Tucked between Tonto National Forest and the Gila River is the permanently sun-kissed capital of Arizona, Phoenix. Nicknamed “Valley of the Sun,” Phoenix is a thriving city for foodies, water babies, and nightlife lovers. You could be cooling off in summers or zipping down the snowy slopes in winters. Notwithstanding the season, Phoenix knows how to treat its visitors and has tons of hotel choices. The best hotels in Phoenix Arizona range from downtown to the airport area and brands such as Marriott and Kimpton as well as stunning boutique ones. What’s special about Phoenix’s hotels is that they give out day passes for visiting their spas or the pools. This takes place especially during summer, which is what makes them so popular.
It might seem like a city in the middle of a great big desert, but there’s a lot to see and do in Phoenix. Museum geeks will love exploring the Musical Instrument Museum, the Herard Museum, and the Phoenix Art Museum. Don’t miss the unbelievable Desert Botanical Garden, which looks like a garden in an arid desert. If you’re here with kids, the Phoenix Zoo and Arizona Science Center will thrill them to bits. So, maybe it’s time to give the Phoenix a chance! Try staying at one of these 11 coolest and best hotels in Phoenix, Arizona.
Where to Stay in Phoenix, Arizona?
Phoenix might have started off as a desert ghost town. But, today it’s a buzzing epicenter of culture and cuisine, and amongst the Top Things To Do In Arizona. Spanish-inspired architecture and a sunny climate aside, it also has a host of attractions and is the gateway to the stunning desert landscapes of Central Arizona. So, it’s very important to determine where you’ll be staying in the city. We begin with the heart of everything in the city, Downtown. It’s home to Phoenix’s best shopping streets, restaurants and nightclubs, and cultural attractions. Next up is the picturesque Scottsdale, which is known for a slew of country clubs and gorgeous homes and staying options. If you’re staying in Scottsdale, read through this useful First Timer’s Guide to Visiting Scottsdale AZ.
Encanto Village is next, which comprises the neighborhoods of Encanto, Uptown, and Midtown Phoenix. This LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood is known for its lively nightlife scene and is very popular with younger travelers. Plus, you’ll also find some of the city’s best museums here, making it great for sightseeing. Finally, we have the uber-rich Paradise Valley, which is home to not only Phoenix’s richest residents but also some of the city’s most luxurious boutique resorts. Other areas include the immensely recognizable Camelback Mountain and the high-end shopping region of Biltmore District.
The Westin Downtown Phoenix
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One of the best hotels in Phoenix Arizona downtown is The Westin Downtown Phoenix, a world-class luxury hotel in an excellent location. The hotel is close to just about everything, right from international dining options to museums and other sights. On the inside, the Westin is simple yet pampering to boot, and features rooms with huge windows from where you can see the vertical beauty of the city’s skyline. Designer bath amenities, spacious seating areas, and floor-to-ceiling windows make the rooms special. For those who want to splurge, the corner studio suite with a wraparound glass window and in-room bathtub next to it is one of Arizona’s most decadent digs.
The rest of the hotel is pretty much self-contained, so much so that there’ll be days when you wouldn’t want to leave the hotel at all. The center of all decadence is the temperature-controlled rooftop pool with sunbeds by the side and million-dollar downtown Phoenix views. The award-winning on-site bar and restaurant is the perfect place to begin your day with a superb breakfast. However, it’s particularly known for serving southwestern-flavored delicacies such as chilaquiles. Rounding up the features are 24-hour room service and a business center.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
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One of the best Marriott hotels in Phoenix Arizona is JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, which is 300+ acres of decadence in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The star of this 5-star resort is the pools and waterways, which are amongst the Best Hotel Pools In Phoenix. If you’re traveling with your family, you’ll find an excellent kid’s pool that’s no less than a waterpark, complete with a water slide, swimming pool toys, a jacuzzi, and a shallow end. Meanwhile, adults can enjoy the quieter adults-only pool or head off to the spa, which also has a lap pool.
After a dip, play an invigorating game of tennis, head off to the fitness center, or grab a few bikes and tour the neighborhood. In the evening, unwind by the fire pit near the pool and enjoy an alfresco dinner by the stars. If that doesn’t appeal to you, the hotel has five restaurants for you to choose to dine at. Post dinner, you can even enjoy a nice cup of coffee at the on-site Starbucks. Rooms at this hotel are all spacious with the signature Marriott beds, along with balconies offering wonderful views of the landscaped grounds and views of Phoenix, Arizona in the distance.
The Camby, Autograph Collection
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The Camby is one of the most offbeat best hotels in Phoenix Arizona. Nestled in the upscale Biltmore Fashion Park halfway between downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale. The hotel is a post-modern blend of antique and chic, which is evident in aspects such as copper Mylar ceilings and cow skull-shaped lamps. Travelers will love the array of luxury amenities, whether it’s the restaurants including the poolside bar or the wellness treatments and massages at the Zest Spa. The best of them all is the restaurant Artizen, which offers a lip-smacking lunch menu and opulent entrees. When the weather is slightly cooler, you can even dine out on the terrace with wonderful Phoenix views.
The outdoor pool and the deck is the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring Phoenix. If that wasn’t enough, the sun deck features a cooling hydro-misting system that’ll keep you from getting sunburnt. Plus, shoppers can get their retail fix and therapy at the Biltmore shopping center which lies right across the street. The rooms at the Camby deserve special appreciation since all of them feature spectacular city or mountain views. Moreover, they all feature swanky marble bathrooms with huge vanities, minibars, and feather-like soft beds.
The Clarendon Hotel and Spa
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Tucked in Midtown Phoenix, The Clarendon Hotel and Spa is a surprise package. The whimsical hotel is full of zany and funky surprises such as electric car charging stations and is yet one of the most affordable hotels around. There’s a lot to love about the hotel, the best of them all being the in-house hydro spa. With a bevy of treatments such as aromatherapy sessions, prenatal massages, and saguaro vera facials, Clarendon is a unique wellness sanctuary in the city. Its crowning glory, though is the Oasis Pool and Skydeck, where six outdoor cabanas and a slew of sunbeds make it an oasis of unwinding. During summers, take a day off from exploring the city and splash around in the cool waters of the pool. Post a swim, sip a sundowner at the rooftop lounge or treat yourself to a Southwestern dinner at the superb in-house restaurant.
If the rest of the hotel is quirky, the rooms are ultra-chic spaces of serenity and tranquility. Monochrome shades with pops of color rule the roost here. What’s more, you’ll find modern conveniences such as flatscreen TVs, coffeemakers, and chic bathrooms that make your stay comfortable.
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
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Yet another of the best hotels in Phoenix Arizona downtown is Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. The Sheraton brand is a household name when it comes to luxurious living, and this downtown Phoenix hotel isn’t an exception. Also, if you’re a Marriott member, then this is one of the best Phoenix, Arizona hotels for you. It has everything you’d expect, and then some. The rooms are not only comfortable but also sleekly lavish in character with white-brick bathrooms and fabulous views of downtown Phoenix. Darkwood furniture, coffeemakers, and flatscreen TVs are also standard across rooms, ensuring a high level of comfort and convenience across all levels.
But, the hotel’s most impressive features lie outside the room, such as the on-site District American Kitchen and Wine Bar, which is a top dining destination in Phoenix. Its “Nothing Over $9” menu is legendary and its main draw, but what also draws people;e here is that the dishes are works of art and very affordable. By night, the place is a buzzing cocktail lounge with some of the best DJs playing their sets here. Wrapping up the features here is the rooftop Breeze Bar right by the lap pool and garden, which is the perfect place for sundowner cocktails.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix Cityscape
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Few hotels can beat Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix Cityscape, which is a sleek glass monolith sitting in the heart of Phoenix’s commercial hub. The self-proclaimed (but hardly) boutique hotel is most famous for its rooftop pool and Lustre Bar. Sprinkled around the pool are deck umbrellas and plush seating a la a beachside resort. Right next to it sits the sprawling patio of the bar, both of which enjoying views of the city and the southern mountains in the distance. After enjoying a refreshing dip, sip on cocktails and dig into finger food right at your poolside perch. The rest of the amenities are equally impressive, such as the in-house restaurant and free lobby wine hour in the evening. You’ll also find a business center, a fitness center, and concierge services to assist you with just about anything.
Even the rooms here are no less and feature desert-toned hues and polished and modernist motifs and finishings. Large ensuite bathrooms with plush bathrobes and bespoke toiletries aside, you’ll find huge windows with sweeping views of Phoenix. If that wasn’t enough, the hotel even offers in-room spa services. With a progressive “#LoveIsLove” policy and spectacular setting and amenities, it’s no surprise that Kimpton Palomar is wedding central for many couples!
Hilton Phoenix Airport
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If you want to stay near Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport, then the Hilton Phoenix Airport is one of the best hotels in Phoenix Arizona by the airport. In fact, it’s also amongst the best Hilton hotels in Phoenix Arizona! Not only does it lie barely five minutes away from the airport, but also it offers a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle. What makes it one of the best Hilton hotels in Phoenix Arizona is the slew of amenities, such as the fitness center and the fantastic outdoor pool. The on-site restaurant is known for its continental offerings with a southwestern twist. Whether you want a sundowner or a nightcap, the bar and grill is a great place to unwind. It’s no surprise that the Hilton is amongst the Best Hotels Near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
But, that’s not all. The rooms here are spacious and beautiful, to say the least. Large, plush beds, cozy seating areas, and flat-screen TVs are standard everywhere. However, if you have the cash to splurge, get the top-floor Executive Level room that has perks such as nightly cocktail reception, free breakfast, and access to the Executive Lounge.
AC Hotel Phoenix Biltmore
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The AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Biltmore is one of the best Marriott hotels in Phoenix Arizona. Tucked in the high-end district of Biltmore, the hotel offers excellent value-for-money accommodations. To begin with, it has one of the nicest outdoor swimming pool areas in the city. Nothing beats a dip in the cool waters, after which you can lounge on the sunbeds under the sun umbrellas or head to the fitness center for a workout session. At the end of the day, a drink at the bar or a cup of coffee in the shared lounge is just what you need. Begin your day with an American or continental breakfast and end it with a sundowner or a nightcap on the terrace. Are you here for work? You’ll also find a business center and even meeting rooms.
All rooms are equipped with spacious work desks, coffee machines, fridges, and flat-screen TVs with cable for your convenience. Wooden floors, plush beds, and huge floor-to-ceiling windows make even staying in for the day a cozy and comfortable experience.
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
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In true urban Arizonian style, the Arizona Biltmore is one of the best hotels in Phoenix Arizona. Designed way back in 1929, the one-of-a-kind resort is where you head for an all-out splashy vacation in the Valley of the Sun. The art deco palace – you’ll have to see it to believe it – was designed by the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright and has welcomed everyone from kings and queens to presidents. Sitting on sprawling lush grounds, you have a dizzying array of choices for how to spend your day on the property. Do you want some pool time? You’ll have to pick one of eight different and decadent pools. Do you want to get in some tee time? The golf course is right next door. Can’t decide between a massage or aromatherapy? Browse the dizzying long spa menu.
But, that’s not all. Even when it comes to food, you have four restaurants to choose from, one of which is the heavenly poolside Cabana Club. If that wasn’t enough, you also have access to salon services, seven on-site tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. When it comes to the rooms, the hotel has taken the pains to make them into spacious havens of tranquility and luxury. Besides all modern living aspects, the rooms either have huge windows or a balcony with gorgeous views of the landscaped grounds and gardens.
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa
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As it’s already very clear, the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa is truly and completely a sanctuary. Lying atop the Camelback Mountain around 20 minutes from downtown, this five-star oasis boasts some of the best views of Phoenix. The sprawling property offers myriad opportunities to relax and unwind, with the top feature being the stunning infinity pool with the desert landscape of Arizona in the backdrop. Soak your stresses away with a massage or a facial in the Asian-inspired spa and work up an appetite at the swanky gym. If your style more yoga, meditation, and pilates, then the Sanctuary offers those too. Grab a sundowner or a nightcap at the Jade Bar and dig into a delicious dinner at the world-class on-site restaurant, Elements.
If the amenities are so excellent, then obviously the rooms aren’t far behind either. Large and contemporary to boot, rooms come with a few good choices – casitas, suites, and what can only be described as entire homes! Nevertheless, they all come with incredible views and a host of amenities, including large living spaces and granite bathrooms with bathtubs.
Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown
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Stay in the heart of Phoenix at Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Downtown, one of the best hotels in Phoenix Arizona. It also happens to be amongst the best Hilton hotels in Phoenix Arizona and is a great affordable accommodation in the heart of the town. Melding modern comforts in a historic atmosphere, the Hilton Garden Inn is an art-deco heritage structure dating back to 1932. An imposing lobby with marble columns and grand touches welcomes you within. Begin your day with a delectable made-to-order breakfast at the Garden Grille and end your day with dinner at the Nook Kitchen. Or, you could enjoy a drink to unwind at the gorgeous lobby bar. Don’t want to miss out on your exercise regimen? You’ll be delighted with the state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center.
Choose from a host of spacious and modern rooms, all of which come with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and great city views from the windows. Besides free Wi-Fi which’s rare in this part of the town, what you’ll love are the massive bathrooms with double vanity and bathtub. For a central accommodation that’s also affordable, this hotel is a great stay.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Phoenix:
- Drink And Appetizer Tour: Drink your way to fun on what is Arizona’s sole chef-led tour. This appetizer and drink tour includes stops handpicked by top-notch mixologists and chefs. Sample local wines and beers while munching on a specially put-together charcuterie board.
- Hot Daisy Pizza: Helmed by an esteemed local dessert queen, Hot Daisy is the wonderful world of craft pizza in a very east-meets-west kind of way. Think regional-inspired toppings such as pepperoni, cotija cheese and roasted corn, and eggplant-adorned pies. You’ll even find delicious sandwiches and all-time classic sides such as cheesy garlic sticks.
Recommended Activities in Phoenix:
- Phoenix Hot Air Balloon Half-Day Adventure: There’s nothing like seeing Phoenix and the surrounding valley from the air on a hot air balloon tour. Drifting peacefully through the sky at sunrise or sunset and watch the sun rays falling on the spectacular red rocks bring the entire valley to life. You can even assist our crew in inflating the balloon for a real “hands-on” experience and snap pictures and make memories of a lifetime. You not only get a flight pin and certificate after landing, as well as a champagne toast on landing!
- Grand Canyon Day Tour from Phoenix, Scottsdale & Tempe: The stunning natural wonder that is the Grand Canyon lies just three hours north of Phoenix, which you get to explore on this amazing tour. Take pictures of Arizona’s ancient landscapes along the iconic and historic Route 66, and enjoy the scenic drives through Coconino National Forest and the Sonoran Desert.
