The sun is gone but the party’s on! We shine a light on the dark side of the Valley of the Sun – late-night eats, underground beats and witching-hour thrills for every species of night owl.
By Madison Rutherford | Original photography by Chris Loomis & Danny Upshaw
Downtown Phoenix
Dance Revolutıon
If you love the cutting of rugs – and a hoard of late-night restaurants for refueling – you won’t do better than the Phoenix city center.
For Aging Club Kids
Raves at Walter Where?House
Electronic beats meet interactive installations at this warehouse-style rave haven where international DJs provide the soundtrack for freewheeling, art-fueled dance parties. walterwherehouse.com
For Audiophiles
Hot City Wax at Roosevelt
Arizona’s premier EDM power broker Relentless Beats is behind this brand-new bar, restaurant and nightclub, where the state-of-the-art Funktion-One sound system takes center stage for eclectic all-vinyl DJ sets every Wednesday. @therooseveltphx
For Gen-Z Goths
Death Aesthetic at Club Contact
Trad goths, punks, metalheads and deathrockers converge at Club Contact every fourth Thursday, when industrial, darkwave, cold wave, post-punk and synthpop tracks set the mood.
club-contact.com
For Hip-Hop Heads
130 Club at Valley Bar
Every Friday and Saturday night, DJs bounce between bass-heavy boom bap, alternative hip-hop, melodic R&B and future beats at this moody Downtown basement bar. valleybarphx.com
For Bailadores
Latin Thursdays at The Duce
Salsa, bachata, merengue and reggaeton score this weekly jamboree featuring beginner-friendly dance lessons, an open dance floor and late-night food and drink specials. theducephx.com
For ’90s Kids and New Age Revivalists
Pure Moods at Gracie’s Tax Bar
For a dose of niche ’90s nostalgia, this blissed-out trip down memory lane takes over Gracie’s Tax Bar every third Sunday with downtempo deep cuts inspired by the ubiquitous Pure Moods infomercials that defined late-night cable in the 1990s. graciestaxbar.com
Underground Comedy!
The Bush Comedy
Get in on the joke at monthly stand-up showcases at this 40-seat speakeasy-style comedy club tucked behind IL Bosco Pizza in Downtown Phoenix. @thebushphx
New-School: Gracie’s Tax Bar
The TikTok set gravitates toward this nine-year-old neo-dive (pictured below) for its nearly nightly lineup of concerts, craft nights, film screenings and themed dance parties. Other calling cards: a jammin’ jukebox, famously sticker-plastered film photo booth, big house-party energy on the back patio and killer $6 cheese curds. graciestaxbar.com
Old-School: Bikini Lounge
It’s cash-only, the jukebox rarely works and the bathroom has no lock. But those quirks are easy to forgive when you’re knocking back a cold one at Phoenix’s oldest continuously operating bar. A relic of the postwar tiki craze, Bikini’s bamboo-thatched walls have stood at 15th and Grand avenues for nearly 80 years. @thebikinilounge
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Industry Standard
Kitchen open until midnight on weekdays; 2 a.m. on weekends
When the rest of the city clocks out, this Roosevelt Row restaurant and cocktail bar clocks in, serving nocturnal patrons chef-driven, globally inspired small plates like hamachi crudo, dan dan noodles and Italian flatbreads. industrystandardaz.com
Sidewinder
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
The 1940s Valentine diner where Welcome Diner launched is now a popular after-hours gathering place for industry folks and post-party stragglers, slinging chuckwagon chow like Frito pie, Sonoran hot dogs and smoked bologna sandwiches until 2 a.m. sidewinderphx.com
Palma
Kitchen open until midnight on weekdays; 2 a.m. on weekends
Late-night cravings get the tropical treatment at this Roosevelt Row hangout, where fusion-y bites like Thai curry fries, banh mi cheesesteaks and specialty sushi rolls keep the party going long after the dinner bell rings. palmastateofmind.com
Uptown Phoenix
Melrose and More
Compared to Downtown, a less squirrelly (read: Zoomer-driven) nightlife scene awaits, with plenty of Gen X- and LGBTQ-friendly dance clubs and bars.
For Boogie-Loving Boomers
Groove Candy at The Womack
For more than two decades, Saturday nights at The Womack have reliably supplied a soulful soundtrack of jazz, hip-hop, funk, R&B and neo-soul classics, turning the long-running retro lounge into a groovy late-night dance hall. thewomack.us
For Genre-Fluid Gen Xers
Back to the ’80s Party at Thunderbird Lounge
Shoulder pads, leg warmers and acid-wash denim dominate the dancefloor at this nostalgic, neon-soaked tribute to a decade marked by big hits and even bigger hair. thunderbirdloungephx.com
For Goths of a Certain Age
Shadowplay at Rips Bar
Every third Saturday, this Coronado neighborhood dive transforms into a glamourous goth dance den where rotating DJs spin a mélange of ’80s new wave, post-punk and darkwave bangers deep into the night. @ripsbarphx
For LGBTQ+ Bon Vivants
Milkshake Ball at Stacy’s at Melrose
Ditch the cocktail dress for something a little campier at this monthly soirée, where DJs, drag performers, go-go dancers and an unconventionally costumed crowd let loose. stacysatmelrose.com
Underground Comedy!
Brigett’s Last Laugh
Every Tuesday evening, this North Phoenix neighborhood dive doubles as a comedy club, allowing local comedians to get their last laugh before last call at a free open mic. brigetts.com
Not a Drag!
Part performance, part party, drag shows bring high-energy spectacle to Valley bars and stages – and Uptown has a slew of them.
Starstruck at Stacy’s
See stars every Friday night as local queens like Pixxii Dust and Jasmine Green Tea take the stage. stacysatmelrose.com/starstruck
Cruisin’ 7th
A fixture in Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ scene since 1977, this Melrose mainstay’s popular Saturday Night Revue serves larger-than-life performances every weekend. cruisin7th.com
Kobalt
Expect lots of lip-sync battles, big hair and boundary-pushing entertainment as queens from across the country work the room four nights a week. kobaltbarphoenix.com
New-School: The Starving Artist
Upcycled thrift store art, mismatched furniture, pool tables and arcade games give this modern barroom a lived-in feel, despite debuting in 2024. starvingartistaz.com
Old-School: The Dirty Drummer
A true dive-bar institution, The Dirty Drummer exudes old-school sports-bar and Americana-roadhouse energy with original wood-paneled walls, vintage bar signs and a small stage for local and touring country, blues and rock acts. thedirtydrummer.com
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Pomeroy’s
Kitchen open until 1 a.m.
Famed for its sublime patty melts (pressed between golden-toasted rye with grilled onions and a mantling of white American cheese), this dive-y billiards bar is a cult favorite of the nocturnal set. pomeroys.localoria.com
5 & Diner
Kitchen open 24 hours
Night owls, service workers and fans of Americana flock to this classic ’50s-themed diner for burgers, shakes, greasy spoon staples and all-day breakfast – whether it’s noon or 3 a.m. 5anddiner.com
West Valley
Stoked for ‘oke
Enjoy a wacky evening on the wes’ side, centered around the Valley’s hottest new karaoke room.
BYOB Karaoke
Tired of waiting two hours for your turn to sing “Hey Ya!”? Feeling not-great about the watered-down rum-and-Cokes and insipid beer selection at the karaoke bars you typically visit? Address both these important issues at Roc the Mic, the Valley’s hottest new karaoke concept. For one: It’s BYOB, meaning the quality of your rum-and-Cokes is entirely up to you. Second: It offers private, themed suites for rental, meaning you and your crew can butcher the classics in privacy. Sounds like an evening. rocthemickaraoke.com
New-School: Easy Tiger Bar
Opened in 2022, this modern dive’s retro soul (pictured right) radiates through its no-frills Glendale strip mall location, wood-paneled walls, throwback soundtrack and deliciously unpretentious cocktails. @easytigerbar
Old-School: Skippers Lounge
The drinks are cheap, the karaoke is loud and the regulars know each other by name at this Westside watering hole that has kept its gloriously gritty character intact for decades. No website or Instagram – just show up any day of the week between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m.: 6124 N. 43rd Ave.
LATE-NIGHT EATS
OHYA Sushi, Korean Kitchen & Bar
Kitchen open until 1 a.m.
Pair sake bombs with authentic Japanese cuisine and Korean barbecue at this late-night sushi spot in Glendale, complete with a full bar and private karaoke rooms. ohyaaz.com
Headquarters Grill Bar Sushi
Kitchen open until 1 a.m.
A menu spanning burgers, pizza, salads, hearty sandwiches, tacos and specialty sushi rolls takes standard pub grub up a few notches at this P83 bar and restaurant. headquartersaz.com
Cornish Pasty Co.
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
Knock back a late-night pasty – and a game of pool or two – at the newly-opened Glendale location of the beloved Valley-based British pub chain. cornishpastyco.com
Old Town Scottsdale
Lil Bit Country…
From old-school hip-hop to honky-tonks, the world of modern American nightclubbing is your oyster in Old Town.
Attention: Bottle Service Baddies
Scottsdale’s glitterati get extra glammed up for Fantasy Fridays at 11:11 Nightclub. Perched on the southern edge of the Entertainment District (aka “Sh*tshow Row”), this Old Town party playground gets extra crunk on Fridays, when guests vibe to classic R&B, rap and old-school hip-hop anthems. Grey Goose martinis for all! 1111nightclub.com
Country Crawl
Care to make it a country odyssey? Hit all three of these Scottsdale saloons and honky-tonks.
Stop No. 1
Rusty Spur Saloon
Step through the swinging saloon doors at this historical Old Town honky-tonk for Western-flavored fun and live country music seven nights a week. rustyspursaloon.com
Stop No. 2
Not My First Rodeo
Mosey across Scottsdale Road for “great country music, authentic desert vibes and a staff that actually loves what they do” at this Fashion Square-adjacent honky-tonk and watering hole. notmyfirstrodeoaz.com
Stop No. 3
Handlebar J
Ready to take the show on the road? Call a Lyft and migrate north to this Shea-area saloon, which has all the fixins’ for a boot-scootin’ night out – barbecue on the table, cowboy hats hanging overhead and live country music on stage. handlebarj.com
New-School: Night Owl Pizza & Drinks
The pinball machines, vintage skateboards and other retro ephemera lining Night Owl’s brick walls are instant nostalgia bait for Gen Xers and elder Millennials, who frequent this South Scottsdale haunt for beer, burgers and New York-style pizza by the slice. nightowlaz.com
Old-School: Coach House
Floor-to-ceiling Christmas lights, cheap beer, generous pours and live sports have kept regulars coming back to this reliable dive on the edge of Old Town for six decades. coachhousescottsdale.com
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Carlsbad Tavern
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
Modeled after the limestone caves of New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns, this kitschy late-night lair beckons creatures of the night with chile-laden fare inspired by the Land of Enchantment. carlsbadtavern.com
EVO
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
This scene-y supper club is a requisite stop for late-night revelers craving pappardelle Bolognese, braised short rib, wood-fired pizza and decadent desserts like tiramisu and cult-favorite butter cake. evorestaurants.com
40 Love
Kitchen open until 1 a.m. on weekends
From first serve to last call, Old Town revelry meets country-club polish at this tennis-themed lounge, where refined American fare – think raw-bar bites, Wagyu and mushroom ragout – hits tables until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. 40lovegroup.com
Tempe
Adulting in Tempe
Though its reputation as a college-party mecca is well-earned, Tempe boasts plenty of all-ages nightlife possibilities – including an emerging dining scene and a famed arts district.
Street Car Nights
Hop on at Mill and Priest to get the party rolling.
ASU Art Musuem/Gammage
Check out our Calendar section (page 70) to find a show, exhibit or production in November-December that suits your taste. asugammage.com
August Karaoke Box
Not ready to belt “Sweet Caroline” to a sea of strangers? Book one of August Karaoke Box’s 11 private soundproofed suites, each equipped with pro-grade sound systems, wireless mics and a multilingual 140,000-song catalog. 8ktv.net
Mea Culpa
For your final stop: Give your “confession” to an AI priest to earn admittance to this cathedral-toned speakeasy embedded in Roman God of Fire – the latest nightlife one-two punch from Pretty Decent Concepts. romangodoffire.com
New-School: Neon Spur
A little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll, this Mill Avenue hangout modeled after a ’70s-style Midwestern basement is largely outfitted with Facebook Marketplace finds, including a pair of vintage cigarette machines seemingly frozen in time. neonspurdive.com
Old-School: Yucca Tap Room
More than 50 years of Tempe nightlife has been baked into Yucca’s wood-paneled walls. Since 1972, the bar has welcomed generations of bands to its small stage, managing to retain its scrappy charm via vintage pinball machines, rotating beers on tap and live music seven nights a week. yuccatap.com
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Catfish Corner
Kitchen open until 4 a.m.
Dig into Southern comfort classics like golden-fried catfish, collard greens, jumbo shrimp, crispy peach cobbler rolls and creamy banana pudding at this Tempe soul-food counter, open daily from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. catfishcorneraz.com
Gus’s New York Pizza
Kitchen open 24 hours
This ASU-adjacent pizzeria takes a page from the city that never sleeps, turning out giant, New York-style pies for 24/7 dine-in, pickup or delivery. gusnewyorkpizza.com
Shawarma Factory
Kitchen open until 2 a.m. on weekdays; 4 a.m. on weekends
Hit up this late-night fave near ASU for chicken and beef shawarma wraps, kebabs, burgers, loaded fries and other Middle Eastern comfort-food fixes. @shawarmafactoryaz
Dragon Flame Chinese Grill
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
A life-size dragon looms above the dining room while the kitchen fires up Northern Chinese classics like hand-pulled noodles, lamb skewers and steamed dumplings, plus playful crossovers like a pork belly burger, soy-glazed tacos and fried chicken ice cream. dragonflame.us
East Valley
No East-Sider Left Behind
Singles, couples and families alike can crank out a night on the town in the Valley’s ever-growing eastern sprawl.
EV Outings by Type
Singles
Roosters Country
Put your two-step to the test at this Mesa country bar, where live music, line dancing and karaoke keep the Western spirit alive. roosterscountrybar.net
Families
StarFighters Arcade
A one-time $14 admission fee unlocks a nostalgia-fueled free-for-all at this late-night, ’80s-themed gaming den, where more than 200 classic video games – from Ms. Pac-Man to Mortal Kombat – are set to free play daily until 11 p.m. starfightersarcade.com
Couples
Warren’s Supper Club
Settle in for dinner and a show at this swanky Ahwatukee steakhouse-slash-cabaret from Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles impresarios Larry and Rasheedah White, where local jazz, blues and R&B artists take the stage several times a month. warrenssupperclub.com
Underground Comedy!
Bridge Improv Theater
This Mesa laughter lab offers weekly improv, sketch and stand-up comedy workshops and weekend shows. Saturday nights include “Happy Hour,” a free, open improv jam where anyone can take the stage, regardless of experience. bridgeimprovtheater.com
Thursday Special!
Denim & Diamonds
Dust off your cowboy boots and kick up your spur-studded heels at this Mesa honky-tonk. At the bar’s weekly Throwback Thursdays hootenanny, cut a rug with Shania, Garth, Toby and The Chicks and other giants of ’90s country. denimand-diamondsmesa.com
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Midnight Taco
Kitchen open until 3 a.m. on weekends
When the midnight munchies hit, this casual post-bar pit stop in Gilbert comes through with birria, carne asada, al pastor, beer-battered fish and vegetarian street tacos, burritos and quesadillas. midnighttaco.com
Good Time Charli’s
Kitchen open until 2 a.m.
This west Chandler watering hole keeps the good times rolling after the traditional dinner crowd calls it a night, slinging beefed-up Tex-Mex treats like tater tots loaded with barbacoa and queso blanco. goodtimecharlis.com
Juke Joints & Jazz Clubs
Jazz cats and blues hounds, take note: The Valley’s late-night listening scene is finding its rhythm with small stages, plush booths, private tables and a whole lot of soul.
Jazzbird Nights at Ravenscroft
Friday nights bring established names and up-and-coming musicians to the snug stage at Jazzbird, a laid-back lounge inside this acclaimed Scottsdale center devoted to jazz performance and education. theravenscroft.com
Seasonal Highlights
- November 6 Twin Tenors
- November 13 Michael Collins Trio
- November 20 Denny Monce & Dave Schmidt
- December 4 Dmitri Matheny Group: Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag, A Jazz Celebration of Christmas Classics
- December 18 Paul Cornish: Yuletide & Jazz
Westside Blues & Jazz
With its cozy seating and a stage that puts musicians within an arm’s reach, this woman-owned Glendale newcomer offers an intimate setting for genre-spanning acts, with an emphasis on jazz and local talent. westsideblues.com
Seasonal Highlights
- November 8 Double Dynamite: Tribute to Otis Redding and Sam & Dave
- November 22 Carmela y Más
- November 28 Cold Shott and The Hurricane Horns
- December 4 Soul Power Band
- December 27 Azz Izz Band
The Nash
Named for Phoenix’s Lewis Nash, the most-recorded living jazz drummer, this intimate 107-seat club has consistently brought world-class musicians to the Valley for 14 years. thenash.org
Seasonal Highlights
- November 6 The Nash Collective
- November 7 Something Else! featuring Vincent Herring and Lewis Nash
- November 8 14th Anniversary Jam Session: Clark Gibson
- November 13 Women in Jazz: AZ Edition featuring Rachel Eckroth Trio
- November 21 Charles McPherson Quartet
The Rhythm Room
A musician’s music club, The Rhythm Room has hosted countless rockabilly, swing and jazz acts, but its bread and butter is blues and roots music – legends like Bo Diddley and R.L. Burnside have graced its intimate stage. Next year marks the storied club’s 35th and final season, so catch a show before its May 2027 curtain call. rhythmroom.com
Seasonal Highlights
- November 20Igor & The Red Elvises
- November 21 Sugar Thieves
- November 27 Three Bad Jacks
- December 7 The Lucky Devils
- December 24 Christmas Eve Blues with Billy Watson, Bill Tarsha & The Rocket
The Blooze Bar
This lived-in North Phoenix juke joint trades in candlelit-lounge sophistication for pure soul, grit and volume, regularly hosting rock bands, blues jams and rockabilly nights. @bloozebar32
Seasonal Highlights
- November 7 Tigers on Opium
- November 13 Phoenix Phamous Presents Friday the 13th featuring Hector Camacho and King Cherry
- November 14 Rock Against PTSD Veteran’s Day Concert
- November 22 The Blooze Bros Gong Show
- December 30 Tabernacle of Mischief
AN ODE TO THE MUSIC CLUB
In an era increasingly defined by AI-generated songs and corporate monopolization, independent venues matter now more than ever. The Nash is holding it down in Downtown Phoenix through its enduring musical outreach, education and performance. Director of education Dr. Clark Gibson offers a quick rhapsody on the venue’s value to the community and why live music still matters.
What’s something people often misunderstand about jazz?
It’s important to remember that this was a largely African American artform… It’s an art that represents all of us… and it deserves to be celebrated as much as the music of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart.
Why are intimate, listening-focused jazz venues so important?
The wonderful thing about jazz and jazz improvisation is you are witnessing people communicate with instruments. It’s also part of our rich American history. Jazz music is American music. R&B, country and rock all started with jazz and blues. It’s really the foundation of who we are as a people in a melting-pot culture.
What sets The Nash apart from traditional bars and concert venues?
For us, it’s providing a space for the community to enjoy this higher art form called jazz music. You can enjoy it casually with a drink or you can enjoy it actively by joining classes. It’s for the city to have this wonderful arts experience but also enjoy the nightlife at the same time.
The Cocktail Circuit
Sip your way through the Valley’s modern mixology playbook – and the increasingly ambitious bars boldly rewriting it.
Above It All
Chase sunsets, city lights and high-altitude cocktails at these rooftop retreats.
1. Outrider Rooftop Lounge
Seven stories above Old Town Scottsdale, this posh rooftop escape pairs panoramic Camelback Mountain views with cozy fire pits and desert-inspired drinks, making it an ideal perch for golden-hour toasts and post-sunset socializing. outriderrooftop.com
2. Floor 13 Rooftop Bar
Art Deco decadence meets modern metropolitan panache on the 13th floor of Downtown Phoenix’s Hilton Garden Inn, where craft cocktails and light bites come with a side of sweeping city views. floor13rooftopbar.com
3. Sotol Modern Cocktail Kitchen
Gilbert’s first rooftop bar is a dreamy love letter to the Sonoran Desert, offering Southwestern-inflected cuisine, agave-forward cocktails and a nightly front-row seat to technicolor sunsets. sotolmck.com
4. Allegra Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s tallest rooftop pool and bar crowns luxury boutique hotel The REMI., where Moroccan-inspired décor, dishes and drinks share the spotlight with 360-degree views. allegrascottsdale.com
5. Lucero Rooftop Bar and Lounge
This sleek sky-high hideaway atop Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU overlooks Mill Avenue, making it an appealing stop before or after events at Gammage Auditorium, Mullett Arena or Tempe Center for the Arts. lucerotempe.com
So Below
Some of the Valley’s best bars are hiding just below the surface.
1. The Goose Cocktail Bar
Look for the small golden goose outside this clandestine Scottsdale cocktail bar, home to cheeky, avian-inspired drinks like the passionfruit-and-prosecco-infused OnlyFeathers, plus international whiskey flights and a robust roster of rare pours. @thegoosebaraz
2. Tell Your Friends
Sip on ice-cold martinis laced with Art Deco finesse at this lounge concealed beneath The Americano, where red velvet, mirrored walls and live music create an immersive escape from North Scottsdale’s corporate corridor. tellyourfriendsaz.com
3. 36 Below
Descend into this secret garden bar beneath Sip Coffee & Beer Garage in Arcadia, where lush greenery, fresh flowers and floral-forward cocktails transport guests to a botanical sanctuary. 36belowaz.com
4. Rokerji
No obvious entrance, just a petite, dimly lit sliver of a speakeasy serving stiff drinks and New Mexican comfort food underneath Richardson’s along 16th Street and Maryland Avenue. richardsonsnm.com
5. Alchemy 48
An unmarked backdoor serves as an unlikely portal to this under-the-radar enclave under Level 1 Arcade Bar in downtown Mesa. The cocktail program focuses on spirit-forward classics and inventive signatures, while the sultry, Prohibition-style lounge regularly hosts live jazz, cabaret and burlesque performers. alchemy48.com
Theme Party
Inventive cocktails are only half the adventure at these transportive themed bars.
1. Rough Rider
This moody, subterranean salute to Teddy Roosevelt and the volunteer cavalry he rallied during the Spanish-American War exudes rugged 19th-century swagger via Victorian cocktails, vintage mahogany and rustic brass barware. roughrideraz.com
2. Carry On
Every detail of this immersive, globetrotting cocktail adventure channels 1960s-era air travel, from cozy bouclé armchairs inspired by vintage airline seats to destination-driven tableside martinis. carryonphx.com
3. Drop Dead Gorgeous
Tucked inside Filthy Animal in Tempe, this Studio 54-themed speakeasy serves masterful Manhattans and martinis in a groovy, retro-glam setting. ddgbar.com
4. Trophy Room
Guests are asked to check phones and cameras at the door for a fully immersive, device-free evening at this dimly lit cocktail den designed to mimic a turn-of-the-century hunting lodge. bestcocktailbarphoenix.com
5. Tropic Thunder
Roosevelt Row newcomer Tropic Thunder turns the tiki bar trope on its head, marrying Polynesian polish with a psychobilly-tinged aesthetic, where giant skulls, jungle foliage, animal print and blacklight murals provide a theatrical backdrop for Painkillers, Jungle Birds and other tropical grog. @tropicthunderphx
For the Girls
The drinks are cute, the interiors are Instagrammable and the vibes are immaculate at these unabashedly feminine spots.
1. Lola’s Liquors
Neon lights, disco balls galore, colorful cocktails and late-night noshes – including a weekly $35 board-and-bottle Girl Dinner special – make this glam wonderland tailormade for girls’ night out. lolasliquors.com
2. Wine Girl
Blush-pink booths, fresh flowers, Champagne flights and rotating wines on tap make this Scottsdale wine bar practically engineered for bachelorettes and birthday parties. winegirl.com
3. The Rose Garden
A floral, gold and jewel-tone motif sets the tone at this Downtown drinking parlor, which features a modern apéritif menu gussied up with girly garnishes like edible flowers, dried fruit and fresh herbs. therosegardenaz.com
4. AZ88
Moody lighting, disco balls and eye-catching art provide an excellent backdrop for an evening of gossip over a lineup of essential cool-girl libations, including espresso martinis, Aperol spritzes and bellinis. az88.com
5. 50 Shades of Rosé
Hyperfeminine décor, a bubblegum-pink palette and girly, Instagram-worthy cocktails make this Old Town bar a Barbiecore dreamscape. 50shadesofroseaz.com
The Classics
Much like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, these Valley booze-slinging MVPs are classics for a reason.
1. Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Known for its encyclopedic menu of elaborate cocktails and owner Ross Simon’s surgical precision behind the bar, Bitter & Twisted has been the undisputed blueprint for Phoenix’s mixology scene since 2014. bitterandtwistedaz.com
2. Little Rituals
This Downtown darling – and younger sibling to Bitter & Twisted – helped put Phoenix’s hotel-bar culture on the map when it opened at Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Downtown in 2019, pairing meticulous, polished technique with effortless, cosmopolitan mystique. littleritualsbar.com
3. Platform 18
All aboard for one of the city’s most cinematic cocktail concepts, a rigorously rendered 1920s Pullman-style train car where Prohibition-era tipples arrive amid moving scenery, sound effects and billowing fog. bartershake.com
4. Highball
This low-lit drinking salon brought a sophisticated yet laidback sensibility to the Willo strip at the end of 2020, quickly cementing its place in Phoenix’s cocktail canon by both perfecting the classics and playfully riffing on them. highballphx.com
5. UnderTow
Originally conceived in 2016 by OG Valley hospitality alchemists Jason Asher and Rich Furnari of Barter & Shake Cocktail Entertainment, UnderTow began as an 18-seat tiki bar carved from an old oil-change bay. bartershake.com
Night Moves: 5 Ideas for P.M. Fitness Fun
When the bars become predictable, get your heart pumping with these after-dark action options.
1. Ride into the Night
When the sun sets, these 21-plus cycling crews hit the streets for community bike rides under the stars, which often incorporate scavenger hunts and bar crawls.
- Phoenix Downtempo Ride @phxdowntemporide
- Critical Mass Phoenix (pictured, below) @critical_mass_phoenix
- Phoenix Hash House Harriers phoenixhhh.org
2. After-Hours Roll Call
From rink-side laps to sunset rollouts, the Valley offers plenty of ways to keep it rolling after dark, including late-night adults-only sessions at Skateland and Great Skate (unitedskates.com) and community skates with Phoenix Roller Skaters (@phoenixrollerskaters).
3. Par-Tee After Dark
Sharpen your short game at late-night putting playgrounds like golf-meets-gastropub PopStroke (popstroke.com) and Imagine 3D Mini Golf (imagine3dminigolf.com), where hand-painted courses, blacklights and 3D glasses swing minigolf into another dimension.
4. Dink Responsibly
Trade the barstool for the backcourt with after-dark dinking seshes at Valley pickleball hot spots like Dink & Dine Pickle Park, Electric Pickle (electricpickle.com) and The Picklr (thepicklr.com), which stay open until midnight on weekends.
5. Namaste Out Late
The Valley’s wellness scene doesn’t stop at sundown. Catch monthly sunset and full-moon hikes at Pinnacle Peak Park (scottsdaleaz.gov), unwind with sunset yoga and meditation under the stars with Heller Good (pictured, above) (hellergood.com) at Papago Park or explore the desert after dark with Maricopa County Parks (maricopacountyparks.net), which offer guided Scorpion Safaris and Creatures of the Night Walks across the county.
Night-Hiking 101
Maricopa County Parks interpretive ranger Shaun Barnett knows the desert like the back of his hand. For five years, he has led weekly moonlit excursions into the Valley’s parks and preserves, shining a light on its nocturnal residents. “You find out animals that people are afraid of aren’t as terror-inducing when they see them in their natural environment,” he says. “A lot of people leave with a different view or a different respect for these animals.” He shares his top tips for post-twilight trekking.
Bring a flashlight
Blacklights are also clutch for scorpion-spotting. Barnett recommends carrying a backup and extra batteries.
Watch where you’re going
“People are afraid of things like rattlesnakes and scorpions,” Barnett says. “You’re much more likely to just fall down and hurt yourself.”
Stay on the trail
A nighttime hike isn’t more dangerous than one in the day, Barnett says. “It’s just a little easier to get lost.”
Don’t go alone
“Also make sure somebody who’s not going with you knows where you are,” he says.
Stay hydrated
“Water is still important,” Barnett says. “You’re still going to get hot and you’re still going to sweat.”
Burlesque, Uncovered
For 12 years, Spellbound Burlesque has brought the art of the tease to Valley nightlife, hosting regular performances at Century Grand and the Grand Ballroom in Phoenix. Co-founders Maxi Millions (pictured, center) and Frankie Fillmore pull back the curtain on the bawdy, body-positive artform. spellboundburlesque.com
Hair and Makeup: “Part of doing burlesque is selling the fantasy you’re trying to project,” Millions says. “You should be selling that fantasy head to toe.” The elaborate transformation can take up to three hours.
Visual Variety: Eye-catching on-stage ensembles feature fishnets, bras, corsets and panel skirts, while towering headpieces and feather boas amp up the drama. Creativity and diversity take center stage, Millions says. “We want it to be inclusive… not just different costumes, but different age, body size and orientation.”
Reveal Architecture: Hidden magnets, quick-release closures and strategically placed clasps make shedding elaborate layers look effortless onstage. Pacing is just as important as the reveal, with each removal choreographed to build anticipation. “People know you’re going to end up pretty naked, so that’s not the exciting part, honestly,” Fillmore says. “It’s about the journey.”
Audience Etiquette
A good burlesque audience brings irreverent energy while keeping consent and boundaries in mind. “We feed off of the audience’s energy, so hooting hollering, clapping and wooing – all of that actually makes us better,” Fillmore says.
