Long before the five-star resorts and world-famous golf courses, Scottsdale was just a tiny farming community carved out of the Arizona Territory. And although the orange groves and cotton fields are long gone, you can still experience an authentic slice of Scottsdale’s small-town days with a simple stroll down Main Street.
Welcome to Scottsdale’s most historic neighborhood, a stretch of former private residences, some built with little more than mud and hay bricks, which have slowly been transformed into quirky standalone restaurants serving up Scottsdale’s finest “home cooking.”
WHITE PICKET PARADISE
Let’s start at a restaurant appropriately named The House Brasserie. Housed in a structure originally built by the Mowry family in 1939, this classy gastropub boasts one of Scottsdale’s best patios where modern seasonal fare is served under a canopy of lush trees and colorful umbrellas. For a date night to remember, call ahead to reserve the most romantic table at The House which sits beside a glowing outdoor fireplace.
ADOBE ABODE
If you’re in more of a pizza and beer mood, head due west to Craft 64, home to arguably the town’s best selection of locally crafted brews (more than 30 at last count, including a variety of unique house beers). And that's not to mention award-winning wood-fired pizza adorned with locally grown veggies and toppings, and the Arizona-distilled spirits at the bar. Even the walls are locally sourced, formed from thick adobe blocks, a traditional building technique that dates back to the area’s early Native American settlers.
OLD MEXICO IN OLD TOWN
Speaking of traditional Southwestern, next door lies the enchanting estate known as the Old Town Tortilla Factory. Bedecked with Spanish Colonial architecture and wrapped in vibrant bougainvillea vines, this nearly 80-year-old adobe home now serves up Mexican and Southwestern favorites on a winding flagstone patio shaded by century-old pecan trees. Or, grab a seat at the guesthouse-turned indoor/outdoor bar and pick your poison from the 100-plus tequilas and mezcals.
BRUNCH ANYONE?
One block northeast, tucked inside a darling French Provençal-style cottage, Arcadia Farms Café has been a “ladies who lunch” hotspot since before that term was popularized. Starting as a carryout market and bakery back in 1990, this upscale café serves brunch and lunch daily, plus a prix fixe dinner menu on Friday and Saturday evenings. Arcadia Farms is committed to using wholesome, natural, organic and local products in all of their recipes, which range from brunch delights like Blueberry Crepes with orange mascarpone filling to lunch favorites including Croque Monsieur, Raspberry and Goat Cheese salad, and Wild Mushroom Tarte.
CORNWALL CALLING
A piece of Great Britain dropped in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Cornish Pasty Co. is just a stone’s throw south of Main Street. Combining two former houses into one handsome brick- and wood-lined pub, Cornish Pasty is the perfect place to knock back a pint. But the real stars here are the namesake stuffed turnovers, or pasties (pronounced PASS-tees), a hearty British specialty sort of like a meaty calzone. There’s the traditional kind filled with steak, potatoes, swede and onions, but don’t PASS-up the Indian-style Lamb Vindaloo or The Pilgrim with roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
