Egyptian Motor Hotel

The revamped motel opened in January 2023 with 48 rooms, an outdoor entertainment venue and award-winning restaurant Chilte on-site. According to Rebel Hospitality’s vice president of marketing and brand, Cynthia Davis, the opportunity to revitalize the Egyptian was a no-brainer. “We really had this vision to turn it into something completely different that Phoenix doesn’t really have much of,” Davis says. “The fact that it’s in the Grand Avenue arts district made it even more attractive.”

Davis admits the motel’s location, northwest of Van Buren Street, is often overlooked by visitors to Phoenix, but the offerings at the Egyptian have brought more people to the area.

Outside, there’s the Egyptian Live Bar, which offers cocktails, to-go food from Chilte and local entertainment. Davis says the purpose of that venue is to bring people together. “We have picnic tables set up outside to encourage communal bonding and meeting people,” she says. “[Visitors] who come into town get this community feel, and they can sit and meet local people.”

As for guest accommodations, the rooms offer amenities such as free Wi-Fi and smart TVs, but they’ve also kept the charm and character of the original motel. “We’ve left some of the kitschy throwbacks of the ’50s intact as well as put in some amenities that represent that era,” Davis says. “Even the younger generations, like Gen Z, love the throwback idea, because it’s way out of their realm. It’s new to them.” The property also has an Airstream trailer that guests can book for their stay. 

While the Egyptian is centrally located for those visiting Phoenix for business or attending sporting events, Davis says most of its business comes from locals looking for unique entertainment options. She says that’s a plus for those visiting from out of town, because they get to have a “more localized experience” by sharing the space with people who already know the area.

“The choices that people can make at [the Egyptian] are far more open,” Davis says. “The yin and the yang of old and new is something that’s really fun and very different to experience.”