Arcadia - Scottsdale, AZ Area Guide

Southwest Village and Camelvista were both originally settled by Hohokam Indians before the Pima and O’odham tribes arrived. During the 1880s, U.S. Army chaplain Winfield Scott fell in love with the land, so he bought it and changed the name to Scottsdale in 1894. Since then, these areas have become home to retirees and families as well as artists like Frank Lloyd Wright, who established a presence just north of this area at Taliesin West.

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art presents interesting exhibits that test the mind and challenge the senses. The Scottsdale Historical Museum also resides here, providing information about the area’s historical past. The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts puts on plays, musicals, dance and film programs throughout the year.

One of the area’s most popular annual events happens in nearby Scottsdale. Each September, the Brazilian Day Festival explodes with dancing, performances, music, food and fun.

Indian School Road, which forms the boundary between the neighborhoods, hosts an array of American, Hawaiian, Mexican, and Italian establishments along with burger joints, pizzerias, and more.

Citizen Public House provides visitors with great gastropub fare, such as chopped salads, crab cakes, mac and cheese and amaro meatloaf, in a trendy, chic atmosphere. Locals love the short ribs and scallops, but say not to miss the drinks, always served with a smile. The sangria earns high marks for its refreshing quality.

Hula’s Modern Tiki Scottsdale may be the most unexpected restaurant in this area, serving updated Hawaiian takes on American tiki bar classics of the 1950s and ‘60s. When the mood for brunch, lunch or dinner hits you, the friendly staff here makes you comfortable. Locals say not to miss the potstickers and crispy coconut shrimp rolls and to branch out a little to try an umbrella drink with your meal.

For Italian, Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen & Bar features a great patio where you can enjoy a glass of wine with friends or dine al fresco. Its fresh pasta has great flavor and texture according to locals who also say visitors here must try the wild mushroom ravioli. A welcoming environment and wait staff that goes above and beyond make this a special neighborhood gem.

In Southwest Village and Camelvista, nearly all your nightlife options focus around the bar scene. Mostly, it tends to get busy during the weekends unless baseball’s spring training teams hit town when the areas serves as party central most nights of the week.

Wasted Grain has lots of options contained within the same venue. A quiet place for a relaxing drink with pals downstairs, this establishment also features a dance club and live music venue upstairs, where popular local act Metal Head plays on Sundays. Though some say the service could be better, this place generally pleases locals.

Maya Day & Nightclub keeps the music pumping and booties shaking in a chic yet loud dance club atmosphere. Come here to listen to one of the rotating selection of DJs or see national acts like Big Sean and Lil Jon performing live. Just remember to bring a big wallet or a few credit cards since this place can get pricey.

El Hefe lies just on the other side of Scottsdale Road in the heart of Old Town. It caters to a largely Latin crowd, with music, a large patio to hang out and a few food items in an industrial meets cantina setting. Try one of the many margaritas, and let the day roll off your back here before heading out on the dance floor to bust your signature moves.

Residents use personal vehicles as their main mode of transportation in the Scottsdale and the Southwest Village-Camelvista neighborhoods. Most residents prefer to drive to do their errands because these neighborhoods feature spread-out designs. The city also lacks a comprehensive public transportation system. The closest freeway, the 101, sits to the east of this neighborhood. Parking can be found easily and cheaply.

Valley Metro operates several bus routes in this area, and the Scottsdale Trolley also has several stops here. Hailing a cab on the street won’t be easy here. You'll probably have more success calling a local cab company or arranging an Uber pickup.

Camelvista and Southwest Village are considered somewhat walkable, but most still prefer to drive to their destinations. Some bike paths exist here, making it safe for cautious bikers.

Southwest Village and Camelvista have a few parks for visitors to enjoy, including the Civic Center Mall on Drinkwater Blvd. Here there are 21.25 acres of open green space for visitors to use for hiking, biking, walking and other activities. Locals love the duck pond and rose garden as well as the relaxing fountains gurgling away. An open green lawn makes the perfect place to spread a blanket and dream the day away, or spend time with friends, kids and pets in this beautiful area.

A little further east, find Scottsdale Greenbelt, with man-made lakes, a golf course and plenty of paths for walking or riding bikes. Basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, fishing and boating comprise the major amenities in this park. Lots of play structures for the kids make it simple to keep them entertained during the many family parties that take place in the picnic area. Free to the public, these parks also provide free parking.

The Scottsdale Culinary Festival happens in April each year, raising money for the arts in Arizona through food and wine focused events. Just reading through the list of events may have you swooning if you identify as a foodie.

Southwest Village-Camelvista’s cost of living lies slightly below the Scottsdale average, yet higher than the national average. A typical one-bedroom apartment rents for an average of $787 per month. It costs around $4 to get from Indian School Road to Phoenix City Hall by bus. A beer at a local pub runs you around $5, and the price of gas dips around 10 percent lower than the national average.

Camelvista supports some high-end and luxury shopping, particularly in the stores of Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall. Here, you'll find Nordstrom and Macy's as well as plenty of smaller boutiques. While no central shopping district exists in the area, you'll find smaller stores south of Indian School Road in Southwest Village. Fans of mysteries swing by Poisoned Pen: A Mystery Book Store to find wall-to-wall mystery novels and over 200 author events each year. Super fans join one of the book clubs here, broken down by sub-genre to ensure compatibility between members.

Twice Designer Resale provides patrons with a treasure hunt experience. Hunt down the newest and best gently used designer clothing, bags and accessories for ridiculously low prices. A kind and subtle sales staff keeps locals coming back again and again.

Fans of classic vinyl frequent Record Room for all kinds of music from electronica and rock to reggae and bluegrass. Discover unique collectibles here as well as unusual T-shirts and gift items. On the small side, this shop proffers patrons quality over quantity.

Most of Southwest Village-Camelvista's grocery store options can be found along the southern and eastern edges of Southwest Village. Here, you'll find some of the larger chains like Albertsons and Safeway, but also a Fry's, part of a smaller regional chain. Smaller purveyors like Sprouts Market provide residents with healthy choices, and D's Market sells convenience items to residents between shopping trips.

The Old Town Farmers Market serves this area with fresh produce and baked goods sold on Saturdays as well as the famous fresh pasta lady, who sells a creative selection of flavors each week.