The Best Places to Eat and Drink in Midtown Phoenix

Desert-toned walls and a condensed, always-shifting wine list set the mood at this neo-bistro and wine bar on Seventh Street. The team pulls from old and new world bottles for both pours and a rotating spritz selection, while small plates from the kitchen give you a reason to stay for another glass. A James Beard semifinalist for Best New Bar, it draws the kind of crowd that actually talks to the table next to them.

1. Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
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The family owns a 68-foot harpoon fishing boat that works the Pacific for swordfish, which is a more convincing sustainability pitch than a wall decal. This fast-casual seafood spot in Uptown Plaza keeps the fish never-frozen and the menu wide, running from poke bowls and swordfish tacos to grilled oysters and a lobster BLT on weekends. The chef earned a James Beard semifinalist nod in 2026, which is notable for a counter-service fish place.

1. Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept
2. Foodist Awards 2024 · Finalist: Thai Peanut Poke Bowl · Standout Signature Dish
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The laminated dough at this French patisserie takes the kind of patience most kitchens quietly skip. Croissants, kouign-amann, pain au chocolat, and thick slices of quiche fill the cases, alongside macarons and fresh-baked loaves worth tucking under your arm on the way out. Seasonally flavored coffees keep the morning crowd happy while they deliberate. A James Beard Outstanding Bakery semifinalist, this uptown Phoenix spot makes a convincing case for the detour.

1. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Pastries · Best of Phoenix
2. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Pastries · Best of Phoenix
3. James Beard Awards 2023 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Bakery

Fresh rosemary on wooden tables and a bottle of house-made hot sauce waiting when you sit down sets the tone at this counter-service cafe. The farmhouse-chic room has soft bistro lights, chalkboard menus, and a walk-up window that made takeout brunch a neighborhood ritual. The line down the block on weekends is the real menu recommendation. Phoenix New Times named it best breakfast in 2024.

1. Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Breakfast · Best of Phoenix
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1. AAA Three Diamonds

The team once competed on Food Network's Cupcake Wars under a different name and won, which tells you something about what's happening at this bright, family-run bakery near Seventh and Camelback. Frosted cupcakes and cookies rotate with the seasons and holidays, so there's almost always a reason to stop in. The signature brown boxes travel well and double as a gift when flowers feel lazy.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Cookies · Best of Phoenix
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1. AAA Approved

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2. Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best Second-Hand Name · Best of the Valley

Scooptopia is a small ice cream shop on Central Avenue, a satellite of the Scooptacular operation out in Laveen, serving a wide run of that kitchen's flavors. The scoops lean playful, with Playdough in three pastel stripes, bubble gum, and birthday cake. Sundaes and milkshakes are on offer too, so you can eat dessert in the shape of a meal. Expect a short line, a paper cup, and no dress code.

1. Phoenix New Times Where to find the best ice cream in Phoenix

1. Phoenix Magazine 2025 · Best Prosciutto · Best of the Valley
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The coffee bar lives inside a furniture showroom, so you're welcome to settle into a display sofa while you drink. The thing that earns attention here is the cold foam, a thick mashed-banana crown with vanilla and agave that sits heavy on a latte or cold brew like it means business. Foam skeptics tend to announce, unprompted, that it tastes like banana pie on their coffee. They're not wrong.

1. Phoenix New Times 2025 · Best Cold Foam · Best of Phoenix