The most anticipated new restaurants of 2024: 10 metro Phoenix spots we can't wait to try

If 2024 is anything like 2023, metro Phoenix can look forward to exploring hundreds of new restaurants, bars, specialty markets, coffee shops and bakeries, a few of which have been a long time coming.

A Food Network celebrity chef is opening her long-awaited first restaurant in Scottsdale. A James Beard Award-winning chef is bringing his Austin-based sushi restaurant to the Valley. Two popular Phoenix Mexican chefs are teaming up on a new restaurant in Arcadia. And the most talked-about new bar promises to transport drinkers to the "golden age of travel."

Here's a look at the most highly anticipated new restaurants and bars coming to metro Phoenix in 2024.

Ambrogio15

The team behind San Diego's "best pizza of 2020" is bringing a fine dining Milanese concept to Phoenix.

Offering a unique taste of Milan-style Italian cuisine, the origin story is reflected in everything from the name — Ambrogio was a fourth-century archbishop and is the patron saint of Milan — to the logo. The "A" represents Alemagna, a pastry shop that opened in 1933 and is one of the most famous in Milan, and the "M" is meant to mimic the city's iconic metro sign. In terms of food, the expanded menu was designed by Michelin-starred chef Silvio Salmoiraghi and will feature Milaneses pizzas, pastas, appetizers, steak, seafood, wine and cocktails.

"Phoenix is our biggest project so far," said Fabio Rauscher Bascon, the chief marketing officer. "It's fine dining featuring a full menu focused on modern Italian fusion gastronomy, along with a mixology cocktail program, an upscale yet fun ambience and, of course, our famous pizzas and natural wines."

Expected opening: Early 2024.

Details: 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. ambrogio15az.com.

Carry On

Pretty Decent Concepts, the team behind Wren & Wolf and Trophy Room, is opening another new bar in downtown Phoenix. Carry On cocktail bar is inspired by vintage luxury transportation during the "golden age of travel," between the 1950s and 1970s. During the 90-minute experience, 30 guests will board and depart as a group.

Guests will be greeted with a complimentary cocktail upon arrival. The menu will then offer five cocktails inspired by the point of departure and five inspired by the destination.

The menu will change annually and bar snacks will also be available to order.

Expected opening: Early 2024.

Details: 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 101, Phoenix. carryonphx.com.

Downtown Chandler food hall

Inspired by Avanti food hall in Denver and the Assembly Food Hall in Nashville, the .36-acre space on the southwest corner of Chicago and Oregon streets in Chandler will be transformed into a food hall with. During the day, guests can explore different dining options at six to 12 restaurants and at night, there will be live music and the main draw will be the large central bar.

Expected opening: By the end of 2024.

Élephante

A Santa Monica-based "experiential" Mediterranean restaurant known for its coastal Italian cuisine and eccentric cocktails will open in the south wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square. The 12,000-square-foot space will include indoor and outdoor seating along with a cocktail lounge.

Aside from its regular menu of fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza, the Scottsdale location will also feature seafood, steak and other meats.

Expected opening: Early 2024.

Details: 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 601. elephantela.com.

Flour and Thyme

The second restaurant by chef Ivan Jacobo will be the more affordable sister concept to his award-winning, multicourse downtown restaurant Anhelo. Located in Tempe, Flour and Thyme will feature casual, bistro-style tables and a decor livened up by plants and upbeat music. A two-sided fireplace will add to the patio's charm.

The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu that Jacobo described as “high-end tapas,” divided into land, sea and garden sections. The restaurant will offer 170 bottles of wine, described as boutique-style and approachable, all priced under $20 per glass.

Expected opening: January 2024

Details: 944 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. @flourandthymerestaurant on Instagram.

Il Masseto

Located at the northwest corner of 32nd Street and Camelback Road, is restaurant is Joey Maggiore's tribute to his late father, Tomaso Maggiore and his namesake restaurant. Il Masseto means Tomaso in Sicilian. The menu will include some of Tomaso's most popular dishes along with updated twists on classic recipes. There will also be a piano bar, private dining rooms and two large outdoor dining patios.

Expected opening: First quarter of 2024.

Details: 3178 E. Camelback Road.

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Luna by Giada

With views of Camelback Mountains, guests can dine at Giada De Laurentiis' first Arizona restaurant, which will be an "indoor-outdoor California-inspired Italian concept" with great views of Camelback Mountain from the Caesars Republic Scottsdale. The menu will include some of De Laurentiis' signature dishes like lemon spaghetti.

Expected opening: February 2024.

Details: 4747 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale.

Santo

Santo is a collaboration between James Beard semifinalist Roberto Centeno of Espiritu Mesa, who rose to prominence while working at Bacanora, and Armando Hernandez, the co-owner of Cocina Chiwas and Tacos Chiwas. The pair are opening the casual fine dining concept in the space formerly occupied by The Vintage in Arcadia.

The menu will be a hybrid between Cocina Chiwas and Espiritu, featuring steaks, ceviches and salads and, according to Centeno, in addition to a wood-fired grill, Santo will also feature a charcoal grill. The bar program will include Mexican spirits like Mexican whiskey and bourbon, cocktails, sake, and global wines with a focus on Mexican wines.

Expected opening: January 2024.

Details:  4418 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix. More details on @Espiritu Mesa on Instagram.

theà

theà is Sam Fox's new Mediterranean rooftop concept at the Global Ambassador on 44th Street and Camelback Road.

At the helm is Food Network star Eric Kim Haugen. Some of the Mediterranean dishes on the menu will include Moroccan roasted carrots, charred octopus, and Fox's favorite, Spaghetti alla Nerano, made with a "beautiful" zucchini pasta that he feel in love with on a trip to Italy.

Expected opening: Mid-January.

Details: 4360 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. globalambassadorhotel.com/restaurants/thea.

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Uchi

James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole and Hai Hospitality are bringing Austin-based Uchi to Old Town Scottsdale.

Uchi, Japanese for "home," was named after the very first location of the restaurant, a red refurbished house in Austin where Cole opened shop in 2003. Since then, the chef and restaurant have won numerous mentions and awards, including the 2011 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest. Outposts of Uchi have opened in Houston, Dallas, Denver and Miami.

Expect hot and cool tastings such as hot rock wagyu beef and hirame usuzukuri made with thinly sliced flounder, candied quinoa and olive oil. Other sections of the menu will include sushi and sashimi, yasaimono (vegetables), agemono (tempura) and desserts, like a Japanese cheesecake, made with plum sorbet, date marmalade and pumpkin seed granola. A 10-course chef’s tasting, six-course signature tasting, and nine-course vegetarian tasting will be available omakase-style. The drink menu will include signature cocktails, hot and cold sake, wine and beer.

Expected opening: Early 2024.

Details: 3821 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. uchirestaurants.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Most anticipated Phoenix restaurant and bar openings of 2024