There comes a time in every life when you trade in a beer for an Old Fashioned and a nighttime out in Old Town for a swanky Nox at a cocktail sofa . After all , who wants to be that 40 - yr - old fop clenched fist bumping in Scottsdale until last call every weekend ? ( Or mayhap you do – we do n’t pass judgment ) . For those of you who are quick to trade up for a little bit of sophistication , we ’ve done all the delightful and slightly intoxicate work of recover the rank best cocktail bars around town .
Okra Cookhouse & Cocktails
The southerly conception declare oneself a wide selection of both classic and modern slyness drinkable , including a variety of mint julep cocktails – what else would you expect from a Southern - style eating house and cocktail joint ? Okra ’s daily happy hr brag half - price bites at the saloon , including fume focaccia and fry chicken skins as well as $ 3 cocktail . Try like the standby Old Fashioned or a champagne French 75 – made with knock rummy , Champagne , fresh maize juice , and sugar . If you ’re lucky , you might just find sommelier and honour - winning mixologist Micah Olson working his trick behind the stripe .
The Ostrich
This Prohibition geological era - style cocktail couch really takes you back in time . It sits in the cellar of a pizza pie stick , in a building that dates back to 1912 , and was once a watering hole for secluded traveling drinker and well - to - do local alike . Its cellar tunnel here ply the perfect escape if Phoenix ’s finest were to wander in . Today , the bar is led by the nationwide know mixologist Brandon Casey and thirsty patrons do n’t have to be quite so secret about enjoying The Ostrich ’s long lean of libation , including the award - winning AZ temperateness shandy made with Arizona Distilling Co. moonshine , a distich sirup , fresh lime , Angostura orange bitters , and topped with a unfermented Bronx cheer cider .
Counter Intuitive
This Scottsdale cocktail legal community has bring in a whirlwind of local and internal bombilation for its innovative rotating theme and computer menu concept called “ episodes , ” which changes three times each twelvemonth to include root such as Shanghai Social , 19th - Century New Orleans , and Picasso ’s travels to Cuba ( semi - obscure bibulous diachronic references are right up our skittle alley ) . Counter Intuitive loves their agave spirits , but that does n’t imply you ca n’t get a good Negroni or Old Fashioned .
The Clever Koi
Since its 2013 possible action , this Asian - inspired kitchen and cocktail bar has speedily become a Phoenix favourite – not just for the steam backside and house - made dumplings , but their wide spectrum of all right craft cocktails . conscientious objector - proprietor and Bar Manager Joshua James ( formerly of The Parlor Pizzeria ) check that food and drink conscientious objector - exist nicely – have any deglutition on the stone , on a third power or tall , agitate , stimulate , or even tiki - style . attempt the enabler , with 12 - yr - sure-enough whisky , grilled lemon juice ( do n’t ask us how ) , grade B maple , hibiscus bitters , and smoked ocean Strategic Arms Limitation Talks . If you ’d opt your cocktail on the rocks take drive the pine – a fruit - forward cocktail formulated with St. George Terroir noose , Lillet Rouge , and lime . If tall drink get you function , try out the crisp Fill Collins , with Austrian ironical gin , elderflower tonic water , a little quicklime and lemon , grenadine , and celery . Clever Koi has program to unfold up a new place in Downtown Gilbert this fall .
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
We ca n’t get enough of Downtown Phoenix ’s Bitter & Twisted . locate in the historic Luhrs construction ( which , ironically , was once the Prohibition headquarters of Arizona ! ) , the space here has just as much charm and character as the drinks . From the cautiously purveyed ingredient – which drift from eatable flowers to fresh fruits and juices , and even ice – everything that goes into a individual cocktail is treated like an art . The bar recently found its thirdBook type O ’ Cocktails , which lists 60 unique cocktails admit the B&T flawless martini , the ridiculous Duck Punch , and a section dedicate to cocktails done right from B&T ’s friends around the world . The book also feature a page of the Top 10 drinks at B&T if you involve a little help choosing just one .
The Brickyard Downtown
This Chandler cake specializes in minuscule plateful and craft cocktails . Bobby Kramer , head mixologist here , offer a retentive - list of his very own original recipe craft drunkenness like the crisp Boston 85 , the velvety and citrusy Sonoran Sour or the tangy Desert Rose . And of trend we ca n’t blank out the toasty Some Mores libation . It ’s made with 12 - year - old rum and clean rummy , a spatter of coffee liqueur , and cocoa bitters to finish . The cocktail is clearly a looseness on words and the sweet - taste cocktail even delivered to right to you with a graham cracker encrustation and a toasted marshmallow .
Milk Bar
This ultra - modern , heavily Polish - influenced Downtown Phoenix situation attend up cleverly crafted drinks and a variety of Slavonic fare and European comfortableness food . you could choose from a excerption of vodka flight , European beer , and a prospicient list of wine-colored . signature tune toast such as the Napoleon complex , comprised of onetime cask vodka , absinthe , Riga Black Balsam , sweet vermouth , and some tangy orange zest , and the dirty commi martini top the cocktail menu .
The Little Woody
If you fancy yourself some sort of whiskey aficionado , chances are the mixologists here can give you exactly what you desire . This Arcadia neighborhood lounge offer 90 varieties of whiskey ( we counted , of course ) , but also serves plentifulness of other spirits . you could fulfil your daily serving of veggies with the alcoholic salad , a cocktail made with Effen cucumber vine vodka , or bury the food Great Pyramid and try the Hiso . This cocktail with a bitch is project from serrano - infused tequila , seraphic pineapple syrup , some fresh linden , hellfire habanero shrub , vida mezcal , and invigorated thyme . Stop by for happy hour , which happens every single day ( hallelujah ! ) from 4 pm to 7 pm .
Honor Amongst Thieves
honour Amongst Thieves is the newest cocktail bar in The Colony ’s buzzworthy Seventh St dining territory . This windowless , semi - secret cocktail spot is hidden just above the gastropub Stock & Stable and has a swanky old - timey feeling without being too pretentious . The Rutte of the Problem , a libation procured with gin , honeydew matcha , wasabi , yellow pea green , a stir of lime , and garnished with a melon sphere is a bracing respite from the Phoenix heat energy . There ’s also no shortage of the classics on this menu , but we propose that you be adventuresome and try something new . You ’ve fix in force reason to – the new cocktail program is led by Bar Manager Lyndsi Hastings - Mundy and vino expert / General Manager Corbin James .
Citizen Public House
Contemporary craft cocktails and award - pull ahead gastropub fare earn this Old Town drinkery two thumbs up . Stop by for the Good Citizen ’s Social , a half - price drink result happening each day from 3 to 6 post-mortem , and sip on something delicious . Favorites are the unusual club , a mix of Hendrick ’s snare , Giffard apricot , chamomile syrup , Cardamaro , orange tree bitter , and a dose of bitter lemon soda pop , and the the import , which blend Jameson Irish whiskey , tawny port , tobacco bitters , Four Peaks oatmeal stout , froth finished with a fume sugar lip , served on the rocks .
The Parlor Pizzeria
Bar Manager Michael Allmandinger and the ever - talented barmaster Libby Longlott use premium ingredient and artisanal product to reconstruct craft cocktails just as The Parlor chef do their beloved wood - fired pies . Standouts include the smoky and herbal chupacabra , made with mezcal , dark-green chartreuse , lemon yellow and cinnamon honey simpleton , and the camelback collins , a refreshing seasonal drink using local delegation vodka or commerce gin , seasonal fruit , herbaceous plant , and citrus . becharm felicitous 60 minutes daily from 3 until 6 pm for deep discounts on pies , drawing beer , wine-colored , and well liquor .
MercBar
Phoenix ’s MercBar is an outpost of the original New York - locate MercBar . Unfortunately , the Soho cocktail lounge shutter in 2014 but prosperous for you , the Phoenix spot is still slinging swallow . MercBar was a loss leader of The Valley ’s cocktail renaissance , effortlessly capturing the posh , sexy speakeasy vibe with delicious drinks to boot . prove the Double A , built from agave spirits , grapefruit and lemon juices , a touching of raspberry uncomplicated , bitters , and Citrus paradisi peel for garnish . Or stick to the classic , like a heart - forward Moscow mule , classic Bellini , or Mercer sour . This summertime the cocktail lounge celebrates its 20th twelvemonth in business .
Linger Longer Lounge
This vintage - style Phoenix lounge is the lieu to be if you wish vinyl platter and old - schooltime colonnade games with your craftsmanship cocktails . Every Wednesday , all day , you could get your favorite drunkenness , like an Arizona mule or Mexican peach on the rocks , for just five bills . Or if you ’re feel adventurous , order a beer or wine cocktail like the peach melba straight up with Brut rose , or the be fashioned with Four Peaks Kiltlifter – a rather tasty Scotch - style ale . you may even get a “ roadie ” ( a drink to go for those not pelvis to the lingo ) .
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Iamchanelle Photography/Courtesy of Citizen Public House
Okra
Christopher Galli/Courtesy of Counter Intuitive
Lauren Topor/Thrillist
MILK BAR
Lauren Topor/Thrillist
The Parlor
Courtesy of Linger Longer Lounge