From chic restaurants and hotel lounges to colorful murals and historic art studios, Scottsdale is home to dozens of visually stunning—i.e. Instagrammable—hotspots. Whether you want to update your personal feed with someplace eye-catching or you’re simply drawn to beautiful, trendy places, we’ve got you covered. Dress up, grab your partner or bestie, and make sure that camera or phone is fully charged, because we’re exploring 10 of the most Instagrammable spots in Scottsdale. After all, pics or it didn’t happen!
JoJo's Shake BAR
“Literally” is overused, but literally every aspect of JoJo’s is Insta-worthy. Most first-timers come for the signature Biggie Shakes (which can all be made boozy, and are definitely all Instagrammable), but the interior is one perfectly-curated photo backdrop after another: the mural featuring pop culture icons, the Pac-Man ceiling, the wall of Absolut Vodka pictures.
The Canal Club
Picture this: a restaurant that’s as colorful as Havana and as lively as a street in New Orleans, yet sleek and minimalistic in design, inspired by Bauhaus. That perfectly describes The Canal Club, except add an indoor-outdoor desert oasis setting within The Scott Resort, which is equally Instagrammable…and happens to have a proper sandy beach!
Rancher Hat Bar
The bright pink and white “The West’s Most Western Town” mural outside the entrance to Rancher Hat Bar’s Old Town shop is Instagram-worthy, yes, but you really should go inside, too. The entire shop is photo-ready, from the colorful cowboy hats arranged perfectly on the wall to the actual experience of creating your own custom hat, right down to the accessories.
Prep & Pastry
Scottsdale has no shortage of fabulous brunch spots, but few of them are so dang pretty. Everything about Prep & Pastry’s aesthetic, from the bright, airy, blue and white interior to the colorful breakfast bowls and almost-too-perfect-to-eat pastries, screams Instagrammable.
Gateway Trailhead Bridge at McDowell Sonoran Preserve
It’s no secret that Scottsdale has excellent hiking, and the beautiful iron bridge at the Gateway Trailhead very literally leads you to some of the best trails. It’s just icing on the cake that it happens to also make an excellent backdrop for photos, framed perfectly by mountain peaks and towering saguaros.
The Mission
Not only can you get super fresh, flavorful Latin dishes at both of The Mission’s locations (Old Town and Kierland), they’re highly Instagrammable, too. Snaps of the 12-ingredient tableside guac and espresso churros, served alongside an Ibarra chocolate milkshake, will have your social media followers drooling. At The Mission’s Old Town location, be sure to take a selfie in front of the ‘living wall!’
Sun Globe Mural
In the Civic Center Plaza near Brown and Main Street, you’ll find a bright, beautifully detailed mural by local artist Courtney Larsen (a.k.a. Spindles Design Co., who also created the mural at Rancher Hat Bar). A clever take on a traditional snow globe, the mural depicts a classic pink-and-purple Sonoran Desert sunset and is featured in Experience Scottsdale’s latest commercial, “Scottsdale is Calling.”
Maple & Ash
Rooted in Chicago, the steakhouse motherland, Maple & Ash is a celebrated steakhouse particularly known for its "I Don’t Give a F*@k" prix fixe dinner. Even if you don’t stay for dinner, you’ll find two of Scottsdale’s best Instagram photo spots outside. Take pictures in front of the huge ivy wall and, depending on the season, the festive flower arch just outside the entrance.
Cosanti Originals
The late Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri is synonymous with the concept of ‘arcology,’ combining architecture and ecology. Tucked away in a quiet Paradise Valley neighborhood, Cosanti embodies arcology, a series of historic ‘Earth houses’ where Soleri himself both lived and worked. You can tour the property, where every Earth-formed dome and structure is highly Instagrammable, as are the magnificent Soleri bronze windbells that hang throughout the compound.
Soleri Bridge & Plaza
Aside from grabbing your attention, the Soleri Bridge—or more accurately, the pair of 64-foot pylons anchoring it—serves as a solar calendar (more ‘arcology’ – this is the only one of Paolo Soleri’s bridge designs to be constructed). A 6-inch gap between the pylons allows the sun to shine through during solar noon, and the size of the shadow aligns with the time of year. Pro tip: shoot a quick video to really highlight the bridge’s unique appeal.
