If you’ve read my blog, you know I’m a big fan of the Arizona Biltmore. I’ve been there half a dozen times for various events, like getting a sneak peek of the Tierra Luna Spa Solstice Retreat, previewing the exclusive Champagne & Caviar series, and celebrating the Cierto Tequila Oasis Launch. So, when Arizona Biltmore invited me for a staycation, I was so excited to get the opportunity to experience and share an in-depth review of this beautiful property as a whole.

This resort is well worth a staycation with its numerous restaurants, desert-chic spa, and seven pools. A few years ago, it underwent a $70 million renovation that infused a modern feel while maintaining the architectural details.

Room

We stayed in a Citrus Club King Poolside Room, which was simply luxurious! Since the resort is pet-friendly and we brought the boys, we appreciated the chic, spacious room. Our room also included a patio fire pit area, making running the boys out convenient and a lovely spot to relax in the mornings with an iced coffee. Behind our patio was the Ocatilla Pool, a private sanctuary with a more intimate lounging experience.

Citrus Club

As I mentioned, our room came with Citrus Club access, one of my favorite amenities of the Arizona Biltmore. The Citrus Club is an exclusive 21+ lounge offering personal concierge and priority reservation bookings for guests. However, my favorite part is the all-inclusive, curated buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner spread. We were thoroughly impressed with the changing daily selection!

Dining

The property offers a variety of dining options, including two restaurants, two bars, a café, poolside dining, and in-room dining. We didn’t have time to explore them all, but I’m highlighting the spots we went to below.

Renata’s Hearth

Renata’s Hearth is a sophisticated chic Latin restaurant perfect for date nights or a gathering with friends. Brett and I completely indulged ourselves and shared a little bit of everything. Here is what we ordered:

• Cocktails: Brett had the El Matador and said it was so good that he even snapped a photo of the menu to attempt recreating it at home one of these days. I’m not a big alcoholic drinker, so our thoughtful server recommended a sweeter drink for me. It’s not on the menu, and unfortunately, now I can’t remember the exact name, but I think it was something like a mango mule.

• Appetizers: We got the oysters (the sour orange mignonette was a flavorful Latin twist on a traditional French culinary delight that hit all the right notes!) and yellowtail ceviche (bright, refreshing, and perfect for seafood lovers).
• For The Table: Smoked Wagyu Brisket (melt-in-your-mouth tender) and Jalapeño Mashed Potato (our server reassured me I’d like them despite not liking jalapeños, and he was 100% correct).

• Dessert: Even though we didn’t finish our food, we opted to pack our leftovers and ended the evening sharing an order of Renata’s Churros, piloncillo-cinnamon dusted with margarita crema (the perfect amount of sweetness to round out dinner).

McArthur’s

McArthur’s is a casual, relaxed eatery that serves simple, delicious comfort food, from morning coffee to late-night desserts. All new menus came out earlier this month, and we previewed a few of those items. Here’s everything we tried:

• Drinks: We started with our obligatory vacation iced coffee, but the real star of the show was the Fountain of Youth juice (orange, pineapple, carrot, ginger, honey, lemon). I was apprehensive reading the ingredients, but it was surprisingly delicious!
• Breakfast: From the new breakfast menu, we tried the Biltmore Baby, a Dutch baby pancake with seasonal fruit, fresh berries, whipped mascarpone, fresh mint, and powdered sugar. It was one of our favorites and a must-order if you prefer sweet breakfasts.

• Dinner: Brett and I also sampled a few dinner items from the new menu: the Rosemary Heirloom Popcorn, Tuna Tartare, and Popcorn’d Shrimp (all great shareable). Brett devoured the Tuna Tartare, but the highlight for me was the Popcorn’d Shrimp.

Cup & Cone

Cup & Cone is an art deco-inspired café serving handcrafted coffee and espresso beverages with heated breakfast, baked goods, and more. We popped in one morning for iced coffee (can you tell we love our morning coffee?) but ran out of time to go back and grab some homemade gelato from the whimsical display of spinning gelato. It was a bummer, but this gives us the perfect excuse to visit again soon!

Tierra Luna Spa

After getting a sneak peek of the Tierra Luna Spa Solstice Retreat last year and learning Tierra Luna Spa is a Forbes 4-star Spa Award winner in 2023 and 2024, I was excited to share the experience with Brett this time knowing the treat he was in for.

We arrived early to check in and experience the Sol Garden and Tierra Luna Spa Relaxation Room. The spa includes a Sol Café, a hot tub, a cold plunge pool, indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces, and indoor and outdoor treatment rooms. Surprisingly, I convinced Brett to take a cold plunge, and he stayed in for about 30 seconds! It looked uncomfortable, but he said he felt terrific afterward and that it was worth doing again.

For our couple’s treatment, we chose a soaking experience in an ultra-private couple’s suite, which had a large soaking tub for two. It was so romantic, and I think booking one of the couple’s curations would make a thoughtful anniversary gift.

While Brett set off to check out the fitness center, I settled in for a 50-minute facial. I tend to opt for facials over massages because I always want to be working on my skin. The facial was incredibly relaxing and soothing (besides the extractions!), and I walked out with glowy soft skin.

Pools

This luxury resort has seven sparkling pools with something for everyone, from cool hideaways to crazy high slides. I wish we had one more day to just pool hop, but since we had limited time, we lounged at the Ocatilla Pool directly behind our room. Lined with open-air cabanas and chaises, the Ocatilla Pool is perfect to lay out with a good book. Four other intimate pools are also accessible throughout the grounds.

There are two other pools — the Saguaro Pool is a 21+ adults-only pool that is beautifully chic, while the Paradise Pool is family-friendly and has waterslides. Those appeared much busier, so I’d recommend snagging a spot early if that’s your vibe.

I hope this Arizona Biltmore review helps give you a glimpse of what this resort offers. If you’re looking for the ultimate Phoenix staycation, I highly recommend booking a stay at the Arizona Biltmore. It was a highlight of our summer, and I can’t wait until next time. xo

Otherwise, browse some of my other travel guides to inspire your next vacation:
Top 10 Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii
Los Angeles, California Travel Guide
Flagstaff, Arizona Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore
The Ultimate Havasupai Guide: Everything for a Successful Trip
A Local’s Travel Guide to St. Louis, Missouri
Why You Need to Add Clear Lake, Iowa, to Your Summer Bucket List
One Day in Bisbee, Arizona Itinerary
36 Hours in Boulder, Colorado: Ultimate Travel Guide
Golden, Colorado Travel Guide

Thank you to Arizona Biltmore for hosting me. As always, all opinions are my own.