Every time I visit the Valley of the Sun, I’m amazed by the enticing restaurants popping up throughout the city. Phoenix is becoming one of the most vibrant foodie communities in the United States, and no matter where in the city you find yourself, there is always something delicious to eat!
Many of my favourite spots also come with a story of their own, from a church with roots in the 1890s and a restored 1913 bungalow to a converted 1930s gas station and midcentury landmarks. For anyone spending a few hours, a few days or an extended vacation in Phoenix, here are my favourite places to eat, no matter the time of day. Enjoy the sunshine, desert views and Sonoran hospitality while dining on the best the city has to offer!
Matt’s Big Breakfast is a staple of Phoenician breakfast time. After initial success at its first location in Downtown Phoenix, Matt’s Big Breakfast has expanded all over the Valley. So no matter where you find yourself early in the morning, there is a Matt’s not far.
Matt’s is known for its cage-free eggs, cracked to order, and breakfast is served all day, so there is no need to rush out the door. There is almost always a line, but trust me, it’s worth it. The decor combines hipster café and high school cafeteria, making the place warm and homey. If you’re feeling extra hungry, try the Chop & Chick: two eggs and a skillet-seared Iowa pork rib chop, served with toast and potatoes. The waffles are light and fluffy and topped with real butter, and the griddle cakes are just as tempting. Drooling yet? Don’t wait. Head down to Matt’s for some delicious comfort food.
Tucked into the side of a strip mall near Seventh Avenue and McDowell Road in central Phoenix, Vovomeena is a bit of a hidden gem, and I’m almost tempted to keep it secret… but such an amazing place can’t stay secret forever. The staff are so charming and kind that they make the experience exceptional. The menu fuses Mexican and Portuguese flavours, and the restaurant is named after the owner’s grandmother.
One of my favourite things about this place is the Japanese cold brew, the perfect pairing for every dish. My favourite order is the Mexican benedict: chorizo on crisp fried sopes, topped with poached eggs and hollandaise. If you have a sweet tooth, go for the banana bread pudding French toast. It’s to die for!
Lux Central, on Central Avenue, is one of those spots that screams “good vibes!” Walking in here feels like walking into a friend’s house. The coffee menu is vast, but they don’t sacrifice great beans and well-brewed coffee for trendy flavours. Lux roasts its own coffee in-house, and they balance a perfect brew with interesting flavour combinations to create the most delicious drinks. When it’s not boiling out, you’ll find me on the patio. Thankfully the interior is spacious, so there is always room inside to sit and relax with your morning brew.
Lola Coffee, a stunning family-owned and operated coffee shop on the Roosevelt Row side of downtown, serves up some of the best brews in the city. The focus is on fair- and direct-trade coffee, with pastries and ice cream alongside, and when the coffee is this good, that’s all you need! This spot is always busy in the morning, so I’d suggest walking over, or parking nearby and strolling down. The outdoor patio is so charming, and when it’s this busy, people-watching is at its best here.
If you have more time to relax, stop at Copper Star Coffee in the charming Melrose District. Copper Star is a hip coffee shop inside a converted retro gas station that first opened in 1933, and the old pumps still stand out front. Inside, local art covers the walls, and the eclectic mix of mismatched furniture makes for a cozy atmosphere. The drinks are unique, and their Lavender Mocha is my absolute favourite!
Brunch isn’t just for the big cities. There are many places to go for brunch around Phoenix, but Windsor is one of the best. Tucked into a 1940s-era strip mall in Uptown Phoenix, it carries the midcentury style inside, and I love the bright red brick walls, which feel chic and welcoming. Their signature beignets make a sweet start, and the hearty brunch plates are the best hangover cure. My favourite, though, is the Matador: two eggs over easy stacked with griddled cheddar potatoes, a crispy tortilla, salsa verde and avocado relish. It feels like the epitome of Phoenix on a plate, a mix of American, Mexican and southwestern flavours.
In fashionable Old Town Scottsdale, you can find this stylish eatery! I am absolutely obsessed with the design of this hip brunch spot. HULA’S puts a modern, urban twist on the classic tiki bars of the 1950s and 60s, serving a fusion of Polynesian and American flavours inside an old-school tiki bar-style interior. I cannot come here and miss their French toast. Unlike anywhere else I’ve been, it’s made with Kona coffee-battered bread and topped with a house-made apple compote. It’s absolutely magical.
While the food is next level, the drinks make this the best stop for brunch! If you’re visiting with a group, you’ve got to try the Scorpion Bowl. It’s a giant rum-and-tropical-punch-style drink that serves two to four people and arrives with a flaming overproof rum float.
The Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, formerly the Phoenix Public Market, is one of my favourite places to hop into for a snack. It’s a program of Community Food Connections, a non-profit that has run the market since 2005, and it fills a large downtown lot with an excellent open-air market every Saturday morning. You’ll find seasonal produce, local honeys and dips, bakery items and hot food offerings, so it’s the perfect place to graze your way through a few stalls and pick up a treat to eat while you wander. Since the foodie community came together to create this place, it is no surprise that the food is so good! Hours shift with the seasons, so check the market’s website before you go.
One of my favourite places to take new visitors for a relaxing and delicious afternoon is the Queen Creek Olive Mill, a short drive southeast of Phoenix. This family-run estate is Arizona’s only working olive mill, producing its own extra virgin olive oil and associated products, and it also has a marketplace and an eatery, so you can stay for lunch. The Olive Oil 101 tour takes about 45 minutes and follows the olives from grove to pressing and bottling. You’ll learn how to taste extra virgin olive oil the way a sommelier does and pick up tips for using it in your kitchen. Tours run daily on the half hour, from late morning to mid-afternoon, and tickets are sold at the retail counter on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early.
Joyride Taco House is a colourful, So-Cal-inspired taco spot from Phoenix restaurant group Upward Projects, and it won hearts in a midcentury Uptown building on Central Avenue. That Phoenix location closed in August 2026, and the space is set to reopen as Lado a Lado, a wood-fired restaurant inspired by the Sonoran region. The original Joyride is still going strong in Gilbert, a short drive from Phoenix. It’s the perfect place for a party because it suits big groups. The food is ideal for sharing, and the best idea is to order a little bit of everything on the menu and pass it around. It might not be traditionally authentic Mexican food, but it’s a fresh take on classic dishes and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
If you know me, you’ll know I love anything medieval. When I saw a taco restaurant in Phoenix set inside a historic church, you’d better believe I was there in a split second! Taco Guild fills the former Bethel Methodist Church on Osborn Road, a congregation with roots in 1893, and a cornerstone bearing that date still marks the entrance. Inside, lofty wood-beamed ceilings, jewel-toned stained glass and the original pews make it feel like a church for tacos. And thankfully for me, the food was just as good as the decor! The menu pairs traditional and innovative tacos.
Okay, okay, I know, there are a lot of tacos on this list. But that’s the best thing about a trip to Phoenix. Arizona shares its southern border with the Mexican state of Sonora, and Sonoran cooking has shaped the local cuisine for generations. America’s Taco Shop was founded by America Corrales, who first came to the U.S. from her native Culiacán, in Sinaloa, bringing her mother’s recipes with her. After she opened her first shop in Phoenix in 2008, her down-to-earth food was an instant hit with the locals.
Today, you’ll find it in Phoenix’s Melrose District and in Old Town Scottsdale. The food here feels as close to the real thing as possible; it’s simple, affordable and absolutely delicious. Don’t miss a cold cup of horchata, a sweet rice drink flavoured with cinnamon. It’s the perfect thing for a hot day or to cool down your mouth after spicy salsa!
For a romantic evening, Cibo Pizzeria is one of the best places in the city. The restaurant is located in a quaint, restored 1913 bungalow in the Roosevelt Historic District. Cibo features wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas, both red and white. My favourite, for those who like it hot, is the Diavola with tomato sauce, mozzarella and spicy salami! The modern white pizzas are also very popular, and one of the best is the Tartufata, with mozzarella, prosciutto, white mushrooms and a splash of truffle oil. In the evening, the trees over the patio are strung with twinkle lights, and it’s easy to linger under them as the sun sets.
For dinner in Old Town Scottsdale, head to The Mission, which sits near the Old Adobe Mission, the oldest mission church in Scottsdale. The restaurant itself resembles an old Spanish mission, and the decor inside is dark and mysterious. A glowing Himalayan salt brick wall and the twinkle of candlelit chandeliers welcome you inside. Chef Matt Carter serves a mix of modern and traditional Latin cuisine. Don’t skip the tableside guacamole, made fresh in a molcajete; it’s truly a treat.
If there’s one thing people know about Phoenix, having visited or not, it’s that it is hot. Scorching, in fact. And there is nothing better to cool you off on a hot summer day than a creamy, refreshing ice cream cone. Churn, a nostalgic ice cream parlour in Uptown Phoenix, does it beautifully. It sits right beside Windsor in the same 1940s-era strip mall, and its rotating, innovative flavours mean you can come back all the time and always find something new to try. They always have a classic on hand, such as Butter Pecan, but if you get the chance, don’t miss Peaches ‘n Honey in the summer, Vietnamese Coffee or the Eggnog that appears in the winter. Churn’s ice cream is free of preservatives, stabilizers and chemical additives, so you can feel a little better about scarfing down this sweet treat!
Melt is another one of my favourite ice cream shops. Tucked inside Jobot Coffee, Diner & Bar on Roosevelt Row, it serves locally made ice cream and sorbet in some of the most interesting and unique flavours around, from fresas con crema and Cookie Monster to RumChata and habanero white chocolate swirl, with vegan options as well. Plus, every scoop comes in a classic Chinese take-out carton with a fortune cookie on top, which adds to the quirky delights this shop offers!
For dessert in Scottsdale, head over to Shakes & Cones in Old Town. While Scottsdale is mostly known for its upscale dining, Shakes & Cones still feels like a simple, family-run joint. They make their organic soft serve from scratch in small batches and even offer non-dairy and vegan options. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles here, just simple ingredients that highlight the fantastic flavour of their ice cream.
What are your favourite places to visit in Phoenix? There’s always something new to try in this ever-growing foodie city, so take a chance and see if you find yourself eating at the next hot spot.
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