Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Phoenix

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Phoenix? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Highball

4.9

4.9 (223)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

**Reservations are available up to 14 days in advance at www.Highballphx.com/reservations for parties of 10 or less guests. For parties larger than 10, please contact us via email, or at the Large Parties tab on our website.

Experience Highball, Downtown Phoenix’s award winning neighborhood cocktail bar & lounge, featuring a rousing collection of spirits and invigorating cocktails. Curated for the adventurous, cocktail forward and late-night revelers, industry folk, and everyone in between. Led by veteran bartenders and industry professionals, Highball’s programming is inspired by unifying avant-garde, playful ingredients and memory-jogging flavors, propelled by an inclusive community feel with something for everyone to enjoy.

Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Regional Nominee "Best New US Cocktail Bar 2022", "Best US Bar Team" 2023, "Best US Cocktail Bar" & "Best US Bar Team" 2024

Top review

RachelVIP

Dined 7 days ago

I’m a regular here, love the vast cocktail options. They cover a plethora of tastes. The vibe is always on point for everything from date night to girl night. This recent visit lacked service and attention so hoping it was a one off.

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Experience

Celebrate New Year's Eve 2024!

Across the Pond

4.9

4.9 (213)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Phoenix

About the restaurant

Currently offering dine-in service 5PM-12PM Tuesday-Sunday! Reservations are encouraged but not required.

We are an intimate sushi bar and cocktail room setting offering an eclectic sushi fare, craft cocktails, beer and wine, as well as a variety of local and adventitious sake at our picturesque central Phoenix location. Our menu is focused on traditional Japanese styling of sushi with an emphasis on nigiri, sashimi, and a variety of house specialties using hand selected fish with local and seasonal pairings. Here you will find a knowledgeable staff to guide you through our menu and multifaceted beverage options in order to create the perfect dining experience for you.

We look forward to serving you!

Top review

GabrielVIP

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Their bar keep is great mixing up great tasty drinks . Fresh sushi the restaurant has a chill dark lite vibe .

Huarachis Taqueria

4.9

4.9 (15)

$31 to $50

Mexican

West Phoenix

About the restaurant

Huarachis Taqueria is the vibrant sister restaurant of Bacanora PHX, founded by James Beard Award-winning Chef Rene Andrade and his talented team. This isn’t your typical taqueria—it’s a place where authentic flavors meet creative cocktails and a diverse menu featuring tacos, huaraches, tortas, and hearty platters. Here, you can even treat yourself to our fun twist on dessert with concha ice cream. Huarachis Taqueria is more than a restaurant; it’s a gathering spot for the community, designed to feel like you’re at a friend’s backyard hangout. With a soundtrack of cumbia, corridos, merengue, salsa, rap, and R&B, it’s the perfect place to unwind, savor great food, and enjoy good company.

Top review

WesleyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Greeted by a friendly, courteous hostess, sat us immediately. Jackie was our server and is also friendly and courteous. Other servers were great, too. The food was delicious. We had the Chicarron, Pescado, Tripas Tacos and Frijol Dip, Carne Asada, and Lala Lengua Huaraches. Decor, ambiance, and noise level are energetic, not too loud. Overall Night Fantastic. We would definitely come back!!!

Lou's Bar and Grill - Papago Golf Course

4.8

4.8 (71)

$30 and under

American

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

Lou's is the perfect place for any occasion, whether that be happy hour with friends, watching the game, family dinners, or special occasions! Designed by renowned architectural firm Douglas Fredrikson Architects, Lou’s dining room gives off a cool-clean, stone-and-steel vibe paired with a wonderful indoor-outdoor feel when the massive garage-style sliding doors are opened to a rich green lawn and golf course. The bar features outdoor seating on two sides when the windows are drawn up, offering spectacular views of the setting sun gleaming off Papago Buttes.
*Please note Holiday hours vary.*

Top review

Cristina

Dined 6 days ago

Such a wonderful place to eat. Would definitely recommend.

Clever Koi - Phoenix

4.7

4.7 (890)

$30 and under

Asian

North Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

We are offering dine in, take out, curbside and delivery services through our online ordering platform at cleverkoi.com, UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub. Support local!

Reservations Welcome! We are excited to have you experience Clever Koi!

We are an Asian inspired kitchen and bar, that uses a crafty American approach. A seasonally and locally refined menu includes steamed buns, house made dumplings, and progressive noodle dishes, reflecting regions such as Thailand, Korea, China, Vietnam, Japan, and Indo-China. This comfortable urban setting features a heavy emphasis on seasonal craft cocktails, house made shrubs, an eclectic wine list, a variety of local beers and sakes to round out the palate creating a unique dining experience in the Central Phoenix Corridor.

Top review

GregVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always fabulous! The Thai salad is fantastic. The pork belly is amazing and the cocktails are perfect.

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Copper Blues (Desert Ridge Marketplace)

4.5

4.5 (407)

$30 and under

American

Desert Ridge

About the restaurant

Copper Blues was one of the first destination sites for live entertainment in downtown Phoenix over a decade ago, and now it’s coming to the Desert Ridge Marketplace! Don’t miss the best in local live music 7 nights a week while you enjoy an elevated pub fare menu for happy hour, dinner or late night!

Located next door to the Desert Ridge Improv and adjacent to Barnes & Noble

Top review

Richard

Dined on Oct 27, 2024

Had a great time. Went to hear Crown Kings! They always deliver a great time. Our server was very attentive, never had an empty drink .

BARCOA Agaveria

4.5

4.5 (96)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

BARCOA Agaveria is a basement bar that celebrates the spirits of Mexico. Serving imaginative craft cocktails and a vast list of agave spirits, BARCOA is often described as "vibey," "sexy," and "the time of my life" (says some dude from Mesa). Agave spirits such as tequila, mezcal, bacanora, raicilla, and sotol, are the stars here, available as flights, neat pours, or however you like.

Reservations are only available for the basement bar. Please reference the Basement Bar Menu. Above BARCOA, check out the Cantina, a casual back-alley mezcal and tequila bar that serves affordable classic cantina cocktails, and the cheery patio, which features Provecho taco truck. Pop out anytime during your visit and bring food down to the basement.

BARCOA can be tricky to find. We're located on the southeast corner of 1st Avenue & Roosevelt, in the historic red brick building. Don't worry, you're not lost. It's just poor directional signage that the City refuses to fix.

Top review

melissa

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

We had a group reservation in the tasting room. Everyone loved their drinks.

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Experience

Tequila & Mezcal Tasting

Experience

20% OFF WEDNESDAYS

POMO Pizzeria Napoletana - Biltmore

4.5

4.5 (177)

$30 and under

Pizzeria

Biltmore

About the restaurant

Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana, in the Biltmore Fashion Mall, dishes out Authentic Napolitan-style pizza in an intimate and inviting restaurant. The extensive pizza menu bulids from a base of tomato sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella. With the dietary needs of their guests in mind, Pomo Pizzeria can make any pizza vegan or gluten-free. Oven-baked pastas, fresh soups and salads are also great choices at Pomo, as are mouthwatering appetizers, like eggplant parmigiana, handmade meatballs and tasty bruschetta. With its mastery of fresh ingredients and handcrafted fare, it is easy to understand how Pomo Pizzeria's delicious Authentic Italian dishes and pizza have delighted fans of both simple and fine Italian cuisine.

Top review

jennVIP

Dined 5 days ago

So good!!! Thank you Hayden Jay and Nick! Happy hour and the salads and pizzas are all so good

The Mexicano

4.4

4.4 (1238)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Central Phoenix

About the restaurant

The Mexicano has a chef-driven menu, experiential food and cocktail carts, rotating DJs featuring Latin music and the country's first ever build-your own Margarita bar!

Top review

Alejandra

Dined 6 days ago

The food was delicious and the margaritas are so good. We had the Mangoneada and Grinch margaritas with the birria tacos and will definitely go back

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Popular dish

Ahi Tuna Ceviche

Popular dish

Chicken Tinga Enchilada

Guy Fieri’s Downtown Phoenix Kitchen + Bar at Caesars Sportsbook

4.0

4 (148)

$30 and under

American

Downtown Phoenix

About the restaurant

The newest addition to the DTPHX food scene. Celebrity Chef, Guy Fieri's first full-service restaurant features scratch-made American fare, signature and classic cocktails, and an extensive beer and wine list. The menu also features a combination of new recipes and Fieri’s personal favorites, including the world-famous Trash Can Nachos and award-winning Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese Burger. Located right outside of Chase Field and steps away from Footprint Center.

Top review

AshleighVIP

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Great first time experience. Food is good also the drinks

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Experience

Happy Hour at Flavortown

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