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South Scottsdale, the real one

SoSco is where Scottsdale drops the resort act. Older blocks, cheaper rent, great sandwiches and red rocks on the Phoenix side of town.

Locals call it SoSco. It's the stretch of Scottsdale below Old Town, roughly the McDowell Road, Thomas Road and Hayden Road blocks, bordered by Tempe to the south, Phoenix and Papago Park to the west, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to the east. No valet stands. Lots of carports, strip malls with killer tenants, and people who actually live here year round.

For a stoner it's the most comfortable part of the city. Food is cheaper and better per dollar than up north, the red buttes of Papago are ten minutes away, and you're a short ride from Old Town when you want the noise. Come here to eat well and keep it low key.

SoSco's vibe and a little history

This is old Scottsdale. Before the golf communities pushed north, this was where the town's families lived, and the neighborhood still feels like it. Kids who went to Coronado and Chaparral high schools now bring their own kids to the same delis. DeFalco's, the Italian deli on Scottsdale Road, has been slicing prosciutto for these folks for more than 50 years.

The newer energy sits around SkySong, ASU's innovation center at Scottsdale and McDowell, and in the strip centers along Hayden and Roosevelt where chefs open places they couldn't afford in Old Town. The result is a part of town where the best meal of your weekend might come from a counter with ten seats.

Things to do in South Scottsdale

The stuff worth doing here is outdoors and close. Go early in the warm months. Seriously, early.

  • Papago side (Phoenix)

    Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock

    625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ (Hole-in-the-Rock trailhead)

    Red sandstone buttes right on the Phoenix side of the city line. The Hole-in-the-Rock trail is only 0.3 miles with about 200 feet of steps, and it drops you inside a big eroded chamber looking out over the lagoons and the downtown skyline. Some think the Hohokam used it to track the sun.

    If you want more, the Double Butte Loop on the west side is 2.3 miles and mostly flat. The Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden are right next door if you want to turn it into a full day.

    TipSunset is the move, but every other person in the Valley knows that too. Sunrise is quieter.

  • Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

    Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

    7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

    Spring training home of the Diamondbacks and the Rockies, and the first MLB park built on Native American land. It opened in 2011 and is owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters train here too.

    The lawn seats are the best deal in the place: lay out a blanket, catch some sun, watch a few innings. In season it's one of the best low effort afternoons in the Valley.

    TipGrab a ride. The parking lot empties all at once after the last out and nobody needs that.

  • Scottsdale Rd and McDowell Rd

    SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center

    The big shade sail at Scottsdale and McDowell is SkySong, ASU's innovation campus. It's mostly offices, but it marks the center of SoSco and the restaurants around it change often enough to be worth a lap.

Where to eat and drink in SoSco

This is the reason to come. Munchies here are cheaper, bigger and more honest than anywhere north of Camelback. For more around the city, see our munchies guide.

  • Scottsdale Rd near Thomas Rd

    DeFalco's Italian Deli & Grocery

    2334 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 133A, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

    Half deli, half Italian grocery, and a South Scottsdale institution that's been around for over five decades. It started in Phoenix at 44th Street and Thomas before landing here. The meatball sub is the order, and it is a lot of sandwich. The cheesesteak is the backup plan.

    They keep it old school: face to face at the counter, no third party delivery apps. The grocery side is great for stocking up on cured meats, cheese and pasta for a stay-in night.

    TipOrder the meatball sub, eat half, and save the rest for the 11pm version of you.

  • Roosevelt St, South Scottsdale

    Chula Seafood

    8015 E Roosevelt St, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

    The original Chula, a small seafood market and casual counter that brings in fresh fish and changes up its menu with what's good. It now has a few locations around the Valley, but this is where it started.

    The tuna melt is the cult item, with hatch chile, Oaxaca cheese and chimichurri. A poke bowl is the right call on a hot afternoon. Spicy yellowfin with shishitos if you want some heat.

    TipGet the tuna melt. You'll think about it later.

  • Hayden Rd, South Scottsdale

    Night Owl Pizza & Drinks

    1645 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

    Thin, New York style pizza by the slice, plus smashburgers, wings, garlic knots and loaded fries. The room is pure nostalgia, with old posters, a three-sided bar, TVs for the game and pinball machines.

    There's a big shaded patio with yard games out back. A slice, a beer and a round of pinball is about as perfect as a SoSco night gets.

    TipGet the garlic-parm fries for the table. Nobody regrets those.

Questions about South Scottsdale

What is SoSco in Scottsdale?

SoSco is the local nickname for South Scottsdale, roughly the neighborhoods south of Old Town around McDowell Road, Thomas Road and Hayden Road. It's older, more residential and less touristy than the rest of the city, and it's known for great casual food.

Can you smoke weed at Salt River Fields?

No. Smoking cannabis in public is a petty offense under Arizona law, and Salt River Fields sits on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land, which has its own laws. Keep it sealed, enjoy the game and handle your sesh back at a private place.

Is Papago Park in Scottsdale?

Papago Park sits just over the line on the Phoenix side, on the western edge of South Scottsdale. The Hole-in-the-Rock trailhead is on Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, a few minutes west of SoSco.

Is South Scottsdale walkable?

More than most of the city. The streets are flat and gridded, and buses run along McDowell and Scottsdale Road. The summer heat is the real limit, so walk mornings or after dark.

What should I eat in South Scottsdale?

The meatball sub at DeFalco's, the tuna melt at Chula Seafood and a slice at Night Owl are three easy wins. All three are casual counter or bar spots, perfect for munchies.

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