We’ve got big news for Valley cocktail fans: Counter Intuitive, the Old Town Scottsdale bar with a rotating menu, will soon be changing its notoriously short and late hours of operation. Starting next month, you’ll be able to belly up to the bar from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday and…
The Spot: Smokehaus 3636 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale smokehausaz.com The Hours: Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Perfect for: A big space with big portions fit for a hungry crowd — or aspiring Food Network…
Since opening in fall 2014, Mother Bunch Brewery has become a downtown destination for hand crafted beers and elevated bar fare. Thanks to its location at 825 North 7th Street, just south of the I-10, it’s a convenient pit stop on the way home from work, on the way to…
Keeping with the theme of bartenders turning childhood drinks into adult beverages, The Brickyard in Chandler has not a root-beer float on its menu but, rather, a Root Beer Flip. “I really love root-beer floats,” says Bar Manager Bobby Kramer, formerly of Scottsdale’s Virtú and Downtown Phoenix’s Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails…
The Spot: Bliss/reBAR 905 N 4th St, Phoenix The Hours: Happy hour at Bliss runs Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with reverse happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to close, according to the restaurant’s website. Perfect for: Simple well drinks or beers on a…
The Beer: Cultivate Mexican Lager The Brewery: Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company (in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing and Boulevard Brewing Co.) The Stats: 4.8% ABV; 15 IBU The Story: For the second year, Chipotle is bringing its Cultivate Festival to metro Phoenix. The company puts on the event in select cities with…
The Spot: Moira Sushi Bar & Kitchen 215 East McKinley Streeet, Phoenix www.moirasushi.com The Hours: Happy hour is Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Perfect for: Cheap drinks in a nice atmosphere. The Interior:…
The Beer: Parched Pooch Hefeweizen The Brewery: Sleepy Dog Brewing Company, Tempe, AZ Sleepy Dog Brewing Company is a small craft brewery located at 1920 E. University Drive in Tempe. The brewery produces many different styles of beer on-site and cans of these offerings for those who want to enjoy…
Top billing on Okra’s winter cocktail menu goes not to something dark and boozy, but to a frozen, blended cocktail called the Julius Freezer. Creamy, boozy, and a touch spicy, this Vitamin C-centric cocktail ($11) is an Orange Julius re-imagined by adults with an arsenal of artisanal booze at their…
The Spot: Salut Kitchen Bar 1435 East University Drive, Tempe www.salutkitchenbar.com The Hours: Happy hour runs seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Perfect for: Trendy cocktails and discount bottles of wine on a breezy, dog-friendly patio. The Interior: Salut has a massive covered patio and a…
The next time you find yourself in Goodyear and in the mood for a cold craft beer, head to Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, located at 15651 West Roosevelt Street. The brewery serves a line of its own hand-crafted ales, known as Taildragger Beers, a term that refers to airplanes first…
In a city that’s perhaps best-known for its abundance of sunshine, it’s not surprising that many restaurants throw a margarita on the cocktail list and keep it there year-round. But the best bartenders making this summertime cocktail put a memorable twist on the classic concoction and keep the ingredient list…
The Spot: TapHouse Kitchen 6137 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale www.taphousekitchen.com The Hours: TapHouse Kitchen offers happy hour seven days a week from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Perfect for: A pint (or five) after a long day in a casual atmosphere. The Interior: TapHouse is an impressive space at Hilton Village…
The Beer: Nut Brown Ale, 5.5% ABV; 30 IBU The Brewery: Oak Creek Brewing Company, Sedona, AZ You don’t need an excuse to make a day trip or weekend getaway to Sedona, but if there’s inspiration needed to make the two hour drive north, Oak Creek Brewing Company just might…
Last week some of Arizona’s top wine growers gathered at The Farm at South Mountain for the launch of the Arizona Vignerons Alliance. The nonprofit organization hopes to promote Arizona wine through quality control. Founding members include some of the biggest names in Arizona wine, such as Kent and Lisa…
Since it appeared on the menu at Pizzeria Bianco Town and Country earlier this spring, bartender Blaise Faber’s Jack Knife cocktail has already become a hit with restaurant patrons. The star of the drink is a tropically-tart, house made persimmon liqueur, which Faber was inspired to make in an unexpected way. “When Peter…
The Spot: Dvine Bistro & Wine Bar 2837 North Power Road, Mesa www.dvinebistromesa.com The Hours: Happy hour at Dvine runs 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Perfect for: A spring day after hiking when you’re craving comfort food and your…
The Beer: Taildragger’s 6-4-3 Session IPA (4.8% ABV, 55 IBU) The Brewery: Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, Goodyear Let’s start with a baseball lesson: 6-4-3 is baseball terminology for a double play that originates with the shortstop, who then gets the ball to the second baseman, who follows up by getting…
The latest in move-ups and shake-downs in the metro Phoenix cocktail scene sees Okra bartender Riley Jones leaving his post to take up a new position at The Parlor pizzeria in central Phoenix. The young bartender comes to the Parlor just after the departure of previous bar manager Michael Allmandinger…
The Spot: The Kettle Black Kitchen & Pub 1 North First Street, Phoenix www.thekettleblackpub.com The Hours: Happy hour runs everyday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. until the restaurant closes The Interior: We were pretty surprised at how bright The Kettle Black is inside considering the downtown…
The Spot: Barrio Queen, Scottsdale and Gilbert 7114 East Stetson Drive Suite 105, Scottsdale 388 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert www.barrioqueen.com The Hours: The restaurant’s new happy hour is every day from 2 to 6 p.m., with a reverse happy hour from 9 p.m. to close Perfect For: A strong margarita and a…
The Beer: Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout The Brewery: Rogue Brewing Company, Newport, Oregon The Stats: 5.7 percent ABV, 55 IBU The Scoop: After one look at the giant bomber bottle dressed up like a bottle of hot sauce, “gimmick” is the first word that comes to mind. But don’t be fooled:…
