Draft Magazine

Phoenix Phoenix, AZ

Accomodations

Phoenix is, after all, a resort town renowned for its ultraluxe resort digs, so it comes as no surprise that great options abound. 

The Place for Good Republicans: The Royal Palms.  The Royal Palms is an old hacienda turned posh resort favored by certain Commanders in Chief.  www.royalpalmshotel.com. 

Woo Your Woman: The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch.  There are no shortage of nooks and crannies around the pool where you can steal your woman away and make out.  If that's not enough, cozy up with your cutie at an outdoor fireplace during the brisk winter nights, or take a romantic ride on a Sandolo boast around the property.  www.scottsdale.hyatt.com. 

Quiet, Quiet Night: The Four Seasons Resort.  You'll take a few winding roads through he desert to find a little piece of Southwestern solitude at the Four Seasons Resort.  Turn off the cell, sit back and enjoy the pristine landscape.  www.forseasons.com/scottsdale. 

Best Phoenix Revival: Hotel Valley Ho.  The hot and happening Hotel Valley Ho had its hey day in the 50's and 60's.  It was recently renovated and reopened, and today's beautiful peple enjoy the funky digs, which are just a short walk from the wild Downtown Scottsdale nightlife.  www.hotelvalleyho.com. 

Suited for Swim: Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa.  Sure, yu won't be doing laps in December, but the legendary Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, an architecturally stunning Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired landmark is an awesome stay and boasts a 92-foot waterslide as well as eight pools on the property -- including the Catalina Pool, a favorite of Marilyn Monroe.  www.arizonabiltmore.com.

Dining

When it comes to the dining scene, Phoenix may not be on the same level as San Francisco, Chicago or New York, but amazing changes are afoot in the desert.  Young chefs with some serious resumes are setting up shops all over the Valley, and epicureans have reason to rejoice. 

Dynamic Duo: House-made Duck Confit paired with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale at Circa 1900.  California transplant Chef Chris Curtiss sharpened his knives at Masa's and the Fifth Floor in San Francisco. Now, he mans the stoves at Circa 1900, a downtown newcomer where you'll find the best reason to eat, drink and be merry.  This dish tops the list for all beer/food lovers. 602.256.0223. 

Big Appetite: Binkley's on Cave Creek.  Another California transplant, Chef/Owner Kevin Binkley honed his skills under the direction of Thomas Keller at French Laundry in Napa Valley.  Binkley's four-to six-course tasting menus stack up against the very best we have ever had.  www.binkleysrestaurant.com.  Sunset Dining:  Elements at Sanctuary Resort.  Elements is the place to watch the sun (and your beer) go down.  Keep an eye out for Executive Chef Beau MacMillan, who recently tossed his knives on television's Iron Chef America and made the city proud by taking down Bobby Flay in a Kobe beef battle.  www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com. 

Slice of Heaven: Pizza at Pizzeria Bianco.  Who'd be crazy enough to say that the best pizza in the country hails from Arizona?  Try New York Times writer and pizza guru Ed Levine, for starters.  Bronx native Chris Bianco has been firing up the woodburning oven at downtown's Pizeria Bianco for twelve years now.  Needless to say, the pies are to die for.  www.pizzeriabianco.com. 

Meat Us Here: The Delux Burger.  At Delux, you can pair your Delux Burger (Harris Ranch beef topped with a Maytag Blue and Gruyere cheese blend, carmelized onions, applewood smoked bacon and baby arugula served on a toast demi-baguette) with any one of 40 hand-picked brews. 

Spice It Up: Los Dos Molinos.  No discussion of food in Phoenix would be complete without the mention of la comida Mexicana...that said, our lips are still burning from the salsas at Los Dos Molinos in South Phoenix, where ice cold Negro Modelo and Adova Ribs make the two-hour wait well worth it.  Phoenix location, 602.243.9113. 

Ole, its Mole: Barrio Cafe.  So the table-prepared guac is out of this world...but the real reason we love the Barrio Cafe is for the Mole, both red and black.  Chocolate has never tasted so good.  www.barriocafe.com. 

Go Diving: Pull-and-Eat Shrimp at Gilligin's.  It was on one particularly late and adventurous night that we tempted fate and tried this funky dive bar's peel-and-eat shrimp.  We went back the next day to see if it was as good as we had remembered...and, as unbelievable as it may seem, it's the best shrimp of its kind that you'll find in his landlocked state.  480.874.2264.  

Entertainment

No blizzards here.  Get outside and enjoy the holiday, sans snow and sleet, at these local seasonal events. 

The Little Light of Mine Desert Botanical Garden.  Enjoy the desert landscape by the light of softly glowing luminaries at the Desert Botanical Garden.  www.dbg.org. 

Wild Things: Zoolights.  Visit the Phoenix Zoo for Zoolights, where the night is bright ith 2.5 million lights and nearly 400 light sculptures.  Carousel rides, kettle corn and music around every corner make this a holiday fantasy land.  www.phoenixzoo.com. 

The High Life: Hike Camelback Mountain.  The seasonally crisp air and clear skies make this the perfect time of the year to test your legs and hike Camelback Mountain.  It's a pretty difficult  1.16-mile trek, so go steady and slow as far as you can.  If you make it all the way, you'll breathe in stunning vistas of the valley. 

Gift Getting: Market Street at DC Ranch.  A little ways up north, you'll find The Season on Market Street at DC Ranch.  The shopping center already has a village-esque appeal, and during the holidays, you can find great gifts from vendors lining the picture-perfect streets.  www.beonmarketstreet.com.

Drinks

The Valley may not be Portland, but there are still plenty of places about town to find a solid brew.   

Beer Mecca Scottsdale: Papago Brewing Company.  Sure, Phoenix is a great place to build a vacation home.  But if you can't afford a manse in the desert, then you should make Papago Brewing your second dwelling.  This local favorite has 30 rotating taps, an incredible bottle selection, an extremely knowledgeable staff, reasonable prices and a slew of board games.  You can't go wrong downing the Thai Chicken Pizza accompanied with a Hop 15 Imperial IPA courtesy of Port Brewing.  Say hey to our friend (and Papago's general proprieter) Ron Kloth, and get the girl on your arm an Orange Blossom Mandarin Hefeweizen.  www.papagobrewing.com. 

Beer Mecca Tempe: Four Peaks Brewing Company.  Tempe is home to more than just sultry ASU coeds...it also hosts local favorite Four Peaks Brewing Company, maker of several award-winning brews, including Kilt Lifter (a multiple GABF award winner), Hop Knot IPA (2006 World Beer Cup Bronze medalist), 8th Street Ale (another World Beer Cup and GABF award winner) and Hopsquatch (2006 World Beer Cup Gold Medal Barleywine category winner).  www.fourpeaks.com. 

Beer Mecca Chandler:  BJ's Restaurant and Brewery.  Other west coasters will recognize BJ's Restaurant and Brewery.  This place has some of the best guys and gals around brewing incredible beer, among them the Big Fish American strong pale ale, which snatched the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival this year, and Dim Wit, which won the silver.  It's a lively place in Chandler, which is one of the Valley's thriving cities. 

College Nostalgia: Mickey's Hangover.  Mickey's is the frat house basement we know you miss, complete with ratty couches, tapestries and solid munchies...there's even PBR on tap.  However, you'll be impressed with some of the other fine beers on tap and Mickey's incredible bottle beer selection.  www.mickeyshangover.com. 

Beer N' Sports: The Yard House.  When the Suns take to the court, you'll find Scottsdale's most fervent fans packed in at The Yard House, toasting the big wins with more than 100 draft selections.  www.yardhouse.com. 

Desert Drinkin': Sonoran Brewing Company.  Sonoran kicks out some amazing brews; we are particularly fond of their Burning Bird Pale Ale and Inebriator Stout.  And for a special PG-rated treat, check out the delicious Root Beer Soda.  www.sonoranbrewing.com. 

Bottom's Up: Rok Botom Brewery.  The well-traveled drinker will recognize and appreciate the brews coming out of any one of four area Rock Bottom Breweries.  The Utter Goodness is an incredible sweet stout that won the gold at this year's GABF.  www.rockbottom.com.