For many of us, Dry January is a fading memory. But for anyone who kept their sobriety rolling through the winter, here’s a Downtown itinerary for leaping off the wagon in style.
Stop No. 1: Quartz
We’ll start at one of the Valley’s true drinking treasures – this Van Buren-adjacent cocktail lounge, where head mixologist Max Berlin ingeniously integrates savory flavors with traditional cocktail ingredients. Drink Rec: Crowned with “cereal milk foam” and sprinkled with Fruity Pebbles, the Bamm Bamm Beryl reads like a sugar-bomb, but it’s nuanced and pleasantly dry, a deluxe daisy with layers of banana and rhubarb. 341 W. Van Buren St., 602-385-0299, quartzphx.com
Stop No. 2: Bad Jimmy’s
Famed for its all-world smash burger, this Lower RoRo eatery also sports a wily and inventive cocktail program. Drink Rec: Pre-batched and potent, the Rockaway Beach is Bad Jimmy’s answer to the Long Island Ice Tea, made with a proprietary recipe that even the bartenders don’t know. “You’re only allowed one!” the menu stipulates. 108 E. Pierce St., badjimmys.com
Stop No. 3: Pomo
End your crawl at Stefano Fabbri’s legendary Neapolitan pizzeria, where the thin-crust pies pair exquisitely with Italian-inflected cocktails. Drink rec: Combining bourbon with Aperol, Nonino amaro and spiced pear liqueur, the Flight to Italy is like a spaghetti Western in a glass – rugged but playful, with a creamy mouthfeel and herbaceous grace notes. 705 N. First St., 602-795-2555, pomopizzeria.com
