QuickPHX: Sweet

---

COFFEE

Conspire
901 N. 5th St.
602-237-5446
myspace.com/conspirephoenix

Daily Grind
1 N. Central Ave.
602-252-2737
dailygrindphoenix.com

Dutch Brothers
4 W. Camelback Rd.
dutchbros.com

Hobnob's
149 W. McDowell Rd.
602-253-9220

Jacquee's Espresso
40 N. Central Ave., Ste. 106
602-252-0000

Lola Coffee
4700 N. Central Ave.
602-265-5652
lolacoffeebar.blogspot.com

Lux
4404 N. Central Ave.
602-696-9976
luxcoffee.com

Royal Coffee
(inside Urban Grocery & Wine Bar)
14 E. Pierce St.

Toast
2327 N. 7th St.
602-820-5512
utoast.me

Urban Beans
3508 N. 7th St.
602-595-2244
urbanbeans.com

---

Sidle Up
In writer parlance, a sidebar is an addendum to a larger feature. But when it comes to downtown bars, SideBar is the main feature. This popular cocktail lounge, opened in November 2008, is both a hot gathering place and a throwback to swank clubs of yesteryear.

"I used to love the old Chez Nous," Sidebar owner Josh Parry says of the landmark cocktail lounge formerly on Seventh Avenue. "That place drew all kinds of different people. So when I created SideBar, I wanted a place that would appeal to an eclectic group. We've got politicians and judges at one end of the bar in suits and ties, and at the other end there's a young kid with tattoos and gauged ears — and they all feel like they're in the right place."

It doesn't hurt that the cocktails are smashing. "Our White Rabbit is pretty damn good," Parry says of the bar's signature drink, an update on the horchata martini. "And our Simplepolitan is fabulous. We added pomegranate liqueur to bring it really over the top. And our Whiskey Berry Sour, made with fresh-muddled blueberries, sells like crazy."

SideBar offers a DJ on First Fridays, as well as every Sunday during the bar's Sunday Services party, featuring all-day discounts on libations.

"We have a little bit of everything here," Parry says, "So we appeal to a wide crowd. We're sort of everybody's bar."
1514 N. 7th Ave., 602-254-1646, sidebarphoenix.com

---

Durant's There are places to go for a good martini, and then there's Durant's. This venerable dining hall serves up tasty steaks and seafood, but its lounge is really where it's at. Leather-look banquettes line the walls of what may well be the last true cocktail lounge left standing. Politicians and pipsqueaks alike line up at the bar for a Hendrick's and soda or a vodka martini so dry that it's practically desert real estate. You can, too.
2611 N. Central Ave., 602-264-5967,durantsaz.Com

---

Bar Smith
When we're at this cozy, jam-kicking dance bar at night, we head for the rooftop balcony to be wowed by the fantastic flair-tending that Bar Smith barkeeps have been known to perform. Inside, the pub-style club offers a tasty lunch or dinner menu (try the Guinness Burger) and a swanky private VIP lounge. We always end the night with a kick-starting Café Patron at Bar Smith, our new favorite. Bar none.
130 E. Washington St., 602-229-1265, barsmithphoenix.com

---

COCKTAILS

Alexi's Grill
3550 N. Central Ave.
602-279-0982
alexisgrillphx.com

Carly's
128 E. Roosevelt St.
602-262-2759
carlysbistro.com

Cheuvront Restaurant and Wine Bar
1326 N. Central Ave.
602-307-0022
cheuvronts.com

District Bar at the Sheraton
320 N. 3rd St.
602-817-5400

Fez
3815 N. Central Ave.
602-287-8700

George & Dragon
4240 N. Central Ave.
602-241-0018
georgeanddragonpub.net

Portland's
105 W. Portland St.
602-795-7480
portlandsphoenix.com

Sens
705 N. 1st St.
602-340-9777
sensake.com

Shady's
2701 E. Indian School Rd.
602-956-8998

Ticoz
5114 N. 7th St.
602-200-0160