Where Now

WHERE NOW A New Dining Masterpiece

From the geniuses behind the popular local restaurants Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, and The Sicilian Baker comes The Mexicano. This newest restaurant concept is spearheaded by celebrity chef Joey Maggiore, and his wife, Cristina, and is inspired by the flavors, colorful art, music, and culture of Mexico. The buzzy, nouveau Mexican eatery features a Mexico City-inspired design, chef-driven menu, experiential food and cocktail carts, DJs playing Latin music—and the country’s first-ever, build-your-own Michelada bar (toppings include oysters, shrimp cocktail, pickled jicama, dry chorizo, and tamarindo sticks—to name just a few!).

Menu items range from the Smoking Grouper Ceviche presented in a coconut shell, to 36-inch quesadillas, to charcoal-grilled prime meats and seafood.

Ready for a drink? Pair your meal with a piñata margarita or frozen margarita flights, or wait for the donkey cart with a tequila ice luge and shot glasses. 4801 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix; www.themexicanocomida.com

FROM TOP: COURTESY DAPPER & STOUT COFFEE COMPANY; COURTESY BARCOA AGAVERIA. OPPOSITE: COURTESY THE MAGGIORE GROUP DAPPER & STOUT COFFEE COMPANY

A DAPPER DEBUT

Jonesing for coffee? How about a tantalizing bite to eat? A well-crafted cocktail? Find it all and more at Dapper & Stout Coffee Company, a community-centric coffee shop that recently opened its third Valley location. Located in Phoenix’s Uptown Plaza (other Valley locations include Downtown Phoenix and Glendale), the new location offers everything from coffee to cocktails.

Start the day with a brew, espresso, macchiato, latte, tea, smoothie, frappe, or protein drink. Dine on croissants, Danishes, scones, Morning Umpqua Oats, French toast, bagels, sandwiches, and more.

The Uptown location also boasts a full bar, cans and bottles of craft beers, wine, bubbly, kombuchas, and an array of signature cocktails. Cheers! 100 East Camelback Road, Phoenix; www.dapperandstout.com

Raising the BARCOA

Arizona Taco Festival and Phoenix Pizza Festival creator David Tyda is not one to rest on his laurels. The food festival guru and icon recently opened BARCOA Agaveria, in partnership with Ryan Oberholtzer, in homage to the spirit of Mexico—especially its agave spirit and wine producers. The two sourced almost all of the locale’s design elements from Mexico in order to create an authentic atmosphere in which its guests can discover the world of heritage agave spirits.

Here, find everything from a refined cocktail menu and educational tequila, mezcal, and agave spirit tastings, to iconic agave-infused offerings including the Batanga and margarita, to a menu that features lesser-known agave spirits. 829 N. 1st Ave, Phoenix; www.barcoaphx.com

WHERE NOW

Artfully Enticing

If you find yourself in Downtown Scottsdale, there is plenty to see and experience, from shops to entertainment to dining options. There are also major public art installations in the area, so make sure to keep an eye out.

While some works—including artist Robert Indiana’s famous stacked LOVE statue—are currently unavailable for viewing due to renovations at Scottsdale Civic Center, there are still plenty on view. At Scottsdale Waterfront, find Paolo Soleri’s Soleri Bridge and Plaza (4420 N. Scottsdale Road), which serves as a pedestrian bridge, solar calendar, and gathering place. Meanwhile, Jack Knife by artist Ed Mell (7077 E. Main St.)—an identifying landmark in Downtown Scottsdale—is modeled after Scottsdale’s official city seal, and features a rider astride a bucking horse. Nearby, standing watch at 26 feet high, is a painted steel jackrabbit sculpture by John Randall Nelson called One-Eyed Jack (7042 E. Indian School Road), symbolizing the eclectic, artistic heritage of the area, and the promise of a bright future. And, on the corner of Scottsdale and Camelback roads, find The Doors and Sound Passage, two artworks in one. From the outside, there are three massive doors leaning against each other, a work titled The Doors by artist Donald Lipski. Step inside for Sound Passage by artist Jim Green, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a kaleidoscope.