The Sonoran Desert is the uniting component across the Desert View landscape. This highly residential urban neighborhood ranges from nightlife, shopping, and entertainment near Desert Ridge Marketplace to horse properties and rural land stretching miles towards the Valley’s majestic mountains. With 18.79 square miles of parks and open space, 230 miles of bikeways and trails, upscale shopping and dining, and beautiful newly constructed homes Desert View Village is one of the most desirable places to live in Phoenix.
Location
Highly sought-after Desert View Village sits north of Paradise Valley Village, west of Scottsdale, and south of Carefree and Cave Creek. The Sonoran Preserve comprises almost 10,000 acres of the Desert View Village’s land. The remarkable desert preserve features over 30 miles of trail, most of which are undeveloped.
History
Although the Desert View neighborhood was established in the late 1970s, it was sparsely populated until the late 1990s. The largest residential boom came in 2001 with the constriction on Desert Ridge Marketplace. Subsequently, most Desert View homes are relatively new, and the popular neighborhood continues its trend in new home construction.
Lifestyle
Desert View Village is an ideal neighborhood to raise a family. With tons of outdoor activities like hiking and biking, this 68 square mile neighborhood allows residents to be located minutes from the city life while still living in a quiet, almost country-like setting. Many streets in Desert View are without streetlights allowing residents to see the stars at night, a sight rarely seen by most Phoenicians.
Active would best describe the residents in this northwest Valley neighborhood. Equestrian property, golf courses, and yoga studios are scattered throughout this large neighborhood. A visit to Desert Ridge Marketplace will reflect the diversity of Desert View with young professionals to active retirees.
What to do in Desert View
With the majority of this neighborhood being rural land, most of the shopping, family events, and nightlife happen at the social epicenter of the community, Desert Ridge Marketplace.
Desert Ridge Marketplace
Right off the 101 and Tatum Boulevard lies the heart and soul of Desert View Village. This neighborhood has gained statewide fame with the addition of the super-regional shopping mall. Built by Vestar Development Company in late 2001, Desert Ridge has grown to become the shopping and entertainment hub of Desert View and the surrounding neighborhoods. With an amazing variety of restaurants, bars, shopping, and entertainment Desert Ridge Marketplace is always a great time.
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
Just minutes from Desert Ridge Marketplace is The Musical Instrument Museum, or MIM, as it is more commonly referred to. Opened in 2010, the MIM is the largest musical museum in the world, with over 13,000 musical instruments from over 200 countries representing 6 continents. This is a fantastic place to spend the day with the family experiencing culture from all over the world, represented by folklore and music.
Reach 11 Sports Complex
Featuring 18 soccer fields and four baseball fields, Reach 11 Sports Complex hosts hundreds of soccer, field hockey, rugby, football, and baseball tournaments each year. In addition to tournaments, Reach 11 has become a favorite local running site with a variety of gravel, dirt, and paved trails.
Where to Eat and Drink in Desert View Village
The nightlife and dining options are almost exclusively found at Desert Ridge. With a recent $15 million renovation, Desert Ridge Marketplace is home to over 30 restaurants and bars.
Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila
Named one of the top 10 best Mexican restaurants by USA Today, Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila is a favorite among locals. Its casual, fun and upbeat atmosphere make it a great place to stop by at any time during the day for some unbeatable Mexican cuisine and top-shelf tequila.
Barrio Queen
Newly added Barrio Queen brings authentic Southern Mexican flare and food to north Phoenix. With eccentric drinks, over 350 kinds of tequila, and tasty desserts, like a churro with cajeta, this award-winning restaurant is a Phoenix favorite for family dinner or after-work happy hours.
Yard House
Featuring 130 taps of imported, craft, and specialty beers, the Yard House is another Desert Ridge hot spot to watch a game, enjoy happy hour, or impress a date. With many Vegans in this upscale neighborhood, the Yard House offers many delicious choices like Cauliflower with tahini sauce or their impressive Gardien choices such as Whiskey Black Pepper Wings, Orange Chicken, and Chicken & Avocado Sandwich.
Copper Blues Live
This high-spirited restaurant and venue is separated into two sides by a retractable, soundproof wall and shakes up the scene in Desert View Village. One side is a full-service restaurant and bar with a view of the stage. The other side is where stand-up comedians and local bands entertain crowds every night of the week. Copper Blues Live is the place to let your hair down and dance the night away.
Real Estate Snapshot
Desert View is the second most expensive neighborhood in Phoenix, following downtown. With many single-family and apartment new builds, easy access to every part of the Valley, an abundance of outdoor recreation, and scenic landscape Desert View is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods to call home.
Transportation
Arizona Loop 101 and 202, State Route 51, and Interstate 10 are all within minutes from Desert View. Downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale are all within 20 minutes of the neighborhood. With only a few Metro Valley bus stops and no light rail, this neighborhood is car-dependent.
Schools and Employment
Desert View belongs to the top-rated Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD). Schools in the PVUSD serve grades K-12 with 29 elementary schools, 1 K-8, seven middle schools, eight high schools, two alternative education schools, and an online school.
The largest employers in the Desert View area are The Mayo Clinic and American Express. With two main Arizona campuses, Mayo Clinic is the number one hospital in Arizona and the top 20 in the nation. The hospital employs 8,200 people, with at least half located at the Mayo campus of Desert View.
Phoenix has quickly grown to become the call center capital of the nation. American Express call center and corporate office located in the middle of Desert View employs thousands of Phoenicians.
Home to beautiful new build communities, a dynamic social center, incredible dining ad shopping choices, highly rated schools, and beautiful scenery, this neighborhood becomes an increasingly popular place to call home year after year, with more and more people looking for apartments for rent in Desert View.
