3 Things To Do Near Phoenix Airport When You Have a Layover

There’s a special kind of chaos that happens during layovers. You’ve already said goodbye to one city, but you’re not fully in the next one yet. You’re in that in-between space where time feels weird, your neck pillow is suddenly your best friend, and all you want is to feel like a real human again before boarding your next flight.

If your layover is at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, you’re in luck. There’s sunshine, good coffee, and a chance to reset just minutes away. And honestly, why sit under fluorescent lights scrolling in a crowded terminal when you can slip into something a little more… relaxing?

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to enjoy time when you have a layover at Phoenix Airport.

1. Walk Old Town for sunshine + coffee

Old Town Scottsdale is the kind of place that immediately gives vacation energy without trying too hard. You get to enjoy palm trees, warm light bouncing off adobe walls, and people who look surprisingly unbothered by life.

Grab an iced latte from Berdena’s, wander the pretty streets, and give your nervous system a moment to remember that travel doesn’t always equal chaos. Even twenty minutes of real sky and real air can do wonders. Plus, sunshine is basically Arizona’s unofficial welcome gift.

2. Treat yourself to a robot massage at W Scottsdale’s spa

At W Scottsdale, you can slip into the spa and try the Aescape massage experience; a fully self-guided session powered by robotics.

It’s quiet, private, and designed around you. Why? Because you get to choose where to focus, adjust your pressure preferences, and let the system respond to your body in real time. It’s the kind of calm that helps your body reset after airports, recycled cabin air, and that moment someone reclined fully into your lap mid-flight.

And if you’re someone who likes space to decompress, this feels like a breath of fresh air. A little pocket of peace before you re-enter travel mode.

3. Grab dinner at The Montauk before flying out

Every layover deserves at least one meal that isn’t from a terminal kiosk. The Montauk is breezy, lively without being overwhelming, and close enough to the airport that you won’t need to stress-run back through security. Order something fresh (fish tacos, maybe) and enjoy a meal that feels like the trip actually started, even if you technically haven’t arrived anywhere yet.