The fashionable urban W Scottsdale presents both a serene hideaway and a vibrant assortment of lounges and pool gatherings.
Situated in the core of Old Town Scottsdale’s Entertainment District, the resort lobby showcases distinctive art exhibits and sculptures, a spacious cocktail lounge and a grand staircase leading up to another bar overlooking the WET Pool Deck and cabanas. Visitors can opt to stay in one the resort’s 241 newly revamped rooms and suites spanning from 620 to 1,540 square feet.
Upon entering the elevator, guests are welcomed with flashing lights and music. The WOW suites are extravagant and spacious with floor to ceiling glass windows, a modern system to manage the window shades throughout the suite, hardwood floors, a colossal kitchen with a complete set of contemporary appliances and cookware, and a rolling bar cart.
The 44 suites offer views of Camelback Mountain or the resort’s WET pool deck and adjacent garden, private balconies, sizable walk-in closets, a floating signature Marriott W bed with soft cotton linens and a goose-down comforter, lavish rain showers, indulgent Momo shampoo and conditioners and expansive vanity areas. The two-bedroom suites also include a more modest entry bathroom as well as an additional second bedroom and bath. Additionally, there is a spacious dining table and adjacent open living room with ample space to unwind and savor the views.
Conceived by Stockdale Design, the WOW suites feature red, brown and blue accents in a mid-century modern style. The WOW suite where I stayed exhibited a colossal bunny head, martini glasses and up-to-date contemporary artwork in the kitchen and bedrooms.
The second floor of the resort encompasses the WET Pool Deck, a venue that is accessible 24 hours and hosts a DJ from noon to 6pm on weekends. The pool boasts underwater music and lights.
Guests can relish distinctive cocktails and music in the dynamic Living Room Lounge or Cottontail Café & Lounge or head to the refined Donabe, a Japanese Steakhouse residency from Alliance Hospitality Group. The cozy restaurant features large hanging modern light fixtures, wooden tables and accents, banquette seating and large windows overlooking the pool deck. Suspended overhead is an arched large skylight with a contemporary light sculpture, offering a view of large modern murals depicting women adorned with cacti sprouting out of their heads.
Appetizers comprise duck fried rice, Vietnamese pork ribs, shishito peppers, crispy rock shrimp with eel mayo, oysters, Toro tartare, a lobster roll, caviar and delectable Parkerhouse rolls. There is a diverse array of sushi options and unique rolls, including the Handlebar with A5 Wagyu, lobster tempura, asparagus and wasabi aioli caviar for $58, and the more affordable Hachi Maki with kaiware, cucumber avocado and kamahi Asian pear; the Dawa Want with spicy king salmon, cucumber, salmon serrano and jalapeno ponzu and the King Crab Roll with baked king crab, Fresno lemon aioli avocado and cilantro. Main courses consist of a filet with potato puree; Wagyu ribeye with glazed carrots and shiso chimichurri, Ora king salmon with baby bok choy and a highly regarded Wagyu cheeseburger with black truffle mayo and haystack fries. Enthusiasts of steak can select from their Wagyu hot stone, Japanese A5 Miyazaki New York Strip and Miyazaki Wagyu lettuce cups. Original cocktails include the Purple Rain with tequila, mezcal joven lime, hibiscus and pineapple; the Japanese blackberry smash with whisky, blackberry, St-Germain and pomegranate liqueur and the Saturn with Japanese gin, strawberry, falernum orgeat, lime and coconut passionfruit.
Donabe also offers an exceptional breakfast menu including a huevos rancheros burrito, eggs benedict with lobster, whitelily biscuits and smoked hamhock gravy and a coconut chia breakfast pudding.
The AWAY Spa, situated on the lobby level, encompasses a juice bar and a broad selection of facials, massages , body masks and mani pedi packages. Guests can also avail of hair styling and makeup services at the spa.
It’s convenient to spend the entire weekend at the resort, but if you desire to explore outside, the superb location makes it effortless to stroll to numerous Old Town restaurants and nightclubs, take a promenade along the waterfront area or embark on a shopping spree at the Fashion Square Mall.
Image Source: Booking.com
