The Top 100 Places to Eat and Drink Near Museum of Illusions
-
-
Rank 2. Andreoli Italian Grocer
Italian
Giovanni Scorzo's shop-restaurant in north Scottsdale stocks shelves with proper Italian flours and oils while a casual dining room serves his Calabrese cooking that roams across regional traditions—orecchiette with broccoli and sausage, branzino with herbs, grilled squid with parsley and lemon. The pastry case alone, filled with cannoli and sfogliatelle that rank among the best in the metro area, makes a stop worthwhile even if you're just grabbing supplies.
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Outsdanding Hospitality
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Italian Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Italian Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rank 8. Hiro Sushi
Traditional Sushi
-
-
Chef Cory Oppold's stripped-down fine-dining room sits anonymously in a Scottsdale strip mall, but the tasting menu inside is where he stakes his claim after years working some of the Valley's best kitchens. Expect five courses on weeknights or eight on weekends, with small bites that shift with the seasons.
- The Pinnacle Guide 2026 · 1 Pin
- USA Today 2025 · Restaurants of the Year
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker · Antonia Kane
-
Rank 11. Indibar
Modern Indian
Chefs Nigel Lobo and Ajay Singh have brought fine dining technique to Indian cuisine in a sleek desert-modern dining room with an eye-catching Art Deco bar, and their butter chicken alone—tender, char-grilled, bathed in complex cream—justifies the white-glove service. Modern presentations of street food classics sit alongside regional dishes like Kerala-style branzino wrapped in banana leaf, while the pastry and bar teams riff on nostalgic Indian flavors with equal ambition.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best New Restaurant
- USA Today 2026 · Restaurants of the Year
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
-
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Genuine Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
-
-
Rank 14. Fat Ox
Italian
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Food Pioneer · Matt Carter
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Italian · Best of the Valley
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
Rank 15. JL Patisserie
French Bakery
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
-
-
-
Rank 19. Shinbay
Omakase Sushi
Chef Shinji Kurita presides over a 13-seat counter in Old Town Scottsdale, where he builds an omakase progression that might include kombu-cured halibut, scallop with yuzu-miso, and perfectly calculated nigiri across two seatings nightly. It's a splurge at $250 a person, reserved well ahead and worth the two hours you'll spend watching a master at work.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Japanese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Japanese Restaurant · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
-
Rank 20. La Zozzona
Italian
-
-
Charleen Badman sources vegetables and rare ingredients from Arizona farms and beyond, braiding them into dishes that range across the Sonoran Desert, South America, and the Levant in this Scottsdale fine-dining kitchen where she still cooks most nights. Co-owner Pavle Milic's wine list—heavy on Arizona producers—is reason enough to tuck into the hidden bar, which might be the best seat in the house.
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Charleen Badman
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Arizona Wine Selection · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Arizona Wine Selection · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 23. Citizen Public House
American
Chef Bernie Kantak's Citizen Public House trades the fanciness its name suggests for a relaxed dining room where classic American cooking gets a savory edge—think crispy sesame pork belly and scallops that actually shine. The Original Chopped Salad is popular enough to have its own Facebook following, and the whole operation has the ease of a place where the staff genuinely seem to like what they do.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: In-Good Spirits · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Salad: The Original Chopped Salad · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
Rank 24. Goldman's Deli
Jewish
A family-run Scottsdale deli channeling Chicago's Jewish delis, where you can order chopped liver, gefilte fish, and smoked-fish platters alongside towering pastrami-on-rye sandwiches. The matzoh ball soup and fresh bagels land the kind of comfort that feels earned rather than nostalgic.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Jewish Deli · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Jewish Deli · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 25. CATCH
Sushi
A polished steak-and-sushi room inside Scottsdale Fashion Square where you might spot designer bags at the next table, but the food—briny crudo, lobster-topped wagyu rolls, herb-roasted branzino on creamy lemon rice—justifies the splurge. Prices are steep, but the kitchen delivers where many Scottsdale luxury spots just deliver theater.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Herb-Roasted Branzino · The 10 best bites we tasted at Phoenix restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best new Phoenix restaurants of 2025
-
Rank 26. Élephante
Mediterranean
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Espresso Martini · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best New Pizza Hot Spot · Best of the Valley
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
-
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Brunch With a Punch
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
-
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: In-Good Spirits · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southwest · Bernie Kantak
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Salad: The Original Chopped Salad · Best of Phoenix
-
Tucked into Old Town Scottsdale with warm lighting and tables built for lingering, this globe-trotting spot channels Anthony Bourdain's restless appetite through handmade pasta, egg yolk nigiri, brisket burnt ends, and bison with maitake bordelaise. The cocktails are crafted with the same precision and playfulness as the food, making it the kind of place where dinner becomes an adventure.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best Mocktail: Smartest Cocktail in the Room · Best of the Valley
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
Rank 30. Liquor Pig
Cocktail Bar
A moody Old Town Scottsdale tavern where the cocktails—like olive oil-washed dirty martinis—are as playful as the ever-rotating menu, and the service puts you at ease whether you're perched at the bar solo or crowded into a booth with friends. Order shareable plates of ceviche and burrata, but make room for the mafaldine in duck bolognese, a rich pasta dish that justifies the indulgence.
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Most Luxurious Meat Board · Best of the Valley
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
Rank 31. SugarJam
Southern
Chef Dana Dumas soaks thick challah in Grand Marnier for French toast with a caramelized crust, then tops it with vanilla butter and rum pecan maple syrup—this casual Southern brunch spot in Scottsdale turns the classic into something almost like deconstructed crème brûlée. Weekends bring cocktails and a DJ, but weekday visits reward you with shorter waits and equally exceptional savory options like catfish and grits or fried chicken and waffles.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Brunch · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Brunch · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Brunch · Best of Phoenix
-
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
-
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner: Double Burger · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- Phoenix New Times The top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
-
-
Rank 35. Uchi
Japanese
Chef Tyson Cole's upscale Japanese restaurant brings its Austin sophistication to Old Town Scottsdale, with precise sushi and sashimi anchoring a menu that ranges from tempura to grilled meats and inventive crudos. Order à la carte, go full omakase, or build a custom tasting menu, but don't skip the signature Hama Chili with yellowtail, ponzu, and Thai chile.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Top Sushi Restaurant
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
-
-
At Sizzle, the servers do the grilling tableside while you sit back with a drink, moving around the room like seasoned dancers to flip cuts and manage the flow. Order a sampler platter of pork or beef and you'll get a rotating parade of different cuts, vegetables, and sides that turns dinner into something between a meal and a show.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Korean Barbecue · Best of Phoenix
-
Rank 38. Pizzeria Virtu
Wood-fired Pizza
Chef Gio Osso runs this wood-fired pizzeria out of a house with a backyard patio in Old Town Scottsdale, where fine dining ease meets casual neighborhood warmth. The pies come topped with San Marzano tomatoes, chestnut honey, rapini pesto, and peppered bacon, all cradled in fluffy, bubbly dough.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pizza · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
-
Rank 40. Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen
Mediterranean
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
Rank 41. Hush Public House
New American
Chef Dom Ruggiero's intimate spot in Scottsdale serves New American food with real soul—think an oxtail-laden riff on Italian beef with molten cheese and giardiniera, or crab-perfumed hush puppies that set the tone for what follows. The open kitchen fills the room with cooking sounds and smells while a house playlist of nostalgic rock plays to a crowd of cordial regulars, all of whom seem to understand they're in on something special.
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Winner: Cast Iron Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times The 12 best restaurants in Scottsdale
-
Rank 42. Pinnacle Brewing Company
Beer Bar
North Scottsdale's newest taproom finally gives you a place to watch the game while drinking serious beer — Czech lagers, English milds, and a GABF-winning märzen rotate through Brewmaster Wyatt Wilson's lineup of European classics. The stylish room opens onto a covered patio where a permanent BBQ trailer keeps you fed without missing a play.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best New Brewery · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
-
-
A midcentury diner transplanted into Scottsdale's neighborhood breakfast scene, The Eleanor pairs cozy booths and a counter with a menu that moves easily between fluffy blueberry pancakes and avocado toast. Ellefson and Macaulay built the place to let you linger over slow coffee or grab something quick, and their in-house maple butter alone justifies the trip.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Breakfast · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times The 10 best breakfast spots in Phoenix
-
Rank 45. Los Milics Vineyards
Wine Bar
A dark, sleek tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale where Pavle Milic, beverage director at the acclaimed restaurant FnB, pours wines from a region Wine Enthusiast has called the next Napa. The gregarious bar staff will guide you through flights and glasses while neighborhood regulars settle in for an intimate but buzzy evening.
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Tasting Room · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2025 · The Top 100 Bars in Phoenix
-
- 50 Top Pizza 2025 · #26 · 50 Top Pizza USA
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Honey Bee Pizza · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
-
-
-
-
- AZ Central 2026 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
- Phoenix New Times The top 10 burger joints in Phoenix
- AZ Central 2025 · The 100 Best Metro Phoenix Restaurants
-
-
Rank 52. The Ends
Global
In Old Town Scottsdale, this warmly lit dining room channels Anthony Bourdain's appetite for the world, with tables arranged to spark conversation over drinks mixed with scientific precision. The menu roams freely—handmade pasta, egg yolk nigiri, French onion soup, Japanese Wagyu sandwich—and the shareable lamb with harissa brodo is a showstopper.
-
Rank 53. Cala
Mediterranean
-
-
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist · Top Chef · Alex Trujillo
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Carpaccio · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
-
-
-
-
-
Rank 60. Francine
Mediterranean French
-
-
Rank 62. Ocean 44
Seafood
-
-
-
Rank 65. Three Beans Cafe
Coffee
-
-
-
Rank 68. Tapas Papa Frita
Spanish
-
Rank 69. Sugar Bowl
Dessert
Sugar Bowl has been scooping ice cream for nearly fifty years, but the real revelation is their surprisingly good savory side—try the Chicado, a generous turkey salad with avocado and tomato, or the corned beef sandwich with Thousand Island dressing. It's a casual neighborhood spot where you can grab lunch and still have room for a three-scoop sundae.
-
Rank 70. Diego Pops
Mexican
-
Rank 71. Franco's Italian Caffe
Old-School Italian
-
-
Rank 73. The Mission
Mexican
A dimly lit room where the margaritas flow and leather booths invite you to settle in—The Mission brings proper Mexican cooking and snappy cocktails to a corner of Scottsdale that's mostly resigned itself to burgers and sushi. Street tacos and bacon-wrapped hot dogs are the show-stealers, and at fifteen bucks a drink, it's the kind of place where lingering feels like the whole point.
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Food Pioneer · Matt Carter
- Phoenix New Times 2023 · Best Tequila Selection · Best of Phoenix
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Scottsdale
-
-
-
-
-
Rank 78. Marcellino Ristorante
Classic Italian
-
Rank 79. T. Cooks
Mediterranean
-
-
-
Rank 82. Rusty Spur Saloon
Dive Bar
-
Rank 83. J&G Steakhouse
French-Inspired Steakhouse
-
Rank 84. Berdena's
Coffee
A narrow Scottsdale coffee shop where the owner sources organic beans and brews them into drinks like honey lavender lattes and cardamom rose—the kind of place that takes its ingredients seriously but keeps the vibe refreshingly casual. The pastries and toast come from the same thoughtful approach, whether it's cinnamon toast or avocado on sourdough.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Breakfast Sandwich · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Breakfast Sandwich · Best of Phoenix
-
-
-
-
Rank 88. Di Maggio’s
NY Italian
-
-
-
Rank 91. Cool Gelato Italiano
Dessert
Two owners trained by an Italian gelato champion run this Old Town counter, where 20 flavors rotate daily with serious attention to balance and depth. It's the kind of place where you taste the craft in every spoonful, whether you're grabbing a cup on a hot afternoon or settling in with a cone.
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Gelato · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Gelato · Best of Phoenix
-
-
-
-
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Date Shake · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
- Eater Date Shake · The Most Iconic Dishes in Phoenix
-
Rank 96. Goldwater Brewing Co.
Beer Bar
-
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Winner: Hush Burger · Standout Signature Dish
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: Hush Burger · Most Crave-Worthy Burger
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Winner: Cast Iron Concepts · Outstanding Hospitality Group
-
Rank 98. Zinc Bistro
French
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Food Pioneer · Matt Carter
- Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Dungeness Crab Salad · Top 100 Dishes of Arizona
-
-