The best Arizona hotspots if you love the nightlife
If you’re looking for a good time, Arizona has no shortage of fun. From night clubs to premier dinner locations to bars, rest assured that if you’re looking for a great spot to unwind and have a blast, there are key locations with great options for you, no matter what part of town you live in. Especially if you don’t want to travel a long distance, and prefer to drive once and have a ton of fun things to do that are close, looking for nightlife hotspots is the way to go.
So, looking for a fun night out? Why not consider a few of these Valley spots to get the party started:
Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town is one of the Valley’s premier destinations when it comes to nightclubbing, dancing, and bar hopping. Home to a number of great options, you can find everything from laid back dive bars to full on dance clubs. Even better? Old Town Scottsdale is big enough to accommodate a bar or club for almost every taste, but just small enough that walking, hopping in a pay-per-ride golf cart, or an Uber can get you to you next stop quickly.
While establishments have certainly changed over the years, you can find a ton of great places to cut loose like the W Hotel, Club House at Maya, Coach House, Second Story Liquor Bar, and so much more.
Looking for something a bit more laid back? Old Town also boasts some amazing places to grab a bottle of wine and an amazing dinner, like Maple & Ash, Olive & Ivy, and AZ88, to name a few. An important tip? Make sure you make reservations when you can. Old Town can get packed quickly, and sometimes, in unexpected places.
Downtown Gilbert
At one time, Downtown Gilbert was nothing but farmland. Now, it’s become an incredible array of restaurants and bars, making it a must-see spot in the east valley. Known as the Heritage District to locals, the area has over 30 restaurants and night spots. Some of these include Level 1 Arcade Bar, Culinary Dropout, The White Rabbit, Postino East, and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, just to name a few.
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is a treasure trove of cool concepts, and lively nightlife. Not only does it boast a number of cool bars (like Valley Bar, Seamus McCaffrey’s, and The Vig), it’s also got some fantastic concepts. For example, Crescent Ballroom has an amazing drinking patio, good food, and some rockin’ bands that play in the spot’s own music venue. Cobra Arcade is a bar/arcade with tons of old timey games that will take you down a trip to memory lane.
Is your idea of nightlife a little more laid back? Downtown Phoenix also houses some amazing restaurants like the Compass Grill (which gives a full 360° view of the Valley) and Hanny’s (which serves up some pretty amazing late night snacks and killer drinks).
Whisky Row in Prescott
After a fire in 1900 decimated an entire block in the city of Prescott, the area was rebuilt, this time with a number of bars (at one point, reportedly around 40)— earning it the name “Whiskey Row.” Nowadays, Whiskey Row is the spot to go for a fun night out in Prescott. But cocktails aren’t the only thing the area is known for— visitors can double down on karaoke, trivia nights, open mic nights, live performances, and even some great grub (like tacos and burgers). Plus, Prescott tends to be 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, an awesome change from summertime highs.
Arizona is packed full of great locales for those that are looking for something fun to do at night. Whether it’s a bar in Phoenix with friends, or a trip up to Prescott for a beer and some music, Arizona is lucky to have a ton of options and amazing concepts. No matter what part of the state you end up at for your late night excursion, just remember— be safe, have fun, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Because Arizona has a lot of amazing spots to see!
