2022 Mesa Visitors Guide

AFTER SUNSET
A Perfect Night in City Limitless ®
In Mesa, when the sun goes down the fun gets started. Whether
you’re looking for live music at a cozy venue, game night with
friends or a chef-driven meal followed by craft brews, you’ll find
all manner of nighttime amusement in Mesa.
COCKTAIL HOUR
Kick off the evening with an expertly
crafted cocktail. Adventurous drinkers
will love the palate-pleasing creations
at Drunken Tiger, a Korean restaurant
that stirs up bevvies with Korean
liquors like soju or the slightly sweet
makgeolli. You can’t go wrong with the
Italian-themed drinks at Sam & Luca
Rustic Kitchen. Favorites include the
limoncello martini and the Americano
— a mix of Campari, sweet vermouth
and club soda. In east Mesa, local
wines take center stage at Pour Wine
& Taproom. At the always elegant
Board & Batten, choose from throwback
cocktails such as the Vesper (gin,
vodka, Lillet Blanc) and the Sazerac.
DINE TIME
Foodies flock to Tucked Away Craft
Kitchen for the restaurant’s bold fusion
of Asian, Spanish and New Mexican
flavors. Go-to dish: A tie between the
steamed buns and the green chile mac
and cheese. For romantic sunset vistas
that serve up bragging rights, reserve
a table at The Patio at Las Sendas Golf
Club. Situated 1,800 feet above Mesa
and metro Phoenix, a dinner of filet
mignon and sea scallops is sided with
sparkling city views. Authentic Northern
Italian dishes including seafood pastas
and risottos never disappoint at
Alessia’s Ristorante Italiano.
The Patio at Las Sendas Golf Club
CURTAIN CALL
Post-dinner, make your way to one
of Mesa’s esteemed venues for live
performances that range from concerts
and comedy to musicals and plays.
Mesa Arts Center’s year-round calendar
includes jazz, classical and pop shows,
Broadway theater, ballet, and more. A
locally loved outdoor concert venue,
Mesa Amphitheatre, brings in national
and regional musical performers from
a myriad of genres. Indie-rock fans
tuck into The Nile, an intimate, historic
space in Downtown Mesa. The newest
spot for post-dinner laughs and more is
Downtown Underground Mesa, located
below 12 West Brewing Co. Come early,
stay late – this joint is jumpin’.
ON TAP
Mesa’s brew scene is buzzing with new
spots opening up all the time. Continue
your night on the town with a cold
Hipsterville IPA at Barrio Brewing, the
Mesa outpost of the oldest brewery in
the state. The tap list at Old Ellsworth
Brewing Company — Queen Creek’s
first brewery — hits all the right notes.
Standouts include One Wild Rye’d, a
rye IPA featuring Arizona wheat. Craft
cider flows like water at Cider Corps;
bonus points for late-night bites from
the pizzeria. And in 2022, the newest
location of Tempe-born Pedal Haus
Brewery arrives in Mesa.
Downtown Underground
GAME ON
Round out the fun with bowling, arcade
games, even a virtual reality (VR)
experience. The Grid: Games & Growlers
invites guests to play tabletop and
console games, both new and classic,
while sipping craft beer. Fun can be
had at their weekly ‘80s themed game
nights. It’s unlikely you’ll tire of the
offerings at Jake’s Unlimited — bowling,
laser tag, VR — but if you do, there’s
always bumper cars or the spinning
teacups to keep the adrenaline high. At
FatCats, tee up for glow golf or take in
a late movie before calling it a night.
Experience Escape Rooms Mesa, the
largest facility of its kind with varying
levels of challenges for all.
THE MORNING AFTER:
THE BEST BRUNCH SPOTS
Cap off a whirlwind evening with
hearty next-day sustenance
(and maybe a mimosa). The menu
at TC Eggington’s Brunchery is
dense with delicious, egg-centric
goodies. There are 13 omelette
options alone! The cocktails list
is almost as long as the brunch
menu at What’s Crackin’ Café,
which makes it easy to mix and
match your eats and drinks.
Here, day drinkers unite, and
the restaurant motto is "cheers
and chug!" For a slower start to
Sunday, head to the Queen Creek
Olive Mill and take in local Arizona
wines and over-the-top antipasto
boards. Linger longer at this
popular Fresh Foodie Trail ® stop.
Queen Creek Olive Mill
SPORTS
enthustiast
Since 1989, Arizona Disabled Sports has
been offering adaptive sports recreation
programs, special events and social
activities for people with disabilities.
At its helm is Rhonda Carlson, a
passionate advocate for providing sports
opportunities to everyone of all abilities.
WHY IS MESA A GREAT PLACE FOR
SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS?
There’s no shortage of sports to play
and watch. You can find something
every day of the week. The new Bell
Bank Park complex shows just how
much Mesa is becoming a sports
destination.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
MESA’S ACCESSIBILITY EFFORTS?
Vital. Accessibility barriers are the
main reasons people with disabilities
choose not to participate in activities
in their community.
HOW CAN VISITORS SUPPORT
ARIZONA DISABLED SPORTS?
Come check out our activities!
Programs run throughout the week
and feature adaptive sports training,
monthly socials and annual events.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
EXPERIENCE IN MESA?
Celebrate Mesa. It’s a great time and
our organization is fortunate to be one
of the charities supported.
WHAT ABOUT MESA MAKES
YOU PROUD TO BE PART OF THE
COMMUNITY?
The people. Mesa is large, but it feels
like a close-knit city. I am blown away
by the generosity and willingness of
people to step in and help.
Cheer on the athletes at Arizona
Disabled Sports events held year-round.
Don’t miss the Desert Challenge Games
in May.
RHONDA CARLSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
ARIZONA DISABLED SPORTS
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