Food Scene
Celebrate the season with Tempe’s holiday treats and drinks
Sip and savor Tempe’s holiday treats and drinks!
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way,
Oh, what fun it is to explore Tempe’s holiday treats today! Yay!
Now that we’re in full holiday swing, we encourage you to check out our list of holiday items at Tempe’s restaurants, bakeries and bars. All around town, you’ll find eggnog (in ice cream or yogurt or a traditional cocktail), craft beers with a special holiday flair, tamales by the dozen and lots of sweet treats.
Cool Treats
Bahama Buck’s
1006 E. Warner Rd., Ste. 101, Tempe, AZ 85284 | (480) 777-9482
The best way to spread cheer is through Bahama Buck’s iced cold treats this time of year! Bahama Buck’s features several shaved ice holiday flavors that are super cute and Instagrammable. Flavors include Santa Sno, Christmas Tree Sno and Candy Cane Sno. Flavors will be available until the end of the year!
Mango Rabbit
1250 E. Apache Blvd., Ste. 112, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 912-6283
This shop really knows how to make the most of sweet treats during the holidays and this year there is no exception! Visit Mango Rabbit’s Instagram page for holiday-themed drinks all December long. For starters, get festive on December 10th and 11th with the ultimate Grinch cookie drink, which includes sugar cookies from Cookie Brokers!
Sweet Republic
410 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 292-8557
In the desert, we don’t have snow for the holidays but what we do have is even better. Temperatures that are warm enough to enjoy ice cream! Sweet Republic has seasonal flavors that are the perfect match for the holidays, such as eggnog, gingerbread, candy cane, apple pie and salted caramel swirl ice cream.
Tamales
Barrio Queen
31 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 912-4052
Just in time for the holidays, Barrio Queen, a popular local Mexican restaurant, just announced their Barrio Queen Tamales are back! Served fresh or frozen, tamale options include chicken, pork or veggie tamales accompanied by your choice of tomatillo salsa, red enchilada sauce or Queen sauce. All packages will come with instructions for cooking at home. At Barrio Queen, the tamales are available by the ½ dozen or full dozen.
*Note, 24-hour advance notice is required for all orders. Orders can be placed in-store or through Barrio Queen’s online order form.
Someburros
101 E. Baseline Rd., Tempe, AZ 85283 | 480-839-TACO (8226)
This holiday season, order a single serving or a dozen (or a few dozen) of Someburros’ authentic tamales for your holiday gathering. For catering orders, choose from 15 beef tamales with red sauce or 15 green corn tamales with green sauce and cheese. These delicious tamale platters are crafted with housemade corn masa and can also be ordered ahead of time through the rewards app or website.
Holiday Libations
Pedal Haus Brewery
730 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 314-2337
Pedal Haus Brewery is making beer more festive this holiday season with its limited batch of Peppermint Porter. The holiday beer is a smooth porter made with real mint and chocolate giving it subtle hints of peppermint and toasted chocolate notes. Also, indulge in their new holiday cocktail, the Candy Cane Margarita. One sip from this concoction will get you in the holiday spirit in no time!
Gertrude’s
1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ 85008 | (480) 719-8600
Head over to Gertrude’s at Desert Botanical Garden for a festive cocktail you will not want to miss. Created by Beth McDonald from the hit holiday radio show 99.9 KEZ, the “Jingle Beth” cocktail is a vodka drink comprised of tart cranberry and sweet elderflower with a splash of fresh lime entreat.
Culinary Dropout Tempe
149 S. Farmer Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 240-1601
Countdown to the New Year with an exuberant celebration at Tempe’s most festive New Year’s Eve Party, hosted at local holiday pop-up, Bar Blitzen, located at The Coop within Culinary Dropout Tempe.
The limited-time bar experience features very merry cocktails, over-the-top décor and endless opportunities to get “sleighed” with holiday fun, making it the ideal destination for New Year’s Eve. Guests dressed to impress will enjoy heavy appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, live music and complimentary champagne at midnight to applaud the past and usher in a magical new year at the coolest place to be in town.
Bar Blitzen New Year’s Eve Party
- Dec. 31 | 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- $50 per person ($60 per person at the door)
- Presale tickets available here: https://barblitzennye.rsvpify.com/
- Heavy appetizers and hors d’oeuvres available from 8 – 11 p.m., with a complimentary glass of champagne also offered at midnight
- Live music provided by DJ Ash and Joey Gutos
- 21+ event
Sweet Treats
Daily Jam
310 S. Mill Ave., Ste. A101, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 968-9288
Daily Jam’s famous Red Velvet Waffles look festive this time of year, but now’s your chance to step it up a notch and celebrate the holidays with their delicious Gingerbread Waffles through December 31st. They have all the spices you know and love, topped with icing and candy cane sprinkles. Decadent? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!
Great Harvest Bread Co.
730 E. Warner Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284 | (480) 777-1141
The baking experts at Great Harvest in Tempe are preparing lots of special treats this month. Explore their December menu, where you’ll find holiday classics like Cinnamon Babka, Cranberry Orange and White Chocolate Cherry Swirl! Also, keep an eye out for new favorite goodies like Sonoma Bread, Berry Christmas Swirl and new flavors of scones.
Wildflower Bread Company
6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 | (480) 838-9773
Countdown to Christmas with Wildflower’s Sour Cream Pecan Coffee Cake! Surprise your friends and family with this sweet and delicious treat. Also, check out their bakery case for additional treats and eats like cupcakes, cookies, muffins and other pastries. They also sell loaves of bread, rolls and bagels.
Additional Sweet Treats:
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookie at Chunk Cookie – 1415 E. University Dr., Ste. A-104, Tempe, AZ 85281
- Gingerbread Cake Cookie from Crumbl Cookies – 430 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. A112, Tempe, AZ 85281
Tracy Dempsey Originals
1325 W. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (602) 376-9021
Ring in the New Year with Tracy Dempsey goodies! Deadline to order is Monday, December 26th. Pick up on Saturday, December 31st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NYE Bubbles & Celebratory Cupcakes
6 cupcakes (2 each chocolate, vanilla, lemon) + 1 bottle Champagne L’huillier.
New Year’s Day Biscuits, Bubbles and More
4 All-butter biscuits (baked and ready to rewarm), 4 donut muffins, local honey+ 1 bottle Langlois Crémant de Bourgogne.
Holiday Events
Alter Ego-Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown
108 E. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (602) 612-7887
Celebrate all season long at Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown and experience all the holiday events and festivities!
December 19 | December Chefs Dinner
Join Alter Ego for the ultimate holiday feast! The December Chefs Dinner will feature five courses and five cocktails inspired by your favorite holiday movies! Start time is promptly 6 p.m.
December 24 and 25 | Christmas Dinner
Alter Ego will feature a three course Christmas Dinner on December 24 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and December 25 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. No reservations necessary.
December 31 | Steampunk NYE Rooftop Party
Join Alter Ego from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the biggest New Year’s Eve bash of the year.
- General Admission includes entry, cocktails, a New Year’s toast and appetizers.
- VIP Cabana Admission includes entry for up to 10, 2 bottles of champagne, 10 welcome drinks, appetizers, a midnight toast and a private cabana.
Visit the event website to reserve your tickets.
Drink Me! Tea Room
1730 E. Warner Rd., Ste. 5, Tempe, AZ 85284 | (602) 206-5469
Bask in all the flavors of the holiday season with Drink Me! Tea Room. With each reservation, you will indulge in a three-tiered selection of sweet and savory items. Everything is handcrafted by gluten-free and plant-based focused chefs. Holiday blends of hot or iced tea will be available to choose from. You can also make it a Tipsy Tea Party by adding on some of holiday special-tea cocktails and mocktails!
Through December 4 | Christmas Nightmare Tea Party!
“What’s this? What’s this? There’s Color Everywhere! What’s This? There’s White Things in The Air! What’s This?” Drink Me! Tea Room is excited to present the Christmas Nightmare Tea Party inspired by this beloved Halloween & Christmas mash-up! The Pumpkin King knows this is the perfect way to enjoy the best of both holiday worlds.
December 7 – December 30 | Winter Wonderland 2022
When it’s hot in Arizona, we all wish we were “Walking in a Winter Wonderland!” Join Drink! Me for their favorite Holiday tea service! It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the season with your family and friends.
The Westin Tempe
11 E. 7th St., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 968-8885
Terra Tempe at The Westin
This holiday season, leave kitchen duty to Executive Chef Mario Ventura and his team at Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits as they deliver a specially curated Christmas Day feast on the ground floor of The Westin Tempe. Terra Tempe’s limited-time menu will be available for dine-in guests. The full holiday menu can be found here.
Details:
- Sunday, December 25
- 1– 8 p.m.
- To book a reservation, call 480-968-8885.
Holiday Events at Skyskill Rooftop Lounge
December 17 | Happy Holidays at Skysill
Join Skysill Rooftop to celebrate the holidays with holiday movies and drinks from 1 to 10 p.m. This is a free event!
Details:
- Holiday movies will be playing from 1-7 p.m. and a live DJ from 7-10 p.m.
- Hot Toddies
- Spiked Hot Chocolate
- Spike Coffee
*Non-alcoholic versions will be available.
December 16 and December 30 | Terra’s Tequila Tasting – Tequila Corrido
Join The Westin Tempe for “Terra’s Tequila Tasting Class,” a specially curated tasting series happening the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 6-7 p.m. featuring the industry’s leading tequila experts.
Details:
- Tequila Corrido will be on-site to lead participants through a delicious and educational experience.
- Each participant will receive a welcome cocktail upon arrival and small bites will accompany each tequila pour.
*Must be 21+ to participate.
December 30 | Paint & Sip at Cup of Joe
11 E. 7th St., Tempe, AZ 85281*
Enjoy a night out of painting at Cup of Joe Market & Cafe located inside the Westin Tempe from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Holiday Drinks
Press Coffee
601 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. #103, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 794-1107
1221 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 566-5380
Enjoy Festivus with the rest of us! Press Coffee presents a Festivus blend to remind us sometimes a simple cup of coffee can enrich the day. Delivering notes of dark chocolate, mixed berries and hazelnut. Available for order online or at any Tempe PRESS locations today!
Jasmine Jo & Rowan Tree
107 E. Baseline Rd., Suite A4, Tempe, AZ 85283 | (480) 686-8965
This might be one of the cutest coffee shops to ever exist. Not only is it a coffee shop but it’s also a flower shop! It’s a combo we never knew we needed, and it is the perfect spot to visit during the holiday season! Explore their new festive menu items before they are gone.
Holiday Menu:
Teas
- Gingerbread Chai Tea Latte
- Simmer Pot Tea
- Cranberry Herbal Tea
Espresso
- Oat Nog Cortado
- Gingerbread Latte
- Cookie Butter Latte
- Cookie Butter Shakes Espresso
- Cranberry White Mocha
- Peppermint Bark Latte
