BEST COCKTAIL BARS PHOENIX

Century Grand is an award-winning cocktail destination housed in an immersive 1920s train station setting at 3626 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix. The venue features multiple themed experiences, including Platform 18—an interactive bar within a moving-screen-enhanced presidential Pullman train car inspired by 1924 immigration to New York City—and a main bar offering wine-by-the-cart with craft cocktails and food. The establishment has won the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Bar in the U.S. Craft cocktails draw inspiration from classic techniques and theatrical presentation. Reservations are highly recommended and limited to 90-minute experiences, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in this unique retro-inspired environment.

The Rose Garden is a sophisticated cocktail lounge in downtown Phoenix offering an enchanted escape from urban surroundings. The opulent venue features exquisite decor and skilled mixologists crafting deliciously luxurious craft cocktails, complemented by food items like flatbreads and sliders. The establishment provides comprehensive amenities including happy hour Tuesday through Friday, private event spaces for celebrations, online reservations for guaranteed seating, and gift card options. Operating Tuesday through Sunday with extended Friday and Saturday hours, The Rose Garden combines exceptional service with creative drink creations and an upscale ambiance.

The Womack is a retro cocktail lounge in Phoenix's Uptown neighborhood that channels a classic 1960s vibe with dimly lit interiors celebrating a bygone era. Named after the original owners of the historic Chez Nous, this venue offers classic cocktails including Old Fashioned and Sidecar alongside craft beers, wines, and shareable bites such as bruschetta and deviled eggs. The bar hosts live music six nights a week featuring musician-led jams, touring bands, and DJ sets, creating an atmosphere steeped in soulful entertainment and vintage charm.

Platform 18 is an award-winning immersive cocktail bar located at Century Grand in Phoenix, inspired by the golden age of locomotive travel. Designed by a former Disney Imagineer, the 90-minute curated journey transports guests through a fully realized train universe, beginning at an ornate platform before entering a 36-seat replica Presidential Pullman carriage adorned with stained wood, gold embellishments, and period windows. Bartenders Asher and Jax Donahue craft stellar drinks using an onsite lab, with current cocktail menus drawing inspiration from prohibition-era New York and 1920s immigration history. Named one of North America's 50 Best Bars in 2023, it represents one of Phoenix's most innovative hospitality concepts.

The Mix Up Bar at Royal Palms Resort and Spa occupies a striking setting adjacent to the Mansion Courtyard at the foot of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. Cocktail consultant Kim Haasarud and head mixologist Brian Downing create innovative garden-to-glass libations using the freshest local ingredients, house-made ginger beer, and finest liquors in unexpected combinations. Notable offerings include the Italian Paloma with reposado tequila and Carpano Antica vermouth, and Smoke on the Watermelon with Xicaru Silver Mezcal. Located at 5200 E Camelback Rd, the bar operates Monday–Thursday 1:30 pm–10:00 pm, Friday–Saturday 1:30 pm–11:00 pm, and Sunday 1:30 pm–10:00 pm.

36 Below is Phoenix's premier underground speakeasy hidden within Sip Coffee & Beer Garage, accessible by descending stairs from the café. The bar features a distinctive Walipini-style lounge adorned with botanical elements and greenery-covered walls, creating an immersive, otherworldly atmosphere. The venue specializes in craft cocktails with creative presentations, accompanied by charcuterie offerings. It offers private room accommodations for groups up to 12 people, cocktail classes, and bespoke event experiences. Located at 3620 E Indian School Rd, 36 Below combines innovative mixology with meticulous hospitality to deliver a transcendental experience ideal for date nights and special occasions.

Say When is a retro-inspired rooftop cocktail bar perched atop Rise Uptown Hotel at 400 W Camelback Rd, offering scenic vistas of the Phoenix skyline and Camelback Mountain. The venue channels late 1960s and early 1970s aesthetic with an intimate lounge and spacious terrace featuring fire pits, cozy seating, and rotational selections of forgotten classic cocktails. The penthouse-level setting combines craft cocktails with light bite specials, with a full food menu in development. Operating Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 PM to midnight, Say When accommodates walk-ins and welcomes reservations for groups of nine or more, making it suitable for both casual visits and special celebrations in an elevated, nostalgic setting.

Little Rituals is Phoenix's most awarded hotel bar, located on the 4th floor of the Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott at 132 S Central Ave in downtown Phoenix. This upscale, seated establishment positions itself as a refined third place for celebrating life's special moments, emphasizing meticulous craft with only the highest quality spirits and fresh-squeezed daily citrus. Bartenders create custom syrups, infusions, and garnishes using modern techniques, with seasonal ingredients featured prominently in both cocktails and food offerings. The venue won the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best U.S. Hotel Bar. Operating Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday 5pm–midnight, and Friday–Saturday 5pm–1am, reservations are strongly encouraged for this 21+ establishment that welcomes walk-ins based on availability.

Pigtails Downtown is a speak-easy style craft cocktail bar located at 1 East Washington Street in CityScape, Phoenix. The dimly lit space is entered through a quietly marked glass door, opening into an anteroom featuring an oyster and shrimp-stocked raw bar before a white swinging door announcing 'cocktails' in pink neon. From the owners of The Whining Pig, Pigtails offers unique specialty cocktails organized in four categories—light & citrusy, fun & refreshing, bold & boozy, and cool & nerdy—alongside delicious small bites and first-class hospitality. Currently operating Monday–Thursday 5:00 pm–1:00 am, Friday 5:00 pm–2:00 am, Saturday 2:00 pm–2:00 am, and Sunday 4:00 pm–10:00 pm, the bar accommodates walk-ins only with no reservations required.

Quartz is a distinctive downtown Phoenix cocktail bar carved into a historic storefront at 341 W Van Buren, offering two distinct experiences within its 2,000-square-foot space. The main lounge features an elevated bar with a glowing brass bar top beneath a dramatic giant rock-slab ceiling, while The Cave at Quartz provides a reservation-only concept with private booths and an exclusive desert-inspired menu. Quartz's cocktail program, crafted by in-house mixologists, draws inspiration from twelve precious birthstones, showcasing attention to every detail. Named Phoenix New Times' Best New Bar and among the Valley's Top 100 Bars since opening in April 2023, Quartz combines world-class mixology with experiential decor in a polished, inviting setting suitable for various occasions.

Rough Rider is a 21st-century basement restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by late 19th-century fashions, fare, and libations, located at 1001 N Central Ave in downtown Phoenix. The moody lounge features intimate booths and a creative cocktail program with recipes rooted in late 1800s traditions, including boozy tea punches and cobblers made with house-made jams. Entered through alley-side glass doors leading to a basement elevator, the venue combines Southern-style comfort food with intricately crafted cocktails in an atmospheric setting perfect for celebrations and romantic dinners. Named Best Speakeasy in Arizona by Chowhound, Rough Rider opened in 2021 and has earned recognition for its modern American menu and sophisticated cocktail program, appealing to those seeking a moody, nostalgic drinking and dining experience.

The Little Woody is Phoenix's second oldest continuously operating bar, located in the Arcadia neighborhood with a hidden entrance marked by a neon owl sign. The intimate venue features a Midwestern basement aesthetic with dark red lighting and wood-lined walls, creating a cozy dive bar atmosphere. Guests can enjoy games like pool, darts, skee-ball, and trivia nights, along with bar bites including deviled eggs and pretzel knots. Open nightly until 2 am and offering daily happy hour, this neighborhood gem combines gaming, food, and a lively dance floor for evening entertainment.

Blue Martini Lounge is an upscale venue in Phoenix offering sophisticated nightlife with over 42 signature martinis and specialty cocktails, alongside fine wines and spirits. The establishment features live entertainment nightly, providing a dynamic setting for guests on the patio or near the stage, with an exclusive VIP lounge for more private experiences. Known for its legendary happy hour with menu-wide discounts, the venue combines craft cocktails and sharable bites in an atmosphere that appeals to both locals and visitors seeking refined cocktail experiences.

The Grey Hen Rx at Century Grand in Phoenix is an apothecary-themed cocktail bar modeled on a 19th-century New Orleans speakeasy. The intimate space features newspaper-style menus, thunderstorm soundscapes, and lantern-lit corners that set an atmospheric stage for deliberately crafted drinks. The bar specializes in a thoughtfully curated selection of bourbons, whiskeys, and New Orleans-inspired cocktails, with expert bartenders who guide guests through the menu and the venue's story. Operating Tuesday–Sunday starting at 4pm (2:30pm Friday–Saturday), the bar operates on a reservation system with a 90-minute time limit. Grey Hen Rx has been recognized with the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Spirited Awards for Best Cocktail Bar in the U.S.