as is the service. I love the Hiramasa Crudo as a starter, but I also recommend the Roasted Cauliflower Soup.
Moving onto the entree can lead to a dilemma—how to pick just one option? I’ve had several items, including the Two Wash Ranch Chicken Roulade served over barley risotto, the Niman Ranch Tenderloin of Beef with the best truffled mashed potatoes, the Short Rib Agnolotti with a scrumptious mushroom velouté and the tangiest lemon crème fraîche. However, my favorite is probably the Duroc Farm’s Pork Chop. It is served over Jacob Bean Ragu and with heirloom carrots. It is simple, rustic, and sets my taste buds dancing.
Palma Phoenix
Another great spot in downtown Phoenix is Palma Phoenix. This is a cool, hip spot on Roosevelt Row, downtown’s walkable arts district. There are three restaurants and cocktail bars in one location: Ghost Donkey, Châm Pang Lanes, and Palma.
While Ghost Donkey and Châm Pang Lanes are hot night spots, Palma is open all day for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, plus Brunch on the weekends and late night hours every day.
I loved Châm Pang Lanes (who doesn’t love bowling and bubbles?) and Ghost Donkey, but I recommend Palma for the best patio—and simply fantastic food.
Dining at Palma
The indoor-outdoor botanical garden concept makes this such a fantastic spot to relax. You’re in a courtyard off the street, so there is no watching the traffic, but there’s plenty of people watching at the hopping bar scene at the center of the courtyard.
The patio is an urban oasis surrounded by towering palm trees, beautiful greenery, welcoming seating, and fun Instagram-worthy feature walls. There is almost always live music, making this a fun spot to hang out for lunch or dinner. Oh, the craft cocktails are ideal for happy hour.
Eating at Palma
In a unique fusion twist, Palma serves fried chicken and Asian food. I was initially skeptical, but not only does it work out, but the flavors have you craving to return.
We started with a couple of sushi items. We went for the Crunchy Palma with spicy crab mix, cilantro, toasted panko, and sweet soy, along with the Spicy Crunchy Tuna Maki with spicy tuna, cucumber, avocado, togarashi, quinoa crunch, tobiko, and atomic aioli. That was the one I craved, and I could eat it every day! Our waiter also recommended the Sweet Potato Yummy Fries. These delicious waffle fries were topped with spicy aioli, sweet soy, bonito, furikake, and ginger. Yeah, addictive.
Of course, we had to try the fried chicken. Since we had already sampled sushi and the fries, we divided the chicken strips with daikon pickles, snow seasoning, and chicken dip. They also offer a chicken and bubble waffle I must try next time.
Take advantage of the drinks when you’re at Palma. They each have a tropical vibe to honor the oasis setting. The Lychee Lowdown with Grey Goose l’orange, lemon, yuzu, lychee, and ginger was very good. I recommend the Peach Fuzzy with Haku vodka, Social sparkling cucumber-hibiscus sake, peach, lime, and cranberry. If cocktails aren’t your thing, Palma also serves a selection of sake, wines, sparkling wines, and beer.
Talavera Scottsdale
Talavera at Four Seasons Scottsdale is undoubtedly one of my favorite choices for the best patios in Phoenix. The views are spectacular, with Pinnacle Peak just a stone’s throw away and the rest of the Valley stretching as far as the eye can see.
Dining at Talavera to Experience a Spectacular Patio in Phoenix
I recommend booking a patio table at sunset. You can watch the sun’s glow, and just after it dips beneath the horizon, the white night hawks flit around the patio. It’s a spectacular way to dine.
However, I recommend stopping first for drinks at Onyx Bar & Lounge. Situated just outside of Talavera, Onyx Bar has an incredible patio that perfectly starts your evening. It opens at 5 pm each day, and you can order a cocktail and feel yourself relaxing as you watch the vista spread before you. I highly recommend the Troon Margarita made with Mi Campo tequila, hibiscus, and prickly pear. I’ve also been known to order a glass of sparkling wine to toast the beautiful Arizona evening.
Eating at Talavera
When it’s time for dinner, you’re in for a treat. Talavera is a Spanish steakhouse with some Southwest tossed in for fun. I’ve always had great meals at Talavera, and this is my go-to for a romantic dinner with my husband.
I recommend starting with the Pan con Tomate, a Spanish favorite made with Arizona’s own Noble bread. The Pulpo Clasico is also incredible. The grilled Spanish octopus is always tender, and the smoky grill flavor resonates throughout the dish.
For the main course, I recommend paella. This traditional Spanish dish features chorizo, chicken, pork belly, lobster, prawns, mussels, and clams. You also can’t go wrong with the Kurobuto pork rack or the bone-in prime ribeye. Talavera also offers some excellent wines, beer, and custom cocktails.
Wine Collective Tasting Room & Bottle Shop
The Wine Collective Tasting Room & Bottle Shop might not be a restaurant. Still, you can sample outstanding wines and enjoy nibbles from the front patio. Wine Collective only serves Arizona wines (plus Gruet sparkling wine from neighboring New Mexico). You can get an immersive Arizona patio experience here!
Owner Zoya Vora knows and loves Arizona wines and can help you taste your way through State 48. She can also pair flights with local chocolates, cheeses, and artisan meats.
I recommend doing your tasting on the patio. It’s the best way to sample Arizona wines and watch the comings and goings in Scottsdale’s Old Town Entertainment District.
Wine Tasting at Wine Collective
I love how Wine Collective sets up the tastings. You can opt for a set flight—Rosé All Day, Sweet & Sexy, or Bold & Beautiful. However, I opted for the “Just Trust Me” flight, which my Wine Concierge customized.
If you opt for the Just Trust Me flight, your Wine Concierge asks you questions about the types of wines you like and what you absolutely don’t want to try, and then they find an Arizona wine they believe best fits your palate. We saw the customization in action when one of my companions also went with the Just Trust Me flight. We ended up with different wines.
You can also pick your wine pairing. Choose a Burrata board with all the accompaniments, artisan cheeses, meats, or chocolates. If you have a larger appetite, I suggest one of the larger charcuterie boards to get a taste of everything.
The owner’s passion for Arizona wines was the best part about sitting on the patio, sipping Arizona wines under that beautiful blue sky. Most Arizona wineries are small, and the local owners support each other. You can feel that passion in every glass you sample. Oh, and you can also take home a bottle of your favorite.
Articles Related to the Best Patios in Phoenix
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- Finding the Best Food in Phoenix
- Late Lunch & Learn at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
- A Journey Through Prado: Spanish Tapas in Scottsdale
When Choosing to Dine at One of the Best Patios in Phoenix
This is not an all-inclusive list, as there are many additional restaurants that feature amazing patios. I’ve written about each of these in the past, so check out more of my favorite patios in Phoenix, including Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, the firepit dining at Bourbon Steak at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician, jade bar at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Prado at Omni Montelucia, and the patio at Kai Restaurant at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. Be sure to use Wander With Wonder as your trusted resource for more of what to see and do when you visit Phoenix or other parts of Arizona and the Southwest.
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