Rough Rider is one of Phoenix's hidden gems. Tucked away in the basement of a downtown building, it…read moreoffers a unique historic ambiance that feels like stepping into another era. The space is cozy and full of character, though the limited basement footprint means it's not the most intimate setting if you're looking for a quiet, private dinner. The food was outstanding from start to finish. The lamb lollipops were perfectly prepared and packed with flavor, the potato and artichoke dish was a delicious and unexpected standout, and both the veal and Wagyu carpaccio were excellent. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. The house-made jam cocktails were especially memorable--creative, unique, and absolutely delicious. It's refreshing to find a cocktail program that offers something different from the usual menu. Service was attentive, friendly, and professional throughout the evening, adding to the overall experience. If you're looking for great food, inventive cocktails, and a distinctive atmosphere with historic charm, Rough Rider is well worth a visit. We'll definitely be back.

Rough Rider has been through some changes that I find disappointing. When we were seated, I asked…read moreour server if they still have happy hour and he said he wasn't sure if we were still within the happy hour window - it was 3:30 PM. He then confirmed we were still within the happy hour window and offered to bring us a menu. They used to have an extensive happy hour menu featuring several drinks and food items and now their "happy hour menu" consists of a cheeseburger for $22. Not sure that that really constitutes as a happy hour menu... I asked him why they changed the menu and he put up his hands as if to say he's not to blame and said he doesn't have anything to do with those decisions. He said that "management decided to make a few substitutions but they're pretty good" and didn't provide any further elaboration. I ordered the appetizer lamb lollipops which had four small pieces for $25. My friend decided to try the "happy hour" cheeseburger and he said it was good but it did appear a bit overpriced for an average burger with a pretty hefty serving of french fries. I really wasn't impressed by the quality of the food, the portion size, the price, or the service. Unfortunately, I'll be taking Rough Rider off my list of regular places i frequent and restaurants I recommend to others.

AZ Cocktail weekend event spot. Popup tiki bar event with yummy rum drinks. I'd come back again to…read moretry other drinks.

i swear this place has the worlds BEST espresso martini. so unsuspecting and so delicious....nearly…read morealways a stop when i'm out in downtown! service is quick and w this bar being inside the churchill, it's a great place to hang around and chit chat...and put down a few espresso martinis

I'm a big tequila fan & my crew that night with me is in the same boat or they will do some mezcal…read more The outside patio near the food truck is great when the weather permits. Main level/Upstairs vibe is well-lit with a true cantina bar feel. High-top tables, seats at the bar & happy hour from 4-7 pm make it ideal for some $7 drinks!!. The collection of Tequilas is GREAT. Many of which do not contain additives. I won't lie, I thought I was a big fan until I realized I didn't recognize a lot of the tequilas they had on hand. Downstairs is a whole different vibe. Custom craft cocktails, dim lighting with artwork, and more make it feel like an upscale NYC spot in your basement. I did 2 of my favorites, Paloma De Guayaba with the custom block name etched and the Baya Nueva. While in the Cantina, I had to order my friend the Basura (trash), but that wasn't the case... then again, it is served in a plastic bag, and is definitely a throwback to my early 20's of gettin' lit!!!! Always look forward to sharing this place with friends visiting and connecting with those locally.

Barcoa Agaveria is clearly a popular spot in downtown Phoenix, and I can see the appeal--but my…read morelatest visit didn't quite match the hype. I stopped in late on a Saturday. It was busy, but not packed, which made the service stand out more than it should have. I had to ask for water twice, never got a refill, and overall felt largely ignored--minimal eye contact, no real warmth, just an impersonal feel that didn't match the space. It felt like a place that may be a bit of a victim of its own success--popularity has grown, but delivery hasn't fully kept pace. Part of the appeal here is the permanent taco truck outside, which I know from past visits is excellent, and I love the truck's outspoken, unapologetic support for immigrants. That said, the cocktail itself was excellent. I was specifically looking for a coffee-based drink before heading to another event, and the Cambures al Estilo Foster delivered on flavor. It was tiny, though--served in a small stemmed glass, gone in a few sips. It did the job, but some may find the portion underwhelming for the price. No major complaints, but nothing pulling me back either. I'm adding a fourth star on a bit of a hunch--I'd like to think they can dial it back in if I return.

Sazerac is a great spot for a quality nightcap (and some lat night food truck eats)…read more My colleagues executed an EPIC event, and after 15+ hours working on our feet, we needed a festive place with stiff cocktails and food. First, for a divey-style bar, the barkeep was really friendly. And they have good drinks. He made a stiff dirty martini, an espresso martini, and a few of their Mezcal-based "Smoke and Berries." Outside, we feasted on cheap eats from (I can't remember the name), but we ordered everything from tacos to nachos to fries and I think empanadas? Great music, great lighting, service, and drinks. Highly rec.

Sazerac PHX is a sleeper hit in downtown Phoenix... low-key one of the best cocktail spots moving…read moreright now. From the jump, the energy was chill but not boring... lights were warm, music had bounce, and the whole place felt curated without being corny. Bartender energy? Different. No menus needed... we gave a vibe, he poured what matched it. Not sure what was in the glass, but it slapped. You ever drink something so good you start reevaluating your life choices? That. Clean pours. Balanced. Not over-mixed. Just enough sweetness to get you in trouble. Crowd was mixed, stylish... looked like people who know where to be without needing to post about it. The seating's cozy enough to post up and talk but open enough to float around if you're trying to socialize. It had that lounge-meets-night-out energy. Bathrooms were clean... that matters when the drinks are flowing. Never felt like a dive. Never felt like a bottle-service trap either. It's got identity... almost like a cocktail bar that grew up on rap albums and old money. It's giving... if Frank Ocean curated a bar playlist then dipped out the back with your ex.

A fun little place. However parking prices are outrageous. Take some time and drive around. Parking…read moreon site is expensive. Diverse menu, for food and cocktails. There were 8 of us. One person did not like their cocktail everyone else loved them. Had the steak bowl. Cooked perfectly. Yum! Medium rare with a wonderful sauce. Rice cooked perfectly. Other dishes were all loved. Great service. Very enjoyable.

GIRL DINNER. That's it. $25 for a martini or glass of champagne + caviar + caesar salad + spicy…read morevodka pasta. Only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5-10pm! So I've been here twice within the last two months for girl dinner because it is such a good deal. The meal is tasty also! It's the perfect meal with perfect portions. One main thing about girl dinner is a lack of protein, but I feel like I could definitely add chicken to my salad. Ultimately, it's a cool spot and the workers are always so pleasant!

Another 5 star visit to Pigtails!…read more My husband and I came with my parents to celebrate their birthday Friday night and were wise to make this our first stop on our speakeasy tour of Phoenix! Jack was quick to greet and seat us while Eulalio expertly crafted some delicious mystery shots we requested that even came with a flaming garnish to be treated like birthday candles! We LOVED it!! We arrived during happy hour so we also ordered some oysters and shrimp to graze on, FANTASTIC! The oysters were good but the star of the show? The 6 HUGE shrimps and fresh cocktail sauce.. what a way to start the night! Absolutely fantastic, no notes and totally a must try when you're in the heart of this beautiful city!

After seeing The Format at the AZ State Fair, one of my friends said let's grab a drink. We hitched…read morea ride to Downtown and after some misses due to long lines and no availability, we ended up at Pigtails. We found two seats at the bar and got a couple fun, inventive cocktails. I asked the bartender for her favorite drink and she said the "Black Magic Woman" which was a blackberry infused bourbon cocktail. It was great, and for my second drink I asked her the most unique drink on the menu and she said "Down The Rabbit Hole" which was tequila based and had carrot among other things and cream cheese foam. Who knew that was a thing? Also delicious. My friend and I were going to have one more cocktail but we decided to check out another bar simply for variety. But definitely a rad spot and I'd happily come back.

Ghost donkey is a super cool bar! I love the lights they have up in the ceiling and all the…read moredecor!!! I only ordered drinks, they have a big menu with different cocktails, wine and other things to order. I definitely recommend coming over here to enjoy a night out with friends!!

Ghost donkey was a part of our sustainability mixer for our Forbes summit and it is a really neat…read moreplace! We really packed in here but their staff did a great job accommodating us. I didn't get to order anything but the menu looked lovely and creative. The seating looked really open and I definitely want to come back with a smaller group.

Sal and his team are amazing! We loved our time in The Trophy Room!…read moreThe heart shaped vice as a mocktail was incredible! So tart! I loved it! Fire!! I hope they never take it away!! I totally hope to peak at Carry On!

It's the perfect place to take someone you actually like talking to. Cell phones aren't allowed and…read moreit's a much needed break from having your attention hijacked by an inanimate device. The vibe is basically "Rich Grandpa's Hunting Lodge on Shrooms." There are taxidermy animals everywhere, but they're wearing jewelry or holding martini glasses, and look like they've seen things they can't unsee. It's like the animals had a coup, took over the mansion, and started a high-end cocktail program. It's dark, moody, and fancy enough that you forget you're in downtown Phoenix. In all seriousness though, I love this place and go as often as time allows.

The quantity was perfect for the party of 2. The food was really fresh, good, meat perfectly…read moremarinated, broth was neutral which let the flavors of the meat and veggies come through. I wish they give the options of mushrooms like Enochi and King Oysters along with extra condiments for the Suki Sauce like Garlic, Chilli and Lime juice. The service was really good and attentive. This place really took me back to the Moo Kra Ta buffets in Bangkok and made me nostalgic. I hope they do have more options in terms of seafood and veggies! I hope the restaurant specifies clearly that the services are on reservation basis only because it isn't clarified anywhere yet. This would help a lot of people. Also, I hope the restaurant informs, directs and put in place about the parking spaces available around. Can't wait to get back already!

Located in Downtown Phoenix, the parking situation is a little hairy. There is paid parking nearby,…read morebut it definitely is better to come a little earlier to scope out the parking situation and get that sorted before your reservation. My party and I had a reservation on a Saturday night at 9pm (when it's 13 people, what can you do). What kind of sucked though (and mainly why I'm deducting a star) is that we did wait an additional half hour to be seated after our reservation time. Our theory is that they didn't think the entire party would actually arrive, and they were not ready to accommodate us. To be fair, the restaurant IS on the smaller side, but there was 0 communication during that half hour on what was going on... which isn't really good for us either. We got the original set, and this somewhat confused me as well. The food was really good, and was definitely a restaurant that I'd go to for the experience, but for some reason some of the meats were doubled while others weren't. The double portions were really nice since our party was so large, we needed to split the food between 4 different grills (so each table got 2 grills each, feeding 6-7 people in total or 3-4 people per grill), but then we had to share the portions where we only got one serving. It wasn't bad, but to me, didn't make sense. The food was really good though; I didn't care too much about the soup, but the green sauce was SO good. Mixing a little with the soup was incredible. I thought the beef and pork were really good. I personally left the restaurant full, but many others in my party did not. I think it's a really good amount of food for 2 people, but when you push to 3+, you probably do not want to come hungry. Also--the live music at Pemberton next door is SO LOUD, you're going to be shouting at your table the entire night when you sit outside. I think I would come back if I wanted to show this place to someone who didn't live here, but it isn't on the top of my list for when I'm trying to eat out, but I will definitely consider this for special date night occasions. It is extremely expensive for what it is though. For $70+ you risk the chance of leaving not full which SUCKS.

I wouldn't say we had the best experience. The food was pretty decent, but they brought my friends…read morefood out and then mine. Mine was wrong so it had to be sent back and the chicken had to be added to my salad-which took like 20 minutes. Our entire experience create us to be an hour late to the concert next-door. The bartender was kind and was interested in making sure we had the beverage of choice.

This was a fun little surprise! My friends and I just wanted to grab a drink after a long day of…read moretravel, and this was the bar at the hotel. This place had VIBES. We were very comfortably dressed, and no one looked sideways at us, but there were definitely people dressed to the nines! There was a party of women next to us, that were celebrating a birthday. We obliged them by taking their pictures all over the instagramable bar. Ryan was our waiter, and he is tops. Made some really good recommendations and was welcoming and attentive. I was just there for the drinks and enjoyed a lovely glass (or two) of wine, but my friends were feeling more adventurous and ordered some of their inventive cocktails. Including a couple of "Shot in the Dark" which could be ANYTHING. Also a burger was ordered and then brought up repeatedly for the next two days. According to him, it was possibly the best burger he had ever had. His face lit up at first bite. The menu is a mishmash of interesting options and the whole experience was not what we anticipated. In the best way.