Halloween Monster Mash at the Egyptian Motor Hotel : TRAVEL/FOOD

Not to be missed this Saturday, October 28th, is the Halloween Monster Mash at the 250-seat outdoor entertainment venue and cocktail garden at the Egyptian Motor Hotel in downtown Phoenix’s historic Grand Avenue, a cool and contemporary remix of what is one of the city’s oldest streets and once a thoroughfare dating back to the city’s founding in 1872. Back in the day, Grand Avenue connected Phoenix to Wickenburg and the mines in that area but now it’s now a hip strip of urban re-imagination.

And the Egyptian Motor Hotel is one of the stars here. Established over 70 years ago, it was recently written up in Sunset Magazine as “resurrected as one of the coolest boutique hotels that Arizona has to offer” and in its first brick-and-motor location, the motor lodge’s restaurant Chilte, long a favorite pop-up recently ranked on Bon Appetit’s “Best Restaurant Openings of 2023” list. To make it even more impressive it was the only Arizona restaurant to make the list and that one of the chef/owners, Lawrence Smith recently competed on “Chopped.”

Here’s what Bon Appetit’s writer, Serena Dai, said about the restaurant:

“The lively pastel interior at Chilte may match the renovation of its ’50s-era home, the Egyptian Motor Hotel, but the menu doesn’t offer the kind of reliably lovable (but sometimes a little boring) food typical of a hotel restaurant. Instead, owners Lawrence Smith (a former NFL player and Aseret Arroyo serve an impressive, constantly changing roster of ambitious Mexican dishes. Hefty tacos arrive cradling fillings like butternut-stuffed chile capped with a rustic red chimayó mole or a thick slab of tender beef tongue on a lacy, crisp layer of cheese. Even more impressive is the mole flight, a trio of sauces accompanied by charred lamb ribs. Yes, you’d be happy dipping the lamb in each sauce, but the true joy comes from trying each one with chewy, colorful, fresh-made corn tortillas. Best among the moles is perhaps the Amarillo, husky and smooth, finished with crunchy crickets imported from Oaxaca. The menu’s brevity means you could—and should—bring a few friends and order every dish.”

That’s just one more reason to don a costume and attend the Monster Mash.

The spooky extravaganza kicks off with live music from a rotation of SIX local bands, including Hookworm, Birds + Arrows, Survival Guide, and more.

Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged at the Monster Mash as there’s a costume contest with a chance to win an array of prizes. The Egyptian offers a huge lineup of artisanal cocktails, beers on tap and draft, wine, and delicious fare from Chilte To-Go, which just ranked on Bon Appetit’s “Best Restaurant Openings of 2023” list.

Read what Sunset magazine had to say:

“The Egyptian Motor Hotel has been in Phoenix’s vibrant Arts District for over 70 years, and has recently been resurrected as one of the coolest boutique hotels that Arizona has to offer. Now, the property has 49 retro modern rooms with bunk beds (aka “stacked”) and King bed offerings, as well as an Airstream guest room stocked with throwback amenities like Marshall Bluetooth speakers and retro refrigerators. Outside, you’ll find firepits, where you can strum the complimentary acoustic guitars that come in each guest room. There’s also a 250-seat entertainment venue (pro tip: You can actually watch performances from your balcony).”