I've been living in Phoenix for 8 months now - which seems CRAZY! My study abroad experience is coming to an end very soon. In this post, I'm going to list 5 of my favourite places in the Greater Phoenix Area. Think Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix. If you're ever in the area, of if you're a born and raised Arizonan, or even if you're interested in what I've been up to, this post is for you!
Snooze
College Avenue, Tempe
Since Snooze opened in December, it has fast become my favourite place in Tempe. The atmosphere is INCREDIBLE and the staff are always amazing. The menu is huge so there is absolutely something for everyone. There is always a wait on the weekends but help yourself to some of the free coffee! Snooze is so inexpensive which justifies the visit even more! I love that they try to get all of their ingredients as locally as possible and are hugely aware of being environmentally friendly - it really is the little things at Snooze that make a huge difference.
Must try: The Snooze Spuds Deluxe, the Blueberry Danish Pancakes and the Pomegranate Mimosa
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| The Snooze Spuds Deluxe with Pulled Pork and Roasted Garlic |
Oregano's
See here for locations
With locations throughout the Valley, Oregano's is BY FAR the best restaurant I've been to since I've been in AZ. A true American-Italian restaurant, I'm yet to try a single thing I don't like on their menu. Prepare yourself to take away leftovers because the portions are huge, but so affordable too. The service is always fantastic and I can't recommend Oregano's enough.
Must try: Order a guac-a-Tony and a Pizz-ookie!
Chopshop Tempe
University Drive, Tempe
Chopshop is somewhere between a restaurant and a cafe. The food is great but the service can be slow - so don't stop for lunch if you're in a rush! The Seasonal specials are always amazing but regular menu items such as the Asian salad or the Cold Buster Juice are also favourites of mine. The Cold Buster (see below!) helped me kick an awful cold I had in November. Just in time for my trip to Orange County! I love the decor and layout of the Tempe location and it's closest to me - but there are a few others too so check their website.
The Blend
College Avenue, Tempe
I quickly learned that Starbucks is absolutely everywhere you go in the US! However, the Blend is located so close to where I live and after I tried it, there was no looking back. The coffee is fantastic, the staff are unbelievably friendly and I also save at least $1 on each cup compared to Starbucks. The atmosphere in there is really laid back, you can always have a conversation with the barista's who are genuinely interested in what you have to say and as far as I'm concerned, The Blend is the best coffee shop in Arizona.
A Mountain Sunset Hike
East Veteran's Way, Tempe
One of my absolute favourite things to do since I've been here is hiking A Mountain or the Hayden Butte Preserve trail as it's officially called. Not only do you get incredible views of Mesa, Chandler, Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale, it's a relatively good workout and you get the most beautiful sunset views - just look at the header photo! Arizona sunset's are unlike anything I've ever seen - so getting the view from A Mountain is a must. It's not a particularly challenging hike which makes it suitable for all.
Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town is just so pretty! It really reminds me of something you come across at Disneyland. It's really lovely just to walk around and take it all in! My favourite place there is definitely the Sugar Bowl! It really is like stepping back in time in to an old-school classic American diner and the ice cream is amazing! Only order one scoop though as it's not the easiest thing to take home ;)
If you want to see more of what I've been up to since moving to the desert, search for #georgiasyearabroad on Instagram, or follow me @GeorgiaMEdwards.
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