Guidebook for Phoenix
Essentials
Fry's Food And Drug
5140 W Baseline RdLarge grocery store
Safeway
340 E McDowell RdBig grocery store, nice deli
Food Scene
Los dos molinos
4855 Warner RdGreat food and margaritas! SPICY, New Mexican
Poncho's Mexican Food and Cantina
7202 S Central AveGood, cheap Mexican food
CIBO
603 N 5th AveSmall, locally owned. Great pizzas and kitchy atmosphere
Thai Hut
101 E McDowell RdReally good Thai food!
Mexican chain restaurant. BIG burritos, great meats, and margaritas.
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Chipotle Mexican Grill
1515 N 7th AveMexican chain restaurant. BIG burritos, great meats, and margaritas.
Three restaurants in one. Very fresh, mostly local food. Go on a nice day as you eat outside at picnic tables
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The Farm at South Mountain
6106 S 32nd StThree restaurants in one. Very fresh, mostly local food. Go on a nice day as you eat outside at picnic tables
Pretty decent Chinese food at a good price. Can eat there, or pick up to-go. Try the Singapore noodles and Egg Flower Soup. Mmmm
Red Dragon Express
5130 W Baseline RdPretty decent Chinese food at a good price. Can eat there, or pick up to-go. Try the Singapore noodles and Egg Flower Soup. Mmmm
Surprisingly, this is the BEST authentic Mexican restaurant we have found in the city. Greasy, served in styrofoam, you can't beat it.
El Gran Taquito Mexican Grill
5130 W Baseline RdSurprisingly, this is the BEST authentic Mexican restaurant we have found in the city. Greasy, served in styrofoam, you can't beat it.
Pizza, beer, and kid friendly. We aren't huge fans of the pizza, but all the families in Laveen were THRILLED when this local chain opened in the area
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Barro's Pizza
6663 E McDowell RdPizza, beer, and kid friendly. We aren't huge fans of the pizza, but all the families in Laveen were THRILLED when this local chain opened in the area
The BEST pie ever. This place is famous for their pies. Almost any flavor you can imagine, by the slice or whole pies available. If you are going to northern AZ, make sure to stop here on your way!
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Rock Springs Café
35900 Old Black Canyon HwyThe BEST pie ever. This place is famous for their pies. Almost any flavor you can imagine, by the slice or whole pies available. If you are going to northern AZ, make sure to stop here on your way!
The best Vietnamese food in the area, and it's cheap ($6/plate average). If you like Vietnamese food, it's worth the drive to Chandler for this place
Saigon Pho & Seafood Restaurant
1381 N Alma School RdThe best Vietnamese food in the area, and it's cheap ($6/plate average). If you like Vietnamese food, it's worth the drive to Chandler for this place
The menu here is creative and yummy (try the mussels and french fries appetizer). It is usually very busy for lunch and happy hour. Located in City Center, so close to other bars
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The Arrogant Butcher
2 E Jefferson StThe menu here is creative and yummy (try the mussels and french fries appetizer). It is usually very busy for lunch and happy hour. Located in City Center, so close to other bars
Oprah claims it's the best pizza in the country. The owner, Chris Bianco, grows his own herbs and veggies for the pizzas. Plan to wait in long lines unless you arrive super early. No reservations
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Pizzeria Bianco
623 E Adams StOprah claims it's the best pizza in the country. The owner, Chris Bianco, grows his own herbs and veggies for the pizzas. Plan to wait in long lines unless you arrive super early. No reservations
Creative kitchen, fancy food. Eddie is often there, and wanders through the dining room talking with guests. This a great spot if you want a nice night out
Eddie's House
7042 East Indian School RoadCreative kitchen, fancy food. Eddie is often there, and wanders through the dining room talking with guests. This a great spot if you want a nice night out
Cute spot for lunch or coffee if you are hiking near Camelback or Dreamy Draw area
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Luci's Healthy Marketplace
1590 E Bethany Home RdCute spot for lunch or coffee if you are hiking near Camelback or Dreamy Draw area
The closest Starbucks to our house, although you can also find them in the Fry's and Safeway on Baseline and 51st Ave
Starbucks
5150 W Baseline RdThe closest Starbucks to our house, although you can also find them in the Fry's and Safeway on Baseline and 51st Ave
Good, down-home breakfast. Just make sure to go on a nice day because you WILL have to wait for a table.
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Matt's Big Breakfast
825 N 1st StGood, down-home breakfast. Just make sure to go on a nice day because you WILL have to wait for a table.
Sightseeing
One of Amanda's favorite places in the state. Amazing rock formations, and way less busy than Sedona
Chiricahua National Monument Wilderness
One of Amanda's favorite places in the state. Amazing rock formations, and way less busy than Sedona
Great museum on Native American history. If you can only do one museum in Phoenix, this is the one to give you a history of the area
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I-Heard Museum
2301 N Central AveGreat museum on Native American history. If you can only do one museum in Phoenix, this is the one to give you a history of the area
Probably the best museum in the city. Amazing displays of musical instruments from all over the world. The acoustics in the auditorium are AMAZING
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Iziko lezintsholongwane zomculo
4725 E Mayo BlvdProbably the best museum in the city. Amazing displays of musical instruments from all over the world. The acoustics in the auditorium are AMAZING
Great nature paths in a more rural part of the Valley
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Boyce Thompson Arboretum
37615 E Arboretum WayGreat nature paths in a more rural part of the Valley
Like olives? This place is for you. Learn about and taste all kinds of olives and olive products.
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Queen Creek
Like olives? This place is for you. Learn about and taste all kinds of olives and olive products.
The largest city park in the country. Drive up to the summit for the best views of the valley. Lots of hiking, but stay on well-marked trails to ensure you don't get lost
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South Mountain Park
10919 South Central AvenueThe largest city park in the country. Drive up to the summit for the best views of the valley. Lots of hiking, but stay on well-marked trails to ensure you don't get lost
Drinks & Nightlife
Sports bar and restaurant. Pizza is ok, but the wings are REALLY good. It can be very busy, especially on game days. Expect loud cheering if any AZ teams are playing
Greathouse Sports Grill - CLOSED
5020 W Baseline RdSports bar and restaurant. Pizza is ok, but the wings are REALLY good. It can be very busy, especially on game days. Expect loud cheering if any AZ teams are playing
Chill, laid-back bar that is a combination dive bar/your grandma's basement (complete with 70s couches). There are board games, pool tables, shuffleboard, and cheap drinks
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Monkey Pants Bar & Grill
3223 S Mill AveChill, laid-back bar that is a combination dive bar/your grandma's basement (complete with 70s couches). There are board games, pool tables, shuffleboard, and cheap drinks
Local dive bar. Cheap beer, pool tables, and maybe even a few horses tied up to the hitching posts out back. You can easily walk there from our house. Friday Fish Fry is pretty good too
The Spurr Lounge
5535 W Baseline RdLocal dive bar. Cheap beer, pool tables, and maybe even a few horses tied up to the hitching posts out back. You can easily walk there from our house. Friday Fish Fry is pretty good too
Lots of night life near Arizona State University. Bars, shops, restaurants, and scantily clad coeds. Welcome to Arizona!
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Downtown Tempe
1 W Rio Salado PkwyLots of night life near Arizona State University. Bars, shops, restaurants, and scantily clad coeds. Welcome to Arizona!
Old Town is where you will find the most young professionals gathered on the weekends. Expect young, intoxicated, well-dressed people wandering the streets.
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Old Town Scottsdale
3200 N Scottsdale RdOld Town is where you will find the most young professionals gathered on the weekends. Expect young, intoxicated, well-dressed people wandering the streets.
Everything Else
Great little artsy town in Southeast AZ. Jon and I love to go here for quiet weekends. It's a former mining town that now has great galleries, restaurants, and ghosts
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Bisbee
Great little artsy town in Southeast AZ. Jon and I love to go here for quiet weekends. It's a former mining town that now has great galleries, restaurants, and ghosts
OK Corral, Boot Hill Cemetery, and the Birdcage - You don't get much more Old West than Tombstone, AZ. It is a tad touristy now, but it's still a fun place to go for the day
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Tombstone
300 N Sumner StOK Corral, Boot Hill Cemetery, and the Birdcage - You don't get much more Old West than Tombstone, AZ. It is a tad touristy now, but it's still a fun place to go for the day
This is where we go to church. Services at 9 and 11am each Sunday morning. Held at Cesar Chavez HS auditorium. Contemporary music, can wear your jeans and flip flops
CrossWalk Church
3921 W Baseline RdThis is where we go to church. Services at 9 and 11am each Sunday morning. Held at Cesar Chavez HS auditorium. Contemporary music, can wear your jeans and flip flops
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
650 S Cooper RdLDS? The local ward is just up the street from us.
Arts & Culture
Locally owned comedy bar. It's a newer place, so their openers are sometimes so-so, but the headliners are usually pretty good.
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Stand Up Live
50 W Jefferson StLocally owned comedy bar. It's a newer place, so their openers are sometimes so-so, but the headliners are usually pretty good.
Nice art museum, if you like that kind of thing. Free on the first Friday of each month (starting at 6pm-ish)
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I-Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N Central AveNice art museum, if you like that kind of thing. Free on the first Friday of each month (starting at 6pm-ish)
The Phoenix Suns (basketball) play here. Usually decent priced cheap seats if you want to catch an NBA game
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Talking Sticks Resort Arena
201 E Jefferson StThe Phoenix Suns (basketball) play here. Usually decent priced cheap seats if you want to catch an NBA game
Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Grab yourself some cheap seats, a hot dog and beer, and enjoy the game!
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Chase Field
401 E Jefferson StHome of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Grab yourself some cheap seats, a hot dog and beer, and enjoy the game!
AZ Cardinals (NFL football) is played here. They offer tours on a daily basis. It's also surrounded by Westgate shopping area, which has lots of restaurants, bars and stores.
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University of Phoenix Stadium
1 Cardinals DrAZ Cardinals (NFL football) is played here. They offer tours on a daily basis. It's also surrounded by Westgate shopping area, which has lots of restaurants, bars and stores.
Shopping
CVS Pharmacy
5835 W Indian School RdThe closest Target to our home
The closest Walmart. Fair warning, it's SUPER busy, especially after 7pm.
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Walmart Supercenter
7575 W Lower Buckeye RdThe closest Walmart. Fair warning, it's SUPER busy, especially after 7pm.
The fancy shopping spot in town. All the big designers can be found here, along with some of the "common people" type stores too (H&M, etc)
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Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 E Camelback RdThe fancy shopping spot in town. All the big designers can be found here, along with some of the "common people" type stores too (H&M, etc)
Outdoor mall with lots of shopping, restaurants, bars, and movie theater. Popular all times of the day
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Tempe
Outdoor mall with lots of shopping, restaurants, bars, and movie theater. Popular all times of the day