lineup of award-winning , nationally recognized craft beers . l Night clubs : After golden hour is gone and your dinner plans are a wrap , it ’ s time to head out for a night on the town . Local nightclubs come in all shapes , sizes , flavors and genres . Whether you ’ re looking for a specific dance floor or an entire scene , you ’ ll find it here . l Grownup playgrounds : No worries if you outgrew the jungle gyms at fast food joints years ago : You can still have fun with your food at a surprising number of Phoenix bars and restaurants featuring rides and games . l Live music venues : Rock , pop , jazz , blues , country and more : When you ’ re looking to cut a rug , rock out or just kick back to a mellow groove , there ’ s a place in metro Phoenix that will have what you ’ re looking for . You ’ ll even find a Musical Instrument Museum for a more academic music experience .
BARS AND RESTAURANTS If you ’ re looking for famous chefs , new eateries earning foodie buzz or award-winning fine dining establishments , Phoenix ’ s restaurant scene has something to entice you . Want a uniquely Phoenix dining experience ? Make sure to plan for tacos , tortas and other Southwestern and Mexican fare while you ’ re in town . Or if vegetarian and vegan is your taste , meat-free options abound throughout the city .
To truly take in the beauty of the Phoenix , you need to find the best outdoor dining spots . Whether it ’ s brunch or sunset , you haven ’ t truly experienced the desert until you ’ ve dined al fresco . After your patio repast , move on up to enjoy the view from a rooftop bar ! Whether it ’ s happy hour , golden hour or after hours , something about sipping from an elevated perspective makes the cocktails even sweeter — not to mention the benefits of the open-air environment .
But if a more intense bar experience is your choice , pick from a slew of dive bars , dark bars , sports bars , even a bar on a moving train .
Check out the lists of restaurants and bars — including patio and rooftop options — on visitphoenix . com .
DESERT-INSPIRED SPA TREATMENTS Phoenix ’ s array of local spas offer far more than the standard Swedish massage . Some Phoenix spa treatments are as unique as the landscape they ’ re in and use botanicals and minerals from local sources . Explore the Phoenix spa scene to find treatments utilizing prickly-pear , jojoba , turquoise , agave , desert mud , canyon pine , cactus flowers , mountain arnica and other desert-derived elements you may not find anywhere else .
GUIDED TOURS You don ’ t necessarily need hiking boots or a mountain bike to explore the Sonoran Desert in and around Greater Phoenix : Professional outfitters are happy to put adventurous sightseers in the saddle of a horse , the seat of a Jeep or the basket of a hot-air balloon . Explore the wonders of nature by land ( tour the desert with professional guides by off-road vehicle , horseback , or Segway ) or by air ( soar above the desert floor in a hot air balloon , helicopter or plane ) or
Want a uniquely Phoenix dining experience ? Make sure to plan for tacos , tortas and other
Southwestern and Mexican fare while you ’ re in town .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 n PULSE 19