Exciting Changes Ahead with New Restaurants Coming Soon to Downtown Tempe

It’s official- Downtown Tempe’s food scene is becoming even more awesome – with new restaurants, bars, and culinary experiences coming to town soon! 🥂

The Tempe Tribune recently highlighted new concepts coming to Downtown Tempe and how collectively these new developments will continue to enhance Downtown Tempe’s food and drink scene. We love it when Downtown Tempe is featured, but also wanted to weigh in on our excitement for these new restaurants and how it will further shape the downtown experience.

Visitors and tourists already enjoy a walkable experience in Downtown Tempe - with food, drink and nightlife options that cater to most tastes, budgets, and interests. From popular breakfast and lunch spots to casual and upscale dinners, complemented by a lively and vibrant nightlife after the sun goes down. We are fortunate to have so many established, but also new places in town that appeal to the wide range of ages and interests of those who either live or work in and visit our district.

Downtown Tempe is currently home to 71 restaurants and bars, of which 58% are locally owned or operated. With all the below added in 2024 alone!

New Food/Restaurants/Bars in new to Downtown Tempe in 2024

Parlor Donuts

Devil’s Hideaway

Taco Chelo

Idle Hands Speakeasy

Darkstar Lobby Bar Lounge

Venezia's Pizzeria

BonChon Korean Fried Chicken -

Wake N Bakery 

Silo Burger

We are excited to add to the mix these new upscale dining options and a reimagined culinary landscape led by local restaurateurs Teddy Myers and Julian Wright, both Arizona State University alums (Forks up!). Myers, known for popular Phoenix spots like Wren & Wolf and Chico Malo, and Wright, a Tempe legend behind Mill Avenue’s Pedal Haus and Devil’s Hideaway, are infusing Mill Avenue with fresh concepts designed to reflect our district’s evolution.

Myers and Wright are both bringing new and unique high-end restaurants to Downtown Tempe in 2025. But Myers isn't stopping there! He will also be opening another concept that is planned for the northern edge of downtown- located at Hayden Ferry Lakeside. Myers’ new restaurants promise a blend of sophisticated cocktails and a “cocktail club” experience.

We recently sat down with Wright to discuss Carmen, which is anticipated to open in Spring 2025 on 6th and Mill. Check out this blog post to learn more

Downtown Tempe continues to be a place where people want to live, work, play, and invest in. Not only do we have a truly walkable urban district, but also a unique blend of rich cultural, iconic, and historical sites, and outdoor recreation, including a waterfront, "A" Mountain, and Arizona State University. What other downtown district can claim that? Not many. These elements combine to create a unique and vibrant atmosphere that makes Downtown Tempe a unique destination for all ages and interests.

The addition of these new restaurant concepts is another example of how Tempe continues to be a vibrant downtown that meets the appeal and interest of those who live, work and visit Tempe. A big thanks to the Tempe Tribune for spotlighting these exciting changes that will undoubtedly reshape the local dining experience. Be sure to check out their article for the full scoop!

Read the full Tempe Tribune Article Online.

This blog post was updated on 11/19/2024 to reflect new information.