Why book?
For a social-centric stay with a vibey restaurant and bar scene in downtown Scottsdale that still feels decisively adult, the REMI is it. Its lively rooftop pool, sexy Japanese steakhouse, and multiple upscale cocktail bars have collectively made the REMI one of the hottest spots in town in a matter of weeks.
Set the scene
I stayed over a weekend in August, just a few weeks after the REMI opened its doors, and, incidentally, the most sweltering time of the year you could possibly choose to visit the Phoenix area. Still, the pool was filled with happy hotel guests and a few groups who booked VIP cabana service (which is open to non-guests and requires a hefty minimum spend), but not so crowded that you couldn’t find a seat. The days I was there I mainly saw a mix of couples and friend groups usually about four-to-six strong ranging from their 30s to 50s. DJs play both day and night on Fridays and Saturdays and while the music was cranking and nearly everyone had cocktails in their hands, it never felt wild or raucous. I actually loved my time at the REMI as a solo traveler, probably because the social feel of the place and the fact everyone was there to have a good time, made it easy to chat with each other. The rooftop pool bar, dubbed Allegra, is the highest in town on the 12th floor and is an absolutely gorgeous spot to catch the sunset. Both evenings I was there, main restaurant Kauboi and its attached outdoor bar deck were completely packed all night long. (Though my friend who stayed at the REMI a few days later on a Tuesday and Wednesday said the venues were less crowded and Allegra remained closed at night.) It was clear the weekend I visited, however, that lots of locals are checking the place out. I met a trio of 30something girlfriends gushing over what a great addition to Scottsdale it is, a crew of 50something neighbors from North Scottsdale who stopped in for a post-dinner drink, a neurosurgeon having a cocktail on the roof before meeting pals down in the restaurant, and a bunch of guys on a birthday staycation trip. The REMI is not the place to choose for a quiet getaway with a good book or a family vacation with the kids. And thankfully, it’s not trying to be.
The backstory
Developers and nightlife gurus Shawn and Steven Yari are behind the project through their real estate investment firm Stockdale Capital Partners and Scottsdale-based hospitality management company Riot Hospitality, which runs dozens of restaurants and clubs including the nearby Farm & Craft eatery, adjacent Maya Day Club, and newly opened SHIV Supper Club as well as venues in Nashville and Denver. The Yaris also launched W Scottsdale in 2008. The REMI is now part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
The rooms
The newly built property’s sophisticated and modern design with western and desert elements sprinkled in is a big part of its identity, created by architecture-and-design firm The Rockwell Group (also responsible for New York’s Equinox Hotel, Catch Miami, and the Riviera Maya Edition hotel). Rooms lean into the look with rich leather headboards, powder-blue velvet sofas, sconces with mesh metal shades, and rainfall showers, plus cool touches like fashion-forward coffee table books, custom postcards, Remi-branded mini-bar items, and retro doorknob tassels in place of flimsy do-not-disturb signs. Most of the one-bedroom suites feature outdoor balconies and the massive dual-level penthouse loft suites come equipped with fireplaces, bars, and expansive outdoor decks that connect to the pool area for those who want to stay within arm’s distance of the action.
Food and drink
The food and beverage options are a big draw here, beginning with cocktails and small plate offerings in the dramatic triple-height lobby with its patinaed brass Lobby Bar, conical sculptural fire feature, and hanging cloud-like art installations. Go at 5pm when bartenders pour a Champagne tower and hand out complimentary glasses of bubbly. From there, a grand staircase takes you to Kauboi, the REMI’s cowboy culture-meets-Japanese-inspired signature restaurant with a menu of serious steaks; smoky yakitori skewer offerings of pork belly, head-on prawns, and (my favorite) Hokkaido scallops; plus robata vegetables, inventive sushi rolls (the Camelback Cactus is a fun one with salmon, grilled cactus, charred corn, and tajin) and decadent small plates of caviar, Wagyu tartare, and the must-order Hamachi crudo. The creative cocktail program is worth exploring with drinks like a miso mango boulevardier and a shishito sour. The design-centric space is a significant part of the allure here with its soaring ceilings, massive leather banquette seating, a large-form Western-themed projected art piece above the bar, and a dual-sided fireplace that separates the dining room from the more intimate (but still very full on a Saturday night) whiskey bar. Kauboi’s nearly 10,000-square-foot adjacent terrace – connected to the restaurant with glass garage-like doors that rolled up once it cooled down later in the night — was one my favorite spaces of the entire property with its giant square bar, potted trees, greenery-covered trellis, and plenty of lounge seating. For breakfast and lunch, the lobby level Americana-style diner F-16 does classics like omelets, biscuits and gravy, burgers, and fried chicken, and there are future plans to extend its hours to offer dinner and late-night grub. And finally, the rooftop’s Allegra has a compact menu of small plates, salads, and wraps for daytime poolside noshing and its own dedicated cocktail menu with Sonoran-style plays on classics like the margarita mixed with fresh watermelon juice and basil syrup. As both a glassware and ice snob, I’d be remiss if I didn’t commend them on the impressive array of acrylic, non-disposable cocktail glasses ranging from coupes to double old-fashioneds as well as their large clear ice cubes, kind of unprecedented for a pool bar.
The spa
While the REMI does not have a spa, the concierge can book you a treatment at the AWAY Spa at W Scottsdale, its sister property just across the street. To encourage REMI guests to take advantage, the spa has rolled out a couple of exclusive treatments, including a REMI signature massage, which includes a hot stone upgrade, and a REMI signature facial, which throws in a chilled undereye mask. In case you want a real-deal Scottsdale pool party experience, a treatment also gets you access to the W’s Vegas-esque Wet Deck Pool as well.
The neighborhood/area
You’re in the heart of Old Town’s Entertainment District, lined with bumping bars, clubs, and restaurants. But you’re also within walking distance of all of Old Town Scottsdale, including the Waterfront area (a retail and dining promenade along the canal), historic Old Town, and the high-end Fashion Square Mall, which is becoming a pretty notable dining destination. An outpost of LA’s sceney Elephante recently opened there and locations of both Catch and Din Tai Fung are slated to launch soon.
The service
The property clearly staffed up big time for its opening and seems to have either hired an extremely experienced team or dedicated a lot of time and effort to training … likely a mix of both. The attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine warmth of employees here, from the roving managers throughout to the bellhops in the lobby to the bikini-clad waitresses at the rooftop pool, rivals that of luxury properties.
Accessibility
The REMI offers 20 ADA rooms including the hospitality suite which is one of the top-tiered suites.
Anything left to mention?
While the guest room windows are meant to provide some soundproofing, the hotel is upfront with guests that they may hear noise coming from the nearby nightlife establishments. I slept just fine but if you’re concerned, request one of the king rooms or suites, most of which don’t directly face any late-night clubs.
4415 N Buckboard Trail, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
United States
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/phxda-the-remi-scottsdale-autograph-collection/overview/
(480) 770-4415