Monterey Court might just be the best thing happening on Miracle Mile. Originally opened in 1938 as Monterey Motel, the space was procured in 2011. The old motel was transformed into a vibrant destination consisting of a cafe, bar, music venue, and artisan shopping with all the desert feels.
Today, Monterey Court has a courtyard that can fit up to about 225 people with an additional 50 seats over at the bar. Surrounding the courtyard are former motel rooms that are now units occupied by local businesses like a hair salon, tattoo shop, etc.
Let’s talk about the live music, though! Throughout the week, the two-way stage hosts bands from all over — local, national, and international. As an added bonus, the folks behind Monterey Court keep their online calendar up to date so you can plan your visit.
And if you’re hungry or thirsty for a cocktail, they’ve got you covered, too.
Monterey Court Cafe offers a menu that accommodates all palates to keep the whole court satisfied. Some of the edible highlights include The Old Monterey (a salad) — Kalamata and green olives, capers, feta, tomato, roasted pepper, and onion over mixed greens with a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette — and the Monterey Burger, which is 100% lean Angus beef with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Cocktails, AKA Dancing Juice, are $3 off during their daily Happy Hour from 3 – 6 p.m. One of our favorites is the Loch Ness, a concoction made of scotch, orange liqueur, sweet vermouth, housemade sweet and sour, and a Bordeaux cherry.
Monterey Court is located at 505 W. Miracle Mile. For more information and hours of operation, visit montereycourtaz.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
