I’ve lived in Scottsdale for the last 15 years. It’s a huge travel destination for bachelor/bachelorette parties, golfing, events (such as Barrett Jackson) and more. Whether you’re here to turn it up, or looking for total relaxation, there is a restaurant for you. Here I will be ranking some popular Scottsdale restaurants so you know what to expect when planning your visit.

1. Buck and Rider

Vibe: 8/10 | Food: 10/10 | Noise: 6/10 | Best for: Seafood | Price: $$$

My first shoutout has to be to my favorite restaurant, Buck and Rider. There are now three locations in Arizona – Phoenix (Camelback), North Scottsdale, and Gilbert. The one I go to most is the Camelback one, which is the original location. It’s quite a bit smaller than the other locations but I don’t mind this at all. Buck and Rider is the perfect place to go to if you’re looking for fresh seafood in the desert. Their seafood is flown in daily, so you know what you’re eating is always fresh. And what I love most is this place is also consistently good. Every. Single. Time. The happy hour is also to die for!

If you’re with friends you cannot go wrong with the seafood tower! For oyster fans out there, you have a great selection, too. And yes, the oysters are on the happy hour menu. My favorite items on the menu are the Tuna Crispy Rice, Baja Shrimp Ceviche (HH), Hamachi Crudo, and the MKT fish. Once you’re done eating you can walk across the street for drinks at Pyro or Global Ambassador.

Address: 4225 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018

2. Toca Madera

Vibe: 10/10 | Food: 5/10 | Noise: 9/10 | Best for: Mexican food, Vibes | Price: $$

Ok so I’ll be honest, Toca Madera is not my favorite restaurant, but I feel like I need to include it because a lot of visitors love going here. The restaurant itself is pretty cool. It has a retractable roof that opens when the weather is nice, and during dinner you might see fire dancers, which is great entertainment.

The reason it’s not my favorite is because the food just isn’t that great. It’s not bad by any means, but if you’re a real foodie, you probably won’t love it. My suggestion would be to eat nearby at Ocean 44 or Nobu, then pop over to Toca Madera for drinks.

My favorite drink there is the Pillow Talk, which has vodka, passion fruit, mango, and sparkling wine. My favorite menu items are the guacamole (served with really good plantain chips) and the Ceviche Blanco. It’s definitely a fun, vibey spot if you’re looking for somewhere to go out while visiting Scottsdale.

Address: 736 N Goldwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

3. Elements at Sanctuary

Vibe: 8/10 | Food 9/10 | Noise: 2/10 | Best for: American/Asian, Sunset Views | Price: $$$

If you’re looking for an intimate evening with friends or a date, this is the place for you. This restaurant in Paradise Valley is nestled on the side of Camelback mountain at the Sanctuary Hotel. If you can, make your dinner reservations right before sunset, because the views are insane here.

The service here is always excellent and its a good place to eat if you’re needing a more quiet dining experience, compared to some of the other restaurants here. My favorite entree is the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass. The Chili Garlic Broccolini and the Shishito Peppers are also delicious for the table to share. Elements also has an extensive wine list so you have plenty of options to pick from.

Location: 5700 E McDonald Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

4. Farm and Craft

Vibe: 7/10 | Food: 8.5/10 | Noise: 3/10 | Best for: Health food, Brunch | Price: $

Farm and Craft is one of my go-to spots when I’m just having a casual brunch with the girls. It’s especially good when the weather is nice because most of the restaurant is open, and the whole place just feels light and fun. It’s an easy spot for groups since the menu has something for everyone, whether you’re trying to eat super clean or just want a good brunch and a fun drink. Even though it’s more on the casual side, I’d still highly recommend making a reservation because it gets pretty busy.

My favorite thing to order is the salmon poke bowl, but they have tons of healthy options and I’ve honestly never had anything there I didn’t like. Their “Forbidden Fruit” cocktail, served inside a watermelon, is super popular so if you go, you have to try it!

5. Francine Restaurant

Vibe: 8/10 | Food: 7/10 | Noise: 4/10 | Best for: HH, Drinks, French food | Price: $$$

Francine’s is attached to Fashion Square Mall, across the street from Toca Madera and Ocean 44. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I personally don’t love the food, although I’ve heard the Lobster Pasta is amazing (I’ve just never had it!). And when I say I don’t love it, I don’t mean it’s bad, it’s just not my first choice when choosing a dinner spot. My favorite menu item is the Chilean sea bass, or if I’m going during happy hour, I always get oysters and French fries.

The reason I wanted to add this place to the list is because they have the BEST espresso martinis in Scottsdale, and trust me when I say I’ve tried pretty much every espresso martini. Francine’s is a super cute date-night spot and definitely more intimate. My favorite thing to do is go shopping at Fashion Square, then walk over to Francine’s for a martini and happy hour. Cheers!

6. Maple & Ash

Vibes: 10/10 | Food 8/10 | Noise: 8/10 | Best for: Brunch, Vibes | Price: $$$$

Maple & Ash is one of my favorite spots for brunch when you want something that feels a little extra. It’s definitely not a quiet, low-key brunch. It’s more of a dress up, order champagne, celebrate something kind of vibe. I love their brunch menu because it actually feels fun, not just basic eggs and toast. One of my favorite things to order is their seafood tower (can you see a trend here? lol).

Maple and Ash is very much a group brunch or dinner place. They bring out a lot of items for the table, so it’s perfect for sharing and trying a little bit of everything. It makes the whole experience feel bigger and more fun instead of everyone just ordering their own plate and being done.

The servers anre always such a good time. They lean into the hype energy, and I’ve had them bring our table free shots before just because we were celebrating. It’s that kind of place. If you’re going for a birthday, trust me, this is the move. They’ll hype you up, the music is fun, and it feels like an event instead of just another meal. I’ve had dates here before but If you want a calm, quiet, intimate meal, this probably isn’t it. But if you want a birthday brunch where everyone’s dressed up and ready to have fun, Maple & Ash is perfect.

In Conclusion…

There are so many great restaurants in Scottsdale that this list honestly doesn’t even scratch the surface. I just wanted to highlight some of the more popular spots for visitors so you have a better idea of what to expect when you come!