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Marriott Phoenix Chandler Hotel Adds Luxury and Class to Chandler, Arizona

Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted)

We love finding hidden gems. Although this one is not so hidden because the Marriott Phoenix Chandler is not only the largest legacy brand full service Marriott in the state (128,000 square feet total), the 264-room property features the greatest amount of hotel conference space in the area at 28,000 feet. Located in the bustling Price Corridor, it is managed by Cincinnati-based Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group, LLC., an affiliate company of the Pyramid Hotel Group, which is one of the predominant hotel management companies in the United States.

With easy access to Loop 101 and Loop 202, we thought it would be a perfect place to invite a group of blogger babes to experience all Chandler, Arizona has to offer with this fabulous hotel being our home base. Our medley of mavens included local Arizona bloggers SheMovesPhx, JasmineVenturesAZ and AllthePrettys rotating as available throughout the long weekend right before Christmas.

My first glimpse of the brand new lobby at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. To the left, elevators and to the right, the front desk where smiling, helpful faces greet you. We were all blown away by the super sweet and professional staff!

Located off of the lobby to the right is a small gift shop where you can purchase snacks and things you forgot to pack. We were happy to see multiple filtered water dispensers located throughout the hotel as well as encouraging green practices. And bonus for your fur babies, Marriott Phoenix Chandler is a pet-friendly hotel!

Cafe MeSo, the fine dining establishment, has Mediterranean and Southwestern influences but also exemplifies the spirit of self and community… it’s a true place to connect, eat, drink and gather at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. Photo by David Apeji
We were quite impressed with the wine list at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. Photo by David Apeji
The M Club that blew us away at Marriott Chandler Phoenix is open 24 hours with snacks all the time. These exclusive club lounges are the perfect space to relax, socialize and satisfy your demanding stomach. Photo by David Apeji
As part of the Marriott Bonvoy perks, the M Club is only available at select Marriott locations. Every morning it had a buffet breakfast and every night, full fine dining style meals at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. Photo by David Apeji
Just one of the lounge areas inside the M Club at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. To the left of this was a cozy fireplace with television. Photo by David Apeji
Right outside the M Club is Proof ’19 wrap around cocktail bar featuring 30 varieties of tequila at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. Photo by David Apeji
Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight? In the middle, The Javelina – a specialty drink featuring the spicy & delicious Tanteo Habanero Tequila. This underrated bar serves happy hour daily from 4-7 p.m. and order snacks from Cafe Meso too. Photo by Debby Wolvos
What my room looked like at Marriott Phoenix Chandler. It was peaceful and quiet with a super comfy bed, I was sold! Guests can choose from a king, double queen or a suite.
I enjoyed sitting on the couch near the window and enjoying these sunset views at Marriott Phoenix Chandler. This is South Mountain, an iconic mountain preserve and the land behind the hotel is a preserve so it will always be protected.
My first date of the night Marisol from Alltheprettys and I had plans to shoot fashion with this tree but lighting-wise it wasn’t working as you can see. Oh, well!
This custom creation limoncello cocktail made all of our traffic troubles melt away at Proof 19 at Phoenix Marriott Chandler.
And while we waited for our third lady stuck in traffic for dinner, we devoured this delicious charcuterie board with a meat flower! I was in love with all of it.
And another outstanding stunner with strawberry puree base at Proof 19. We told the bartender to make whatever he wanted and he made us some still memorable flavors!
We went to dinner at MeSo when Jasmine arrived and I had to order this tomahawk steak that came out on its own cutting board it was so big at Phoenix Marriott Chandler! This was the highlight of dinner along with the impressive wine list from local to global options.

Spearheaded by Executive Chef, Juan Vasquez-Santos, Café MeSo serves a la carte breakfast and a breakfast buffet, as well as lunch and dinner. Café MeSo features a true taste of Arizona by working with local farmers and artisans to boot!

And for a brief moment in time, the gang was all at Phoenix Marriott Chandler at once getting our Starbucks on which you can order from the other side of the bar anytime! From back left, Cassie Hepler and Marisol Avila and front left, Jasmine Bojorquez and Merichelle Norwood.

Since we had worked with Visit Chandler on a press trip back in 2017, we reached out and looped them in on the plans to stay at the Marriott Phoenix Chandler. They arranged a whole day of fun for us downtown and to experience what it is like to stay and play for a day… starting with free yoga in the park!

Doing yoga in downtown Chandler was a great way to start the day and wake up my tired, stiff body with the gals!
We had heard tales of a tumbleweed tree that is resurrected each holiday season and had to see for ourselves! They spray paint them white and add glitter for a snowy effect.
After a quick shower and outfit change, we were back downtown to begin the Sipping Santas tour!

The Downtown Chandler Sipping Santas Pub Crawl takes over Downtown Chandler in December and features drink specials at 20 of the hottest destinations in the downtown area. People are all decked out in their craziest Christmas and holiday attire!

But first we had to fill our bellies with tacos at Las Palmas AZ. Pub crawl pros know you need a base in your belly! The drink on special here was the Cinnamon Roll with Fireball and cream soda.
Because Arizona, I had to get a goofy cactus photo in Chandler, AZ.
Does your city have balls as big as these?
Who wants a glass of Southern Comfort egg nog at West Alley BBQ?
At the top of the newly constructed parking deck, Shey from GoChandler showed us where to catch the best sunsets in Chandler, Arizona.
Looking pink and fluffy in Chandler, Arizona.

One of my favorite stops on the Sipping Santas tour was The Perch Brewery and Pub. It’s a one of a kind place with a collection of over 50 brightly colored, tropical rescue birds with 40 craft beers on tap!

I was literally having a conversation with this beautiful blue parrot saying hello and what not at Perch Pub Brewery.

We ventured along to a few other places too which you can check out on Explore’s Instagram page until we were all starving! Those tacos were long gone and we were getting hangry by this point.

So we hightailed it to The Living Room in Chandler, Arizona on our way back toward the hotel. I guess I wanted all the protein and carbs as I went with the thai chicken lettuce wraps and roast beef sandwich and demolished all of it!

Soon it was time for bed and I crashed hard! All that fun had me too pooped to party although we did try to have some cocktails at the bar, we were all fading fast.

There’s nothing like a good, greasy breakfast to get you back to semi normal at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. My bacon and chorizo omelette with fresh fruit and mass quantities of outstanding coffee brought me back to life at MeSo!
I hadn’t tried the pool yet and am a fish out of water so made sure to build in some swimming time into that heated beauty at Marriott Chandler Phoenix.

Overlooking the pool area with South Mountain views is a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring an expansive selection of Matrix dumbbells, kettle bells, medicine balls, cardio equipment and a multi-station strength-training machine. You can also work up a sweat on a Peloton Bike or with the Fitness on Demand virtual fitness experience. But it was too beautiful to stay inside!

They also have these lovely cabanas you can lounge in all day if you want at Marriott Chandler Phoenix. I was also creeping on those custom made Antelope Canyon pillows.
A quick 30 minute swim had me feeling like myself again at Marriott Phoenix Chandler even if people were bundled in sweaters on a 70 degree day!
All my blogger babes had checked out by this afternoon so we invited along a new media babe along for this portion of the day to SanTan Brewery & Distillery Tours!
Do we look like ZZ Top at SanTan Brewery & Distillery Tours? Media maven Kelly Sallaway of Rushbrook Media joins in on the last full day of fun!
Our lucky tour guide for the day Christopher Landry contemplating our vibes here at the start of the San Tan Tours.
The telltale logo and label during the San Tan Tours.
We were quite impressed with the distilling area and equipment during the San Tan Tours.
And equally impressed with the Saint Anne liquors during the San Tan Tours.
Mad scientist and brewer Seth Meyers enjoying his own creation during San Tan Tours.
After catching a slight beer buzz, we were back to the hotel to get ready. I named the middle saguaro Steve at this point so say hello to him when you visit Marriott Phoenix Chandler.
Attached to San Tan Spirits downtown, some sweet graffiti art.
Another view of the tumbleweed tree in downtown Chandler, Arizona.
Kelly Sallaway takes a ride in Santa’s sleigh on our way to dinner.
The not so Hidden House in Chandler, Arizona was our stop for dinner that night.
I loved the open space in the back, the place has a lot more space than it seems.
Patio perfect for those warm weather days at Hidden House AZ.

We loved the idea of having batch cocktails all ready to go at Hidden House AZ that rotate seasonally. I was feeling vodka while Kelly was feeling gin and voila the French 75 style cocktail and single serve slaps!
Starting out with the spicy squid was a nice twist on a classic dish at Hidden House.
This pork belly was pure heaven at Hidden House. We could have eaten like 5 plates!
Three dots and a dash was outstanding at Hidden House. With a rum base named after the norse code, it packed a potent punch too!
Crispy duck breast for dinner at Hidden House blew us away! So succulent and moist, it was devoured fast.
The to die for squash ravioli with prosciutto powder made it pop at Hidden House. In the background the carbolicious truffle mac and cheese with a side of asparagus.

For dessert, their take on the New Orleans gin fizz tasted like a frothy, light boozy milkshake at Hidden House.
The green tea creme brulee at Hidden House had no dairy which is always a nice spin.
Any my favorite, the flourless chocolate cake was so moist and creamy at Hidden House.
After dinner we went back to the hotel for a night cap at Proof 19 and I couldn’t resist the smoky mezcal old fashioned at Marriott Phoenix Chandler. It put me right to sleep!
The next morning I worked remotely from my room thanks to lightning fast internet with views of South Mountain and enjoyed room service for breakfast at Marriott Phoenix Chandler. It was hard to leave but we have a feeling we will be back for more fun!

Remember Marriott Phoenix Chandler is only 20 minutes from the Sky Harbor International airport so it’s not that far from downtown. And it is less than 10 minutes from Chandler Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport ideal for corporate and self-piloted business flights, sport/hobby aviation, and charter and sightseeing excursions. For shopping, a quick Uber away is the Chandler Fashion Center and Phoenix Premium Outlets as well as downtown Ocotillo and Wildhorse Pass Casino. For the golfers, it is close to 7 courses including Ocotillo Golf Club and the San Marcos Golf Course. Stay for yourself and find out what all the fuss is about! And don’t forget to rack up your Marriott Bonvoy points in the process.