A Beer Loving Phoenix Vacation
- ablondewithabrew
- Jan 24, 2024
- 4 min read
A guide by a former local to some of the best beer, food, and activities in the Phoenix Metro area all without needing your own car.
Before I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I spent three years living in Tempe, Arizona. Here is where my passion for craft beer truly ignited, as well as my desire to live mostly car-free. Wanting to live without owning a car is partially why I moved to Portland, because it's much easier to do so there, but I still managed to enjoy almost four days in Phoenix without renting a car. In the eight years since I moved away, Phoenix has expanded their light rail service, carshare options, and protected bike paths. And the beer scene has improved dramatically!
Where to Stay
I recommend staying either in Tempe or Downtown Phoenix if traveling without your own car, and picking a hotel within walking distance of a light rail station. Scottsdale, just north of Tempe and east of Downtown Phoenix, has many hotel options, but it has more limited public transit options.
When I last visited, I stayed in Tempe close to where I used to live and near Arizona State University. There are several hotels in this immediate area, but we chose the Hyatt Place Tempe for its price and proximity to the light rail station. It also had free breakfast and a beautiful rooftop lounge area with a swimming pool and a bar.
If you prefer to stay in Downtown Phoenix, Mr. Ablondewithabrew vouches for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, which is centrally located to several breweries, restaurants, things to do, and public transit.
Breweries
Wren House Brewing - With two taprooms in the Phoenix Metro area, we took the light rail west from Tempe towards downtown and then had a quick bus transfer that dropped us off practically right outside their Phoenix taproom. This is my favorite brewery in Phoenix and an absolute not miss on any visit.
AZ Wilderness DTPHX - With locations both in Gilbert and Downtown Phoenix, I chose to visit AZ Wilderness's downtown beer garden because of its proximity to other breweries. The downtown beer garden is huge and serves delicious food, so much so that it deserves its own entry again here under Food.
Roses by the Stairs Brewing - A quick Uber/Lyft away from AZ Wilderness DTPHX, Roses by the Stairs is a smaller craft brewery specializing in farmhouse style beers brewed with high-quality, local, and seasonal ingredients.
Four Peaks Brewing Company - A Phoenix Metro area classic, this was our go-to when we lived in Tempe over eight years go. Despite different (and bigger) ownership now, Four Peaks has a special place in my heart. Its Tempe brewery is accessible by light rail and there is another location inside the airport.
O.H.S.O Eatery & Brewery Gilbert - Further out than other breweries on this list, we actually visited this location by bike! It is right off the Western Canal protected bike path in Downtown Gilbert, a suburb of Phoenix.
Food
Downtown Phoenix has some exceptional pizzerias. Here are my top choices:
Cibo - Neapolitan style pizza, fresh pasta, and seriously don't skip the Pesto salad.
Pizzeria Bianco - Probably the most well-known pizzeria in Phoenix. They don't accept reservations and it can get busy.
I also need to highlight AZ Wilderness DTPHX again for the quality of their food. Their burgers are top-notch and very customizable. I'm weirdly obsessed with their ketchup -- it's the best.
When I lived in Tempe, I had some go-to spots that I frequented, which I returned to and still loved on my most recent visit.
Postino Annex - My favorite spot, especially for their happy hour. Postino has a few locations in the Phoenix area, but the Tempe location has always been my go-to. Order yourself a board of bruschetta (they have several varieties) and don't miss the $6 happy hour craft beer pitchers.
Culinary Dropout - Another place with a few locations in the Phoenix area, but again, the Tempe location is my favorite. Culinary Dropout has lawn games, local craft beer, craft cocktails, and delicious food. I highly recommend the pretzel bites and cheese fondue.
Cornish Pasty - The Cornish pasty itself dates back to Great Britain in the 1200s as a meal miners could eat while working. I can assure you that even many centuries later, they are still delicious enjoyed at a leisurely pace with a craft beer.
Oregano's - Just get the pizza cookie. It's college student Italian food otherwise, which isn't bad, but I really just come here for dessert.
Activities
Rent a bike - The Phoenix Metro area has a lot of protected and away from street traffic bike paths. We rented bikes from The Bike Cellar when we last visited. It's located right next to the light rail station.
Hike - This can be moderate, like hiking to the top of Hayden Butter Preserve, unofficially known as 'A' Mountain, or something more challenging like Camelback Mountain. 'A' Mountain was an easy walk from our hotel in Tempe. My husband took a Waymo self-driving car to get to Camelback Mountain. Taking a self-driving car is an activity in itself! They're only in very limited cities right now, feel extremely safe, and are quite fun.
Visit a museum - A few options include the Phoenix Art Museum, the Arizona Science Center, and the Arizona Capitol Museum all located in Downtown Phoenix.
Attend a baseball game - March is my favorite time of year to visit Phoenix because of all the MLB Spring Training games across the entire Phoenix Metro area. If you visit in fall, you can catch a Fall League game, or of course, there's the Arizona Diamondbacks whose stadium is right off the light rail in Downtown Phoenix. Phoenix also has professional hockey, football, and basketball teams as well if baseball isn't your sport of choice.
If there's something in this guide you particularly enjoy or now want to check out, please let me know in the comments.
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