Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert: eating in the Valley of the Sun

The Phoenix metro area, often called the Valley of the Sun, is a collection of cities that have grown together. Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert are each large enough to have their own downtowns, and each one eats differently. Scottsdale caters to visitors and spenders, Tempe to Arizona State University students, Mesa to a wide and varied community, and Gilbert to growing families and food-minded locals. Pick a city, not the Valley as a whole.

What is Old Town Scottsdale like for eating?

Old Town Scottsdale is the compact, walkable heart of the city, with galleries, hotels, bars and many restaurants within a short walk. It is a visitor district, and most restaurants cater to tourists, as a July 2026 local roundup noted when it described a new restaurant aimed at locals. Spots there can be lively and expensive, and weekends in the cooler months are very busy. Travel guides and local writers have long named a handful of busy Old Town restaurants with chef-driven menus.

For a less touristy meal, look south of Old Town into South Scottsdale, where local guides point to neighborhood restaurants and casual spots. Check dining guides that label local favorites. A local roundup of Phoenix and Scottsdale restaurants publishes lists for each area, which is a good way to find the places residents choose. Ask your hotel concierge for places they eat on their night off, not the ones they recommend to guests.

How do the big events affect dining?

Scottsdale and the Valley fill up during February and March for two reasons. The WM Phoenix Open, a major golf tournament in Scottsdale, drives huge crowds. Restaurants that expect the crowds order more food and add staff for the week. Spring training baseball, with Cactus League games played at stadiums across the Valley, draws fans from around the country, and out-of-state fans often plan their trips around where to eat and drink. Reservations are essential during these weeks, and prices can rise.

What is Tempe's food scene?

Tempe is home to Arizona State University, and Mill Avenue is its main downtown street, with bars, casual restaurants, coffee shops and late-night food. A local guide recommended spots such as Cornish Pasty Co. and an Irish pub on or near Mill Avenue. The campus population shapes the calendar: busy during the school year, much quieter in summer. Tempe also has Tempe Town Lake, a good place for an outdoor meal in the cooler months. Cheap eats, pizza and tacos are plentiful. The campus area also has long-running coffee shops, bakeries and food trucks, and the streets near the university are busy until late on weekends during the school year.

What about Mesa?

Mesa is a large city east of Tempe, with a revitalized downtown that has restaurants, breweries, murals and a growing arts scene. It is more diverse than people expect, with Mexican, Asian, Middle Eastern and many other restaurants spread through its strip malls. Downtown Mesa is nearly empty in summer afternoons, as other Valley downtowns are, and livelier in the cooler months. If you like to explore, drive along the main commercial roads and look for busy lunch crowds.

What is special about Gilbert?

Gilbert, southeast of Mesa, has a Heritage District with restaurants, a brewery and a farm-to-table feel. It grew from farmland, and some of its food culture still reflects that. Agritopia, a planned community built around a working farm, has restaurants and a farm stand that locals visit. Gilbert is suburban, so most visitors drive and park near the restaurant. Weekend evenings in the Heritage District can be busy, and some restaurants do not take reservations, so be ready to wait.

When is the best time to eat out in the Valley?

The cooler months, October through April, are the high season for patios, festivals and visitors. Summer is hot and the restaurants are quieter, and many offer summer deals to attract locals. Restaurants often feature a summer restaurant week with set menus; check dates. If you visit in summer, eat dinner late and choose indoor seating.

How do you get around?

The Valley is spread out and built for cars. Light rail connects downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, and is useful for a night out on Mill Avenue or in downtown Mesa. Ride-share is common. Scottsdale has trolley services in Old Town. Plan your evening around one district, so you can walk between places, and avoid long drives between meals. Rush hour is real on the freeways, with traffic from about 7 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the evening, so plan dinner reservations with the commute in mind.

How does the check work?

Arizona charges a Transaction Privilege Tax on restaurant meals, which is added to your check. The rate varies by city and county, so a meal in Scottsdale may carry a different total from one in Mesa. Tipping at table-service restaurants is typically 18 to 20 percent. Arizona allows employers to pay tipped workers a lower cash wage, so tips matter to servers. On Mosey you can keep lists of the restaurants you want to try in each city, which is helpful when the Valley covers more than fifty miles.

More guides to read next:

• Hartford and West Hartford food guide: Franklin Avenue to the Center
• Mystic and the Connecticut shoreline: lobster rolls and clam shacks
• Stamford and Fairfield County food guide: the Gold Coast by train

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