Axel's take on Old Town Scottsdale: #1 of 5 in Scottsdale, 7.4/10
The easiest first-visit base, provided you choose your block carefully. Old Town wins on character and things to do on foot, backed by good hotels, but value is middling and club-adjacent blocks compromise quiet.
Old Town gives you Scottsdale beyond the resort gates. Main Street and Marshall Way have galleries and Western Spirit, while Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Civic Center add contemporary culture nearby. Fifth Avenue, the Waterfront and Fashion Square broaden the shopping-and-dining circuit without making every outing a drive.
Stay here for a first visit, restaurant-hopping or evenings out without organizing another ride. The catch is that the Entertainment District and the Arts District deliver very different nights: choose away from the club blocks if sleep matters. Summer heat also limits how much that walkability is worth during the day.
- Best for: first-time visitors, travelers without a car, nightlife, museums and culture
- Skip it if: You want secluded resort grounds; You need guaranteed quiet beside nightlife
- Getting around: Walk the main districts; bus 72 follows Scottsdale Road and 50 follows Camelback, with free weekday trolleys nearby; use a taxi or rideshare from PHX, AZA or SCF—there is no direct airport rail.
- After dark: The Entertainment District stays busy late on weekends; Main Street and the Arts District offer calmer alternatives.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $224 a night · usually 7% under the public rate
Where to stay in Scottsdale: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Old Town Scottsdale
- Main Street and Marshall Way. Start here for gallery browsing and a calmer alternative to the club blocks; especially good for art-focused weekends. Hotels here: Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town.
- Scottsdale Civic Center. Museums, public art and pedestrian lawns suit culture-led visits, away from the main nightclub cluster. Hotels here: Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town, Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town.
- Camelback Road by Fashion Square. Favor this northern edge for shopping and canal-side dining; nearby Entertainment District blocks bring louder nights. Hotels here: Marriott Suites Scottsdale Old Town, Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort, Hotel Adeline, Scottsdale, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, W Scottsdale, Motel 6 Old town Scottsdale/Fashion Square.
How to choose
- Choose Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town if you want modern comfort, helpful staff and a rooftop after gallery-hopping; pool seating is limited.
- Choose HYATT house Scottsdale/Old Town if you need a full kitchen and separate living space; accept uneven upkeep and stairs to upper floors.
- Choose Motel 6 Old town Scottsdale/Fashion Square if you want the cheapest base here and will trade room space and breakfast for the location.
What paying more buys
Compared with Motel 6’s compact basics, Canopy buys modern room comfort, a rooftop bar and more attentive hospitality. Marriott Suites offers two-room space for less than Canopy, but dated furnishings. Neither upgrade is essential if you will spend most of your time out; W Scottsdale’s still-higher rate buys a party setting, not quieter sleep. Typical rates with Axel here run from $98 a night at Motel 6 Old town Scottsdale/Fashion Square to $490 at W Scottsdale (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Old Town Scottsdale, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town 8.9/10, contemporary upscale 4-star in Scottsdale’s Old Town. A strong Old Town base with comfortable rooms, helpful staff and a lively rooftop. Why it's here: modern Old Town comfort with helpful staff and a lively rooftop pool and bar. Accept: limited pool seating, some room noise and paid parking.
- Hilton Garden Inn Scottsdale Old Town 8.6/10, practical 3-star hotel in walkable Old Town Scottsdale. A strong Old Town base, with friendly service and extras to budget for. Why it's here: a straightforward walkable Old Town base with friendly staff, microwaves and refrigerators. Accept: street-facing traffic noise; parking and breakfast cost extra.
- Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town 8.3/10, practical 3-star chain hotel on Old Town’s southern edge. A dependable Old Town base, with standout staff and some room-update uncertainty. Why it's here: a cheaper-than-most southern Old Town base with standout staff and stadium access. Accept: room updates are uncertain; parking and breakfast cost extra.
- Marriott Suites Scottsdale Old Town 8.3/10, upper-midrange, all-suite Marriott in walkable Old Town. Generous suites and a great Old Town base, but the rooms need refreshing. Why it's here: generous two-room suites for families who want to explore Old Town on foot. Accept: dated furnishings, paid parking and destination-fee terms to check.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Resort 8.1/10, mid-range all-suite resort near Old Town Scottsdale. Generous suites and breakfast make a strong family base, but rooms show their age. Why it's here: family-sized two-room suites with made-to-order breakfast, two pools and an evening reception. Accept: dated furnishings, uneven maintenance and a mandatory resort charge.
- HYATT house Scottsdale/Old Town 7.9/10, 3-star, apartment-style all-suite hotel in Old Town Scottsdale. A practical Old Town base where suite space beats polish. Why it's here: apartment-style Old Town space with full kitchens, separate living areas and free parking. Accept: uneven upkeep and housekeeping; upper-floor suites have no elevator.
- Hotel Adeline, Scottsdale, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel 7.8/10, retro, motel-style boutique hotel near Old Town Scottsdale. Choose it for poolside fun, not four-star polish or guaranteed quiet. Why it's here: a cheaper-than-most social weekend choice for retro styling, DJ pool events and friendly staff. Accept: pool-party noise, stairs to upper rooms and destination-fee restrictions.
- W Scottsdale 7.8/10, upscale 4-star party hotel in Old Town Scottsdale. A strong Scottsdale party base, but a poor choice for peaceful nights. Why it's here: a nightlife-first choice with an adults-only pool deck and walkable bars. Accept: disruptive nightlife noise, small standard rooms and extra fees.
- Motel 6 Old town Scottsdale/Fashion Square 7.7/10, no-frills 2-star motel beside Scottsdale Fashion Square. A practical Scottsdale budget base, with a better location than its bare-bones rooms. Why it's here: the lowest-cost Old Town base for Fashion Square access and pet-friendly basics. Accept: compact rooms, noisy air-conditioning, paid parking and no breakfast.