A creative guide to Scottsdale, Arizona’s eclectic desert hideaway

Scottsdale is where America’s Sonoran Desert steps front and centre. Granite boulders stack like sculpture, saguaros stretch skyward and light falls like an aura.

Scottsdale can feel a bit surreal. Attractions meld artistry, glamour, and primal nature, while sunsets blaze across the wide desert sky. Hiking trails thread the arid land, where coyotes howl at dusk and roadrunners dart between palo verde trees. After rain, the scent of creosote fills the air.

Situated just northeast of Phoenix, the upmarket desert town is framed by the McDowell Mountains and Camelback’s iconic hump. The vibe is polished and social compared to Tucson’s bohemian calm or Sedona’s spirituality. Yes, golf here is showstopping, but so are art, design, and food. Otherworldly outdoor dining options abound, wood smoke drifting over patios. You can chase a perfect tortilla at lunch, followed by an eye-opening agave cocktail in the Old Town, which hums deep into the night.

From Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home to Paolo Soleri’s experimental architecture to the churn of Old Town’s social scene, here is how to spend a sun-baked weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Art, culture and design in Scottsdale

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

Best for: Modern art and design
Address: 7374 E 2nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Housed in a renovated 1970s movie theater designed by Will Bruder, this minimalist museum space houses rotating contemporary art, architecture and design. Thoughtful commissions converse with the Southwest without veering into regionalism or cliché, while an elliptical skyspace installation by James Turrell frames the desert sky above. A small sculpture court and edited shop extend the visit, while its Civic Center location places you close to the city’s acclaimed galleries and restaurants.

Taliesin West

Best for: Creative spirits, history lovers, and design
Address: 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, AZ85259

Twentieth century American architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory still feels experimental. It spreads down the McDowell foothills in low planes of reddish masonry, glass, and canvas, while triangular motifs echo the surrounding ridgelines. The Garden Room features a sunken conversation pit, built for bygone midcentury cocktail hours and views across cholla and sagebrush. Breezeways flow into meditative courtyards, pools catch the sky, and terraces seem to be extensions of the ruddy rock. The gift shop is elite, with design books, Wright textiles, and Arizona-made objects.

Cosanti Originals

Best for: Paolo Soleri’s experimental desert architecture
Address: 6433 E Doubletree Ranch Road, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

Part foundry, part dreamscape, Cosanti is controversial architect Paolo Soleri’s earth-cast compound where bronze wind bells are cast and hung to sing. The structure feels grown rather than built, where sunken courtyards and silted domes meet swirling shadows. Tours let you stand close to the action, which is both industrial and oddly ceremonial, while long dangling bells are an excellent souvenir. Cosanti is a reminder of human creativity’s great, weird potential. Linger under a curved ceiling, and soak up the slow, strange beauty.

Mavericks of Scottsdale

Best for: Southwestern style
Address: 7237 E Main St Avenue, AZ 85251

Mavericks is a real-deal Western shop. Old World tailors craft the perfect cowboy headpiece at the hat bar, and suede, leather and denim line the racks. A serious selection of boots includes exotic ostrich leather and embroidered options, turquoise jewelry set in sterling silver carries the spirit of the Southwest long after you’ve left.

Food and drink in Scottsdale

FourTillFour

Best for: Community coffee shop and roastery
Address: 7105 E 1st Avenue, AZ 85251

Time slows down at this coffee shop in the Old Town, where locals linger in the tree-lined patio, sipping coffee roasted onsite. Espresso pulls are some of the best in the Southwest, and iced coffees cool the long Arizona summer. Chai and a grassy matcha also satisfy the crowds that queue up early. The roastery hosts a Car Club, so don’t be surprised if vintage rides line the curbs.

The Ends

Best for: Laidback global cuisine
Address: 7137 E Stetson Dr Suite 12, AZ 85251

Dinner at this hip Old Town restaurant draws inspiration from Anthony Bourdain’s epic journeys. Meals cross continents, from Japanese egg yolk Nigiri to Italian cacio e pepe, and South American fermented honey biscuits. There’s yuzu, croissants, tea marinades, and Laotian sausage, all cooked sans seed oils and with the richness of tallow. Dim and moody, the dining room feels as rich and indulgent as the food, with an open kitchen at its centre. Tony would be proud.

Jamie’s Bottle Shop

Best for: Wine flights and group tastings
Address: 7033 E Main Street #102, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

This Old Town wine room pairs a thoughtful bottle list with low-key education and attentive service. The room ripples with warmth and conversation, as wine flights arrive with generous cheese and charcuterie boards. Wines hail from all over, including Arizona. Weekly tasting classes run in small groups, immersing guests in heady wine regions like the Pacific Northwest or France’s Loire Valley.

Local hiking trails

Pinnacle Peak Park

Best for: Panoramic views
Address: Pinnacle Peak Park, 26802 N 102nd Way, Scottsdale

A sheer granite mountain in the shape of an arrowhead, Pinnacle Peak visible for miles. The 3.5 mile zigzagging trail is lined with plaques identifying native plants: creosote, jojoba, wolfberry, and all manner of cactus. You might spot a resting chuckwalla lizard or the occasional deer along the way, while a gentle breeze cools as you climb. Reaching the summit rewards with heady, cinematic views over Scottsdale and the desert beyond. Suitable for elementary-age hikers and older, Pinnacle Peak is one of the great short hikes in Arizona.

Where to stay

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows

Best for: Pool parties and a central place to stay
Address: 6114 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Andaz Scottsdale feels more like a desert village than a hotel. Bungalow suites dot cactus gardens with patios and Camelback views. By day, the central pool becomes a scene. A lively crowd sips frozen cocktails, cabanas get bottle service, and the playlist matches the sunshine. The resort’s main restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, is a reliable standout with an exhibition kitchen, modern Mediterranean menus, and a patio that frames sunsets. Come by for Sunset Sips happy hour, enjoy live music, and kick back with a mountain view over the pool.

At Andaz hotels and resorts, global travel is inspired by local culture. Use code ROADBOOK to save 15 per cent on stays booked and taken before 31 December 2026. hyatt.com/andaz