Best Cocktail Bars in Scottsdale for a Bachelorette

Why Scottsdale Cocktails Hit Different

The desert does something to the way a drink lands. After a day in the pool, an espresso martini on an Old Town patio at sunset feels less like alcohol and more like a reward.

Old Town packs the densest cocktail scene in the Valley, with rooftops, speakeasies and tequila bars all walkable from each other. This list is the order most groups should follow, starting easy and ending loud.

The Cocktail Bars to Hit

The Ends

Best for: A serious first stop before dinner | Price: $16 to $22 per drink

This small Old Town room takes cocktails as seriously as a Manhattan speakeasy. The dirt martini and the Negroni are the two drinks most groups end up ordering twice.

Order this: Dirt martini ($18) and ask the bar for a dealer''s choice

AZ/88

Best for: Fifteen martinis under one roof | Price: $14 to $18 per drink

AZ/88 has fifteen martinis on the menu including one of the best espresso martinis in the state. The rotating art installations make it the most photographable bar in Old Town.

Order this: Espresso martini ($16) and the chopped salad to share

Outrider

Best for: Rooftop fire pits and desert sunsets | Price: $16 to $20 per drink

On the seventh floor of the Canopy by Hilton, Outrider has fire pits, desert murals and boozy slushies. Time the reservation for 30 minutes before sundown.

Order this: Frozen prickly pear margarita ($18)

Cien Agaves Tacos and Tequila

Best for: A 100 tequila list and a loud patio | Price: $14 to $20 per drink

Cien runs more than 100 tequilas and pours one of the best spicy margaritas in Old Town. The street tacos hold up the table while the group works through a flight.

Order this: Tequila flight ($28 for three pours) and a Mexican Mule ($15)

Coach House

Best for: Old Town''s longest-running dive | Price: $8 to $14 per drink

String lights, no pretense, and decades of locals. Coach House is the only spot on this list where a $5 beer sits on the table next to a $14 cocktail.

Order this: Vodka soda ($9) and the people-watching

Onyx

Best for: A late stop with a creative menu | Price: $15 to $19 per drink

Onyx has held down a corner of Old Town for more than 35 years. The Berry Bramble is the bartender pick for groups still deciding what they want.

Order this: Berry Bramble ($16) or a Mezcalito ($17)

Old Town Crawl Tips

• Start at The Ends, walk to AZ/88, finish on the Outrider rooftop. The full crawl is under a half mile.
• Most Old Town cocktail bars do not take reservations after 9 p.m. on weekends. Show up early or leave a name with the host.
• Bring a wrap or light jacket from November through March. Patios cool off fast after sunset.
• Pace the group with water between rounds. The dry desert air sneaks up on first-time Scottsdale visitors.