Looking for a great place to eat? Craving some incredible food? Here are some of our favorite restaurants and culinary hotspots in the Valley.
This story is from our special edition IN AZ 2024 issue. Read the full issue online here for more inside intel on where to stay, dine and everything in between IN AZ this season and all year round.
Cafe Monarch
This family-owned and -operated restaurant has earned numerous awards for its top-tier service, romantic ambiance and outstanding food. Cafe Monarch’s alternating menu offers a chance for guests to try new seasonal culinary creations. The four-course prix fixe menus are designed to please even the most sophisticated foodies. With sommeliers on deck, you will have firsthand help to select the ideal pairing for your meal. Formal wear or business casual is required to dine at Cafe Monarch. Book a reservation on OpenTable. www.cafemonarch.com.
Gallo Blanco
Located in downtown Phoenix, Gallo Blanco is a Mexico City-influenced restaurant led by owner and operator Chef Doug Robson. The restaurant sources locally farmed ingredients to create a variety of flavorful menu items, including street tacos, a savory weekend brunch special and vegetarian options. A full bar serves craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails, like margaritas, sangria, mimosas and bloody Marys. Open seven days a week, Gallo Blanco offers brunch, all-day eats and a cocktail menu. To reserve a table, call 602.327.0880. www.galloblancocafe.com
Glai Baan
Have a taste of Thailand right here in Phoenix at Glai Baan. Menu items are designed to recreate classic street food and snacks that one would commonly find while visiting Thailand. Dishes are best shared. Fan favorites include the Pad Thai, Panang Curry and Pad Kee Mao. Glai Baan also serves craft cocktails and sumptuous desserts. Reservations are strongly recommended for parties of two or more inside the dining room, but patio seating is first come first serve. Book reservations by calling 602.595.5881. www.glaibaanaz.com
Pizzeria Bianco
From its humble beginnings in the back of a Phoenix grocery store in 1988, Chris Bianco has turned Pizzeria Bianco into a nationally-recognized institution for artisanal pizza across the Valley. Bianco’s six classic pizza creations — Wiseguy, Rosa, Sonny Boy, Biancoverde and the classic Margherita and Marinara — are at the forefront of the small menu offerings. Pizzeria Bianco has locations across the Valley and in Los Angeles. Bianco’s newest locations offer more spacious seating and a wider variety of menu items, like pasta, meatball sandwiches and more. Be advised that some locations do not take reservations. www.pizzeriabianco.com
Valentine Phoenix
Along the streets of Melrose District is Valentine. This coffee, brunch and dinner spot is one that eloquently blends regional flavors with ingredients from Chef Donald Hawk’s Korean heritage. In 2022, Esquire named this local spot one of the best new restaurants in America. During the day, guests can bring their computers and enjoy a cup of coffee with a flakey croissant. Later in the evening, the restaurant transforms into a dining room where customers can drink specialty cocktails, like the Hatch Chili Margarita, alongside such popular dishes as the Elote Pasta or Hiramasa Crudo. Reserve online. www.valetinephx.com
