The Top 5 Bars and Nightclubs in Phoenix, Arizona
You've had a long day in Phoenix, and now it's time to enjoy a drink and forget about your work troubles for a while. But where?
Whether you are visiting Sun City for the first time or a resident looking for a new vibe, Phoenix is host to some of the world's best-loved bars. These venues have a lot to offer, from great cocktails to intimate atmospheres to live music. While each one has its aura, the common denominator is that these are the best places to relax, enjoy a drink and maybe see where the night goes.
What Are The Top 5 Bars and Nightclubs in the Phoenix Area?
Depending on what you are looking for, we have some recommendations.
Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlour
This award-winning bar opened in 2014 in the former spot of the Arizona Prohibition headquarters. Housed in the historic Luhr building, this venue has been setting the bar (no pun intended) for great cocktails and even better service. Bitter and Twisted wins more awards every year, like the "10 Best American High Volume Cocktail Bars" for multiple years. (In fact, they've won so much that we've lost count of them). If you are looking for a place that makes a fantastic, imaginative cocktail, B & T has a book of them that will keep you experimenting for the rest of your life.
You will notice the simple neighborhood bar vibe as you walk in, but don't let the easy décor fool you. The crowd of folks at the bar and the wait for a seat will reassure you that you are in the right place. The cocktail menu is very extensive, with almost any kind of spirit you can name, and the bartenders are filled with all kinds of recommendations if you're having trouble deciding what to try. The food menu offers a limited range of apps and NY-style pizzas made with crushed tomatoes and lots of fresh basil and mozzarella. I would highly recommend the wings marinated in sumac garlic and pickled onion.
Highball
This bar gives a sophisticated, nostalgic vibe filled with dark leather seating, brick walls, and a unique copper bar. Located off of 7th avenue on the second floor in a historic building (be prepared to huff up the stairs), it offers an intimate mood. Highball is straightforward and offers what its name implies, so if you need a place to unwind with your beloved or just a venue to collect your thoughts, this is it. (Order a scotch on the rocks, and the bartender will drop an ice cube embossed with the Highball logo. This kind of attention to detail is part of what makes it memorable).
The food menu is minimal, although the kimchi popcorn is excellent. The music is good, not oppressive, and the cocktails are some of the best Phoenix offers. Even though the bar hasn't been around long (it opened in 2020), it is developing a loyal and consistent following.
Whiskey Row
If you are a country-western fan, this Scottsdale award-winning gastropub is the best place to scoot your boots. Founded by entertainer Dierks Bentley, the venue offers a classic western vibe with a raucous party attitude. Whiskey Row has won "Best Country Bar" for five years running, and the accolades are very deserving. As the name implies, this venue offers music, dancing, and drinking with lots of different whiskeys (the drink menu features over 60 varieties).
The menu has fresh ingredients, but it is not as extensive as you might imagine for a farm-to-table restaurant. The usual suspects are present; burgers, sliders, and bourbon-glazed wings. (The 10-hour slow-smoked brisket with whiskey bbq sauce melts on your tongue). You can top your meal with the desert in an iron-cast skillet brownie with vanilla bean ice cream. Don't forget to wear your best cowboy hat and jeans to fit into the crowd cause every night there is one.
Bar Smith
This lively, two-story nightclub and rooftop bar has a hip crowd, vibrant music, and live DJ music spinning tunes all night. Bar Smith has the distinction of being selected as the best nightclub by numerous periodicals, and it is the best place to shake your - you know what. Don't expect to find a place to sit because you won't find one. (The place is that popular). Open Weds – Sunday, you can expect to wait to get in because there is no cover.
The drinks are pricey, and there is a menu of bar basics, like a pulled bbq chicken sandwich or burgers. The rooftop bar offers a nice view of the Phoenix skyline to enjoy the sweet desert air while catching your breath from the dance floor. The club has a giant chalkboard where local street artists regularly bring their images to life (they are fantastic to watch). If you want to have a good time bumping bodies, this is the place to mingle and meet and see what happens.
Wren House Brewing Co.
This Arizona-based brewery is developing a national reputation by bringing home the gold from the 2020 Great American Beer Festival for its Hazy IPA, Spellbinder. (Big Spill Pils also won Gold and Valley Beer the Silver in their categories). Head brewer Luke Wortendyke has a passion for brewing craft beer and is committed to using Arizona's ingredients. The brewery is in expansion mode, as the beer they craft is becoming a staple in bars across the country.
Located in the Green Gables neighborhood of Phoenix, the taproom is stark and straightforward. No television. Just stools and a bar in a renovated bungalow with some music on the side, please. (You shouldn't go to a craft brewery to watch the game anyway, but focus on the beer). There are beers for every taste and palette. Grab a friend and find an IPA you like. I'd start with Spellbinder. It's one of the top beers in the country.
What's the Best Way to Get Around Phoenix with a Group?
Phoenix is becoming one of the top tourist and travel destinations in the Southwest. Visitors have various options to experience, from great dining establishments like Whiskey Row to exciting sporting events like the Phoenix Suns. Whether it is a simple weekend getaway or a significant corporate event, Phoenix Sedan and Limo Service can handle every need.
A Limousine Service is a private rental vehicle that transports a group of people from one location to a destination. Because of the convenience of keeping the group together, many people feel that limo or charter bus rental is an effective way of transit.
There are several advantages to hiring a limo service. While most people might think that a person can only reserve a limo for the rich and famous, the truth is that it can be a very affordable way to transport your party from place to place.
So, there you have it. Five of the best spots to enjoy a drink or shake what the good Lord gave you during your stay in the fairest city of the Southwest. May you enjoy these bars and nightclubs as the locals do, and may all your dreams come true—Bottoms up!
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