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
• The Giving Tree Cafe: Organic, vegan & gluten free. Favorite thing on the menu: Chocolate Malted Blended Smoothie
• 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.
• ChaCha’s Tea Shop: Best selection of teas in town. 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:

• *We love to travel with AirBnb, but always always read the reviews!
• RISE Uptown
• The Clarendon
• Foundre
• Palomar Hotel
• The Royal Palms
• Omni Montelucia
• Camelback Hotel + Spa

Things to do:

• *Desert Botanical Garden
• Get some desert nature time at the Salt River
• Musical Instrument Museum
• Heard Museum
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Tucson Gem + Mineral Show: Jan 24 - February 17

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:

• Kaya Holistic
• The Local Nomad
• The Merchantile
• Citrine Natural Beauty Shop at the Biltmore
• Frances Vintage

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:

• *Local Juicery: juices, smoothies, treats + fun stuff
• *Chocolate Tree: vegan + check out amazing chocolates!
• *Indian Gardens Cafe + Market: good lunch spot in Oak Creek Canyon
• Chai Spot at Tlaquepaque: homemade chai
• L’Auberge de Sedona: high-end-ish lunch/dinner on the creek
• Elote Cafe: Farm-fresh Mexican-inspired cuisine overlooking the scenic red rocks of Sedona. Featuring seasonal, locally-grown ingredients!

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!