With nearly 2 million residents in the city, everything in Arizona’s capital is growing fast—including its bar scene. “Cocktail culture is strong, and is probably about as strong as it’s been in the last 10 years,” says Mat Snapp, a partner in Barter and Shake, the consultancy behind Phoenix’s award-winning concept bar, Century Grand. Snapp moved to Phoenix as a student in the 1990s, began to work in bars and restaurants in the early aughts, and is thrilled to see the level of talent now shaping the city’s evolving cocktail scene.
“I’m impressed every day by the knowledge and the thirst for knowledge that bartenders have across the city,” he says. That free-wheeling creativity behind the stick sometimes outpaces locals’ appetites for adventure, Snapp says. As a positive offshoot, many cutting-edge bars have judgment-free vibes and menus that give crowd-pleasing Margaritas just as much care and attention as lacto-fermented mushroom infusions. “You need to have Metallica’s greatest hits in your front pocket and Bob Dylan’s B-sides in your back pocket,” he says. It’s a promising playlist.
Century Grand
“There are three very specific and elaborate experiences at Century Grand,” Snapp says. UnderTow is a tiki bar with tropical drinks. Modeled after a 1920s train car, Platform 18 serves cocktails like The Gibson Girl (gin or vodka, dry vermouth, sake, orange bitters, and lemon oil) and 54th Street Club (popcorn-infused reposado tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, togarashi, and pandan). Grey Hen takes cues from Prohibition-era Chinatown. Its menu, designed to look like a 1920s New York City newspaper, riffs on everything from burlesque (the Stars and Garters cocktail features cardamom-infused tequila and hibiscus liqueur) to wonton soup (gin, bourbon, yellow Chartreuse, wonton broth, and toasted sesame). “We’re having way too much fun out here,” Snapp says. Since opening in 2019, Century Grand has been ranked among The World’s 50 Best Bars and was named Bar of the Year at Tales of the Cocktail’s 2023 Spirited Awards.
Barcoa Agaveria
An extensive selection of agave spirits headlines Barcoa, a bi-level bar located behind XICO, a Latin and Indigenous art gallery, in a 1928 former hardware store in the National Register of Historic Places. The sleek, dimly lit lower level offers elegant cocktails like Ellas Caminaron en Fila (mezcal, coffee liqueur, house-made grenadine, pineapple and lime juices, and Angostura) alongside a 40-odd-page menu of tequila, mezcal, sotol, raicilla, and other Mexican spirits.
The more casual first floor serves typical cantina cocktails like Margaritas, Carajillos, and the Batanga (blanco tequila, lime juice, and Mexican Coca-Cola), all for $7 during the weekday happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. There’s also a patio with a food truck with quesadillas, chips and guacamole, and churros; and the space hosts events including DJs spinning Latin dance music, free Spanish classes, bachata lessons, and karaoke Sundays. “They’ve helped build an incredible community, especially among Latin bar pros,” says Snapp.
Greenwood Brewing
“Megan Greenwood is a local who is making unbelievable beer,” Snapp says of this woman-owned downtown brewery. In 2020, after three years of contract brewing, Greenwood opened the lively space that includes a dog-friendly patio, year-round beer garden, and an array of award-winning beers. Flagships include the easy-drinking Herstory Pale Ale, which is made with Mosaic, Falconer’s Flight, and Warrior hops; as well as a dry-hopped Rosemary IPA, and Purpose Pilsner, a bright, Bohemian-style pilsner made with 100 percent Saaz hops. Experimental beers change frequently and include a blueberry wheat ale and gose-style sour made with seasonal fruit. The welcoming space hosts live music and trivia nights, and displays exhibitions by female-identifying artists. Greenwood also organizes fundraisers and donates approximately 20 percent of its annual profits to organizations like Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, UMOM, and Girls on the Run.
Highball
Ever since two Barter and Shake alums opened this cozy, low-lit cocktail bar in 2020, it’s racked up a stack of local and national awards, including Phoenix New Times’ Best New Bar in 2021 and several Spirited Awards nods at Tales of the Cocktail. The annually rotating cocktail menu includes riffs on classics, like a Nitro Espresso Martini and a Garibaldi made with a coconut fat–washed house aperitivo blend, as well as inventive creations like the Saturday Night Special, a boozy number featuring Lapsang Souchong–infused rye alongside sherry, bourbon, scotch, and herbal liqueur. “Their menu is a very strong representation of the capabilities of bar people in Phoenix,” Snapp says. He tends to order off-menu “and ask for an Angostura-forward Gin & Tonic,” especially when the Highball team has one of their unique gin infusions available, made with ingredients like tea, herbs, or dehydrated mushrooms.
Lux Central
In 2020, after functioning as a traditional coffee shop for nearly a decade, Lux expanded its footprint and operations to open an interior cocktail bar, dubbed Lux Salon, in the rear of its Uptown building. Psychedelic-looking Tom Dixon light fixtures, vibrant wall art, and a canary-yellow tufted sofa brighten the cavernous space. The sleek wood bar serves creative cocktails like a Last Word riff made with mezcal, crisp white Sangria with rum and sliced peaches, and a daily rotating punch (previous iterations include gin and Champagne, or bourbon plus Aperol, strawberries, grapefruit, and thyme). The kitchen serves not-to-be-missed comfort food classics, Snapp says. “They have one of the world’s best BLT sandwiches in the history of time. You think you know what a BLT is, but this one will change your life.”
Gracie’s Tax Bar
Grace Perry sang with Phoenix metal band Landmine Marathon before she opened this low-key neighborhood joint in what used to be Abbey Tax Services in downtown Phoenix in 2017. “It’s a hole in the wall,” says Snapp, and a great place to go for a shot and a beer—his duo of choice is Maker’s on the rocks plus an ice-cold Coors Original. In addition to a daily, 4 to 7 p.m. happy hour that includes $5 well drinks and $7-9 mini beer pitchers, Gracie’s serves crowd-favorite fried pickles, tater tots, and traditional and vegetarian chopped cheese sandwiches. The pet-friendly outdoor patio hosts DJ sets and movie screenings; other events include craft nights, pop-ups with local restaurants and wineries, and fundraisers with nonprofits like AZ Hugs, which serves unhoused communities in the area. “You always have a great time at Gracie’s,” Snapp says.
Carry On
Jump on a first-class flight in this 1970s airplane-themed cocktail bar in downtown Phoenix. Carry On takes its bar-goers back to the days when flying was a luxurious experience, complete with plenty of legroom, a cocktail bar cart, and a view out the portholes (think: the train ride in Century Grand). In one 90-minute sitting, you depart from Phoenix, enjoy classic cocktails and in-flight snacks, navigate through thunderstorms and flying penguins, and then touch down in some far-off destination. The destination colors the cocktail menu, such as a G&T with white wine for San Francisco and a mezcal Negroni for Mexico City. For those looking for an even more premium experience, the bar offers the Captain’s Club boarding pass with a welcome cocktail and snacks, three cocktails, and a four-course light bite menu.
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
In 10 years, this downtown Phoenix cocktail bar located in the Luhrs Building, the city’s first-ever high rise, has racked up impressive accolades, ranging from a spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars to two “Outstanding” pins on the Pinnacle Guide. Friendly vibes and an extensive menu of cocktails created by a team lead by owner Ross Simon (formerly of LAB Bar in London) make this a destination for locals and cocktail tourists. Order the Solero, a popsicle-inspired cocktail made with vodka, half and half, vanilla liqueur, and passion fruit purée, syrup, and liqueur. The longtime bar favorite has been on the menu since the doors first opened.
FYPM
Although this hidden Roosevelt Row cocktail bar, whose name stands for “Fuck You Pay Me,” does take walk-ins, it’s best to make a reservation that will secure a 90-minute slot where you can partake of innovative, well-crafted batched cocktails by co-owner Sam Olguin. Awash in a hot pink neon glow, the open-concept bar with fluffy pink cloud lamps, black subway tiled walls, and pink fringed stools serves up innovative cocktails to match. Swoon-worthy presentations involve unique glassware and edible garnishes such as sesame mochi and a wafer cookie drizzled with honey. For those craving something more substantial to nosh on, order a bite off the menu from adjacent restaurant Pretty Penny.
Rough Rider
Despite being named after U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt’s volunteer cavalry regiment and located on Roosevelt Row, this basement speakeasy goes light on the Teddy theme, instead opting for subtle and tasteful nods with wood paneled walls, Edison bulbs, and embedded gold bullets. It’s a dark and moody space to step into after taking the elevator down from the bright, all-white lobby of the Ten-O-One building. Naturally, there are Victorian-era drinks inspired by Jerry Thomas’ The Bar-Tender’s Guide but also adventurous cocktails featuring ingredients like porcini-infused bourbon, goat milk foam, and apple agave shrub.
