Our Stay at The Graduate Tempe Hotel
Hello friends! This cute little face is my toy poodle Mishka. She is 4 years old and the LOVE of my life. She joined us recently for a one night stay at the pet friendly hotel, Graduate Tempe. We were so glad to be able to have her join us because we could not stand being away from this cute little face. Graduate Tempe is conveniently nestled next to the Arizona State University campus. It's a ten minute walk from Mill Ave (shops and restaurants) and has two delicious eateries for day and night eating. Read on if you'd like to read more about our experience!
First of all, how cool are hotels that are dog-friendly? Upon entering the room, Mishka was greeted with a Bark Box, which is a monthly subscription box for your furry best friend. It was filled with treats, toys and coupons. Mishka especially loved the apple shaped stuffed toy, random but fun. She also had her own bowl and blanket for the room, dying!
The decor at Graduate Tempe is described as "Southwest Style with a Desert Nod". We loved the bright colors and "instagram-worthy" details of the room and hotel lounge areas. I especially loved the fluorescent Graduate sign in front of the valet. It reminded me of Palm Springs. Every room is equipped with a Keurig machine so Mishka and I decided to cozy up together on the bed and enjoy a cup of joe.
DINING
Hubby and I were looking forward to the dining experience at Tapacubo. After all, who doesn't get excited about Mexican food? It's conveniently located poolside so you can enjoy margaritas, tacos and some sunny Phoenix weather.
I ordered the Elotes as an appetizer and it did not disappoint. It's a corn side drizzled with cotija cheese and sweet paprika cream. Yum!
Dave indulged in the Mas Nachos. Ummm...it was HUGE. They definitely piled on the guac, steak and we highly recommend sharing this with a large group.
I ordered the Achiote Chicken Grilled Tacos. I do have to admit that I wasn't impressed with these tacos. It needed more flavoring and wasn't filling.
One of my girlfriends suggested the Prickly Pear Sorbet for dessert. It was tasty but hubby and I agreed it was a little on the sweet side. The portion was also big and definitely more of a sharing dessert.
The Normal Diner
The next morning, we were excited to try their breakfast spot called The Normal Diner. We loved that they had a carry out walk up window for a quick cup of joe or muffin.
Dave ordered the delicious steak and eggs and I had the blueberry pancakes. The best part of my meal was the fresh smoothie, Green Devil (Arugula / Kale / Banana / Apple Juice / Lemon Juice).
Overall, Dave and I had a short but fun stay. The bright and colorful decor kept us cheery. It was also a treat to have Mishka in the room with us and the Bark Box was a nice touch to the pleasant stay. Thank you Graduate Tempe for having us! We highly recommend this hotel if you are in the Tempe area, it's a one stop shop for good food, pool time and convenient walking distance to more FUN.
*Our stay was sponsored along with meals. All words and opinions are my own.
