19 Aug 1st-Aug 7th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | make sure to taste your drink’s garnish, each painstakingly designed to enhance the drink and infuse more flavor. This bar is dark, loud and hard to find. But it’s unlike anything else along Roosevelt Row or beyond. Maple House 198 W. Boston St., Chandler When the team from downtown Chandler cocktail bar The Brickyard (plus nearby eateries The Hidden House and Elliott’s Steakhouse) set out to open Maple House in 2022, the goal wasn’t to open just another bar. Instead, Maple House is a spot primed for an aperitif or a nightcap, thanks to a selection of low- and no-ABV cocktails, craft beer, wine and coffee. High-proof spirits are replaced with options such as sherry, vermouth or a nonalcoholic version. These options range from familiar – like a low-ABV negroni or a spritz that trades traditional Aperol with the more herbal, bitter orange-flavored Cappelletti – to more out-of-the-box takes. Try the Before You Go-Go for a spicy, vermouth-based riff on a margarita. Maple House is located inside a house, so there are plenty of nooks inside and out to sink into and unwind. Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata 218 E. Portland St., Suite B What’s better than hanging out on a cozy patio with friends while someone grills tasty bites on the barbecue? Doing all of those things with a craft cocktail in hand. At Mr. Baan’s Bar and Mookata, the patio and tiny bar behind Lom Wong Thai restaurant, that’s exactly what to expect. You can visit for the whole mookata expe- rience, which includes cooking your own meal on a tabletop grill set inside a vat of bubbling soup. Or you can just visit for drinks. We’re partial to the Village Gold Stash, a bourbon-forward tipple infused with the flavors of lapsang souchong tea. Pecado 4418 E. Osborn Road In Arcadia, tucked behind the bright, airy Santo lies the dark, sleek, sultry Pecado. The juxtaposition is intentional, with the two names translating to saint and sin in Spanish. The dual concepts were opened by Roberto Centeno, Nadia Holguin and Armando Hernandez in early 2024, with the drinks program led by beverage director Adrian Galindo. Much like his cocktail program at the vibey Mesa bar and restaurant Espiritu, the menu at Pecado is full of tongue-in-cheek jokes and pop culture references. But, the seven deadly sins are the primary inspiration for the menu. Pride is a showy tiki-style sipper with mezcal and rum that will make everyone at the bar stop and take notice. There’s also Gluttony, a fat-washed bacanora drink served with a side of pork rinds. But we like to roll the dice with Wrath – a choose-your-own-adventure option where you tell your mixologist your likes and let their creativity run wild. Phantom Fox Beer Co. 150 W. Main St., Mesa There was plenty to be excited about when the guys behind Chupacabra Taproom and Goat and Ram mobile pizza kitchen announced they would team up to open a dual brewery and pizzeria in downtown Mesa. With Valerie Adee, formerly of Hundred Mile Brewing Co., leading the brewhouse, Phantom Fox Beer Co. is one of the Valley’s most exciting new spots for craft beer. Choose from more than 20 brews on tap, including Slenderman, a pale ale that’s an easy-drinking citrusy brew. You’ll also find select cocktails, wine and cider from nearby Cider Corps. No visit to Phantom Fox is complete without pairing your pint with a pie from Goat and Ram. The crusts are bubbly and chewy, often with a nicely charred exterior. Be sure to order a side of smoked tomato sauce to dunk your crusts into. Quartz and The Cave 341 W. Van Buren St., Suite B This duo of bars is a one-two punch of cocktail excellence. Upon entering, you’ll first hit Quartz, a dark space with a black cave-like stone overhang lit by a neon rope. Here, you can go mining through the menu with drinks inspired by gemstones. Try the Dripping Diamonds for a refreshing and citrusy sip topped with a sticky and deli- cious marshmallow foam. The Sea of Aquamarine, described on the menu as “an ocean water for adults” is bright blue and tastes of the tropics. Quartz accepts walk-ins, but if you’ve made a reservation in advance, you can go deeper into The Cave. But contrary to what the name suggests, this space is bright and filled with mirrors creating an extremely photogenic illusion. In The Cave, the drinks get even more creative, featuring ingredients such as camel hump fat, medicinal rica rica herb and a fizzy olive. Rift Wine Bar & Taphouse 431 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Rift has served a selection of craft beer and boutique wines from its Scottsdale taproom and bottle shop since 2020. Inside the comfortable industrial-style space, you’ll find knowledgeable staff who can help you choose from one of the 25 beers on tap and dozens of wines. On a recent visit, we saw local craft beer favorites and harder-to-find options from San Diego’s Pure Project and Colorado’s WeldWerks Brewing Co. You’ll also find mead, sake and cider available. Check Rift’s website or its social media to browse an excellent rotation of food trucks and events, including wine tastings and tap takeovers. The Starving Artist 2144 E. Indian School Road When O.S.H.O. Brewing + Distillery took over the former location and brewing operations of Helton Brewing Co., the team opted to reimagine the space and create a neighborhood tavern that specializes in cocktails and globally inspired bites. The bar is vibrant and eclectic, with red lampshades, toile wall- paper, loungey leather couches and classic paintings refreshed with quirky street art style. The menu matches the space’s energy. Among the cocktails, the Hibiscus Spritz is a floral, lightly sweet sipper that uses Lo-Fi Aperitifs’ Gentian Amaro and is topped with bubbles, hibiscus and lemon. For craft beer nerds, there are also plenty of options, including O.H.S.O. standards such as its tropical IPA Boom Dynamite and the brewer’s rendition of Helton’s sweet-tart Boysenberry Sour. The array of small and shareable plates includes a bright honey-whipped ricotta with roasted zucchini as well as New York-style pizza by the slice or pie. Tell Your Friends 17797 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale One of the newer bars on the list, Tell Your Friends has quickly made an impression. Located underneath The Americano in north Scottsdale, the speakeasy-style lounge is accessed through a descending staircase and a red mirrored hallway. Inside, red velvet drapes, floral decor and a shimmering gold ceiling and bar set the tone. Live musicians perform as expert mixologists shake and stir unusual cock- tails behind the bar. Try a sweet and savory concoction made with bell peppers or opt for a banana-infused old fashioned. Small bites accompany the drinks, and there are plenty of opportunities for expensive upgrades to elevate your underground experience. Trophy Room 2 N. Central Ave., #101 Trophy Room and its connected restaurant Wren & Wolf are probably not the best concepts for plant-based diners or animal lovers. The vibe is more hunting lodge, complete with taxidermy and rifles. There’s even a bullet chandelier. But if that sits well with you, Trophy Room is a great place to find some exceptional cocktails. The speakeasy-style bar is located inside the restaurant and doesn’t allow any phones or photographs. It welcomes customers for 90-minute stints to enjoy a range of classic cocktails and creative spins. Follow the menu’s guidance, and let your preferred flavor profile — spicy, sweet, strong, bitter — dictate your selection. Yum Bar 635 W. Glenrosa Ave. One of the Melrose District’s newest bars is one of its most fun and colorful. Pink flamingos adorn the bright green patio, a large multi-colored mural swirls around the interior walls and the cocktails are just as eye-catching. Stop in for dinner and a drink or grab a group of friends and head to Yum Bar for drag brunch. The bar is located inside The Royale, a collection of local small businesses that share a cozy courtyard. The bar is the collective’s anchor restaurant and serves a full food menu along with beer, wine and cocktails. Pair a Yum Burger or couscous bowl with a specialty cocktail such as the herbaceous Bewitched or the mezcal-based Glenrosa Gaze. The Haripunchai (left) is a Thai riff on a Tom Collins, while the Mengrai (right) has the soul of a piña colada, but with jackfruit rather than pineapple. (Photo by Dominic Armato) Top 100 Bars from p 16
