BEST OVERALL
What beats a nice watering hole to wind down after a long day? Or a good date spot with that special someone. Or even a place to hang out on the weekends?
If you’re down for a bomb time. You can never go wrong with a good Scottsdale bar.
To see that you have the most incredible experience, we set out around Scottsdale’s bar scene and cherry-picked the best bars in Scottsdale.
Why We Chose It
A drink and a view. What beats that?
| Pros | Cons |
| Incredible views | Hotel guests can sometimes walk around |
| Local drinks | Reservations are required at least 30 days in advance |
| Longer opening hours | Can only enjoy for up to 2 hours |
| Great DJ |
Outrider Rooftop Lounge understands that a picture is worth a thousand words. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in a nearly 200-degree view of the majestic Camelback Moutain range as you sip on your perfectly crafted cocktails.
The bar also gives you the authentic taste of Arizona with locally influenced brews, cocktails, and food, which makes it perfect, especially for Arizona visitors.
Being a rooftop bar, Outrider is quite open, which makes it an excellent environment for socializing with others.
Talking about environments, the bar on the second floor has a rock-star DJ, and if you ask nicely, your song request might just be played.
The cherry on top is that the Outrider Rooftop Lounge also has longer opening hours than most bars in Arizona, with opening times of 10 am – 10 or 11 pm, depending on the day.
Why We Chose It
Got a taste for the finer things in life? Jade Bar has you at heart.
| Pros | Cons |
| Happy hours available | Can be pricey |
| Multiple extras | First-come, first-serve |
| Fast service | Cannot not make reservations or book out for a group event |
| Lots of parking |
Jade Bar is a premium cocktail and spirits bar in Old Town Scottsdale. It offers a premium experience with speedy service and exquisite drinks.
The bar also has a large clear glass window that opens to Paradise Valley, which looks amazing at sunset.
Better still, there’s a happy hour every Monday to Thursday from 4 pm to 6 pm, so why not get your drinks at a cheaper price and enjoy the riveting sunset?
You will love that some extras like Wi-Fi, concierge, valet, and other services can make your visit more pleasurable.
To help with the cold desert evenings, Jade Bar also has a large fireplace to keep you and your company warm as you have a good time.
You also don’t have to worry about parking, as the bar has a massive parking space that doesn’t get full even at its busiest hours.
Why We Chose It
AZ/88 has one of the best bar legacies in the state, being a watering hole for 35 years.
| Pros | Cons |
| Been around for over 3 decades | Limited food menu |
| Delicious martinis | First-come, first-serve |
| Superb art | 10 seat maximum per party |
| Incredibly neat and clean |
The bar has consistently maintained high standards across the decades, and it’s mostly known for its mouthwatering Martinis.
And yes, if you’re not a martini person, you can try a long line of drinks.
Still, AZ/88 fills glasses to the brim with drinks, giving you every ounce worth of your cash.
Away from the drinks, the bar has some lovely pieces of art on the walls, and they change them often so it doesn’t get monotonous.
AZ/88 is a contemporary spot with tons of marble accents, giving the space a clean, luxurious, and modern feel.
Why We Chose It
The Beverly on Main is the benchmark of cocktail bars, with signature vodka, gin, whiskey, and more cocktail options.
| Pros | Cons |
| Open daily | Can get super busy |
| Both cocktails and mocktails | Groups of 8+ must reach out to their event planning staff for best results |
| Amazing food | |
| Open up to 2 am |
Liquor choices are copious here. For example, they carry over 10 whiskeys; you can expect to find your favorite brand at this establishment.
Not to mention, there are mocktails as well if you or your friend don’t want something alcoholic.
Another thing that makes the bar one of the best bars in old town Scottsdale is that it’s open every day from 4 pm to 2 am—one of the few bars that stays open this late.
If you’re an EDM fan, you’ll love the bar’s upbeat music. But the bar often tries to switch it up to accommodate broader music tastes.
Why We Chose It
Second Story is a hidden gem, which means that it doesn’t get too crowded. Therefore, the service staff will give you fast and individualized attention.
| Pros | Cons |
| Doesn’t get too packed | A tad expensive |
| Chill environment | This is not a late-night place, plan ahead |
| Knowledgeable bartenders | |
| Nice balcony sitting |
The ‘story’ in the bar’s name is there for a reason, and you’ll realize how enthusiastic the bartenders and chefs are to tell you the history behind their spirits, cocktails, food, and more.
Because it’s like a bar and diner, Second Story is vibrant enough to have fun and chilled sufficient for you to have chats without having to yell.
You can choose to sit indoors or on the balcony and enjoy the antique architecture of Scottsdale’s Old Town.
The icing on the cake is that Second Story has a rich food menu that includes seafood, with discounts on family-sized servings.
Why We Chose It
Rockbar Inc. is a spot to crack cold beers and watch football, basketball, baseball, or Formula 1.
| Pros | Cons |
| Wonderful live music | Groups of 10+ should make reservations |
| Great for watching weekend sports games | |
| Marvelous rooftop and outdoor bar |
The bar has a rooftop area with fantastic views and lots of large TVs for you to enjoy the game.
Rockbar Inc. also has some great live music, and they mix it up to accommodate different music tastes.
If you have an event coming up, you can also talk with the bar’s management to host a small, intimate gathering.
From rooftop bars to signature drinks, local food, views, service, you name it. Bars in Scottsdale, Arizona, come in all shapes and sizes, and some of the most top-rank today are:
Whether you want somewhere to sit with friends and family or watch a game, these bars will impress you.
Yes, Scottsdale is a fantastic city for tourists.
Scottsdale locals are generally friendly. Therefore, you’ll feel welcome, especially if you need insider recommendations on what places to visit.
Again, the city has unbeatable desert scenery, beautiful mountains and ranges, museums, and more things to see.
Because Scottsdale attracts a lot of visitors, there are good hospitality amenities where you can stay.
The nightlife in Scottsdale is fantastic if you wait until the weekend.
Along with the troves of bars to check out, there are many nightclubs, malls, comedy spots, and other places you can check out at night.
However, Scottsdale can get pretty chill at night, so you should wear or carry something warm when you go out at night.
Like any city with many unique bars, Scottsdale is an excellent place for a single ready to mingle with others and even find a partner.
The city also has several arts and culture hubs to find people with the same interests.
Scottsdale is an easy-going city, so you can basically wear anything you want to a bar.
If you want to blend in at North Scottsdale or Old Town bars, casual or semi-casual dressing is the way to go.
Unless it’s a themed event and you’ve been asked to dress a specific way, feel free to wear whatever you’re comfortable with.
Scottsdale is a generally safe city.
You’ll find cops on the beat during the day and the night to keep everyone safe.
But you shouldn’t leave your safety to the city or the police. Be careful about your surroundings and who you engage with to ensure you’re out of any potential danger.
We visited multiple bars in Scottsdale, selecting the ones where we had some of the best drinks and services.
We also leaned towards bars with suitable, friendly, and pleasant environments.
We further ensured that all the Scottsdale bars we selected offered solid food options, and without forgetting to lean towards bars whose prices justified the service.
You’d never go wrong with a fabulous sports bar in Scottsdale. The views, signature drinks, sports fanatics, arcade games, and vibrant music make the experience worth it.
The best bars offer similar drinks, but they might have different offerings in terms of food, patrons, and music vibe, so feel free to test them out and find which one plays more to your tune.
