Got a taste for something sweet? We’ve got you covered with the best places in Scottsdale for dessert.
Chef/owner Country Velador’s menu of small-batch, handcrafted confections changes regularly, so there’s always something new to delight sweet-lovers. And with whimsical offerings like Coffee Banoffee with Extra Toffee Pie, S’mores Got Bored! and Yuzu Pistachio Fudge, it’s easy to see why this Old Town gem has a loyal and fun-loving following.
No trip to Old Town Scottsdale is complete without the old-timey fun at the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant. A 50-year-old+ parlor with classic diner eats and some of the best ice cream sundaes in town, the Sugar Bowl’s all-pink décor is a trip down memory lane. Original drawings from Family Circus creator and Sugar Bowl fan Bil Keane hang on the walls.
This popular Old Town eatery features a changing menu of luscious desserts by pastry chef extraordinaire, Tracy Dempsey. Go all the way with Heart of Caramel (devil’s food cake with chocolate mousse, roasted white chocolate ice cream and a cocoa shortbread baton) or, if you’re full, grab a bag of Dempsey’s famous Bag ‘O Bacon Brittle to go.
As if the 100 percent Kobe-style Wagyu burgers at The Phoenician’s Relish Burger Bistro weren’t enough of a foodie draw, the restaurant’s dessert menu ups the ante. Try the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich, made with a waffle-style churro and salted caramel ice cream, or the Make Your Own S’mores platter. For grown-ups only, try the Adult Chocolate Shake with Van Gogh chocolate vodka and Godiva chocolate liqueur.
Sweet Republic took the Scottsdale ice cream scene by storm when it opened in 2008 and its cult-like following continues to grow. All their ice creams and vegan sorbets are handcrafted in small batches using 100 percent natural ingredients. They even make all their own cones, toppings and sauces in-house. The rotating menu features at least 20 flavors, ranging from the adventurous (Sichuan Chocolate, Blue Cheese, Sweet Corn) to the sublime (Brown Butter Pecan, Meyer Lemon, Strawberry Buttermilk).
Fuel up on delicious designer cupcakes at Sprinkles Cupcakes, conveniently located across the street from Scottsdale Fashion Square. Staple flavors like cinnamon sugar and red velvet are punctuated by special (seasonal) appearances from Irish chocolate, pumpkin and lemon. It doesn’t hurt that Sprinkles has some of the cutest souvenirs, too – for people and pups!
