In Scottsdale, desert-inspired drinks offer a refreshing take on the region's distinct and unique flavors by blending Southwestern ingredients like local citrus, prickly pear cactus, and hibiscus flowers into sippable, zero-alcohol treats. Whether you’d like something sweet like horchata cold brew or if you prefer an herby strawberry-infused lemonade, these Sonoran-style bevvies celebrate the diversity and beauty of the desert with every tasty sip.
Sonoran Coffee & Horchata Iced Cold Brew
at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen
There’s no shortage of local coffee shops in Scottsdale. At Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, the art-inspired onsite restaurant at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows, they take a desert-inspired approach when it comes to their menus, which include two distinctly Southwestern coffee drinks perfect for savoring over breakfast or brunch. Served hot in an artisan-crafted ceramic mug, the Sonoran Coffee is accented with cinnamon, sweet piloncillo (sometimes called Mexican brown sugar), and zesty orange peel. The Horchata Iced Cold Brew, made with freshly made cold brew, horchata, milk, and cinnamon, is the best brunch time pick-me-up for fans of iced coffee.
Jamaica Aguas Frescas at Barrio Queen
Craving something refreshing, with a uniquely Sonoran twist? Try aguas frescas. These popular drinks originated in Mexico and are commonly crafted with a combination of fresh fruits, water and a sprinkle of sugar. Consider aguas frescas nature’s own soda. At Barrio Queen, the Jamaica Aguas Frescas is made in a traditional fashion with dried hibiscus flowers. The result is a tangy, ruby-red and floral-forward drink that tastes best between bites of Barrio Queen’s Black Mole Enchiladas.
Cactus Annie at Prep & Pastry
Tucson-born and tenured American-style brunch restaurant Prep & Pastry has found a second home in Scottsdale along the Scottsdale Waterfront. The popular brunch spot is known for their oversized baked goods, fruit-filled breakfast bowls and cool craft drinks. That includes the Cactus Annie. This refreshing desert-inspired libation is made with a house-made prickly pear cactus and hibiscus flower syrup base. Then, the Cactus Annie is topped off with a splash of fizzy soda water and garnished with a dehydrated lime before it’s delivered directly to your table.
Berry Basil Lemonade at Gertrude’s
Ingredients of the Sonoran Desert take center plate at Gertrude’s, the onsite restaurant tucked within the grounds of the Desert Botanical Garden. Here, while snacking on roasted garlic hummus and from-scratch tortilla chips, you can enjoy a taste of the desert in your glass with their selection of herbal and botanical-infused drinks. Featuring fresh-squeezed lemonade, savory herbs and strawberries, Gertrude’s Berry Basil Lemonade is a top choice. The refreshing pink lemonade is a sweet drink best enjoyed after a walk around the garden’s picturesque cactus-lined pathways and trails.
House Horchata at Diego Pops
Old Town Scottsdale’s Diego Pops may be a high-energy party spot on most days, but the Yucatan-inspired taqueria and patio dining darling churns out more than premium tequila shots and salt-rimmed margaritas from behind their busy bar, like horchata and other zero-proof drinks. For the unfamiliar, Horchata is a creamy beverage originating from Spain that is popular across Latin America, especially in Mexico. At Diego Pops, the milky Horchata is made from rice, cinnamon and sugar. Its sweet and nutty flavor is the best antidote to downplay the heat of Diego Pops’ spicy Green Chile Chicken Tacos.
From refreshing aguas frescas to sweet horchata, you can find these desert-inspired drinks and more in Scottsdale.
