Mesa may not be the first place that comes to your mind when you think of food, agritourism, and art, but you’ll be surprised to know that this desert city has a lot to offer. From delicious farm-to-table restaurants to vibrant street art, Mesa, a city of half a million people, is all that. And if you’re planning a road trip or a weekend getaway, then you shouldn’t miss these awesome things to do in Mesa, Arizona, that are sure to please.
1. Mesa’s Food Scene
Mesa is home to some of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Arizona. If you’re a foodie, then you shouldn’t miss Agritopia, a “homestead morphed into a thriving village centered around an urban farm”. This unique property offers a chef-driven restaurant, Joe’s Farm Grill, with a menu that changes with the seasons. All the ingredients are sourced from its own farm or local farms in the area.
Then there is a maker-studio (with 12 artisans), a farmers’ market, coffee shop, and more.
Another great restaurant to try is Jalapeño Bucks. This walk-up counter serve eatery specializes in burritos and bbq plates, all set on a beautiful 100+ year old citrus farm. Don’t miss the salsa flight, with hot gringo green, hot Mexican red, sweet green, and mango (winner, winner, chicken dinner!). For your main, I loved the green Chile ground pork quesadilla.
Lastly, a place you have to experience to understand the magnitude of is Cloth & Flame. This clever concept creates pop-up venues with Instagram-worthy culinary experiences in really unique places. I attended one for 100 people underneath the Gilbert Water Tower.
I did one of the dining experiences under the Gilbert Water Tower, along with about 100 people. It was a charming event, with special touches from start to finish, featuring a five-course meal prepared by local chefs and amazing cocktails and appetizers. I truly felt like royalty just being there.
After everyone was seated, the main courses were served family-style. The Chicken Spiedini main course was spectacular, and Cloth + Flame did a fine job of handling the crowd.
2. Mesa’s Beverage Scene
If you’re a coffee lover, then you’ll love The Nile Coffee Shop. Try their veggie bagels or avocado ciabatta. Superstition Coffee. This local coffee shop serves some of the best coffee in Mesa, and it’s a great place to relax and catch up with friends.
For wine lovers, there’s the Garage-East, a winery at the Barnone property that produces small-batch wines using locally sourced grapes. Choose from red, white, pink, or cocktail wines. Pair them with a meat & cheese board or warm, spicy olive mix.
On Sundays, you can score $5 glasses of breakfast wine (think white wine infused with citrus and bubbles) from 10 AM to 1 PM. Menu items include quiche, egg sandwiches, yogurt & granola, and breakfast banana bread.
And if you’re a beer lover, then you shouldn’t miss Oro Brewing Company, a small batch taproom, or Beer Research Institute, a playful brewpub, which both serve a variety of craft beers.
3. True Garden Urban Farm
Experience the future of sustainable farming at True Garden Urban Farm! This innovative farm-to-table source is a hub for organic vegetables and herbs, and a prime destination to deepen your knowledge of sustainable farming practices. You can tour the farm or attend a workshop to learn more.
Discover a revolutionary community at True Garden Urban Farm, home to the premier vertical aeroponic food source in the Southwest. The farm’s high-tech greenhouse supplies food to several local restaurants, schools, and universities.
Their cutting-edge vertical aeroponic farming method produces delicious, healthy vegetables all year round, regardless of the climate. This approach uses only a tenth of the water compared to typical outdoor gardening, and True Garden even offers tower farms that fit into any room. These farms grow up to 28 plants using LED grow lights!
Don’t forget to fully indulge in their bountiful array of fresh vegetables, as you learn about sustainable farming practices. You may even get to taste Stevia for the first time, like I did.
Experience the sustainable future of farming at True Garden Urban Farm – the perfect destination for anyone interested in urban gardening and sustainable food practices.
4. Mesa’s Steadfast Farms
Looking for an unforgettable sustainable farming experience? Steadfast Farm has you covered! This family-owned farm (and #1 best-selling master planned Arizona community) prides itself on using environmentally-friendly practices to produce a wide variety of seasonal vegetables.
Catch their produce at Mesa’s farmers’ markets or enjoy it firsthand at one of their delightful farm dinners. Plus, don’t miss the renowned Handlebar Diner, adjacent to Steadfast Farm at Eastmark Great Park, which evokes the charm of Pixar’s Cars movie. The menu includes Cobb salads, gourmet burgers, chicken tenders, and more.
But back to Steadfast Farm at Eastmark – this two-acre community organic garden boasts 100-foot rows of fresh fruits, flowers, and veggies, all of which are destined for local restaurants and farmers’ markets
If you haven’t guessed already, agritourism thrives in Mesa, Arizona. At Queen Creek Olive Mill, take a tour and learn about the award-winning olives grown on the property, nutritional value, how oil olive is made, and enjoy a tasting at the end.
Save time for shopping in the huge complex, complete with a coffee bar, toiletries shop, and full-service restaurant. I recommend the Chardonnay Herb Mascarpone & Green Apple Bruschetta and the Lucca Sandwich (herb-roasted turkey breast, brie, sliced green apple, red onion, and fig tapenade) to eat. The Prickly Pear lemonade is a refreshing treat, too.
5. Noteworthy Street Art and Sculptures
Experience the colorful vibrance of Mesa’s street art scene by taking a stroll through downtown. Adorning buildings are a plethora of picturesque and eye-catching murals and street art waiting to be discovered.
Need some guidance? The Mesa Murals Map is available for a memorable self-guided tour, featuring the city’s best murals.
For a unique twist, visit downtown where a permanent sculpture collection of 63 pieces are on display. This guide, which includes a short bio on each piece and artist, can be printed for your convenience. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see standout pieces such as “Hot Bread,” “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Desert Landscape Mural 4.” Mesa’s art scene is a destination you won’t want to miss!
A Fun and Educational Side Trip: MIM
Since you are so close to Phoenix, don’t miss an opportunity to check out the MIM: Musical Instrument Museum. This unique museum is dedicated to showcasing music and the wide variety of instruments that bring it to life. With over 15,000 instruments on display, the museum is home to two levels of exhibits that cover everything from local music history to international music traditions.
On the ground floor, you’ll find Cafe Allegro, the Mechanical Music Gallery, and daily live performances from “Apollonia,” a massive 25-foot-wide player orchestra. You can also explore the Artist Gallery, the Encore Gallery, the Museum Store, and the Music Theater.
But my favorite part of the museum is upstairs, where you can immerse yourself in the sounds and sights of music from around the world. Each room is dedicated to a different geographic region, including Africa, Oceania, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. And with headphones provided throughout the gallery, you can get up close to any exhibit and start listening to music that transports you to another place.
Whether you’re a music lover or just looking for an entertaining and educational way to spend your day, the MIM is well worth your time.
Marvelous Mesa
Mesa, Arizona, is a hidden gem that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a foodie, a coffee lover, a beer drinker, or an art lover, you’ll find plenty of things to do and see here. From farm-to-table restaurants to sustainable farms and vibrant street art, Mesa has it all.
I hope you will enjoy these five things you can’t miss in Mesa, Arizona, as much as I did.
Thanks to the Mesa CVB for hosting my travels. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased. To learn more about Mesa, “the city limitless,” visit their tourism board site.
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