Refreshingly offbeat, Tempe is known for its vibrant downtown scene, its inviting outdoor activities and its welcoming and progressive spirit.
Home to Arizona State University, one of the largest and most innovative schools in the country, as well as a robust collection of state-of-the-art accommodations, Tempe is an urban oasis — located within the Greater Phoenix area — where anything is possible.
From arrival to departure, your attendees will experience the essence of what makes Tempe unique — from chic hotels and first-class amenities to year-round events and glorious golden hours. It’s that same magic that keeps groups coming back year after year — and thanks to this city’s constant evolution, there’s new experiences to greet them every time.
Here's your guide to our ever-evolving list of new accommodations, restaurants and other experiences:
State-of-the-Art Accommodations
This year, Tempe welcomed Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU to our portfolio of hotels, a AAA Four Diamond property that adds 330 guest rooms and 36,000 square feet of meeting space to the downtown landscape. Additionally, we're excited for your attendees to experience the exquisite flavors of Neighborhood Services, the new ground-floor restaurant concept, the serenity of the Salt + Gila Pool Deck Restaurant, and the unmatched ambiance of Lucero Rooftop Restaurant + Bar, an elevated concept that overlooks our city's iconic landmarks, including Tempe Town Lake, the red sandstone buttes of Papago Park and beyond.
Hot Attractions
Tempe offers hours of entertainment for groups ranging from a few to a few dozen. Here, a wide variety of new attractions offer opportunities for team building and group off-sites. The newest addition to The District at Tempe Marketplace is Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Bar & Grill. Sure, you’ve slung an axe or two in the past, but it’s time to elevate the entire experience — just like this brand did with its new digs — for your next group outing or team building experience in Tempe.
The vibe is plush and the fresh renovations are inviting throughout this 13,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor space, that's home to 13 targets for axe throwing and over two dozen TVs centered around the massive bar.
Bonus points: Celebrity chef and culinary director Matt Hearn is at the helm. Best known for his appearances on "Hell’s Kitchen" and MTV’s “Snack-Off,” we don’t expect it will take long before he’s living up to his promise of challenging the food scene here in Arizona.
If you missed Picklemall's Tempe debut on "Good Morning America," here's a recap: To meet the demands of country's fastest-growing sport, one startup is creating solutions with adaptive reuse of former big-box retail spaces and technology. In August, Picklemall unveiled more than a dozen new air-conditioned courts with room to expand in a 104,000-square-foot space at Tempe's Arizona Mills mall. The Picklemall concept pairs user-friendly technology with an adaptive reuse approach to former retail spaces for a win-win. Guests are invited to book courts, keep score, review instant replays and more, all via the "Picklemall" app. All skill levels are welcome and all necessary equipment is provided, making this a perfect destination for hosting groups and tournaments.
Arizona Bouldering Project, a 53,000 square-foot indoor rock-climbing, gym, yoga studio and coffee shop concept, just hosted its grand opening in Tempe in September. The fitness center is designed to double as a community hub, with plenty of space for a wide variety of activities, including a forthcoming private space.
The Arizona Coyotes first skated into Tempe’s Mullett Arena in the fall of 2022 and, while their future home has yet to be determined, we do know that they’re playing the next two seasons (with an additional option for the 2025-2026 season) right in Downtown Tempe. Add in the festivities such theme nights as the Black Excellence Celebration and Pride Night bring to the 5,000-seat venue, and we can confirm that this is an unparallel NHL fan experience.
Last year, Arizona State University opened Mullett Arena on its Tempe campus, welcoming excited fans to Sun Devils and Arizona Coyotes hockey games. This state-of-the-art venue offers up-close proximity to all the action, including a wide variety of programming that ranges from Lucha Libre and touring concerts to sports tournaments and other community events.
This fall, Arizona Theatre Company is bringing its lineup of world-class productions to Tempe Center for the Arts — a testament to the arts and culture scene this city continues to cultivate. This beloved waterfront venue is home to year-round programming as well as a wide variety of spaces that can accommodate group events ranging from presentations to performances.
Delicious Dining
Wrap up your meeting day with globally influenced dining at one of Tempe’s diverse and eclectic eateries. Choose from international flavors, Southwest favorites and more, at restaurants that also offer spacious patios and a variety of private rooms available for reservation. No evening is complete without sampling a matinee version of the nightlife scene. From sports bars to rooftop lounges, and breweries to distilleries, your attendees will appreciate the energy of this city and its relentless quest to elevate the happy hour experience. Here are a few of the city’s newest concepts (with more on the horizon).
Chic Chef 77 Bistro & Wine Bar: Renowned throughout the Valley for her olive oils, vinegars, spices and celebrity clients, chef Nik Fields has moved to Tempe to open Arizona’s first Black-owned wine bar. Open since February, Chic Chef 77 Bistro & Wine Bar offers a 200-bottle list, a dinner menu that rotates monthly based on the creations by select chefs, charcuterie boards, private wine tastings, live music, poetry, pop-up events and all the flavor we’ve come to know and love from this Chic Chef.
From the family that created such concepts as Bacanora, Espiritu and Tacos Chiwas throughout the Valley comes Cocina Chiwas, an upscale and authentic Mexican dining experience in Tempe. Husband-and-wife co-owners, Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin, are delivering world-class Chihuahuan cuisine from their new location at Culdesac — the first car-free community in the U.S. Lucky for you, there are parking options. But be sure to make a reservation, because this culinary duo has quite a following of enthusiastic foodies.
In 2019, Holguin was named a semifinalist in the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef – Southwest category. In 2021, their Phoenix concept, Bacanora, was named one of the 40 best new restaurants in America by “Esquire” magazine. And in February 2022, the James Beard Foundation recognized the restaurant as a semifinalist for best new restaurant in the country. Needless to say, we’re thrilled they’ve set up shop in Tempe.
Since opening Hundred Mile Brewing Co. in December 2022, Sue Rigler has been combining her microbiology degree from ASU with her passion for craft beer and love of the Tempe community — a goal of hers since 2014. And now, this bright and modern 10,000 square-foot (10-barrel) brewhouse and restaurant also has private event space on tap.
Recent additions include 16,000 square feet of private event space that is designed to provide an exceptional setting for a wide range of events, including corporate gatherings, team building and group tastings. "We can't wait to help you create a truly memorable experience at Hundred Mile Brewing," Rigler shared.
The brewery menu shines all on its own, with elevated pub fare, including a wide variety of small plates as well as burgers, salads and such entrees as coffee-rubbed short ribs. Hundred Mile brews include Coyote West Coast IPA, Pinetop Pils, Desert Neon Hazy IPA, Crowd Surfer Mexican Lager (with lime and salt) and The Natural Blonde Ale.
Transportation
Conveniently located less than 5 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Tempe is easily accessible via four major freeways. Additionally, Valley Metro Rail provides direct access — via the PHX SKY Train — from the terminal to the city for $2 each way. The 2022 debut of the Tempe Streetcar — the first of its kind in the Valley of the Sun — brought an efficient transportation option to easily navigate Downtown Tempe. The new streetcar makes 14 stops along a three-mile route, shuttling passengers to and from hotels, attractions, dining and more.
Additionally, Tempe prides itself in being a vibrant, walkable destination for meetings of 10 to 500 attendees. The Tempe Tourism Office is available to ensure your next event is a success.
