ALMA Southwest Steakhouse Scottsdale: First Look at the New North Scottsdale Restaurant

The former Preston’s Steakhouse has been completely reimagined as a Southwest steakhouse, rooftop lounge, tequila room, and even a Western boutique.

Some restaurant openings are really just a new sign on an old building.

ALMA Southwest Steakhouse is not one of them.

We recently attended the VIP preview at ALMA’s new North Scottsdale home at 8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, and the first thing that struck us was just how little the space feels like the former Preston’s Steakhouse.

The building's bones may still be there, but almost everything inside feels new.

ALMA Founder and Executive Chef Sheila Bryson has turned the former steakhouse into something much bigger than a traditional dining room.

There is the Southwest steakhouse downstairs.

A tequila and mezcal space.

A rooftop lounge called Copper Club.

And tucked inside the property is Barbwire Western Couture, Bryson’s revived Western boutique.

It is less “new restaurant” and more:

An entire night out under one roof.

From Preston’s to ALMA

Preston’s Steakhouse operated in this building for more than a decade before closing in 2025, with the building's condition and needed repairs cited as part of the reason.

ALMA did not simply move into the space and redecorate.

During our visit, we learned just how extensive the renovation had been.

The building was essentially gutted to address plumbing and other infrastructure issues left behind from the previous operation. The main structural walls remained, but we rebuilt much of what you see now from the inside out.

And it shows.

The restaurant feels like a completely different property.

The Design

The best way to describe the new ALMA is:

Elevated Southwest.

Not cowboy kitsch.

Not a rustic lodge.

And definitely not the heavy, dark steakhouse look you might expect.

Instead, the design blends the Southwest's warm, earthy personality with cleaner, more contemporary lines.

Natural textures.

Warm woods.

Desert-inspired colors.

Modern lighting.

And just enough Western influence to remind you where you are without hitting you over the head with it.

The property also has multiple rooms and spaces, making the restaurant feel more like a collection of experiences than one large dining room.

More Than a Steakhouse

The new concept is officially ALMA Southwest Steakhouse, and Bryson says the food draws inspiration from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico.

The new menu centers on premium steaks and wood-fired cooking while keeping the Southwestern flavors that have always been part of ALMA’s identity.

Recent menu previews have included premium cuts, Arizona-raised bison, whole grilled fish, pork chops, and other Southwestern-inspired dishes. ALMA’s own site indicates the menu has continued evolving as opening approaches, so we would treat any pre-opening menu as subject to change.

At the VIP preview, we sampled several bites and cocktails, but the bigger story for us was really the space itself.

There is a lot to explore.

The Tequila Room

One space is dedicated to tequila and mezcal.

Guests can enjoy tastings, cocktails, tacos, and small bites without committing to a full steakhouse dinner.

That flexibility is one of the smarter things about the new concept.

You could come for steak.

You could come for tacos and tequila.

You could come upstairs for drinks.

Or you could move through several spaces throughout the night.

According to Bryson, guests can order from ALMA’s full menu throughout the property.

Copper Club

Copper Club Might Be the Surprise

The space that stood out most to us was upstairs.

Copper Club.

This is ALMA’s late-night rooftop lounge, built around cocktails, small bites, live music, and desert views.

And during our preview, the timing couldn’t have been better.

We watched the sun set over the Troon and Pinnacle Peak landscape, and the entire rooftop took on that warm Arizona glow that makes this time of year perfect for outdoor dining.

It felt relaxed.

Inviting.

And completely different from what this building had before.

For fall, winter, and spring, this could become one of ALMA’s strongest assets.

But we did notice one thing.

There does not currently appear to be much shade coverage on the rooftop.

That is not an issue right now.

In October?

Perfect.

But when North Scottsdale hits 105 degrees next summer, shade will matter.

The former Preston property had more covered outdoor areas, so this feels like an opportunity ALMA may want to revisit eventually.

Given how much attention has already gone into rebuilding this space, we would be surprised if they are not thinking about it. Maybe the plans include large umbrellas, which explains why we haven’t seen them out yet.

Barbwire Western Couture

And then there is something you definitely do not see inside most Scottsdale steakhouses.

A boutique.

Barbwire Western Couture is back.

Bryson previously ran Barbwire and has now brought the Western boutique concept to the new ALMA property.

Expect Western-inspired clothing, jewelry, boots, hats, and accessories.

It sounds unusual until you walk through the building.

Then it starts to make sense.

ALMA is clearly trying to create something where you arrive before dinner, browse, have a drink, eat, go upstairs afterward, and stay awhile.

The boutique becomes part of that experience instead of feeling like a random retail store dropped into a restaurant.

A Different Kind of Steakhouse

Bryson has been very clear that she wants ALMA to feel like another traditional white-tablecloth steakhouse.

Her vision is more relaxed.

You can come in for a premium steak.

But you can also come in for tacos, tapas, tequila, or drinks upstairs at Copper Club.

That matters in North Scottsdale.

There are already plenty of places where dinner means:

Steak.

Potato.

Bottle of Cabernet.

Two hours.

Home.

ALMA seems to be aiming for something much more flexible.

Dinner downstairs.

A cocktail upstairs.

Maybe some shopping.

Maybe live music.

Maybe you never even order a steak.

The Location

ALMA is reopening at The Citadel, on the northwest corner of Pinnacle Peak and Pima roads.

This location fits the concept.

It puts ALMA much closer to several of Bryson’s other Soul Hospitality Group businesses, including Soul Café, Vic & Ola’s, Pescada and Little Snitch.

It also gives North Scottsdale another major evening destination in an area where many residents used to drive south to Old Town for this kind of night out.

The address is:

📍 8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 115
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

That is the former Preston’s Steakhouse space.

Opening Date: Monday, November 2, 2026

Current Hours

OpenTable currently lists:

Sunday-Thursday: 3 p.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 3 p.m.-11 p.m.

Happy Hour: Daily, 3-6 p.m.

Because this is a brand-new opening, hours may change during the first few weeks, so we recommend checking your reservation before you head over.

🍴 FORKING SCOTTSDALE’S FIRST LOOK

The easiest mistake would be to describe ALMA as:

“The restaurant replacing Preston’s.”

That really undersells what is happening here.

Yes, the address is the same.

Yes, it is still a steakhouse.

But almost everything else about the experience has changed.

The building has been rebuilt.

The design is brighter and more modern.

There are multiple rooms and different reasons to visit.

There is a rooftop lounge.

There is a tequila room.

There is a boutique.

And the whole thing feels designed around the idea that your night doesn’t have to end when dinner does.

Our favorite part of the preview was probably Copper Club.

Watching the sunset over the North Scottsdale desert from upstairs, cocktail in hand, gave us a clear sense of why this space could become popular quickly once patio season is fully underway.

And while the lack of rooftop shade could become an issue in the hotter months, right now?

This is exactly the season when that patio should shine.

Another thing that stood out was how different the new interior feels from Preston’s.

You can still recognize the old building's basic structure, but ALMA has given it a completely different identity.

That may be the project's most impressive feature.

They did not simply reopen an old steakhouse.

They reinvented the building.

Based on what we saw at the preview, ALMA Southwest Steakhouse feels more like a North Scottsdale destination than just another restaurant opening.