Best Restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale has one of the deepest dining scenes in the Valley, walkable across the core and the Waterfront. Here is a local read on where to eat, from celebration dinners to casual tacos.
A walkable core full of options
Most of Old Town's dining sits within the walkable core and along the Scottsdale Waterfront, so you can park once and choose by mood. The range runs from chef-driven fine dining to casual patios and a historic ice cream parlor.
Chef-driven and celebrated
FnB, the James Beard Award-winning, vegetable-forward New American spot from chef Charleen Badman, is a Valley standout. Citizen Public House is a refined New American gastropub known for its cocktails. Virtù Honest Craft, from chef Gio Osso, brings Mediterranean-leaning cooking in an intimate setting.
Lively and Latin
The Mission is a longtime favorite for modern Latin cooking, tableside guacamole, and cocktails in an adobe-style setting. Barrio Queen and Diego Pops deliver vibrant Mexican and taco menus with strong margarita and tequila lists, good for groups.
Casual and iconic
Arcadia Farms Cafe is a charming cottage spot for lunch, and the historic Sugar Bowl has been the Old Town dessert rite of passage since 1958. Coffee shops and quick bites are scattered throughout the core for a casual pace.
How to think about it
For a first visit, park once and walk the core and the Waterfront, you can graze across budgets without driving between stops. Menus, hours, and ownership change, so check current details before a special meal.
Common questions
- Where are the best restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale?
- Standouts in the walkable core include FnB (James Beard Award-winning New American from chef Charleen Badman), Citizen Public House (New American gastropub), Virtù Honest Craft (chef Gio Osso), The Mission (modern Latin), Barrio Queen and Diego Pops (Mexican and tacos), Arcadia Farms Cafe (lunch), and the historic Sugar Bowl for dessert.
- What is the most famous old restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale?
- The Sugar Bowl, the pink ice cream parlor open since 1958, is the iconic historic dessert spot and a true Old Town rite of passage.
- Where can I get good Mexican food in Old Town Scottsdale?
- The Mission for upscale modern Latin, and Barrio Queen and Diego Pops for vibrant Mexican and tacos with strong margarita and tequila lists. All sit in the walkable Old Town core.
- Are Old Town Scottsdale restaurants walkable?
- Yes. Most of the dining sits within the walkable Old Town core and along the Scottsdale Waterfront, so you can park once and walk between stops, with a complimentary trolley as backup.
- Do Old Town restaurants need reservations?
- The chef-driven and celebration spots like FnB, Citizen Public House, and Virtù often fill up, so reservations help, especially on weekends and during events. Check current hours and booking before you go.
- Want to live near all of this?
- If you want to walk to dinner in Scottsdale, that points you toward Old Town condos and the nearby neighborhoods. Jon Hegreness, Howe Realty, can help you find it. Call or text (623) 826-0888.
A real opinion on Old Town Scottsdale, not a sales pitch
If this guide has you thinking about living in Old Town Scottsdale, the next move is a short conversation about your timeline and what you are working toward. If Old Town Scottsdale is not the right fit, I will tell you that too.
Jon Hegreness
REALTOR / Associate Broker · Howe Realty
AZ License BR540940000
Full-time Phoenix North Valley REALTOR and Associate Broker with 24 years in Arizona residential real estate. A negotiator and problem solver who works the way you would want a friend in the business to work: direct, on your side, and steady through the parts that get complicated.