Arizona · best-of list
The 7 Best Bars & Cafés in Arizona
All 7 bars & cafés our route editors picked in Arizona, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. 3 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
7 bars & cafés in Arizona, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Downtown Phoenix 2 picks
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Downtown Phoenix · On our Phoenix New Year's Eve route
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.
Valley Bar
Downtown Phoenix · On our Phoenix New Year's Eve route
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+.
Downtown Tucson 1 pick
Playground Bar & Lounge
Downtown Tucson · On our Tucson New Year's Eve route
A Congress Street bar with a rooftop deck that has hosted a DJ New Year's Eve party with a midnight champagne toast.
Grand Canyon 1 pick
El Tovar Lounge
Grand Canyon · On our Grand Canyon & Arizona route
Small lodge bar with a porch overlooking the rim.
Photo: Ed Smith · Google
Papago Park & Camelback 1 pick
Postino Arcadia
Papago Park & Camelback · On our Phoenix New Year's Eve route
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.
Phoenix 1 pick
Rusty Spur Saloon
Phoenix · On our Grand Canyon & Arizona route
Old Town Scottsdale saloon, open since 1951, with live country music.
Photo: Rusty Spur Saloon · Google
Sedona 1 pick
Page Springs Cellars
Sedona · On our Grand Canyon & Arizona route
Creekside winery pouring Arizona Rhône-style wines 20 minutes from town.
Photo: Page Springs Cellars Tasting Room & Bistro · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in Arizona?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 7 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Arizona has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Downtown Phoenix has the most (2 of 7), followed by Downtown Tucson (1) and Grand Canyon (1).
More lists for Arizona
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Downtown Phoenix 2 on this list
- Downtown Tucson 1 on this list
- Grand Canyon 1 on this list
- Papago Park & Camelback 1 on this list
- Phoenix 1 on this list
- Sedona 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.