Where to eat and drink in metro Phoenix this summer: Best restaurants and bars to try now

It's officially air-conditioning season! And while some people have already started complaining, on the dining team we're looking forward to having metro Phoenix a little bit more to ourselves. With most of the snowbirds gone and many families taking summer vacations, traffic is just a bit lighter, lines shorter and reservations can be a little easier to obtain.

That means when you're not cooling off in the pool or hiking at high altitudes, the summer is a great time to start checking restaurants and bars off your must-try list. Might we suggest working your way through our list of 100 essential Phoenix restaurants? Or take a step back in time with a visit to some historic, family-owned spots. And let's not forget about the cooling effects of raspados, ice cream and boba.

There are so many great things to eat and drink this summer, you might just forget about the heat. Here are a few suggestions to get you started on your tastiest summer ever.

It's not summer without ice cream

If you love sweets, you know the best way to beat the heat is ice cream. We even have a handy guide to the best ice cream shops in metro Phoenix, serving everything from the usual suspects to creative flavors like dill pickle and lavender honey.

But if there's one place you must try, it's Novel Ice Cream. Grab a dough melt, an ice cream stuffed doughnut and get creative by adding cereal to it for a crunch. Trust us.

And there's always the option of making your own. It's easier than you think and our recipe requires only three ingredients. No ice cream maker needed.

Yes, doughnuts are a summer thing

Since National Doughnut Day falls on June 7, we'd be remiss not to provide you a field guide to metro Phoenix's local doughnut shops, turning out cake and raised, mochi and jelly-filled.

We're becoming quite the doughnut town with the arrival of Portland-favorite Voodoo and Hollywood-famous Randy's Donuts. The original location of Randy's has been in several movies like "Iron Man 2" and "The Simpsons." As the newest arrival on the doughnut scene, we can attest that they offer some of the most affordable breakfast sweets around. Try a classic, fluffy glazed doughnut or a doughnut ice cream sandwich.

Lazy summer day brunch

Whether it's the cravings of a lazy day or a post-swim hunger pang, there are a ton of brunch spots to try in the Valley along with some newly opened options.

Beginner's Luck in Old Town Scottsdale has some big hits on its menu. Try Lucky 7 Cereal Bowl or My Rich Uncle’s French Toast, which is massive but light as a cloud.

Another great brunch to try is a Mexican pop-up brunch at Requinto, housed inside Linger Longer Lounge on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. There are weekly specials and everything we've tried has been pure comfort.

Or switch things up with a leisurely Middle Eastern-style morning meal at one of these four Valley restaurants. With tons of dishes to share, they're made for lingering over.

Summer is for early-in-the-day farmers market food crawls

It's hot, sure, but that isn't stopping vendors and farmers from keeping at least some of the metro Phoenix markets going. Some start at 7 a.m. in the hot months, and Uptown Farmers Market has indoor options. Get up early and you'll be rewarded with Baja-style tacos at Estero Beach and macarons at Aurora Bakeshop, pastries from the James Beard semifinalist, Chaconne Patisserie and bagels from Bagelfeld's, one of the best in the U.S., according to Bon Appetit.

Here's a list of all the markets that are open in the summer.

Cool down with a relaxed waterfront meal

You don’t need to have a pool or travel to an out-of-state ocean to enjoy a meal on the water this summer. From Peoria to Mesa, there are several waterfront restaurants in the Valley offering options ranging from romantic steak dinners to family-friendly fish fries, traditional Mexican to Kansas City barbecue. And staring out at the lakes, rivers or ponds is sure to make you feel cooler.

Hot dogs and baseball are the ultimate summer pairing

Summertime means patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day. And there’s nothing more American than eating a hot dog at a baseball game. At Chase Field, even gluten-free guests can join in on the fun with the gluten-free hot dog available at specified concession stands around the ballpark.

But if hot dogs aren’t your thing, no worries – the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks recently introduced a number of other new food items to concession stand menus, including truffle burgers, fried pickles and churro sundaes.

Outside the stadium, we've got a hot dog quest for those brave enough to undertake it. Over a dozen of the best dogs in metro Phoenix from stands to restaurants. It's a worthy summer challenge.

Try the best burger in metro Phoenix

Burgers are another popular summertime food. And if you’re going to eat a burger, you may as well have the best burger in metro Phoenix. But don’t just take our word for it – the winner was decided through the Burger Bracket, a March Madness style competition in which readers voted for their favorites over four rounds in four weeks. The competition was tight, but a longtime Tempe staple was ultimately crowned the winner.

Ice, Ice, Baby

There's nothing like an iced coffee on a hot summer day. San Diego-based Better Buzz coffee made its Phoenix debut on Seventh Street so you can cool down with their signature iced "Best Drink Ever" ($5.49), a classic Americano with creamy vanilla powder. On the west side, House of Honey in Peoria infuses their espresso with honey from the family's own hives for subtly sweet iced drinks like the cinnamon honey latte.

There's always boba at places like Mango Rabbit Boba, which serves over-the-top anime-themed drinks in Mesa, or freshly made tapioca pearls at Mochi Fresh in Tempe. Even Starbucks is getting in the bubble tea game this summer with a line of its own boba drinks.

Bring the tropics home

Considered Puerto Rico's national drink, the pi?a colada isn’t just a cocktail, it’s a vibe. It's also super easy to make and is sure to cool you down. Here's our favorite recipe.

Your Arizona summer bucket list 2024: from beaches to cool cabins to the very best hot dogs

Reach the food, dining and nightlife editor at [email protected].

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @banooshahr on X, formerly Twitter.

Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @EndiaFontanez on X, formerly Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best summer dining in Phoenix: Your 2024 guide to restaurants, bars