48 Hours in Scottsdale

Day One

Morning

Beat the heat and start your morning early with a hike up nearby Camelback Mountain, where scenic trails wind upward, allowing for sprawling views of Paradise Valley and the sandstone rocks with some fitness thrown in.

After your adventure, head back to the hotel for breakfast at Prado, where you can keep the views coming with a seat on the patio. Omni’s signature Art of Breakfast buffet offers endless options, or order from the menu to enjoy things like a wild mushroom omelet, brioche French toast, a seasonal fruit plate and a pastry basket.

If you’d rather head into town, stop for breakfast at Arcadia Farms Café in Old Town. Dine on the garden patio at the cozy café, where you can opt for baked goods, egg dishes, a breakfast Panini, pulled pork hash, berry crepes and more.
After the meal, explore Old Town to shop for Southwest-style jewelry and clothing. Another option to finish out the morning is to venture south to the Desert Botanical Gardens, where a variety of trails showcase sustainable and heat-tolerant plants, wildflowers and vegetation that native people have long used for medicine or building materials.

Afternoon

On your first afternoon in Scottsdale, travel further from the city and pay a visit to Taliesin West, a property that was once a winter home for famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Now a school campus, guests can choose from a variety of guided tours to spot things like the designer’s drafting studio and his personal art collection.

While out in the desert, enjoy a special Western-themed excursion at MacDonald’s Ranch, where private or group horseback rides are available. Those that want something a little calmer might try the stables’ stagecoach rides instead, or have kids hop on a pony or visit the on-site petting zoo.

Back in town, stop by Tarbell's Tavern for lunch. Here, you can purchase a bottle of wine to enjoy along with menu items like a Maine lobster roll, a white cheddar grilled cheese sandwich, an avocado and grapefruit salad, or chipotle-marinated chicken tacos.

If you’re looking for a lunch that’s slightly more casual, Zinburger, a wine and burger bar just down the street from Tarbell’s is another option. The eponymous Zinburger is topped with zinfandel-braised onions while the menu also includes a spicy El Diablo burger, a French dip burger and even a turkey burger. They also serve up delicious milkshakes in flavors like strawberry cheesecake and salted caramel.

Evening

Freshen up at the hotel in the evening, then get ready for a creative meal at FnB. The seasonal offerings are accented by global ingredients, resulting in options like pasta, summer squash, huckleberry gold potatoes, lamb riblets, chilled corn bisque and more, all locally sourced.

Not far from FnB, Postino is an alternative for dinner. Another wine bar, Postino offers sweet and savory dishes that can be paired with glasses of red, white, or sparkling, like the roasted beets with herbed ricotta, blistered shishito peppers, custom bruschetta boards, olives and salads. The eatery also offers a selection of Panini sandwiches to enjoy.

Once dinner is over, drive into Phoenix to catch a show. The Phoenix Theatre offers hundreds of shows on various stages each year, maintaining its status as one of the oldest theaters still operating west of the Mississippi River. Its productions include big titles like “West Side Story,” “Jersey Boys” and “Once” as well as smaller shows that are the perfect after-dinner treat.

Before going back to Omni Montelucia, pay a visit to Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour in downtown Phoenix. Not far from the theater, it’s the perfect place for a nightcap. The award-winning bar has an extremely extensive cocktail menu, which includes past favorites and new concoctions as well as those with unique ingredients like fried grasshoppers or carrot juice.

Day Two

Morning

The next morning doesn’t require such an early rise time, but if you’re ready to get out and explore, grab breakfast on the go from the hotel’s Crave Cafe. Serving locally roasted java from artisan roaster, CULT Coffee, as well as smoothies, burritos, sweet pastries, fresh fruit or unique breakfast pyramids, you can enjoy a meal in a hurry before setting off for the day.

Those who are craving Bloody Marys need to opt for Hash Kitchen instead. Located in the upscale Gainey Ranch area of Scottsdale, this eatery features a Build You Own Bloody Mary bar, complete with 40 toppings, as well as fruit craft mimosas. When it comes to food, enjoy a bacon board, cannoli doughnuts, brunch bruschetta, overnight oats, fresh fruit and a variety of hashes, pancakes, waffles, Benedicts and frittatas.

Spend the morning unwinding on-property with a visit to the Moroccan inspired Joya Spa, where the Joya Signature Massage incorporates an exclusive blend of argon oil, gem essence, and infused energy from the rare night-blooming cactus flower “Queen of the Night.” While there, experience Arizona’s only authentic Hammam ritual featuring an aromatherapy room with heated seats contoured to address the body’s pressure points and a scrub with herbal black soap. If you’d rather spend time outdoors, lounge by the rooftop pool or reserve a private cabana and take in views of the nearby Camelback Mountain.

End the morning by reserving complimentary bicycles and exploring Paradise Valley that surrounds the hotel, or beyond.

Afternoon

Once you’ve cycled enough to work up a bit of an appetite, munch on a lunch of wood-fired pizza at Federal Pizza. This midcentury modern restaurant, located in a restored bank building from the 1950s, serves up pizzas like the Pineapple Express, the meatball and the sweet potato. Sandwiches and salads are available as well, as are craft beers on tap and old-school wine coolers.

Sports lovers will enjoy Taqueria Centro back at Omni as well, where your favorite game is likely to be playing on one of the fourteen televisions while you dine on foods from central Mexico like shrimp ceviche, jerk beef, papaya caprese salad and chicken mole.

Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, is a wonderful place to visit in the afternoon, highlighting the important cultural and historical changes of the area over time through museum exhibitions and educational programs.

Those looking to kick back and relax rather than explore the history of the West should consider visiting the Scottsdale's Ale Trail. The up-and-coming brewery scene in the city is fantastic, and you can bounce from place to place to sample a little bit of everything. Of the local breweries, consider Goldwater Brewing Co., Bad Water Brewing, Craft 64 or Vines & Hops.

Evening

Return to Old Town for a romantic dinner at Café Monarch, a fine dining restaurant with a sustainable and organic four-course menu. Diners will choose between a few different options for the first three segments, then select a main dish. Add-ons and desserts are available for an extra fee.

A few other spots to choose from in the evening include Vincent Market Bistro, with upscale yet creative dishes; Durant’s steakhouse, offering premium cuts of prime rib and broiled steaks; and Mora Italian, a seasonal restaurant with homemade pasta and plenty of antipasti. Prado, located back at the resort, features traditional Spanish favorites such as sharable lobster paella, Moroccan lamb tajine and baked triple cream brie with meyer lemon jam made from the property’s citrus trees.

Scottsdale is home to a couple hundred golf courses, but those looking for a nighttime activity can practice their skills on a local, high-tech driving range. At Topgolf Scottsdale, there are more than 100 hitting bays as well as full-service bars and a rooftop terrace with fire pits to enjoy an active evening out in the desert.

Once you’ve had your fill of golf, return to Omni Montelucia and end the night at Mbar. This live music lounge, also with fire pits perfect for socializing, offers a specialty build-your-own tapas menu for a late-night snack as well as fruity sangrias to sip before bed.

If you have more time...

There is so much more to explore outdoors in Arizona so, if you have the time, hit the desert and experience all it has to offer. For an adrenaline-fueled adventure, head an hour east to the Salt River, where white water rafting trips leave each day. Choose from half- or full-day excursions, or turn it into a multi-day trip with Arizona Rafting by Wilderness Aware.

Thrill-seekers will also enjoy Hot Air Expeditions’ balloon experience, which can take place either in the morning or at sunset for spectacular views of the red rocks and jagged formations.

For something a little milder, hop in a van with Detours American West—the destination: your choice. Leaving from Phoenix, the company can whisk guests on single-day trips to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Antelope Canyon, the Apache Trail or Tombstone, Arizona.

The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia concierge team contributed to this article.