At most hotels, you can get a meal without having to drive somewhere. Sometimes, you can enjoy a variety of dining experiences.
As one of the largest resorts in Arizona, spanning 350 acres and housing 950 guest rooms, the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa dining scene packs in enough to fill a downtown block or two. Guests are presented with a variety of options for meals on the property if they choose to remain in-resort.
The resort seriously elevated its dining experiences following an $80 million renovation that included the debuts of two restaurants by Top Chef alum Angelo Sosa, Tía Carmen and Kembara.
The eight food and beverage outlets range from pool bars to coffee shops to celebrity chef-curated destination restaurants. Here's
a look at all the dining options.
Kembara
Inspired by Sosa's travels across Asia, the menu at Kembara is described as "a fresh interpretation on beloved recipes that simultaneously honor the lineage and legacies of generational dishes." Menu items include sushi, dim sum, steaks and specialty dishes like sesame soy chicken and fish head curry.
Eater included Kembara on its unranked list of the best hotel restaurants in Phoenix.
Dress code: Smart casual.
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Fridays, 5-10 p.m. Saturday and 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday.
Details: 480-293-3936, kembaradesertridge.com.
Tía Carmen
Sosa's first of his two restaurants at the Desert Ridge resort was Tía Carmen, named in honor of his aunt who taught him "the power of food." Menu highlights include chicken guisado, a stewed chicken dish served with olives, Chimayo red chiles, garlic and turmeric rice; and lamb shank adobo, which includes a yucca puree and pickled onions.
Dress code: Smart casual.
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6:30 a.m.-noon and 5-9 p.m. Saturday; and 6:30 a.m.-noon Sunday.
Details: 480-293-3636, tiacarmendesertridge.com.
Twenty6
This restaurant and bourbon bar serves a menu that includes flatbreads, an artisan charcuterie board and a chips and dip trio. Twenty6 is also one of many hotel restaurants in metro Phoenix that serve prickly pear drinks, including margaritas and mules.
Dress code: Smart casual.
Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.- midnight Saturday and Sunday.
Meritage — An Urban Tavern
This restaurant near the resort's Wildfire Golf Club is described as an "urban tavern" with a menu including burgers and sandwiches, baby back ribs, shrimp and grits and poke bowls. The drink menu includes more than 15 craft beers from Arizona breweries.
Dress code: Smart casual.
Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday through Monday.
Details: 480-293-3939, jwdesertridge.247activities.com.
Revive Spa Bistro
This restaurant serves Mediterranean specialties like kebabs and falafel pitas and is designed to complement the experience of guests at the resort's Revive Spa.
Dress code: Casual.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
Details: 480-293-3700, jwdesertridge.247activities.com.
Copper Alley
An on-resort arcade that also serves food, Copper Alley's menu includes pizza, wings and loaded fries. There's also a selection of bottled and canned beer and wine.
Dress code: Casual.
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Just a Splash
The pool bar at the AquaRidge Waterpark features Southwestern specialties such as Sonoran hot dogs, elote taco salads and black bean crunch melts. The dessert menu includes five flavors of Mexican paletas and a variation on the Choco Taco ice cream treat.
Dress code: Casual.
Hours: Food menu available from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Beverage menu available from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Details: 480-293-3281, jwdesertridge.247activities.com.
Starbucks
Coffee shop chain serving coffee and light bites.
Dress code: Casual.
Hours: 5 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Details: 480-293-3724, starbucks.com.
How to make reservations at JW Marriott Desert Ridge restaurants
Restaurants are open to non-hotel guests. Restaurants will validate self-parking for non-guests (the rate at the resort is $12 per hour) and will validate valet for a discount. Free parking is available for day pass holders through ResortPass; a day pass starts at $45.
Browse menus on the hotel website. Make reservations for Sosa's restaurants or Meritage online or by phone.
Details: 5350 E. Marriott Drive, Phoenix. 480-293-5000, jwdesertridge.247activities.com.
Looking for the best things to do in Arizona? Sign up for our newsletter.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@usatodayco.com.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Poolside bites to celebrity chef restaurants at Marriott Desert Ridge
