The Mission

The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale is one of the most visually arresting restaurant spaces in Arizona, modelled on the whitewashed adobe architecture of Colonial Mexican churches. The interior soars with rough-hewn timber beams, candle-lit alcoves, and ironwork fixtures that evoke a Oaxacan monastery. But it is the food that justifies the dining room's drama: the kitchen turns out bold, wood-fired modern Latin cuisine with an emphasis on chile-forward sauces, house-made masa preparations, and inventive interpretations of Mexico's regional cooking traditions. The handmade tortillas pressed to order and the tableside guacamole ground in a molcajete are ritual openers. Mains lean toward complex braises, wood-grilled proteins, and tamales enriched with short rib or pork shoulder. The cocktail programme is equally ambitious, with an extensive list of mezcal, tequila, and Mexican-inspired mixed drinks that draws a lively after-work and weekend crowd. Brunch on Sundays adds chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and churros to the mix, alongside bottomless cocktail options. Reservations are accepted and recommended for dinner; the bar seats walk-ins most nights. The restaurant sits in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale's dining corridor, within walking distance of numerous hotels and galleries.