| CHOW BELLA | t Café Superior Sips The top 10 best cocktail bars in metro Phoenix. BY TIRION MORRIS M etro Phoenix has experi- enced a cocktail bar explo- sion over the past few years, bringing with it new spirits, inventive bartenders, and exciting menus that rival those found at top drinking destinations around the world. Out of this list of 10, seven have opened their doors within the last three years. And we’re thrilled to see the Valley transition from a collection of classic bars to a metrop- olis buzzing with modern, ambitious cock- tail spots pushing the boundaries of what flavors and ingredients pair well together. A lot of bars and restaurants make a good cocktail. But some really stand out from the crowd. It’s about more than a cute garnish or fun name. These drinks perfectly balance sweet, tart, bitter, and smooth. They have depth of flavor, with layers of ingredients making the sipper ask, “What is that?” And, “how does it taste so damn good?” They transform a list of familiar ingredients into something so much greater than the sum of its parts. Whether housed in dark, edgy under- ground spaces or maybe a bright, homey living room, here are the best places to order a cocktail in the Valley. Bar 1912 4130 North Seventh Avenue 602-612-2961 1912phx.com Valentine, a restaurant and cafe on Seventh Avenue, got a lot of attention when it opened its doors in late 2020. But much more quietly, a little cocktail bar opened around the corner. Customers can enter through the restaurant or through a door on the north side of the building and find Bar 1912. The simple yet elegant space features backlit archways that cast a soft glow over a seating area of small tables and a narrow bar. Customers decked out in their most fashionable outfits crowd into the space, hoping to see and be seen. The cocktail menu, much like that of the bar’s connected restaurant, is filled with refer- ences to Arizona. Drinks are inspired by the different regions and ecological zones of the state and feature garnishes such as smoking rosemary and crystalline cotton candy flavored with pistachios. Barcoa Agaveria 829 North First Avenue 602-980-0788 barcoaphx.com When stopping by Barcoa, it’s important to note that the upstairs bar is very different from what lies below. Both are well worth a visit, but downstairs is where the real cocktail magic happens. Enter the colorful cantina from the side door off First Avenue, walk past the taco truck and the string lights, and head downstairs. There, you can pull up a seat at the large, rectan- gular bar or pick a table around the edges of the dark space. Decorative accents, such as comfortable throw pillows, table runners, and artwork, are all imported directly from Mexico. One wall displays a map of the country, outlining where different spirits are made. This bar focuses on everything agave-based, ranging from well-known tequilas to the more unusual bacanora, sotol, and raicilla. Curious? Knowledgeable bartenders can walk you through the long menu that includes creations such as the Elote Moda, which celebrates the sweet and earthy flavors of corn through Mezcal Vago Elote, Abasolo ancestral corn whisky, and Nixta Licor de Elote. For a dessert in a glass, try the HorChaiChata, made with clarified horchata, chai flavors, and tequila. Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour 1 West Jefferson Street 602-340-1924 bitterandtwistedaz.com Bitter & Twisted in downtown Phoenix is one of the few bars on this list that has been around for a while. Opening in 2014, this high-end drinking destination was instru- mental in pulling Phoenix into the national and international cocktail spotlight. The cocktail bar usually has a line, so join the queue online and head over to the historic Luhrs Tower when your spot is ready. Plush booths and tables are available for groups, but we prefer sitting at the bar to get a front-row view as expert bartenders pull ingredients from high and low to create cocktails from the massive menu. A scoop of ice cream here, a blast of CO2 creating tiny bubbles there. The antici- pation grows until your cocktail, served in a rocks glass, coup, teacup, or maybe a tiny ceramic bathtub complete with a miniature rubber duck, lands before you. Garnishes exceed the familiar dehydrated lime wheel or lemon slice and include foam, edible rainbow glitter, toasted coconut, and orchids. Bitter & Twisted also serves food through a rotation of pop-up restaurants. Currently, the Breadfruit & Rum Bar menu of jerk chicken and other Jamaican treats is on offer. Bitter & Twisted is closed for the month of October due to surrounding construction. Check online for reopening information. Century Grand 3626 East Indian School Road 602-739-1388 centurygrandphx.com Walking into Century Grand is like entering another world — and that’s exactly the point. This immersive concept is home to three separate cocktail bars. UnderTow, a nautical-themed experience, invites customers to sip tiki-inspired drinks while looking out of portholes that display the ocean. The windows are dialed up a notch at Platform 18, another bar within the space that sits inside a replica of a Pullman train car. “Passengers” sip hand- crafted beverages and eat boozy ice cream while snowy countryside whirs by in the trains “windows.” Those who are prone to a little motion sickness might instead choose to enjoy a drink at the final concept at Century Grand, a New Orleans-style apothecary bar called the Grey Hen. This small brick-walled workshop features a wide selection of whiskeys to be savored inside or out on the patio, which doubles as a waiting area for the train. Listen closely, as every hour, on the hour, Platform 18’s whistle blows, alerting customers that their allocated 90-minute reservation may soon be up. Century Grand, with all of its theatrics and impressive drinks, is popular, so make sure to navigate the online reser- vation system to claim your seat. Garden Bar 822 North Sixth Avenue 602-612-4438 gardenbarphx.com Garden Bar feels like home — if you had an expert bartender who could also whip up next-level cocktails whenever you like. Settle into a couch in the living room, at a table on the back porch, or on a stool at the bar, and let the warm hospitality take you in. The historic building was a house for much of its life, providing a home for multiple generations of the Kilroy family. Now, cocktail extraordinaire Kim Haasarud is making the place her own with one of the best cocktail menus in town. She’s inspired by local ingredients and flavors, such as honey made by Arizona bees. A wedge of beeswax sits at the bar, providing fresh Tirion Morris Agave spirits are transformed into creative sips such as the Clarified Chai Horchata Milk Punch at Barcoa in downtown Phoenix. sweetness to a number of drinks. The menu rotates with the seasons, and there’s a killer winter-season beverage list full of coffee and warming spices. While we also love the refreshing summer tipples, there’s some- thing special about coming home for the holidays. Highball 1514 North Seventh Avenue 602-675-4244 highballphx.com Highball is a bar that oozes mystery. For one, you have to find it. The space is located on McDowell Road and Seventh Avenue, just outside of downtown Phoenix. The entrance is on the side of an old Starbucks, and the first thing you see when stepping through the door is a tall flight of stairs. Make your way up, and wait until your eyes adjust to the darkness. Customers in their nighttime best perch at the bar in the back or sit at small tables and lounge sofas towards the front. Cocktail experts Mitch Lyons and Libby Lingua, who perfected their craft at bars including UnderTow, lead the charge, with drink creations that include tasting notes to help their guests pick. For example, the Illusionist is a gin-based cocktail that is “Juicy, Smoky, Lightly Vegetal, Short,” while the Nice Being Fancied is described as “Your Adult Coffee, No Barista Necessary, Mini Coup.” Navigate the menu and the dark bar before letting your tastebuds do the rest. Khla 218 East Portland Street khlaphx.com Khla, which means tiger in Khmer, is an ode to co-owner Tyka Chheng’s family and heritage. The flavors and ingredients often used in Southeast Asian food and drinks mean something to him, and his passion is clear in the beautifully made cocktails. For something on the sweeter side, try the purple ube Manila Vice or the >> p 36 35 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES OCT 13TH–OCT 19TH, 2022
