Scottsdale Restaurant Joins World's Best Bars List

Good morning, Scottsdale. You’re reading Scottsdale Scoop, your insider pass to what’s fun, fresh, and worth checking out around town. Every issue features hand-picked events, local business spotlights, and hidden gems that make our city great.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! There's a lot of resorts in town doing fun pool activities as well as dining experiences. I'll list some below in the events section.

Also, we just launched our pink Scottsdale hats here! If you want to snag one and rep our amazing city, use the code SCOOP for 15% off.

Stay Well Weekend is happening Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25) at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, and the room rate is wild: $99/night plus tax. You can grab a one or two day wellness pass and customize everything from fitness classes with the Valley's best instructors to a five-course chef's dinner ($89) to pool cabanas.

Friday kicks off with a welcome party featuring complimentary beauty experiences (lash bar, lip color matching, hair styling), Saturday has aerial yoga by the pool, and the whole weekend is built around helping you reset before summer really hits. Email [email protected] for the special rate!

Course, the fine dining spot on Shea that's already racked up a USA Today Restaurant of the Year nod and a James Beard semifinalist recognition for Chef Cory Oppold, just added another trophy to the shelf. The Pinnacle Guide, basically the Michelin of cocktail bars, named Course among the world's best for its drinks program.

What makes their cocktails stand out? Nothing on the menu is a riff on a classic, and they deliberately leave spirits off the descriptions unless you'll absolutely taste them. The anonymous reviewers praised the "thoughtfulness, presentation and dedication to cocktails made with fresh, unique ingredients." Another reason to finally make that reservation I've been putting off!

If you had a reservation at Francine this week, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The French-Mediterranean spot at Fashion Square shut its doors unexpectedly, leaving only a "RESTAURANT CLOSED" sign in the window.

No Instagram farewell, no email to reservation holders, nothing. Their social media pages went dark, calls go unanswered, and the mall hasn't said a word. Former executive chef Remy Lefebvre posted that he's moved on and is working to bring new restaurants to Scottsdale, but that's the only public acknowledgment from anyone connected to the place. Francine had been serving up branzino, grilled octopus and that truffle mushroom rigatoni since 2020. Sad to see it go this way.

Scottsdale Police is rolling out an AI system later this year to handle non-emergency calls, and before you worry, this isn't robots replacing humans. The Motorola HYPER platform will help route routine inquiries (think noise complaints, parking questions) so dispatchers can focus on actual emergencies.

The system automatically transfers you to a real person if you say words like "emergency," "help," "gun," "fight," or if you just ask to speak with a dispatcher. Phoenix PD adopted something similar last year. The goal is cutting hold times for those non-urgent calls while keeping dispatchers locked in on what matters most.

I'm doing something different this month. My good friend Shawn Allard (owner of Novel Ice Cream) and I are hosting a private dinner for 20 Arizona business owners who are building something worth talking about.

No pitch decks. No awkward "what do you do" circles. Just sharp people in one room, swapping real stories about what's working, what's not, and where they're headed next. The whole thing is application-based.

This is for founders, operators, and builders who know the difference between networking and actually connecting with people who get it. We're meeting in North Scottsdale (location shared after you're accepted), and the goal is simple: learn something, meet someone worth staying in touch with, and leave better than you arrived.

If your business wants to sponsor this event and get in front of a highly curated group of successful local entrepreneurs, email me directly by responding to this newsletter. Otherwise, head here to apply for a seat.

I found this business on IG and wanted to share! If you're planning a party, wedding, or any gathering where you want your guests talking for weeks, Craft & Pedal is a safe bet. This local business brings custom-built ice cream and cold brew bikes right to your event, fully styled and ready to serve.

They've got a whole fleet of adorable bikes with actual personalities. Sweet Sara and Stella handle the ice cream duties, Tux brings timeless elegance, Joey rolls up with cold brew for the caffeine crowd, and Chip keeps things playful. They even have paleta carts named Cody and Isabel for that crowd-pleasing frozen treat vibe.

What I love about Craft & Pedal is how they've turned dessert into an experience. It's not just about the ice cream (though that's obviously a win). It's about creating a moment your guests will remember. Perfect for backyard birthdays, corporate events, or making your wedding reception the one everyone talks about at brunch for the next six months.

I took my dad to Starfish recently and we had such a great time. This Asian coastal spot has been a Southern California favorite for over 14 years, and it recently opened in Scottsdale with a bang!

The Wild Thai Halibut in Banana Leaf was a knockout. The presentation alone had us reaching for our phones, but the taste backed it up completely. Then we ordered the drunken noodles with chicken and my dad and I almost ordered a second plate. They were that good.

The coastal theme was also great to see. From a mural outside to the dining room colors and decor, the theme shone through.

Big shoutout to the wait staff and management for making the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. You could tell they actually care about getting things right. If you're looking for a date spot that hits on food, atmosphere and service, keep Starfish on your radar.

Thursday, May 21

🍕 Pizza-Making Class | Classic Cooking Academy | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

🎓 World Choir Workshop: Mongolia | Musical Instrument Museum | 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM

⚾ WCC Baseball Tournament | Scottsdale Stadium | All Day (multiple days)

Friday, May 22

🎸 Aeromyth – Aerosmith Tribute | Casino Arizona | 7:30 PM (multiple days)

🧘 Sunset Yoga on the Lawn | Mountain Shadows Resort | 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 23

🍻 Memorial Day Weekend Bar Crawl | The Hot Chick | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

🧘 Rhythm & Flow SolRise Experience | Sanctuary Camelback Mountain | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

🌮 Tacos, Tequila, and Tunes Happy Hour | Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

🧘 Stay Well Weekend | The Scottsdale Resort & Spa | 4:00 PM (multiple days)

🍹 Cottontail Lounge Pool Party | W Scottsdale | All Day

Sunday, May 24

🧘 Morning Yoga | Hotel Adeline | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

🎶 Celebrate Reggae | Musical Instrument Museum | All Day (multiple days)

🍷 Uncorked Wine Festival | Verde Canyon Railroad | 11:00 AM (multiple days)

Quantum Red is where I go for all my red light therapy, I love that they make it super easy. Their self-serve membership model means you get 24/7 access via their app, so you can squeeze in a 10-minute session whenever it fits your schedule

Their model is simple and perfect for busy schedules like mine. Quantum Red operates as a self-serve membership studio, which means once you’re a member, you get app access straight to the treatment rooms. No waiting around at a front desk. No long appointments. Treatments are quick, powerful 10-minute sessions, and you’re in and out.

Consistency is key with red light therapy. Quantum Red recommends 2 to 3 sessions per week, and many members go even more often. I’ve made it part of my regular routine and love how easy they make it to stick with.

For the first month, Scottsdale Scoop subscribers get 50% off their membership.

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $8.5M! A resort style home with 2 guest homes! Love it.

Here’s the link if you want to check it out.

Scottsdale Scoop is 100% free and independently run (it's just me over here). Your support helps me keep bringing you the best local spots, events, and inside scoop on what's happening in Scottsdale every week. Your contribution will go towards keeping the Scoop going so we can have more fun in community events! really appreciate all the support all of you 🙂 - John

We just dropped pink hats! Snag one here.