Phoenix is Arizona’s capital city and a wonderful destination to enjoy equal parts of nature and culture.
You can spend the day hiking around Phoenix’s many glorious nature preserves, and then enjoy a cool, crisp evening dining alfresco at one of its many excellent restaurants.
There’s nothing quite like a desert sunset, with its vibrant oranges, pinks, and purples eclipsed by a giant red sun descending under the stark mountain landscape.
Golden hour in the desert is a sight to behold, and what better way to marvel at a magical sunset than with a cocktail in hand?
I spent my most recent trip to Phoenix in search of the best Happy Hours in town and found a wide variety of restaurants, lounges, sports bars, and beer gardens that exceeded my expectations.
If you’re looking for the best Happy Hour in Phoenix, check out the following list of eclectic locales featuring a variety of cuisines and atmospheres.
The Arrogant Butcher
2 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: 602-324-8502
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Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix next to the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix hotel, The Arrogant Butcher is a high-energy, trendy steakhouse, seafood restaurant, and raw bar.
The giant dining space features a large bar and lounge where guests can enjoy a craft cocktail, artisanal beer, or a glass of wine, along with a full bar menu with refined versions of America’s favorite comfort foods.
Happy Hour at The Arrogant Butcher is on weekdays from 2-5 pm, with a wide selection of expertly crafted cocktails for 7$ and a great shot and beer program for under 10$ a pairing.
I went with the Rosemary and Flowers shot as well as a beer combo of Greenwood Rosemary IPA with a shot of Amaro to accompany a decadent soft pretzel with provolone fondue.
Jade Bar
5700 E McDonald Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Phone: 855-245-2051
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Located inside the ritzy Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Camelback Mountain, Jade Bar may be the most picturesque venue to enjoy a cocktail, a spectacular view, and live music.
The interior is a classy, contemporary lounge with plush couches and cushy chairs, jade and onyx accented bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows of the surrounding mountains, while the outdoor patio has a giant fireplace to warm those crisp dessert nights.
The cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists and are truly a work of art.
Jade Happy Hour is from 5=10 pm Sunday through Thursday, with 10$ cocktails and glasses of selected wines.
I recommend going on Tuesdays so you can get a 10$ cocktail while also taking advantage of the Two Buck Shuck Tuesdays with 2$ oyster shooters.
The Mix Up Bar
5200 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: 602-977-6458
The Mix Up Bar is located inside the Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Arcadia, overlooking the stunning Echo Canyon Recreation Area.
It is a casual hangout spot for guests and visitors to enjoy a high-quality cocktail in a laid-back atmosphere with a wonderful outdoor patio and a quirky, colorful indoor lounge. On Fridays and Saturdays, there’s live music.
Happy Hour is from 1:30-6 Monday-Saturday and 12:30-6 on Sundays with discounted draft beers, wine pours, cocktails, and select bar fare.
They make some seriously delicious fried wings marinated in harissa and served with tzatziki sauce.
Dog Haus
1 E Washington St #120, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: 602-607-5308
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Dog Haus is a beer garden and gastropub with extravagant takes on America’s favorite bar food from hot dogs to burgers to wings.
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix inside the CityScape shopping mall, Dog Haus has a full cocktail bar and a constantly rotating draft beer program featuring local craft brewers.
Happy Hour is on weekdays from 3-6, and Sundays from 3-11 pm, with 3$ cans of PBR, discounted draft beer, wine, and house cocktails.
You also get 4$ burgers, 3$ sausage, and 1.50$ tots and fries.
The burgers and dogs at Dog Haus are famous in Phoenix and use hormone-free premium quality meat and the fluffiest Hawaiian roll buns toasted to perfection.
MATCH Market & Bar
1100 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-875-8080
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Located in the Roosevelt neighborhood a few blocks from Phoenix’s lovely Japanese Friendship Garden, MATCH Market and Bar is a friendly neighborhood eatery, café, and bar that uses strictly local purveyors for their delectable offerings.
Whether you’re looking for a morning espresso, a mid-afternoon gelato, or a nightcap, MATCH Market and Bar has every meal and beverage covered.
Happy Hour at MATCH is Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm with a small selection of scratch-made snacks, cheap well drinks, wine pours, draught beer, and select signature cocktails.
I loved their Spice and Everything Nice tequila, mezcal, Ancho Reyes, and grapefruit cocktails.
The Whining Pig
Multiple Locations
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With six locations in Phoenix, including downtown, Arcadia, and Ahwatukee, The Whining Pig is a casual and friendly beer and wine bar with over 125 craft beers, a massive wine selection, snacks, and plenty of games to enjoy a rowdy night out with friends.
The dining space is contemporary, and all the different games, chalkboards, and giant screen TVs with random cartoons playing evoke the air of an adult playground.
Happy Hour at the Whining Pig is from Monday through Friday from 2-8 pm with 3$ beer and 5$ glasses of wine, which may be one of the best in town.
They’ve got delicious grilled cheese sandwich variations like The Heart with fig spread, prosciutto, and goat cheese.
They also have artisanal cheese and cured meat plates to soak up all that beer.
Buck & Rider
4225 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: 602-346-0110
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Buck and Rider is a fine-dining steak and seafood house in a rugged-chic décor old ranch house in the Arcadia neighborhood, overlooking the stunning Camelback peak.
Buck and Rider uses locally sourced beef and seafood flown in fresh daily to create a unique ranch and farm-to-table New American menu with a renowned bar program to boot.
Happy Hour is from 3-7 pm Monday through Friday and from open-7pm on Saturdays and Sundays, so you can have a boozy brunch for a steal.
Signature cocktails are under 10$, and draft beers, wine, and well drinks are all 7$. Plus, all snacks and raw bar offerings are 10$. I recommend their beautifully presented spicy tuna rolls.
Rott n’ Grapes
4750 N Central Ave Ste 140, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-888-1667
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Rott n’ Grapes is an Uptown favorite for wine lovers and their furry friends to enjoy a vast selection of fine wines and Italian-inspired small plates alfresco in a dog-friendly patio garden.
Locally owned and operated by married couple Keith and Patty strive to bring Uptown natives a comfortable, neighborhood wine bar.
There are daily specials on drinks like ½ off beer and wine by the glass on Saturdays or Trivia Tuesdays with a 15% discount on the whole bill for participants.
I recommend going on Thursdays when it’s an all-day Happy Hour. I loved their bruschetta selection to pair with a delicious glass of wine, namely the Keto-Peppi with avocado, ricotta, garlic chili sauce, and pepitas.
Windsor
5223 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-279-1111
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Named for the neighborhood in which it lies, Windsor is a local bar and restaurant with a wide variety of wine and draught beers, along with a creative list of craft cocktails.
Its giant backyard patio is a beautiful and airy setting to enjoy a delicious New American meal and quality drink with friends.
Cocktails, wine, and pitchers of beer are 5$ until 5 pm daily, and with excellent lunch, brunch, and snack options, Windsor is the ultimate day drinking spot.
I loved their refreshing No. 90 cocktail with rye, angostura, orgeat, and lemon. Their fancy deviled egg dip and chips with applewood smoked bacon and gorgonzola make the perfect bar snack.
il Asilo Restaurant & Bar
13470 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85022
Phone: 602-863-1199
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Meaning “The Asylum” in Italian, il Asilo Restaurant and Bar is a happy escape from the craziness of everyday life, offering the Moon Valley neighborhood a social oasis filled with great food, drinks, and entertainment.
Whether you want to catch your favorite sports game on one of the many flat-screen TVs lining the bar, shoot pool with friends, or play an old-school arcade game, you can do it all with a drink in hand at il Asilo.
Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 3-6 pm with 5$ well drinks, house wine pours, and discounted pints, mugs, and pitchers of draft beer, but there are also daily and weekend specials like 5$ mimosas all day on the weekends.
Their Happy Hour food menu features a small selection of cheap nachos, tacos, loaded fries, and chicken fingers.
The Vig Fillmore
606 N 4th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-254-2242
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The Vig is an upscale neighborhood tavern with five locations around Phoenix, including its trendy Filmore location.
It may be upscale, but the VIg strives to offer creative, budget-friendly menus and craft cocktails in a lively, hip atmosphere with live music and DJs most days of the week.
The Fillmore location has a great outdoor patio centered around a giant fireplace with an interior full of sports screens, bocce ball, and live music.
Happy Hour is from 3-6 pm Monday through Friday, with discounted mixed drinks, signature cocktails, and all beer. I loved their signature Flying High Cadillac Margarita, which is as top-shelf as they come.
FEZ
105 W Portland St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-287-8700
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Located directly in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, FEZ is a beloved Phoenix mainstay for new American food in a whimsical, vibrant, and contemporary setting.
The streetside seating and outdoor patio have wonderful views of Portland Park. FEZ is not only a family-friendly establishment but an active member of the Phoenix community, involved in many social projects around town.
Happy Hour is available daily from 4:30-6 pm with 5$ mimosas, champagne, wine, and select draft beers.
There are also 5$ snacks like fresh steak fries with your choice of seasonings from salt and pepper to spicy harissa to cinnamon sugar.
TIMO WINE BAR
8801 N Central Ave #104, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Phone: 602-354-3846
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TIMO Wine Bar is an elegant neighborhood wine bar and rustic Mediterranean and Coastal Italian kitchen in the Sunnyslope neighborhood, providing guests with beautiful displays of wood-fired dishes in a warm and comfortable atmosphere.
The dining room’s centerpiece is a traditional wood-fired brick oven in an open kitchen that delivers some of the best pizza in town.
Happy Hour is from 3-6 pm daily and all day on Sunday with signature cocktails, wines by the glass, and sangria all under 10$, and various menu items at discounted prices. I loved their citrus scallop ceviche to pair with a refreshing glass of white wine sangria.
Ocotillo
3243 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-687-9080
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Ocotillo Restaurant is a casual yet refined indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar that honors the desert landscape in both cuisine and design.
The outdoor dining spaces feature various settings such as the green, lush chef’s garden, the mesquite terrace adorned with blooming succulents, a giant beer garden, the list goes on and on.
The full bar features a slew of desert-inspired cocktails along with craft beer, and an eclectic wine list. Happy Hour is from 4-6 pm during the workweek.
Food and beverage at Ocotillo are both unique and excellent, using local Arizona purveyors to create an incredible selection of salads, vegetables, shareable plates, house-made pasta, and meat-centric entrées.
Moon Valley Grill
15414 N 7th St #2, Phoenix, AZ 85022
Phone: 602-863-0388
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Moon Valley Grill is a neighborhood sports bar and grill in North Phoenix in a fun, lively dining room with luxurious leather booths and friendly service.
There are daily specials on top of daily Happy Hours for you and friends to enjoy great deals on delicious American comfort food from around the U.S. and great drink specials while you watch your favorite game on the big screen.
Happy Hour is daily from 11 am-7 pm with discounted beers and cocktails, plus daily food specials like Taco Tuesday and Fish Fry Friday.
I recommend coming Sunday during the day to enjoy Happy Hour cocktails and 85 cent spicy chicken wings, which are a Moon Valley Grill signature.
There is no doubt that Phoenix capital city of Arizona and a fantastic destination to enjoy equal parts of nature and culture. But because of your blog, my expectations about Phoenix happy hour were exceeded. I never thought there was a wide array of lounges, restaurants, beer gardens, and sports bars in the area. I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and can you please help me find the best gay bar here? I really appreciate any help you can provide.