What's New in Scottsdale 2026: Bachelorette Edition

Why This Year is a Bigger Deal Than Last

Old Town Scottsdale has been quietly building toward this moment for a while. New hotels brought new rooftops, the city greenlit a stretch of two-story builds on Scottsdale Road, and a wave of Texas and California restaurant groups started planting flags here.

The result: five legitimately new venues opened between October 2025 and May 2026 that change the shape of an Old Town bachelorette night. Here is what your group should actually care about.

The Five New Spots Worth Booking

Cielito at AC Hotel Old Town

Opened: February 2026 | Best for: First night dinner with skyline views

Cielito sits on the rooftop of the brand new AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town. The menu is Tucson inspired, which is a real differentiator in a city full of New American steakhouses. Think focaccia sandwiches at lunch, fresh pasta and Milanese di Pollo at dinner, and a pastry case worth a separate visit.

The rooftop has a long bar, communal tables, and unobstructed Camelback views. Book the corner booth for groups of eight or more.

Order this: Milanese di Pollo ($38), charcuterie and cheese board ($42), the focaccia ($14)

"Cielito is the rooftop Scottsdale didn''t know it was missing. The food is actually good, not just good for a hotel restaurant." Phoenix New Times

Drake''s Hollywood

Opening: 2026 | Best for: The "we got dressed up for this" dinner

Drake''s Hollywood is an 8,000 square foot restaurant and lounge taking over the old Buca di Beppo on Scottsdale Road. The Texas original is known for old Hollywood glamour, indulgent menu items, and very Instagrammable cocktails.

The signature dessert is a 24 layer strawberry cake that will absolutely end up on someone''s phone. If your group wants to do one "we got dressed up" dinner, this is the new option.

Order this: 24 layer strawberry cake ($28), signature martini menu, dry aged steak for the table

Above All Else

Opening: Early 2026 | Best for: The grown up bachelorette

Above All Else is taking over the second floor space that used to house STK. The menu is modern American with craft cocktails and Old Town views from the patio.

For brides who do not want a bottle service night, this is the alternative. Dress code is "first date nice," the cocktails are serious, and the room actually lets you hear each other talk.

Order this: Wagyu tartare ($24), seasonal market fish (market), house Negroni ($18)

The Ponderosa House

Opening: February 2026 | Best for: Brunch with a long history

The Ponderosa House moved into the former Frank and Lupe''s Old Mexico spot, with Chef Pedro Felix (formerly of The Mission and L''Auberge) running the kitchen. Expect a refined Mexican menu with a serious brunch and a covered patio that does not feel like a hotel.

This is the daytime bachelorette stop. Chilaquiles, churro French toast, brunch margaritas, and a courtyard you can actually take photos in.

Order this: Chilaquiles verdes ($19), churro French toast ($16), spicy hibiscus margarita ($17)

Liquor Pig

Opened: March 2025 | Best for: Late night cocktails

Liquor Pig opened last spring in a warm dark wood and leather space in Old Town. The drinks are precise, the room is small, and it is exactly the kind of place you end up at 11pm after dinner because you do not want to go to a club yet.

This is the perfect bridge between dinner and the dancing portion of the night.

Order this: Old Fashioned ($18), the bartender''s choice ($20)

"Best new cocktail bar in Old Town. Worth the walk." Google Review

How to Build Them Into a Weekend

• Friday dinner: Drake''s Hollywood for the photos, or Cielito for the views
• Saturday brunch: The Ponderosa House (book a week ahead)
• Saturday daytime: Pool day at Hotel Valley Ho or Mountain Shadows
• Saturday dinner: Above All Else for the calm, then walk to Drake''s Hollywood for desserts
• Saturday late night: Liquor Pig for cocktails, then Maya Day and Nightclub if you want dancing
• Sunday: Cielito for brunch and one last skyline photo

What to Skip

There are still a few "new" rooftops in Old Town that are loud, expensive, and have mediocre food. If a venue is bottle service only and the cover charge is over $30 per person, you are paying for the room, not the experience. Save the splurge for Drake''s Hollywood or a pool day.

How to Book

All of the new openings above take Resy or OpenTable reservations. Book two weeks out for Saturday nights. Cielito and Drake''s Hollywood will be the hardest tables in town once they hit their stride, so move early if you are reading this with a date locked in.