Phoenix New Year's Eve

Destination 01

Downtown Phoenix

7 places

Symphony, cocktail bars and steak downtown; 2 nights.

• Phoenix Symphony New Year's Eve

  The symphony's annual NYE concert at Symphony Hall, ending with a champagne toast; held again in 2025.

  Tip It ends early enough to walk to a bar for midnight.

  DoDowntown$$$2 hrDec 31 evening

• Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour

  Cocktail bar in the former Arizona Prohibition Headquarters building; its NYE masquerade ran in 2025.

  Tip NYE is ticketed; on Dec 30 go early for a seat.

  DrinkDowntown$$$2 hrAfter 8 pm

• Valley Bar

  Basement bar and music venue entered through an alley off Central Avenue, with a stage room and a back lounge.

  Tip Its NYE party is ticketed and usually 21+.

  DrinkDowntown$$3 hrAfter 9 pm

• Pizzeria Bianco

  Chris Bianco's wood-fired pizzeria in a 1929 brick building in Heritage Square, open here since 1996.

  Tip Wait for a table with a drink at Bar Bianco in the old house next door.

  EatHeritage Square$$1.5 hrDec 30 dinner

• Durant's

  Steakhouse on Central Avenue since 1950, entered through the kitchen, with red booths kept through a 2025 renovation.

  Tip It reopened in December 2025 under new owners; book NYE well ahead.

  EatMidtown$$$$2 hrDec 31 dinner

• Heritage Square

  Block of restored 1890s houses from the original Phoenix townsite, now home to restaurants and the Rosson House museum.

  Tip Walk it before dinner at Pizzeria Bianco; the Rosson House is lit up at night.

  SeeHeritage SquareFree30 minDusk
• Photo: Tony the Marine (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Arizona Biltmore

  1929 resort influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, built of patterned concrete blocks; it hosted its own NYE party in 2025.

  Tip Its NYE party is the dressiest in town; book a room and skip the drive home.

  StayBiltmore$$$$

Destination 02

Papago Park & Camelback

6 places

Red-rock buttes, desert gardens and a sunrise hike for Jan 1.

• Photo: Tony the Marine (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Hole-in-the-Rock

  Sandstone butte with a natural opening, reached by a short trail, looking out over Phoenix and the zoo.

  Tip It takes about 15 minutes up; go at sunrise or sunset when the rock glows red.

  OutdoorsPapago ParkFree45 minSunrise
• Photo: Scotwriter21 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Desert Botanical Garden

  Garden of saguaros, agaves and desert wildflowers set against the Papago Buttes, with trails of under a mile each.

  Tip Confirm Jan 1 hours and book a timed ticket; the morning light is best for photos.

  SeePapago Park$$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Jedijoe82 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Phoenix Zoo

  Zoo in Papago Park whose ZooLights season ran from late November to mid-January in 2025-26.

  Tip ZooLights tickets are timed; the evening of Jan 1 is quieter than the week before Christmas.

  DoPapago Park$$2 hrAfter dark

• Camelback Mountain

  The city's landmark peak; the Echo Canyon trail climbs about 1,200 feet in 1.2 miles to a summit over the whole valley.

  Tip Start at first light with plenty of water; parking at Echo Canyon fills fast on Jan 1.

  OutdoorsArcadiaFree2.5 hrSunrise

• La Grande Orange

  Arcadia's long-running cafe, bakery and market at 40th Street and Campbell, busy with brunch crowds.

  Tip Order at the counter and grab a patio table after the Camelback hike.

  EatArcadia$$60 minBrunch

• Postino Arcadia

  The original Postino wine bar, in a converted 1950s post office, known for bruschetta boards.

  Tip A relaxed spot for a late lunch glass of wine on Jan 1 if it is open.

  DrinkArcadia$$75 minAfternoon