The Best Spa Hotels to Book in Scottsdale, Arizona

Blending in with the desert landscape at the foot of Camelback Mountain on the edge of the Sonora, the Phoenician is all high-class luxury. There is a three-level pool, connected by water slides, as well as all kinds of entertainment, a golf course, a state-of-the-art spa offering signature massages and body wraps, a gym and rooftop pool. Accommodation runs the gamut from stylish and airy rooms and individually styled suites – the Phoenican is ideal for entertaining, with a large lounge and private balcony – to the larger casitas with marble bathrooms. All boast quality Italian bedding and good views. Dine out on American classics at the on-site steakhouse or opt for seasonally inspired dishes at the more refined Mowry & Cotton restaurant.

Beautifully decorated with elegant wooden furniture and detailed with bronze and marble pieces, the suites at the Scott come with either private patios or balconies, making for a perfect romantic getaway or a soothing solitary sanctuary. Neutral colors and lots of natural light ensure that stress is not an option here. The Canal Club specializes in Caribbean- and Mexican-inspired American classics, such as Oaxacan pizza, cubano sandwiches and fried plantains with eggs benedict for brunch. You can sip on a signature Sin & Santeria or Salt River Society cocktail, or an Arizona craft brew, while waiting for your dinner. For relaxation, dawdle at the two sprawling, irregularly shaped pools, surrounded by lush greenery.

A mammoth of resort luxury, the Scottsdale Plaza has acres of space – enough to fit in several gardens, five heated pools, some 400 rooms and suites, two tennis courts, a spa, a 24-hour gym and more. The carpeted suites – some multi-level – are simply decorated either in creams and sea-blues, or warm tones and whites, while the beds are plush and everything speaks of comfort. JD’s Restaurant serves classic American dishes, wood-fired pizzas and tacos, accompanied by live music from local bands on Friday and Saturday nights – while the spa offers signature desert stone massages and an assortment of facials.

Part of the Hyatt portfolio, the Andaz sits at the foot of Camelback Mountain, with nearly 200 lush bungalows and suites and two residential villas. One of these is the Albers House, named after the artist Josef Albers – it’s an absolute beauty featuring simple, modern, colorful decor and incredible views of the Sonora Desert. The weaving-inspired Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen specializes in dishes made from locally sourced ingredients, such as chipotle-glazed ribeye, while standout signature cocktails include Color Me Blue and the Smoking Banana Gun. There is also the Turquoise Pool Bar if you don’t wish to stray too far from the water for your libations.

A golfer’s paradise, the rolling green hills of the Westin will make you wonder if you’re really on the edge of a desert – the Kierland Golf Club has three golf courses for your putting pleasure. More non-desert delights can be found at the Adventure Water Park, where there is something resembling a river, a massive waterslide, a pool for grown-ups and several islands. The rooms are decked out in creams, grays and whites, keeping the decor simple and comfortable.

The W Scottsdale is the ultimate party hotel – come Thursday, the volume goes up and everyone dances until the desert cows come home. Branding itself as “the hotel that never sleeps,” the W and its Cottontail Lounge bar and the Living Room lounge bar host day and night parties – so if you want to be in the heart of the action, book yourself a room here. The rooms are all soothing creams and grays, with welcome splashes of contemporary art and supremely comfortable beds to soothe you when you’re all partied out, while the dark and sultry Sushi Roku serves signature omakase dinners to fuel you for the night ahead.

Harking back to the 1950s modernist aesthetics, this place once hosted the likes of Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Zsa Zsa Gabor, among others – all longing to get away from the paparazzi, who weren’t keen to follow them all the way into the desert. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the rooms with natural light, and there’s a modernist, midcentury aesthetic to the eye-popping, playful decor. Splurge on a suite for a private patio or balcony. Lounge by the oval pool, chow down on sliders and signature showstopper milkshakes at ZuZu, or rejuvenate yourself with a signature Icelandic Moonflower treatment at the on-site spa.

A large resort at the foot of the McDowell Mountains, this Hyatt is a family-friendly place with a water playground, golf lessons and live folk or acoustic urban music on weekends. There are nearly 500 rooms, suites and casitas here, all decorated in simple, neutral colors, many with balconies and terraces. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to lunch or dinner time – there’s Southwestern cuisine at SWB, contemporary Japanese dishes at Noh or high-end Italian at Alto ristorante e bar. Fancy a tipple? Cantina Due specializes in handcrafted cocktails comprising only natural and organic ingredients and artisan syrups.