Audio By Carbonatix Wherever We're Needed. We're There. From the stories making headlines to the restaurants, music and culture that make Phoenix one of a kind, New Times is there. Help us raise $25,000 by December 31 to keep independent local journalism going strong in 2027. Drake’s Hollywood, a see-and-be-seen hotspot originally launched in Texas, opens in Old Town Scottsdale on Friday. The restaurant and bar, whose vibe harkens back to Hollywood’s golden age, makes its debut in the former Buca di Beppo on Scottsdale Road and First Street. This will be the fourth U.S. location of Drake’s, which joins outposts in Dallas, Houston and West Hollywood. “Scottsdale is the perfect stage for our next chapter,” Hunter Pond, CEO of Vandelay Hospitality, said in a news release. “This city’s energy, style and culinary scene make it a natural fit for Drake’s. We’re excited to introduce our take on elevated American dining, where every night feels like a special occasion.” In Scottsdale, the 8,000-square-foot restaurant is outfitted with swanky decor that nods to old Hollywood glamour, including red leather booths, Art Deco chandeliers and murals inspired by illustrator Edward Sorel. In addition to a main dining room and circular bar, Drake’s has two rooms for private dining. The Scottsdale restaurant also houses a new private social club called Maître D’. Accessible by a private entrance, this hidden lounge offers cocktails, wine and late-night bites unique to the space. “Drake’s is a celebration of timeless old-world dining,” Pond said in an email to Phoenix New Times earlier this year. “It’s sophisticated yet fun, the kind of place where people dress up, celebrate life, throw a party and make memories.” The restaurant’s menu leans into classic American chophouse fare, along with pastas and Chicago-style thin-crust pizzas. Diners can start their meal with shrimp cocktail and steak tartare or fried sweet-and-spicy cauliflower and jumbo lump crab cakes. Entrees, such as honey truffle chicken, spicy rigatoni and lobster pasta, will be served alongside dry-aged ribeyes and Japanese Wagyu. Drake’s dessert menu includes a towering 24-layer strawberry cake and cotton candy in an oversized martini glass. The “world’s coldest martini,” a frozen vodka martini with dry vermouth and citrus bitters, is Drake’s signature cocktail. The bar team also pours espresso martinis, gimlets and a riff on a French 75. The bar is also where each Drake’s location builds its own identity. “Scottsdale guests can expect a few cocktails crafted specifically for this location that highlight the spirit of the city while staying true to Drake’s DNA,” Pond said. Vandelay Hospitality operates eight other concepts in Texas, ranging from sandwich shops to sushi bars. Drake’s isn’t the only restaurant the group has in the works in Arizona. Pond plans to open two Valley locations of Hudson House, an East Coast-inspired neighborhood restaurant, next year. The restaurants will open in PV, the redevelopment of the former Paradise Valley mall, and the forthcoming downtown Gilbert development, Heritage Park. Launching all of these eateries lets Pond and his restaurant group share their “signature coastal hospitality” with more Valley diners, he said in an announcement for Hudson House. “Phoenix is a dynamic, rapidly growing market, “ he said, “with a dining scene that perfectly aligns with our vision.” Drake’s Hollywood 3828 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale