Westgate Entertainment District: The Complete Glendale AZ Guide

Westgate Entertainment District is the entertainment and dining hub of the Phoenix West Valley, built around the footprint of State Farm Stadium in Glendale. It is the kind of place that functions well on two separate levels: as a high-density pre- and post-event destination for the 63,000 people exiting a Cardinals game or a Taylor Swift show, and as a standalone evening-out destination on nights when there is nothing at the stadium at all. Most people who live in the Valley have been to Westgate for an event. Far fewer have explored it deliberately as a destination. This guide covers both angles.

What is Westgate Entertainment District?

Westgate is an outdoor mixed-use entertainment plaza at 6751 N Sunset Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85305, adjacent to State Farm Stadium and Gila River Arena (home of the Arizona Coyotes, now Mullett Arena for hockey). The complex spans several city blocks and is legitimately walkable in a metro that rarely offers that. A central plaza with fountains, live music stages, and outdoor seating connects restaurants and bars along both sides of Sunset Boulevard, with a movie theater, arcade, and escape room options adding variety beyond food and drink.

Westgate is not a mall. There is minimal retail — the focus is entirely on food, drink, and entertainment. That singularity of purpose is what makes it work. When you arrive, the decision is always which bar or restaurant to go to, not which anchor store to visit.

Restaurants at Westgate

Sports bars and game-day dining

Westgate's most recognizable restaurants are calibrated for event crowds: large, loud, screens everywhere, menus built around shareable plates and buckets of beer. Yard House is the anchor — a 100-tap draft beer bar with a menu that works for both serious diners and groups just looking to graze through happy hour. Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill occupies one of the larger footprints with a live-music stage and a country-leaning crowd on Cardinals game nights. Rock & Brews leans classic rock and does the pre-game energy better than most.

Sit-down dining

For a calmer experience — especially on non-game-day nights — Saddle Ranch Chop House runs a proper steakhouse program with a patio that faces the central plaza. Kabuki Japanese Restaurant is one of the better sushi options in the West Valley corridor, and it holds up on busy nights. Grimaldi's Pizzeria does coal-fired pizza out of a quieter section of the complex that insulates you somewhat from game-night noise.

Quick bites and casual

The plaza also has fast-casual and counter-service options for quicker turnarounds: Five Guys, Auntie Anne's, and a Starbucks that functions as the pre-game caffeine run for the morning tailgate crowd. Not worth a special trip but useful when you are already at Westgate and just need to eat fast.

Bars and nightlife at Westgate

Westgate's bar scene is purpose-built for sports events but extends beyond them. The central plaza has covered outdoor seating that works as an open-air bar in good weather, and several venues run DJ nights and live music on weekends.

Escape Westgate (escape rooms) doubles as a social evening activity for groups who want something to do beyond drinking. Round1 Bowling & Arcade in the adjacent Tanger Outlets is the de facto late-night option when everything else closes — the arcade runs until 1 or 2 a.m. depending on the night.

PopStroke at Westgate is a Tiger Woods-backed mini-golf and food concept with two 9-hole putting courses, a full bar, and a menu that makes it work as a proper evening out rather than a novelty. It is one of the more distinctive additions to the complex in recent years and worth knowing about if you are looking for something beyond the standard bar format.

Chicken N Pickle Glendale — a pickleball-and-restaurant concept on the western edge of the district — has become one of the more popular social destinations in the area, with indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, yard games, and a full food and bar program. It functions well for both committed players and people who have never held a paddle.

Entertainment at Westgate

State Farm Stadium events

The stadium directly adjacent hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL season (preseason August, regular season September through January), major touring concerts, college football bowl games, and marquee one-off events. See the State Farm Stadium guide for the full events calendar and logistics.

Escape rooms and interactive entertainment

Escape Westgate is one of the better-rated escape room operations in the West Valley, with multiple rooms at varying difficulty levels. Book ahead on weekends — it fills up, especially when there is no stadium event drawing people to the area (competition for evening entertainment is lower). Stir Crazy Comedy Club, nearby in the Westgate corridor, runs stand-up shows on weekends and is worth checking for your dates.

AMC Westgate 20

The AMC Westgate 20 theater in the complex is a full-size multiplex that functions as a natural add-on to dinner or drinks in the district. It is one of the larger AMC locations in the Valley with PLF and IMAX options.

Parking at Westgate

This is where Westgate trips live or die. On non-event days, parking is abundant and free in the surface lots surrounding the plaza. On Cardinals game days and major stadium events, the picture changes dramatically:

• Arrive 90 minutes early for NFL games. Lots fill fast and the 101 slows significantly in the final 45 minutes before kickoff.
• Cardinals Drive lots (east side of the stadium) fill first but exit fastest after games.
• Westgate's own surface lots on Sunset Blvd are the most convenient for the district itself but are the first to fill on sellout nights.
• Rideshare drop-off is available on the north side of the plaza. For events, rideshare is often faster than driving — Uber and Lyft both handle the post-game surge well here.
• Overflow lots on the west side of the 101 require a longer walk but are usually available when everything else is full.

For concerts and non-NFL major events, the pattern is similar but slightly less intense than a sellout NFL game. Build in 45-60 minutes of buffer for any event over 40,000 capacity.

When to go to Westgate

Best times: A Cardinals home game Saturday or Sunday afternoon, arriving 2 hours before kickoff. The pre-game energy in the plaza is genuine and the post-game wind-down — especially after a win — has a festival quality. Weekday evenings during the NFL season are calmer but the restaurants are still fully operational.

Non-event evenings: Westgate on a Tuesday night in March is a different experience — quiet, tables available without waiting, the same food and bar quality at a fraction of the social intensity. If you live in the West Valley and have never been on a non-game night, it is worth the trip just to see how the space functions when it is not packed.

Spring training season (February-March): Westgate activates for spring training even though the baseball stadiums are elsewhere. Cardinals die-hards and baseball fans both use Westgate as a watch-party base during the Cactus League season.

How to get to Westgate

Westgate sits at Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue in western Glendale. From Sky Harbor Airport, it is a 20-to-25-minute drive via I-10 West and the 101 North on a clear day. From Peoria Sports Complex, it is 15 minutes south on the 101. From Camelback Ranch spring training, it is a 10-minute drive north on Camelback Road to the 101.

The Glendale light rail extension provides service to a station within walking distance of the stadium and Westgate — check Valley Metro Rail schedules for current service, which varies by event and day of week.

Westgate FAQ

Is Westgate open on non-game days?

Yes. Most restaurants and bars at Westgate are open 7 days a week regardless of whether there is a stadium event. Hours vary by venue but the core of the district runs 11 a.m. to midnight or later on weekends.

Is Westgate walkable?

Within the district itself, yes — it is designed for pedestrian circulation and the plaza is entirely walkable. Getting to Westgate requires a car or rideshare; it is not accessible by walking from any residential area.

How far is Westgate from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport?

Approximately 22 to 28 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The 1-10 West to 101 North route is the standard path.

Are there hotels near Westgate?

Yes — several hotel properties are within a 5-minute drive, and a few are walkable from the district. The Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa and the Marriott SpringHill Suites Glendale at Westgate are the closest full-service options.

What is the best restaurant at Westgate for a Cardinals game?

Yard House for groups who want to graze on shared plates with good beer selection. Saddle Ranch for a sit-down meal where you can hear yourself talk. PopStroke if you want to eat and play before the game.

Does Westgate have an escape room?

Yes — Escape Westgate is inside the district and consistently rated one of the better escape room experiences in the West Valley.

For current events at Westgate and across the rest of Glendale, see the West Valley events guide and the Arizona events calendar.