PHOENIX FAVORITES

PHOENIX FAVORITES

With so many out-of-town supporters coming to visit us at the Self-Arising Nature Center in Phoenix, we wanted to put together a list of all of our faaavorite places around the city to make travel planning a breeze!

*LOTUSWEI TEAM SPECIAL FAVORITES! 

FOOD:
  • *Glai Baan: Classic Thai street food + dishes with an intimate vibe. Popular + busy.
  • *Otro Cafe: Open, contemporary kitchen serving innovative Mexican + New American fare (a lotuswei-favorite near the building). It’s next door to *Healthy Habit: A local health food store if you need any teas, herbs or healthy treats.
  • *Valentine's: If you love croissants -- this stop is a must. The chocolate croissant is my favorite, but the plain butter croissants are incredibly tasty too. You won't be able to find better. Trust us. Bonus: they also make their croissants with local heirloom wheat, which is said to be easier treat for gluten-sensitive folks). Also try: breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, little gem salad with smoked trout.
  • JL Patisserie: Classical French Bakery with amazing treats: croissants, pastries, quiches, pies, breads, sandwiches, salads, etc.. We love the Lox Croissant Sandwich, Morning Buns & Chocolate Croissants!
  • Flower Child: fresh, bright & light
  • *Restaurant Progress: Super special, treat yourself intimate bar + restaurant with mood lighting, fancy wine list + outdoor patio; they have a sister restaurant downtown called *Sotisse
  • Takematsu: Traditional Korean bbq
  • Hana Japanese Eatery:  Yummy Japanese food very close to LOTUSWEI.
  • Pane Bianco: Sandwiches + salads (breads made with local heirloom wheat  - bonus for gluten-sensitive folks); next door to Lux coffeehouse. Open 11a-3p. They also have a lovely pizzeria downtown called: Pizzeria Bianco 
  • Parlor Pizza: Hair salon turned rustic pizzeria. Handmade pizza + pasta.
  • Chula Seafood - Uptown Phoenix: Fresh oysters, fish & chips, poke bowls, salmon cooked to perfection! 
  • Welcome Diner: Diner-style farm-to-table. American fare; of place in the Sonoran Desert, roots set with a Southern tinge. Vegan + vegetarian options.
  • Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken: In a mood for crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside fried chicken? This is the place.
  • The Churchill: Open air, various food stalls with GF pizza, acai bowls + other grub
  • Great Wall Cuisine: Dim Sum + Chinese food
  • *Uptown Farmers Market: Open Wednesdays + Saturdays, 8am/9am-noon or 1pm depending on the season! Huge Church Parking Lot on the corner of Bethany Home Road + Central Ave. 
    Coffee / Tea
    • *Valentine's:  delicious espresso drinks with ingredients from the desert like mesquite, o'odham squash, desert honey & bee pollen
    • *JL Patisserie: cute little European-style bakery with the best oat milk matchas in Phoenix. If you're hungry, their menu has avocado toast, lox toast, quiche, yummy pastries & more!
    • *Black Rifle Coffee: Best oat milk cortado in town! Discount for veterans. 
    • LUX: coffee, pastries + food in a busy, packed, hip coffeehouse you’re sure to strike up a convo with some nice-looking stranger. Open late night.
    • Provisions Coffee: coffee + cocktail bar with delicious breakfast toasts
    • Songbird Coffee House: they don’t always have them, but when they do … the apple turnovers and homemade pop tarts are delish (gluten splurge)
    Places to Stay:
    Things to do:
    Grocery:
    • *Lam’s: our favorite Asian grocery store with tropical fruits
    • *Chula's Fresh Fish
    • *AJ's Gourmet
    • *Natural Grocers
    • *Safeway
    • *Healthy Habit Health Food Store
    • Sprouts
    • *Uptown Farmers Market Open Wednesdays + Saturdays, 8am/9am-noon or 1pm depending on the season! Huge Church Parking Lot on the corner of Bethany Home Road + Central Ave. 
    • Order online at www.instacart.com
    Local Shops:
    Hikes:
    • *Dreamy Draw (difficulty: easy)
    • South Mountain (difficulty: easy)
    • Piewesta Peak - 2.2 miles (difficulty: hard)
    • Camelback Mountain - 3 miles (difficulty: hard)
    Best Salsa Dancing in Phoenix:
    • *Mambo Exquisite: Weekly classes for beginners + intermediate/advanced by Katie’s favorite local teacher Lawrence Garcia: $10. Mondays 7-8pm: Beginner Salsa Partnering, Tuesdays 7-8:30pm: Advanced Salsa Footwork, Thursday 7-8:15pm: Advanced Salsa Partnering. See @lawrencegarcia_official on ig for up-to-date info about the best social dancing in town. 

     

    If you go to Sedona, our favorite spots are...

    FOOD:

    HIKES:

    • *Brins Mesa Trail {We collected the Wild Delphinium + Indian Paintbrush on this hike!}
    • West Fork Trail at Oak Creek Canyon
    • Devil’s Bridge
    • Red Rock Cathedral Trail
    • *Waterwheel - this one is in PAYSON! Gorgeous swimming. 

      *LOTUSWEI TEAM SPECIAL FAVORITES! 
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