"Why book? With its midcentury design, groovy rooftop cocktail lounge, and cute perks (popsicles upon check-in, record players in every room, and weekend DJs at the pool), the Rise Uptown is a nice—and affordable—option for those who want to stay near the heart Phoenix but skip the corporate chain high rises. Set the scene On its website, The Rise asks guests to “come vibe with us,” and to be sure, this hotel is all about the vibe. The property draws a youthful crowd who come for the vibrant scene at its Lylo Pool Club with DJs spinning on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, reservable palm-printed daybeds (available to locals as well), and a pretty Sonoran-inspired pool bar that pours whimsical drinks like rum-topped Dole Whip soft serve and a sorbet Bellini. The backstory The original Googie-style building that makes up a portion of the hotel today was finished in 1958 as an office complex with its penthouse space serving as the office for successful area developer Don Woods. (More on that in a moment.) Two years later, a second building, also part of the current property, was added to create 40 more offices. In 2018, developers began transforming the existing structures into a hotel, adding a pool area and main building where the current front desk-slash-popsicle stand sits today. (It opened as an ARRIVE in late 2020 and transitioned to Rise Uptown Hotel in the spring of 2021.) The rooms In tribute to the hotel’s midcentury history, rooms feature design elements like Danish modern-style furnishings, concrete floors, and globe lighting. Each room gets graphic pops of color with wallpapers in designs like cactus flowers and bright geometric patterns. There’s also an aforementioned record player in each room and guests are welcome to borrow from the hotel’s vinyl collection. Bathrooms feature gleaming green tiled showers and most rooms (other than the smallest “mini” rooms come with workspaces. If you’re looking for outdoor space, upgrade to a Balcony or Firepit room Food and drink Casual all-day poolside eatery with its colorful tiled bar and rattan seating—serves up trios of mix-and-match tacos, small plates like salmon ceviche, carne asada fries, and chips and guac. And the Don Woods’ Say When rooftop bar (named for the developer who used the spot as his office in the ‘60s) is all about the vintage, drawing a local crowd to its dark and clubby space for its classic cocktails, spritzes, and highballs plus retro dishes like marinated anchovies, shrimp cocktail, and a smoked salmon dip. For a morning caffeine fix, locally based chain Cartel Roasting Co. is also on the property. The neighborhood/area It’s clearly a location for cool kids, within walking distance of quirky retailers including vinyl stores, antique shops independent bookstores, and handmade home décor boutiques plus the heavy mix of restaurants, bars, breweries, and live music venues of Uptown Phoenix and 7th Avenue’s Melrose District. The service Staffed mainly by twenty-and-thirtysomething, most of the service here centers around the food and beverage offerings. Check-in is a casual process with the front desk “lobby” sharing space with Pop Stand, with a colorful counter of paletas. Accessibility There are five ADA rooms on the property, available upon request. Anything left to mention? Check the hotel’s calendar for special events, happy hours, industry nights, and Taco Tuesday deals." - Lizbeth Scordo
