This is self-explanatory. It’s not for just plain great food and/or service (although they’re all solid recommendations). Here’s my list of places I would recommend for more unusual reasons.

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Nino’s Greek Café: for their cherry coke from the fountain (it is the best ever, I swear) and their outdoor cat

Kings Beer & Liquor: for letting people bring food into the bar area and the best selection of smoothie beers

Rips: for hosting the only karaoke night where people sing alternative music

Formation Brewing: for having the booziest frozen drink in Phoenix, despite being a brewery

Hidden Track Wine bar: for staff who can guess what wine anyone wants and extremely comfy seats

The Arizona Center AMC 24: for letting you bring whatever food you want into the theater as long as you’re not outrageously blatant

Lovebite Dumplings: for their community support program and the instagrammability of pink rice

Starving Artist: for having the most diverse menu of anywhere that reliably plays Suns basketball

Organ Stop Pizza: yes, they have a live organ player all the time. But what specifically gets me is the way they turn on a bubble machine when they play the chorus to “Let It Go” from Frozen.

ReWined: for having an incredible selection of tabletop games and space to wait at the bar for those on the waiting list for Glai Baan next door. I love trying a drink I’ve never had before while practicing for Jeopardy! and waiting for Thai food.

Coabana: for increasing the number of empanadas served in one order of empanadas

MacAlpine’s Soda Fountain: for unabashedly prioritizing vibes. The food is fine but the space itself is unmatched.