Carry On whisks travelers from San Francisco to Mexico City, treating them to destination-inspired cocktails along the way. Despite announcements from the “captain” and a convincing turbulence simulation, the ’70s-era plane cabin never leaves the ground. Since opening last November in Downtown Phoenix, the transportive cocktail bar has gone viral for its authentic interior design and tableside martini service, during which flight attendants make the rounds with a cart loaded with booze and myriad accoutrements like blue-cheese stuffed olives.
Carry On will be bringing a mobile version of this immersive experience to PHOENIX magazine’s Best of the Valley Party on Saturday, October 18. We catch lead bartender Moises Castro before his next flight to chat about the martini hat trick that the bar will be bringing to the party.
Purchase tickets to the 2025 Best of the Valley Party here.
What will you serve at the BOV event?
We are going to bring three types of martinis: a traditional with either gin or vodka; a dirty martini with an olive brine; and our seasonal Pornstar Martini.
What does being a BOV winner mean to you and Carry On?
Being a Best of the Valley winner for Carry On means the world, especially because we are still so new. It feels good to get recognition for our hospitality, attention to detail, ambiance, cocktail curation and fulfilling our role in the industry in Phoenix. It’s all thanks to the amazing staff, from our prep team to ownership, to everyone in between, coming together to make this unique idea work.
What’s your favorite cocktail at Carry On?
My favorite cocktail at Carry On would have to be the Tequila Sunrise because it was actually created in Phoenix at the Biltmore. It was mainstreamed by the The Rolling Stones, during a tour, “the cocaine and tequila sunrise tour.” Being able to educate our guests with our twist on the original is very fulfilling.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about Carry On?
We want everyone to know how thankful we are to be a part of this amazing, talented community. Carry On is escapism at its finest, a time machine that transports people into the ’70s – the golden age of flying, from the music to the aesthetic of the furniture and layout, to the drinks that pay homage to that era. We really deliver an experience and performance that takes you away from reality for 90 minutes, giving you a sense that we have landed in a different location by the end of it. I’m excited for what’s to come in the near future, with a holiday flight that will go from November to the end of the year and our new flight plan coming in January 2026.
