5 Creative Places in Tempe You Need to Check Out
Love making things, finding quirky local shops and discovering Tempe's creative side? Add these five spots to your list.
Tempe has plenty of places to grab a drink or catch a game, but if your idea of a good afternoon involves making something, discovering local art or wandering through a really good gift shop, you're in the right city.
Start at Crafty Tomato, a locally owned DIY craft studio where you can paint, sculpt, bedazzle and choose from a whole menu of creative projects. There's no need to consider yourself an artist or even know what you want to make before you arrive. Pick something that looks fun, grab your supplies and start creating.
Already a Crafty Tomato fan? Keep the creative day going.
From coffee and pottery to printmaking and wonderfully weird gifts, here are five Tempe spots we think you'll love if Crafty Tomato is your kind of place.
1. PIP Coffee + Clay
Coffee + pottery is a very good combination.
PIP Coffee + Clay combines a neighborhood coffee shop with a working ceramics studio, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who likes getting creative with their hands.
Stop by for coffee and a pastry, or take things a step further and sign up for one of their pottery experiences. PIP offers opportunities to learn ceramics, including working on the pottery wheel, in a space that feels approachable even if you've never touched a lump of clay before.
It's also an excellent addition to a creative date in Tempe: make some pottery, grab a coffee and see where the day takes you.
You'll like PIP if: your favorite part of Crafty Tomato is sculpting and you want to see what you can do with a completely different kind of clay.
Address: 2011 E Apache Blvd, Suite 147, Tempe, AZ 85281
Website: pipcoffeeclay.com
2. Hammer & Stain
For the person who looks at home décor and immediately thinks, "I could make that."
Hammer & Stain is all about turning a night out into something you actually get to take home.
Their workshops center around DIY home décor and customizable projects, giving you the chance to make something that feels a little more personal than simply buying another decoration for your house.
It's especially fun with a group. Instead of meeting up for the usual dinner or drinks, everyone gets to work on their own creation—and compare results at the end.
You'll like Hammer & Stain if: you love the satisfaction of leaving Crafty Tomato carrying something you can't believe you made yourself.
Address: 7420 S Rural Rd, Suite B4, Tempe, AZ 85283
Webstie: https://hammerandstaintempe.com/
3. Wasted Ink Zine Distro
For the artists, doodlers, writers, zinesters and beautifully weird people of Tempe.
Wasted Ink is one of those places that reminds you that art doesn't need to be polished, expensive or hanging inside a museum.
The nonprofit zine space celebrates independently published work and the wonderfully DIY world of zines. Browse creations made by artists and writers, discover ideas you probably wouldn't encounter in a traditional bookstore, and get a peek into a creative community built around self-expression.
If you've never explored zines before, that's part of the fun. You might walk in not knowing what you're looking for and walk out wanting to make one yourself.
You'll like Wasted Ink if: you believe creativity should be accessible to everyone and enjoy seeing what happens when people are given permission to make whatever they want.
Address: 323 W McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Website: https://www.wizd-az.com/
4. Kinkan Gifts
You've officially entered the "I don't need this, but I absolutely need this" zone.
Kinkan Gifts is the kind of local shop where browsing is half the experience.
Expect an eclectic mix of gifts, art and objects that make you stop, pick something up and immediately think of the person you'd give it to—or decide you're keeping it for yourself.
It's a great place to hunt for a birthday gift that doesn't feel generic, discover something made by an artist or simply wander around when you're in the mood to look at cute and interesting things.
And if your favorite part of Crafty Tomato is our little gift-shop corner, there's a good chance Kinkan belongs on your list.
You'll like Kinkan if: you'd choose a quirky little independent shop over a big-box store any day.
Address: 2016 E Wildermuth Ave #1124, Tempe, AZ 85281
Website: https://kinkangifts.com/
5. Crafty Tomato
And, of course, come make something with us!
If the rest of this list sounds like your perfect day, you'll feel right at home at Crafty Tomato.
We're a DIY craft studio and gift shop in Tempe built around one simple idea: making art should be easy to start.
Instead of signing up for a traditional art class, you can walk in or make a reservation, look through our craft menu and choose whatever sounds fun that day.
Paint a 3D animal portrait. Sculpt something out of colorful air-dry clay. Bedazzle something unnecessarily. Make buttons. Paint a canvas. Try something you've never done before.
We provide the supplies, tools, workspace and guidance—and clean up the mess afterward.
Come with a date, bring your friends, make something by yourself or join one of our community events. You don't need experience, and you definitely don't need to be "good at art."
You'll like Crafty Tomato if: you've ever wanted to make something but didn't want to buy 14 different art supplies just to figure out whether you actually enjoy making it.
Address: 1250 E Apache Blvd, Ste 106, Tempe, AZ 85281
Website: https://craftytomato.club/
Make a Creative Day Out of It
The best part? You don't have to pick just one.
Grab coffee, try pottery, browse some zines, hunt for an oddly specific gift and spend a couple of hours making something.
Supporting Tempe's creative spaces also means supporting the artists, makers and small businesses that make the city feel like Tempe.
So the next time someone asks, "What should we do today?" skip the usual plans.
Go make something.