I’m calling this a good thing, and honestly, it feels overdue. After a long wait and some construction delays, Otra Pizzeria and Better Days are finally open in Phoenix’s Warehouse District, and that kind of momentum matters in a neighborhood that lives and dies by what actually makes it across the finish line.
The setup is the kind of one-two punch I love: a pizzeria downstairs, a second-floor watering hole upstairs, both inside the historic Gerardo’s Building at the northeast corner of Third and Buchanan streets. The project comes from chef Cesar Velasco and the team behind The Churchill, which gives it a little extra local weight right out of the gate.
It soft-opened this weekend, with Otra set for its official opening on Wednesday and Better Days following on Friday. That staggered rollout feels very Phoenix to me — a little patient, a little scrappy, and very much the kind of thing people will talk about once the first round of pizzas and cocktails starts moving through the room.
For anyone who likes downtown spots with a sense of place, this is the kind of opening worth rooting for. Historic building, fresh energy, and finally something new to pull people into the block.
