Eating out in Arizona: summer heat, winter visitors and spring training

Arizona has an unusual restaurant calendar. From October to April the weather is ideal, the patios are full and visitors pour in for golf, baseball and sunshine. From June to September the heat sends locals indoors and many visitors elsewhere. If you understand which season you are in, you can plan meals that suit it, avoid long waits and find the deals.

What is the busy season in Arizona?

The busy season runs from about October to April, with the peak between January and March. Winter visitors, often called snowbirds, come for the warm weather, and in February and March two big events add to the crowds. The WM Phoenix Open golf tournament in Scottsdale is one, and Cactus League spring training baseball, with games at stadiums across the Valley, is the other. Local coverage in 2024 called tournament week the busiest week of the year for some Valley restaurants, which means ordering more food and staffing more.

For diners, this means that popular restaurants book up, especially around stadiums and in Scottsdale. Reserve a week or more ahead for dinner, and earlier for big games and tournament weekends. Out-of-state fans often plan trips around where to eat, so well-known restaurants near ballparks are especially full on game days. Local publications publish annual lists of restaurants near each stadium, which makes planning easier. If you have a game ticket, eat before or after rather than just before the first pitch, when lines are longest.

What is summer like?

From June to September, daytime temperatures often exceed 100 degrees. A 2017 local dining guide noted that busy districts such as Old Town Scottsdale, the Gilbert Heritage District, Downtown Mesa, Historic Downtown Glendale and Mill Avenue in Tempe are nearly empty in summer. That has not changed in spirit. Locals go out after sunset, avoid midday patios and choose indoor air-conditioned rooms. Many restaurants quiet down and offer summer deals to attract locals. For visitors, summer is the cheapest time to stay in resort hotels, and some resort restaurants have discounts for Arizona residents, so you may find a table that would be impossible in March.

How do patios and misters work?

Many Arizona restaurants have patios with shade structures, fans and misting systems that spray a fine cool mist. They make an evening patio comfortable for much of the year, but in the peak of summer they are less effective, and the mist can be humid and wet. Ask for a table in the shade or under a fan, and bring a light layer for the cooler evenings in winter, when the desert cools quickly after sunset. Some restaurants close their patios in the hottest months. Cooler hours on a summer morning, before about 9 a.m., can be pleasant for breakfast outside, and a few places open early for that reason.

What are good strategies for summer dining?

1. Eat late. After 7 p.m. temperatures fall, and many restaurants are quiet.
2. Choose indoor seating in June, July and August.
3. Look for summer deals. Some restaurants offer set menus or discounts for locals.
4. Go early for brunch, before the heat builds.
5. Plan your parking. A shaded or covered space avoids a burning car interior.
6. Drink water. Dehydration comes fast in the desert, and alcohol makes it worse.

What is Arizona Restaurant Week?

Arizona holds a restaurant week with set-price menus at participating restaurants, typically in the quieter parts of the calendar, as a way of encouraging diners to try new places. Dates and participants change each year, so check the organizers' schedule. Set menus can be a good value, but read what is included, and ask about any extra charge for drinks.

What should you expect with reservations?

In the high season, expect to book. Many Valley restaurants take reservations online or by phone, and some hold a share of tables for walk-ins. Big groups may need a deposit or card guarantee, particularly during events. Cancel if your plans change, because no-shows hurt small businesses in a short, intense season. Hosts also appreciate a call if you are running late, since a held table in March has a line of people behind it. If you are a regular, tell the host, and they will often find a table. In summer, you can often walk in on a weekday.

What about the check?

Arizona charges a Transaction Privilege Tax on restaurant meals, which is added to your check; the rate depends on the city and county. Tipping at table-service restaurants is typically 18 to 20 percent, and at busy times some restaurants add a service charge for larger parties. In the high season, check the bill for any event surcharge. Our guide to tax and tipping across the five states explains what to expect.

How do you find local favorites in any season?

Ask locals where they go in summer, because places that survive the slow months are usually well loved. Look for neighborhood restaurants with a loyal crowd, family-run Mexican restaurants and bakeries. On Mosey you can rate the places you eat and the dishes you order, with photos, and keep lists of places you want to try, with notes on whether they are best in winter or summer.

More guides to read next:

• Central Avenue, Melrose and Arcadia: Phoenix restaurants by neighborhood
• Phoenix food guide: Sonoran hot dogs, chimichangas and Sonoran Mexican food
• Cheap eats in Phoenix, Arizona under $15: tacos, hot dogs and more

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.