TAKE IT FROM TEDDY

Find the discreetly marked elevator and descend to the basement to find this Victorian gem, a speakeasy-style sophistico serving new American dishes and old-world cocktails. Horse shoe shaped wooden booths and vintage décor (including a massive oil painting of Teddy Roosevelt) set the scene at Rough Rider in the Roosevelt Arts District. Cozy up in a plush leather tufted chair by the fi replace to enjoy a hard tea leaf punch before sitting down to a black marble-topped table for smoked salmon dip with Lavosh crackers, Australian Wagyu carpaccio, and ahi tuna crudo to share. Mains span chicory-rubbed duck breast, milk-braised pork ragu pasta, and a juicy 14-oz bone-in pork chop soaked in black garlic marinade. There’s also coconut panna cotta and a s’mores cake for dessert. 1001 N Central Avenue, roughrideraz.com

RUNWAY READY

For contemporary finds from leading designer brands, Scottsdale Fashion Square is always a top recommendation by locals, but true VIPs will love the customized shopping experience, dubbed Fashionable Luxury. Held every Thursday and Friday from 9-11:30 a.m., the small-group tour includes a champagne toast upon arrival, welcome bags (filled with retail offers, goodies, and a $50 gift card), refreshments, and early access to three luxury stores for a private in-store shopping experience of the participant’s choice (for anything from Armani to Allsaints, Bulgari to Burberry). Reservations are required at least one week in advance, $125 per person. 7014 E Camelback Road, Scottsdale, fashionsquare.com/fashionableluxury

GILDED GLASS

Since its 2019 debut, Century Grand has been collecting awards like shot glasses, including the Best U.S. Cocktail honor at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. The venue is essentially three bars in one, each paying homage to the turn-of-the-century West. Climb aboard and venture back in time at Platform 18, set inside a 36-seat Presidential Pullman-inspired train car, then drift over to the New Orleans-themed Grey Hen RX that celebrates the late 19th century apothecary. Under Tow takes patrons into the belly of a spice trader’s Clipper ship, where hyper-rare rums around the world are served. The cocktails across all three locales are complex and decadent, a far cry from your standard Manhattan or mule. It’s a true gustatory experience. 3626 E Indian School Road, centurygrandphx.com

CHIC TO A TEA

Once a month, the Camby, an urban retreat hotel in Phoenix’s booming Biltmore nabe, hosts Tipsy Tea, a decadent afternoon soirée with a boozy twist. Don your most elaborate hat and share gossip along with creative bites while sipping spiked teas from antique pots (there’s also a selection of glassed cocktails, too). The experience includes six savory bites former options span citrus salmon rillettes and mango, kiwi, dragon fruit, and port wine cheese spheres served with prickly pear prosecco dip followed by five desserts. Strawberry pistachio pave and vanilla cream puff cups, anyone? $57 per participant, reservations required. 2401 E Camelback Road, thecamby.com

DESERT DREAM

More than 50,000 Sonoran desert plants reside in Phoenix’s feted Desert Botanical Garden, all huddled along the dusty red rocks of the Papago Buttes. It’s a tremendous sight: wander along 55 acres of flora-studded pathways to discover brilliantly hued wildflowers, fleshy succulents, flowering desert trees, and several species of cactus, from stocky barrel cactus to the soaring Cardon, also known as the elephant giant. There’s also a 3,200 square foot open air butterfly pavilion on property, plus the pasture to plate eatery Gertrude’s. The garden hosts several educational events, too, with landscape and horticulture experts to nurture your green thumb. 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, dbg.org