48 Hours in Phoenix, AZ: Where to Eat, Caffeinate, and Shop

NOTE: This trip was taken immediately prior to Stay at Home/ Shelter in Place orders due to COVID-19. Vendor hours and offerings may differ from what is listed below. Make sure to check their social media for additional information before planning your visit.

eat.

breakfast/ brunch

• Snooze AM Eatery– Arrive hungry! Snooze is not for light bite lovers or grazers. However, if you’re looking for a hearty breakfast that will keep you satisfied until noon then you will do just fine. I recommend the breakfast burrito with added soyrizo and avocado. Ask for the burrito ingredients in a bowl with the tortilla on the side for a little extra experience.

• The Dressing Room – Two words: hibiscus mimosas. Brunch here is quite the experience that includes live music on the back patio. We opted to sit under the small bit of shade that we were able to find and sip hibiscus mimosas until our hearts were content. Try an order of the fries and sauce (four sauces: avocado creme, spicy Russian, house ranch, and malt aioli).

• OEB Breakfast (Scottsdale | 25 minutes outside of Phoenix)- Our wait time was quoted as twenty minutes but ended up being an hour. Luckily, it was well worth the wait because OEB makes a mean veggie omelette and a ridiculously good pancake! We decided to also indulge in the mimosa flight (four different flavors) and the morning sun brunch cocktail. Plan to order them all and definitely call ahead of join the waitlist on Yelp for a seamless experience.

• Earth Plant Based Cuisine – Vegan, organic, non-GMO and tasty? Yes, please! I was so happy to find this vegan guilty pleasures paradise and sample quite a few dishes as vegan versions that I have not enjoyed for nearly a decade. My picks: chorizo fries, buffalo wings, al pastor tacos, street style corn, rice and refried bean, and parsley fries. I feel your judgement through the screen – HA! Just trust me and order a bit of everything.
• Blanco Tacos + Tequila – Whoever thought of putting a tacos and tequila spot in the airport is officially my new best friend. Yes, I am raving about airport food here. We popped into Blanco during a flight delay and could not have been happier. It’s pretty much guaranteed that I will order guacamole upon seeing it on a menu. I ordered the guacamole, veggie tacos, and cheese quesadilla to share and without much expectation. However, everything was well seasoned and delicious. The Casa Noble was a perfect ending to the meal. Stop in and thank me later!

• Josephine – Josephine, what a dream! I chose this gorgeous and intimate space for my birthday dinner and was not disappointed. After learning of my vegetarian status, our server brought over a curated list of plant-based options that all seemed too delicious to pick just one. We chose the vegan dumplings and shishito pepper frito miso to start and the cordycept mushroom agnolotti and Beijing style noodles to share. I highly recommend each of these dishes with multiple apricot bulles cocktails. For dessert, our server brought a coconut soaked white chocolate sponge cake topped with lavender mascarpone, honey praline toffee sauce, and the cutest sparkler birthday candle. You absolutely must visit this gem.

• Restaurant Progress – You know a place is amazing when you’re still thinking about the salad. I’ve eaten my fair share of creative salads but the frisée and little gem salads were incredible. They use seasonal and local ingredients so the menu changes frequently. We were lucky to dine the night they were serving roasted cauliflower with date and cauliflower puree, dukkah seasoning, and parsley along with the house made cappellacci dei briganti (without sausage to make it vegetarian). Definitely end with dessert. Get the lemon semifreddo if it’s available!

caffeinate.

• FUTURO – Grab a coffee and some culture here. This space serves up strong coffee, seasonal teas, fresh eats with a side of concept store and hair salon. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, it works. You’ll just have to see it for yourself. Grab one of their seasonal iced teas while you’re there!

• Teaspressa – This adorable shop is a tea drinker’s paradise. I spotted their beautiful cups of tea on Instagram and knew I had to have one. One quickly became two and ended with me trying both the signature black rose and the Teaspressa matcha with oat milk. They also sell everything you need to make a perfect of tea at home. While waiting for the order, I browsed their merch and could not resist taking home a bag of tea with a box of their signature luxe latte cubes in the rose flavor. You’ll want to spend a bit of time here to sit, sip, and savor!

shop.

• The Churchill – Casual dining, local shopping, and comfortable outdoor seating make this concept space a must on your next Phoenix visit. You’ll want to stop inside the Gather PHX shop for handmade jewelry, baskets, and a lots of curated finds.
• Scottsdale Fashion Square – I know, I know. I am a huge supporter of shopping local and this is a mall of chains but I included this one for my fellow shopping lovers who live in cities that don’t have higher end anchor stores. Sometimes online shopping just doesn’t cut it and a girl just wants to try on items before spending a chunk of money, you know? Whether for shopping or not, you might find yourself inside just to cool down from the Arizona heat.

• Phoenix General – Conveniently located two doors down from The Dressing Room is the shop of all shops. Phoenix General is modern and minimalist with a local flare. They sell lots of clean beauty, a selection of cool apparel and accessories, and the best home fragrances. I bought a Fiele Frangrance in Lavandula,  some Yield Design incense, and Salt & Stone natural deodorant in the eucalyptus, pink grapefruit, and bergamot scent. They ship nationally too so I will definitely be ordering a few shirts I left behind. Check them out but don’t blame me when you buy all the things!