City: Scottsdale, AZ

Category: Shopping

Telephone: (480) 941-2140

Address: 7014 E. Camelback Rd.

Insider Pick:

Description: Once a tidy open-air shopping center serving Scottsdale residents, Scottsdale Fashion Square has transformed in the past decade into a nationally renowned ritzy mall that, at 1.8 million square feet, is the largest mall in Arizona. The mall attracts people from all over the Valley, mainly because of its mix of high-powered department stores and classy boutiques.Scottsdale Fashion Square has Arizona’s first Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Other anchors include Macy’s, Barneys New York, and Dillard’s (the largest in the entire national chain). There are 225 stores in all, of which 40 are exclusive stores. In fall 1998 Scottsdale Fashion Square finished construction of an enclosed bridge—filled with 50 stores—that connects Nordstrom on the south side of Camelback Road to the main mall on the north side of Camelback.The ambience inside the 2-level mall makes for a true Scottsdale shopping experience. It mostly feels upscale, though there’s something for everyone’s price range. Palm trees tower nearly to the retractable glass ceiling. Fountains throughout the mall make Scottsdale seem more tropical than desert-like, including a 2-story “rain curtain” in the center of the food court, which wraps around an open stairway. The food court is one of the best in the Valley because of its wide selection—from burgers to international fare that includes French, Mexican, Chinese, and Japanese fast food. The numerous sit-down restaurants and cafes in the mall draw evening diners.Stores include the famous New York jeweler Tiffany & Co., 2 Crate & Barrel sites, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Guess, Puma, Jimmy Choo, and the Everything But Water swimsuit store.Also find the Tourneau store that offers 100 brands of watches in thousands of styles, Victoria’s Secret or Intimacy for lingerie, Lacoste, Godiva Chocolatier, Sephora, and Pottery Barn Kids. After a hard day of shopping, you can relax at the day spa at Nordstrom or Dillard’s or catch a flick at one of the mall’s 12 cinemas or a brew at the Yard House. Special services provided by the mall include lockers, stroller rental, valet parking, and a roving concierge. The mall is open daily.