Phoenix isn’t the first place that comes up in conversations about great American cocktail cities. And yet, the local scene flourishes. In a landscape full of overdesigned spaces and overcomplicated menus, Phoenix’s bars stay inventive and modern without losing sight of their guests—or their sense of place. It’s a little-known fact that Arizona is one of the most biodiverse places in the country. The ingredients that grow here are shaped by heat and stubbornness, with a sharp beauty that’s quietly worked its way into the capital’s cocktail identity. Many of the city’s drinks are rooted in the desert, or in the cultures that shaped it. Others pull from everywhere: Mamajuana sits on the same menu as Chartreuse foam, and, elsewhere, chiltepin chiles meet yogurt, pistachio and pandan in a clarified milk punch. Here, classic technique lives side by side with high-concept experiments, usually served with a distinctly Southwestern hospitality: warm, a little weird, never stiff. That spirit drives the bars that make up this list. Some helped launch Phoenix’s cocktail renaissance years ago, others are newer but just as ambitious. From the sprawl of the suburbs to the raw energy of downtown, each brings something different to the glass.

Phoenix

Where to drink in

With only a limited time in the city, here are the can’t-miss places to drink.

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