Overview

Old Town Scottsdale is located on the original townsite of Scottsdale, Arizona. This part of Scottsdale offers boutique shopping where you can collect unique, Southwestern souvenirs, jewelry, and art. For a closer look at Old Town's fine art galleries, join the Scottsdale ArtWalk Thursday evenings for a self-guided art tour and free trolley and horse-drawn carriage transportation around the Arts District. The area is also home to hip eateries, fine dining, and a vibrant nightlife scene. When the sun goes down all the restaurants and bars begin to light up. If you are in the mood for a classic night out in Scottsdale, Old Town is the place to go. The nightlife is vibrant and offers some of the best clubs in town. Old Town offers walkable and bikeable options and is community-oriented. Although dance clubs and trendy bars dominate Scottsdale nightlife, there are also Western-style bars and lounges. Old Town is the perfect social destination in Scottsdale, Arizona.  

 

  

 

History of Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town is where settlement and development in Scottsdale began. In 1888, Winfield Scott purchased 640 acres where Old Town Scottsdale is located today. He planted two olive trees on second street which are still standing today. The restaurant Los Olivos Mexican Patio is named after the historic trees. The first business in Old Town was J.L. Davis’ General Store, which opened in 1897. In 1904, Sarah Thomas purchased the store, making it the first female-owned business in town. The “Little Red Schoolhouse” in Old Town was built in 1909 at a cost of $4,500 and has had 6 different uses including being a library and chamber of commerce.  Today it’s the home of the Scottsdale Historical Museum. Scottsdale was officially incorporated as a town in 1951.  At that time, the population was 2,000. The Sugar Bowl is one of Old Town Scottsdale’s oldest attractions; it opened on Christmas Eve, 1958.  Bil Keane, the author of “Family Circus” featured the restaurant in the comic strip several times. 

 

Weather in Old Town Scottsdale: 

Scottsdale is a warm place to live almost all year round with 330 plus days of sunshine over the course of the year. During the winter there is an increase in population because the temperatures are warmer for eight to nine months; tourists or families from colder climates like to come to visit or stay awhile. Throughout the year there are many things to do in Old Town Scottsdale since the weather is so nice. All the events that are mentioned are either located in Old Town or just a short drive away! Since the weather is nice eight out of the twelve months there is always something to do in Scottsdale (OldTown). There is a plethora of activities, events, and restaurants you can enjoy during your stay!

 

Hotels/Airbnb: 

Old Town has some of the coolest hotels and amenities! Take a five-minute drive or a short walk to the best food, drinks, and shopping. There are a wide variety of places to stay from high-end hotels to cozy and intimate Airbnb. Old Town is a great place to bring your family and friends for special occasions such as bridal and groom parties. If you are looking for a more fun or hip place to stay, the W Hotel is a great place to consider. If you are looking for a more business/family-friendly hotel, the Valley Ho has a more laid-back atmosphere. The top five hotels and Airbnbs on the list below were chosen based on price, reviews, and location for you to enjoy your experience in or near Old Town. If you decide to come to see one of the major events in early February, the Phoenix Open, which is a full week of watching “THE GREATEST SHOW ON GRASS” in Scottsdale at TPC then kicking back in Old Town Scottsdale by having drinks and dinner with family and friends, the list of hotels and Airbnbs are perfect for Tourist who comes for the annual Phoenix Open to pick from.

Hotel: 

#1: Hotel Valley Ho

#2: Winery Suites of Scottsdale 

#3: W Scottsdale

#4:Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town

#5: The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale 

 

Popular Restaurants in Old Town

 

All the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack restaurants offer a large variety of choices for you to choose from when wanting a fun meal out on the town. The list offers a variety of foods such as authentic Mexican, great Italian, creative Asian cuisine, and last but not least old fashioned ice cream. The list ranges from moderately priced dining to high-end dining. Most places offer both indoor and outdoor seating; this allows you to choose where you want to sit during the year because the restaurants are very accommodating to the weather and want the customer to have an enjoyable experience. A lot of the restaurants in Old Town you can visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on what your plans are for the day/night out. The restaurants also offer a wide variety of food options for all age groups. In Old Town Scottsdale on different nights of the week and weekends restaurants attract different types of groups by offering an assortment of deals such as happy hour, family night, and 25% take out Tuesday. 

Breakfast:

There are a wide variety of breakfast eateries to choose from in Old Town Scottsdale. Each of the breakfast or brunch spots have great atmosphere, ranging from very casual to even catering to birthday parties. These breakfast places tend to be busier during the weekends and during peak seasons.  

• The Breakfast Club
• Original Chopshop 

• Culinary Dropout

• Daily Dose Old Town Bar &  Grill

• The Mission

• Olive and Ivy

• RnR Gastropub 

Lunch:

Lunch places are similar to breakfast, in that many spots include brunch menus to enjoy a fun weekend out with old and new friends visiting the area for the first time or just enjoying the area downtown as locals. A lot of the lunch restaurants do not open until 11 am, so it is another option if you are not in the mood for breakfast foods. 

• Arcadia Farms Café 

• Bootleggers Modern American Steakhouse

• Buca di Beppo

• Original Chopshop

• Culinary Dropout

• Daily Dose Old Town Bar &  Grill

• Diego Pops

• Frank and Lupe’s Old Mexico

• The Grapevine  Restaurant and Bar

• Grimaldi’s

• Los Olivos

• The Mission

• Olive and Ivy

• The Pita House

• Pizzeria Bianco

• Pure Sushi

• RA Sushi Bar  Restaurant

• Rehab Burger Therapy 

• RnR Gastropub 

• Salty Senorita

Dinner:

Dinner in Old Town Scottsdale is always a great success. Each restaurant offers specialty drinks for all parties involved; if you are going to have a fun night out and drink, Ubers and Lyft's are always available in the area, or your hotel will have transportation. On the weekends, Old Town is always packed with all locals, tourists, and college kids wanting a fun night downtown, so make reservations prior. 

• AZ 88

• Bandera

• Bootleggers Modern American Steakhouse

• Buca di Beppo

• Café Monarch

• Citizen Public House

• Culinary Dropout

• Daily Dose Old Town Bar &  Grill

• Diego Pops

• FnB

• Frank and Lupe’s Old Mexico

• The Grapevine Restaurant and Bar

• Grimaldi’s

• Jewel of the Crown

• Los Olivos

• The Mission

• Maple and Ash 

• Old Town Tortilla Factory

• Olive and Ivy

• The Pita House

• Pizzeria Bianco

• Pure Sushi

• RA Sushi Bar  Restaurant

• Rehab Burger Therapy

• Roaring Fork

• Salty Senorita

• Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and Bar 

Snacks: 

Old Town Scottsdale has some of the best and one-of-a-kind sugary spots for you to enjoy something sweet or on the go while browsing downtown! The Ice Cream and coffee shops range from original flavors to exotic flavors to excite the locals and tourists. 

• Gelato Classico Café

• Gelato Spot

• Old Town Creamery

• RnR Gastropub 

• Shakes and Cones

• Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor

Drive down Scottsdale road and you will encounter many popular eating destinations. Old Town Scottsdale is, of course, a destination for both tourists and local food lovers. If you look past the crowded restaurants you will find some of the neighborhood's real gems. From a restaurant that embodies the spirit of the local and seasonal dining trends, to a spot revitalizing the fine-dining experience, Scottsdale's best restaurants are sure to impress.
 

Popular Clubs and Bars

 

• Beverly on Main
• Boondocks Patio and Grill
• Bottled Blonde
• CAKE
• Chrome Nightclub
• Coach House
• Dakota
• Degree 270
• The District
• Geisha A Go Go
• The Grapevine Restaurant and Karaoke Bar
• Hifi
• El Hefe
• Livewire
• Maya Day and Night Club
• The Mint
• Old Town Tavern
• Pattie’s Bar and Lounge
• Rockbar Inc.
• Rouge
• Wasted Grain

 

Popular Shopping

 

•  Amy Inc
• Antique Trove
• The Angel Store
• Artisan Market
• Beverly Moore Handmade Jewelry
• Bischoff’s Shades of the west
• Buffalo Collection
• Classy Jazzy
• Fashion by Robert Black
• Fifth Avenue Shopping District
• The Garage
• Henna Shoppe
• Kactus Jock
• Marshall Way Arts District
• The Museum of Contemporary Art
• Paradise Valley Florist
• Oh My Dog! Boutique and Spa
• Old Town Candy and Toys
• Old Town Farmer’s Market
• Old Town Trading Co
• Saba’s Western Store
• Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
• Scottsdale Pen
• Scottsdale Waterfront
• Stephanie’s
• Super Chunk Sweets and treats
• Sphinx Date Ranch
• Twice Designer Resale
• Vintage Misty

Scottsdale is known for many things, and one of them is shopping venues designed to entice your inner shopaholic. Old Town Scottsdale is the heart of the city's historic downtown and home to a diverse array of shopping. Here you'll find everything from Southwestern shops, artisan boutiques, and high-end retailers. Old Town Scottsdale's 5^th Avenue Shopping District offers a representation of what you'll find in Old Town. This friendly district is home to independent art galleries and jewelry and fashion boutiques. Everything around you is walking distance so you are able to hop from store to store. For the convenience of all your favorite high-end designers under one roof, plan a shopping day at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall one of the Southwest's premier shopping destinations. Here you'll find more than 225 stores and restaurants, including 40 designer brand stores that are the sole representatives of their brand in Arizona.

What to do:

 

Check out what DJ’s are performing, food festivals, Art Gallery showings and many other popular events here: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/az--old-town-scottsdale/events/

 

Book a Party bike and tour old town here: https://www.arizonapartybike.com

 

 

Visit Old Town farmer’s Market: http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/pageScottsdaleOldtown/ScottsdaleOTsat.htm

 

 

Websites for further inquiry

http://oldtownscottsdale.com

http://www.5thavenuescottsdale.com/shops/

http://www.fashionsquare.com

 

Sources

https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/downtown/

http://oldtownscottsdale.com

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events

https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/weather/

•  https://www.booking.com/district/us/scottsdale/oldtownscottsdale.html

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27921977?irgwc=1&irclid=TuYS2ey11xyLR0hwUx0Mo36aUkETVCUFw3TJ040&ircid=4273&sharedid=best-treehouses-usa&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-230948__par-7__act-snippet_listing_button__dev-desktop&source_impression_id=p3_1613582983_96Lk665KBseKoqEn&guests=1&adults=1

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/43141238?irgwc=1&irclid=TuYS2ey11xyLR0hwUx0Mo36aUkETVCX5w3TJ040&ircid=4273&sharedid=best-treehouses-usa&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-230948__par-5__act-para_title_link_click__dev-desktop&source_impression_id=p3_1613583087_TFjhYVYG7xySdCMC&guests=1&adults=1

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31822557?irgwc=1&irclid=TuYS2ey11xyLR0hwUx0Mo36aUkETVszBw3TJ040&ircid=4273&sharedid=best-treehouses-usa&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-230948__par-1__act-para_title_link_click__dev-desktop&source_impression_id=p3_1613583159_EAXzGyj%2BM%2FmZsTGJ&guests=1&adults=1

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31822557?irgwc=1&irclid=TuYS2ey11xyLR0hwUx0Mo36aUkETVszBw3TJ040&ircid=4273&sharedid=best-treehouses-usa&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-230948__par-1__act-para_title_link_click__dev-desktop&source_impression_id=p3_1613583159_EAXzGyj%2BM%2FmZsTGJ&guests=1&adults=1

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33750021?irgwc=1&irclid=TuYS2ey11xyLR0hwUx0Mo36aUkETVsQJw3TJ040&ircid=4273&sharedid=best-treehouses-usa&af=108670796&iratid=9627&c=.pi73.pk4273_345768&irparam1=art-230948__par-4__act-para_title_link_click__dev-desktop&source_impression_id=p3_1613583307_sZAvot7fmxeoCtTJ&guests=1&adults=1