21 Fun Restaurants in Scottsdale: Where to Eat Near Old Town

If you have read any of my blog posts, you know I am a total foodie. One of the best ways to explore a new destination is by sampling the local cuisine. Eating around Scottsdale Arizona is no exception. This guide to the top fun restaurants in Scottsdale lists all of my top picks for brunch, lunch, and dinner in the Scottsdale area.

Scottsdale has many fantastic restaurants, and it can be overwhelming to decide where to go. Since it’s located on our southern border, Scottsdale has a great Mexican influence and therefore great Mexican restaurants.

In addition to great Mexican food, there are restaurants featuring cuisines from all over the world from Japanese teppanyaki to traditional Italian to American comfort food.

Besides great food, there are a ton of fun restaurants in Scottsdale. “Fun” means unique foods, vibey atmospheres, and entertainment such as live music or DJ’s.

This guide shares recommendations for a wide range of restaurants, broken down by meal and price point with tips for snagging a reservation and deciding what to order.

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Price Key: $=$15 per person $$=$15-30 per person $$$=$30-50 per person $$$$=$50+ per person

Best Brunch in Scottsdale

1. Snooze AM Eatery

📍 Location: 5 locations in Phoenix area | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Classic Brunch

What to Order: To drink you cannot go wrong with any of the mimosas or the Orange Snoozius, a boozy take on the popular orange smoothie. Snooze’s breakfast specialty is their egg benedict, I recommend the Eggs Benedict Duo with the Avocado Benny and Bella Benny.

What Makes it Fun: The restaurant has a retro-80’s atmosphere, a huge menu, and is very accommodating for groups. They also have unique food options like a pancake flight.

Reservations: Snooze does not accept reservations, but has a virtual waitlist through Yelp

2. Schmooze

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Classic Brunch

What to Order: As a millennial, I consider myself a bit of an avocado toast connoisseur and can tell you that Schmooze does it right! My favorite is the farmer with feta and an added poached egg.

What Makes it Fun: Schmooze has the cutest outdoor patio of any brunch restaurant in Scottsdale. Their food, menu, and fantastic location make this one of the best places for brunch in Old Town.

Reservations: No reservations accepted

3. Zuzu

📍 Location: Hotel Valley Ho, Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Classic Brunch

What to Order: Do not go to brunch at Zuzu without ordering the sticky icky buns. The biscuits and gravy or huevos rancheros are great options for your main course.

What Makes it Fun: Zuzu has the coolest contemporary atmosphere and is honestly great for any meal. I like going for brunch since the food is great and its less busy than dinner.

Reservations: OpenTable

4. Hash Kitchen

📍 Location: Arcadia, Scottsdale, Peoria | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Classic Brunch

What to Order: You cannot go wrong with the mimosa flight and loaded avocado toast, pictured above. It’s also great for sharing!

What Makes it Fun: Hash Kitchen is a super vibey and tasty brunch restaurant. On the weekends, they have a live DJ which makes it super fun with a group of friends.

They also offer a bloody Mary bar and a mimosa flight, so come here if you want a boozy brunch.

Reservations: None, plan to wait one hour

Best Restaurants in Scottsdale for Lunch

5. Diego Pops

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: American Mexican Fusion

What to Order: To drink, the prickly pear margarita is fantastic. The most popular menu item is the brussels sprout nachos, and I also recommend the queso and the al pastor tacos.

What Makes it Fun: Diego Pops is a fun and hip Mexican American restaurant in old town. They have super unique décor and a great outdoor patio. The menu features a variety of proteins that are prepared as tacos or bowls.

Reservations: Diego Pops does not accept reservations, but has a virtual waitlist through Yelp

6. The Montauk

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Northeast American

What to Order: My favorite items on the menu are the rose sangria, burrata, and lobster roll.

What Makes it Fun: The Montauk is next door to Diego Pops and has a similar vibe with unique décor and loud, popular music.

However, The food and theme are entirely different, with the restaurant modeled after the Hamptons.

Reservations: No Reservations

7. Evo

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale| 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Italian

What to Order: The Kale and Brussel sprouts salad is one of the best salads I’ve ever had! All of the pizzas are also great and big enough to share.

What Makes it Fun: Evo was recommended to me by a local waiter that shared that the staff from local restaurants love going to Evo after work. It’s a casual Italian restaurant with good food and a great location in Old Town.

Reservations: Open Table

8. Alma

📍 Location: Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Mexican

What to Order: To start, the street corn is fantastic. For your main course, choose any of the tacos, they’re all equally tasty.

What Makes it Fun: Alma is in a more residential area of Scottsdale but has a great atmosphere. Since its out of the way, it is often easier to get a reservation here than other places in old town.

Reservations: Open Table

Fun Scottsdale Dinner Restaurants

9. The Mission

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Mexican

What to Order: The tableside guac and salsa is some of the best I’ve ever had. For entrees, get any of their pork options such as the pork shoulder tacos or the chorizo porchetta.

What Makes it Fun: If you go to one restaurant in Scottsdale, go to the Mission. It is hands down the most popular and best restaurant in Scottsdale Arizona.

The restaurant is in an old mission building and has a beautiful interior with chandeliers and a Himalayan salt wall.

The staff makes every course and food item feel special and treat every guest like a VIP.  The chef is classically trained in France and applies French technique to Mexican food, which makes everything fantastic and unique.

Reservations: Open Table

10. Maple & Ash

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Steak and Seafood

What to Order: Truthfully, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. For the most indulgent meal, order the seafood tower and a steak entrée.

What Makes it Fun: Maple and Ash is arguably the fanciest restaurant in Scottsdale. It’s spendy, but a great location for a special occasion such as an anniversary or birthday.

If you visit for a special occasion, they will even create personalized menus for your party.

Reservations: On their website

11. North Italia

📍 Location: Kierland | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Italian

What to Order: The grilled bread and olive oil is surprisingly good as a starter. For an entrée, I love the vodka sauce pasta and the prosciutto pizza.

What Makes it Fun: North Italia is a small piece of Italy in Scottsdale. This small, casual restaurant is perfect for a laid-back dinner with fantastic food and drinks.

Reservations: Open Table

12. Hearth 61

📍 Location: Mountain Shadows Resort, Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: American

What to Order: The menu changes seasonally, but my current favorite menu items are the beef tenderloin and herb crusted salmon.

What Makes it Fun: Hearth 61 is at my favorite resort in Scottsdale, Mountain Shadows. The restaurant overlooks the resort pool with a perfect view of Camelback Mountain. Hearth is a higher-end restaurant that is great for a special occasion or date night on your vacation.

Reservations: Open Table

13. Lincoln Steakhouse

📍 Location: JW Camelback Inn, Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Steakhouse

What to Order: You need to start with their specialty, the lobster escargot. For your main course, go with your favorite cut of beef. Mine is a filet mignon!

What Makes it Fun: I love a good steak dinner, and the Lincoln Steakhouse at the JW Camelback delivers. The restaurant is western themed and has fantastic steak. I love how it’s a high-end restaurant that doesn’t feel pretentious or too fancy.

Reservations: Open Table

14. Kyoto

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Teppanyaki

What to Order: The teppanyaki menu comes with salad, rice, and a choice of meat. My favorite meat is the filet mignon and be sure to upgrade your rice to fried rice.  

What Makes it Fun: Kyoto has to be one of the most fun places to eat in Old Town Scottsdale. The entire meal is a show in itself!

For those that haven’t tried teppanyaki before, it’s a large cooktop that everyone sits around where the chef will grill and prepare the food in front of you with interactive elements such as an onion volcano or large fires.

Reservations: Open Table

15. Citizen Public House

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: American

What to Order: Try the cornbread waffle, roasted Brussel sprouts, and the short ribs or scallops.

What Makes it Fun: The Citizen Public House is a great option for dinner in Old Town Scottsdale. The James Beard award winning chef created and elevated and thoughtful menu that is all fantastic.

Reservations: Open Table

16. Culinary Dropout

📍 Location: Scottsdale Waterfront & Kierland | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: American

What to Order: You absolutely need to start with the pretzel bites and cheese sauce, they are a bit pricey but great for sharing. For your entrée, the ribs are my favorite.

What Makes it Fun: Culinary Dropout feels has a very LA vibe. The restaurant is dark and moody with trendy artwork and music. While the atmosphere is trendy, the service and staff is very down to earth making this a great place for all ages.

Reservations: Open Table

17. Elements

📍 Location: Sanctuary Camelback, Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: American

What to Order: I recommend the filet of beef or the pork chop, but the entire menu is well executed so you can’t go wrong.

What Makes it Fun:

This entire resort is incredible and luxurious. Elements is a great fine dining restaurant for a special occasion or date night.

This restaurant is unique with it’s amazing view of the valley that cannot be found at other restaurants in the area.

Reservations: Open Table

18. Sumomaya

📍 Location: Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Mexican-Asian Fusion

What to Order: Its easy to want to order everything on the menu. I highly recommend the al pastor pad thai, edamame, and short rib tacos.

What Makes it Fun: This Scottsdale restaurant is fun because of the unique design and atmosphere. The design is very moody and there is even a tree inside of the dining room.

Sumomaya is a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant that serves unique dishes family style. They offer a variety of tacos, sushi rolls, noodles, and more. Dishes are served in a tapas style, to be shared among the table.

Reservations: Open Table

19. Prado

📍 Location: Omni Resort, Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Spanish

What to Order: The patatas bravas and croquettes are better than any I had in Spain. For a main course, you cant go wrong with the filet mignon or short rib.

What Makes it Fun: At the beautiful Omni Resort Montelucia, Prado is a fantastic Spanish restaurant. The atmosphere and décor transport you to Spain, and the food matches.

They offer a variety of tapas and entrees, all of which feature seasonal ingredients.

Reservations: Open Table

20. Fat Ox

📍 Location: Old Town Scottsdale & Paradise Valley | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Italian

What to Order: Get your favorite pasta dish to share, I recommend the cacio e pepe. For an entrée, I love the filter or scallops.

What Makes it Fun: With the same head chef as the Mission, listed above, Fat Ox is a great option for a high-end Italian meal. Its a great date night restaurant with a fun environment, refined menu, and great service.

Reservations: Open Table

21. Etta

📍 Location: Scottsdale | 💸 Price Point: $$$ | 🍴 Cuisine: Italian

What to Order: The house made focaccia with whipped ricotta is the best way to start a meal. For dinner, you cannot go wrong with any of the pasta dishes but my favorite is the vodka sauce.

What Makes it Fun: The food at Etta is the best part, but the atmosphere is a close second. The restaurant has an indoor dining room and two large patios. The entire thing is covered in greenery and modern decor.

Etta is my go-to restaurant when eating out for a birthday or date night. I find myself craving it all the time!

Reservations: Available through their website

The Best Scottsdale Food Tour

If you’re a foodie, another great way to experience Scottsdale restaurants is with this downtown Scottsdale food tour.

The tour covers the highlights of Old Town Scottsdale on foot and the famous trolley. During the food tour, you will visit 5 of the best restaurants in Scottsdale to sample their signature dishes and cocktails.

This food tour is a great thing to do on your Scottsdale vacation to sample a lot of the great food the city has to offer in a short amount of time. You will also get a local’s perspective on the area.

Check availability of this Scottsdale food tour

FAQ – Fun Scottsdale Restaurants

Summary of the Best Fun Restaurants in Scottsdale

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with any of the restaurants on this list. I am constantly impressed by the restaurant scene in Scottsdale with an emphasis on unique ambience and delicious food.

If I had to choose one restaurant from each category on this list of the best restaurants in Scottsdale I would choose: Snooze AM Eatery, Diego Pops, and The Mission.

Check out my ultimate guide to Scottsdale for a weekend itinerary, what to do in the area, and other great Scottsdale travel tips.

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