This Restaurant In Arizona Used To Be A Church And You’ll Want To Visit

Arizona has no shortage of unique spots to find around the state and that includes restaurants. We’ve profiled some interesting spots around the state before, such as restaurants located miles away from any other development and restaurants formed in reclaimed spaces like an old railroad car. Well, what about inside an abandoned church? Yup, we found one restaurant that set up shop inside a historic church, helping add life to the space and neighborhood.

Taco Guild/Facebook

Taco Guild is a midtown Phoenix gastropub located inside a converted chuch at the northwests corner of Seventh Street and Osborn Road, A blend of restaurant, bar, and local hangout. The building was originally constructed in 1893 as Bethel Methodist Church, where it served as the local community's chapel and, at one point, the schoolhouse. In 2012, the church was deconsecrated and sat vacant for a few months until the owners of Taco Guild decided to set up shop here.

Taco Guild Gastropub/Yelp

As noted in an article in Phoenix Business Journal, the owners put quite a bit of work to ensure the building retain its history while also making it useful for a restaurant setting. The old wooden ceiling and beams were restored and the stained glass windows were kept to help the building stay true to its roots. Other elements were added to bring a lively character to the place, such as the Rembrandt paintings, collection of old photographs, and soft lighting.

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This photo shows the construction process to transform the old church into a restaurant. Behind the chef and marketing director, you get a glimpse of what the church once looked like.

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Taco Guild/Facebook

As for the food here? Delicious though a little pricey, but that's to be expected at a gastropub where the food and drinks are a little more upscale. It fuses old with new, exotic with local, and pairs flavors that you otherwise might not expect to go well together.

Taco Guild/Facebook

Taco Guild/Facebook

For example, in the al pastor pork taco, you'll find pineapple and japaleno bacon mixed in with pickled onion. An unconventional mix for sure but not as unexpected as, say, their Peking duck taco which pairs Asian flavors with corn tortillas and a poblano apricot compote. It sounds a little odd but if the flavors are good, what more could you ask for?

Taco Guild Gastropub/Yelp

In addition to tacos, Taco Guild also serves soup, salad, enchiladas, burritos, and brunch choices.

Taco Guild is located at 546 East Osborn Road in Phoenix. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and closes at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

That food combined with such a unique setting sure makes for a must-visit spot! If you want to see another Arizona restaurant with a unique setting, check out our article The Arizona Restaurant In The Middle Of Nowhere That’s So Worth The Journey.