© Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
• In the mood for romance? Celebrating a special occasion? Consider a table at either T Cook’s Dining (in the Royal Palms Resort & Spa) or Coup des Tartes. T Cook’s woos diners with its hacienda-style décor and luxe atmosphere as well as its Mediterranean cuisine. Native Arizonan Natascha Ovando-Karadsheh’s Coup des Tartes charms with a sophisticated, European-style farmhouse ambiance; intimate seating and bistro-style French menu. (If your cholesterol can stand it, share the Brie Brule appetizer with its caramelized apples piled atop the warmed cheese.)
• Get your fix of mouthwatering Southwestern/Mexican fare at Barrio Café, one of the city’s most popular (Yes, there are lines.) and top-rated eateries. Among the many must-try dishes on Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza’s authentic menu is the anything-but-ordinary guacamole (made at your table); seafood enchiladas; cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish and the forget-your-diet desserts: churros rellenos de cajeta de cabra (goat’s milk caramel stuffed fritters with vanilla ice cream) and pastel de chocolate a la Oaxaca (a chocolate cake stuffed with Oaxacan chocolate and almond sauce). There’s a Sunday brunch from 11am to 3pm.
You can complement your meal with Mexican, South American and Spanish wines by the glass; your favorite tequila (choose from almost 200) and a diverse assortment of Mexican beers.
• The loyal fans of chef Chris Bianco’s creations are undeterred by the often lengthy waits to sample the specialty pizzas at the very popular Pizzeria Bianco. (Reservations are only taken for groups of six to ten.) You can lessen the pain of waiting for a taste of what many say are the best pizzas in the country by going next door and grabbing a drink and appetizers at Bar Bianco. FYI: Both the bar and restaurant will re-open after their summer break on September 18.
Snack Attack: Want to relax after a visit to the Heard Museum? Pick up a goodie or two at the nearby Pane Banco bakery then go next door for an espresso at Lux, the city’s trendiest coffeebar. …Need something to help you cope with the heat? It’s ice cream to the rescue. Long-time favorites include the Sugar Bowl (considered one of the top ten ice cream parlors in the U.S.) and Mary Coyle’s, which has been dishing out homemade ice cream since 1951. If you’re up for a more posh setting and what locals say is the best of the best, try the Café & Ice Cream Parlour at the Phoenician Resort.
Dine in Style: You don’t have to know the work of one of America’s top architects to appreciate the beauty of the Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired design of the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (aka “The Jewel of the Desert”). If a stay isn’t in your budget, stop by for a meal or afternoon tea at one of its indoor or outdoor eateries. The more casual Biltmore Grill features garden views, an exhibition kitchen and an outdoor patio with an impressive wood-burning fireplace.
If you’re in the mood for a more formal dining experience, book a table at Wright’s at the Biltmore, which showcases “American Lodge Cuisine.” The menu (daily dinner and Sunday brunch) changes each week and there’s a tasting menu in addition to the à la carte items. (Check your schedule to see if you’ll be in town for one of their special themed dinners.) Bonus: Dine at Wright’s thru September 30 and you’ll earn 5,000 Hilton HHonors® bonus points.
Locals and tourists alike savor cocktails and the mountain views at the Wright Bar & Squaw Peak Terrace, the birthplace of the original Tequila Sunrise. There’s a TV for viewing sports events and a variety of board games such as backgammon.
© Cheapflights Ltd Marlene R. Fedin
