Eden Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in Phoenix

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I rented a cabana here back in 2017 and had such an amazing experience, flash forward to now… My boyfriend was looking for a place to host an employee appreciation event. I told him about Palomar and he thought it would be a great idea for his small team. I’m honestly embarrassed I recommended it after our experience today and him shelling out $700 in cabana rental fees, almost $1200 in food/drink, and a $300 tip. (SEE UPDATE BELOW WITH FRAUDULENT DOUBLE CHARGES, so even more than that now).

Come to find out…. you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel or even reserve anything. Literally, anyone can walk in and claim a chair, plop under a cabana, or take a dip. We arrived with two cabanas reserved (paid for in advance) and were given one. We waited about 15 minutes and we’re led to a single cabana with no reserved sign. When we said more people were coming and we paid for two, they said they would have people move the stuff from the cabana next to us, as it was already full to the brim with others belongings. They did. Shortly after another hostess/manager/bartender guided another group of patrons to our other cabana. It caused a really awkward convo and her saying “it’s first come first serve” and then we told her we had it reserved. We had to show our rental receipt, again… The people in a cabana two over from us said they didn’t have to rent anything and they were there all day. I’m not sure what our $700 got us? No reserved sign, which resulted in us having to fend off other patrons (and employees) from taking what we paid for? We did get a bucket of water, which they then took and never replaced, so $700 for two half drank water bottles seems a little steep to me? The fact that other cabana “rentals” did not pay (and were not guests as they told us), was wild. I guess if you want to have a rooftop pool experience, head to The Palomar, because you can get in from both entrances (one directly off the street) with no key and they won’t check an ID or anything of the sort. No safeguards at all.

The pool was NOT packed as I have seen it before and seemed to be adequately staffed with how many people were there. On a good run, we would wait about 15 minutes for a drink. On average, about 30-45 minutes. We would try to make things easier by going to the bar to order on the tab we opened, but were told to wait for our server instead. Our server was VERY nice, so I can’t fault her. I don’t know what the dynamics are that a pretty full staff can’t adequately serve a half-full pool, so I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt as I don’t know the full ins-and-outs for here. Again, she was lovely and a highlight of the experience for sure.

We still tipped 20%. We were still kind and as patient as we could be. We can deal with slow service, but it’s a harder pill to swallow when you pay $700 for absolutely nothing other than the indignity of having to ask others to leave your rented space over and over and over again. My, what an investment in a $10 plexiglass sign would be for Palomar so those who have reserved can hold their tables from other guests OR those who literally wander in off the streets. Glad to know for next time that we too can wander in and not have to shell out $700 for two water bottles, whilst also playing bouncer and cabana field goalie for six hours. Would love to know how we can get AT LEAST a partial refund, or maybe fill out a W4 to get paid, since we had to actively work the entirety of our stay there.

UPDATE: THEY DOUBLE CHARGED THE CARD. Not even double charged, two entirely separate amounts were cleared on a card. What is going on here? Honestly? Is Kimpton that hard up for money, or what? We have been calling and no reply or urgency whatsoever. One charge for $1,495.98 and another...

The location was beautiful don't get me wrong. It had misters and gazebos. I gave it two stars because the drinks were atrocious. We had the cactus cooler and the phoenix rising but since they were so bad we left right after them. I didn't even want to finish my drink. The cactus cooler has brandy, pineapple juice, passion fruit syrup, coconut creme and lemon. But it just tasted like pineapple juice and brandy and that's it. The phoenix rising just tasted fizzy from the soda and sour. That's it. The drink was so unimpressive. After we left we went to majerle's and the drinks were way cheaper and the food is better. Eden food is so expensive for snack plates. The drinks cost 38.19 and was ridiculously over priced. Our server Nessa wasn't good either. She greeted us and asked if we wanted drinks and we stated we wanted to look at the menu. After 20 mins we were still waiting for her to come by so we just got up and went to the bar to order. Afterwards she brought us the drinks and then didn't check on us throughout our time there. And then when we wanted to leave we went to the bar and he sent the waitress over. It was just a horrible experience. And the hotel smelled really weird. Like no matter where there was a pungent foul odor that smelled very sour. Also we had a 7pm reservation and there was like no one at the hostess stand so we seated ourselves. It was just a very unprofessional service. I’m never coming back here. The drinks were horrible and the service was horrible. Just horrible across the board which is surprising and a shame because the hotel looks very nice but I don’t think I’d ever stay there based off the service...

The potential of this place is endless but the food, drinks, and staff royally F this up.

Had a reservation for brunch Sunday for 8 people. Paid for headcount on the rezzy for this cute sounding flower shop pop up and DJ which seemed like the perfect vibe to celebrate our friends engagement on a rooftop in AZ fall weather.

Upon showing up, not only were the main doors closed with no signs & no one answering the phone but we are told its open seating in a very rude manor. I double downed on mentioning I had a reservation and inquired about the pop up & DJ as the area was empty and near silent with 2 people working. This woman was rude again and said to sit wherever.

We sit. No flower shop. No DJ. Took forever to get a server - who had the most meh personality I've ever encountered. The food and drinks were over priced and absolutely disgusting. Messed up our food order...no idea how when it was simple and no one else was there. $20 bloodies that tasted like watered down tomato juice and feet.

Needless to say, we asked for the check before finishing our food and one round of drinks. $400 for one round of drinks and two bland flatbreads. Went next door to the Ainsworth and had the experience we were looking for. I will not be back...