The Best Cocktail Bars in Mesa

Dodo Bird

★★★★☆ 4.2 (56)

"I had an awesome time here the other night. They have an incredible happy hour menu and the decor is beautiful, bright and colorful with lots of greenery. There is also lots of parking available in this plaza which is SOOO CONVENIENT!!!!!! They also have a few free games and darts (which is not free). I decided to try the espresso martini and frozen margarita. They were both good. For food I ordered the mac and cheese and Chicago sausage. The portions they served here for happy hour were very generous, and I didn't end up ordering an entree since everything else was so filling. I also highly recommend the mac and cheese, it was so warm and cheesy. My friend ordered the wings and they were really good! Other people in our group ordered burgers and there were no complaints. It was my birthday, and they brought out complementary fried ice cream with a candle. Honestly, an awesome time! I can't wait to go back!"

Hana Tokyo All You Can Eat

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (25)

"The all you can eat is seriously such a good deal! You can do most of the menu (hibachi not included in deal) and try a lot of different items! My husband's a big sushi fan & was impressed. Seemed fresh and tasted good. Didn't have anything we really didn't like.Our service was fantastic which was great considering the reviews saying service was terrible. Our waitress was in training since it was actually her first night, but she was so friendly! Maybe they're focusing more on hiring good servers! Clean inside and has a hip/underground Tokyo vibe to it! Only downside is there is a little bit of a smell in the bathroom, which I saw noted in another review. It wasn't terrible so maybe they're trying to figure it out.Will be returning again and probably again and again!"

Toca Madera

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$

"I had a pretty wowing experience here. I can't wait to return and explore the menu more ! We did make reservations and were promptly seated. Service was amazing as expected courtesy, timely, and helpful. We placed our drink order and within a few minutes our perfect crafted cocktails were brought to the table. While looking over the menu and decided on a trees and appetizers. Our food was promptly brought out; one of the entrees the Rock Chicken was not warm at all, the server without issue replaced the item. We were here for a birthday dinner and a complimentary dessert was brought out for the birthday girl with sparklers and all :) !!Pro tip: it is a little loud in here so make sure know that going in its a very lively environment but also creates an entertaining atmosphere. I loved the complimentary valet ! Please remember to tip these are very kind generous and hardworking people !!!"

Prep & Pastry

★★★★☆ 4.3 (945) • $$

"Good spot for breakfast. Latte was just ok. My friend got a cold brew and didn't like it. I went with the sweet potato bowl and it was very good. The hash mix is pre made so I couldn't take the leeks out but it was still ok. I would have liked an additional egg it only comes with one. My friend had the breakfast sandwich and said it was amazing. We split the French toast and it was just ok. It was a bit dry. The topping was good though. Service was good. Place is cute. Would recommend"

Yellowbell

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Went here last night for date night. It is located inside the Camby Hotel. We ordered the elotes dip and shrimp to start and the burger and fish tacos for our entree. Everything tasted great! The burger and elotes dip were definitely the highlights. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful. The only thing I didn't love was the ambiance - it felt very much like a hotel restaurant and less upscale/classy restaurant. Overall though is was a really good experience!"

MATCH Market & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (493) • $$

"My wife and I had our Anniversary dinner here this past Saturday during Easter weekend. We saw it as we checked into our hotel room at Found Re Hotel. We asked the young lady checking us in about the restaurant and she said it was really good. Well it really did look good. So Saturday evening we made our way downstairs in excitement at celebrating our anniversary with some great food and atmosphere. As we walked in, the restaurant had just opened. We were met by a really nice young lady that promptly showed us to a really nice table that faced the street with windows that opened up for fresh air. We some enjoyed people watching in the downtown Phoenix area in between conversations with our server. Being that they just opened they were only serving certain items from the menu and at 5 pm they would begin serving all items. So we were in no hurry at all and ordered some drinks and waited and chatted till 5 pm. This place is pretty cool. You can sit at the bar or at a table. Or if you're on the go. You can get something to go from the adjacent market. Which many people did just that. As 5 pm approached our server came to the table and we were ready to order. I already knew what I wanted anyway. But the wife didn't. So she ordered the Shawarma chicken with some sort of sauce that she just loved. I mean it looked amazing and definitely tasted amazing. I ordered the Al Pastor Pork Tenderloin. I tell you what. I don't think I breathed while it ate. Bcz this was so dang good I gobbled it up. It really was that good. The pork was tender and the pico type topping was the perfect addition to the meal. Paired with a Scottdale Blonde beer it was an excellent diner. We did have room for dessert also! Wifey got the strawberry shortcake which was delicious and I had an absolutely amazing carrot cake with almonds. I have to be honest I had my double about this place. Bcz it's a little small and the menu isn't really too big. But what they offer is amazing and delicious. Also the service was excellent! The young lady we talked to was so courteous and had a great personality! We're home now and already miss being in Phoenix so we can eat here again! Kudos!"

The Parlay Kitchen + Cocktails

★★★★☆ 3.9 (602) • $$

"Hubby and I did a "staycation" at a hotel in Chandler this past weekend for two nights. The second night we decided to check out The Parlay restaurant down the street a couple blocks away. I had seen it be built and fitted a few years back, since my office building is also nearby. A friend from church also said it was good. I went online to see the menu and it had a reservation option so I went ahead and did that. When we arrived it was quite loud because there was a singer with a guitar, so it was hard to talk to the seater. But having live music was nice, and at the very end of our visit the guy played "Blister in the Sun" by the Violent Femmes, one of my all-time favorite songs from high/school college era (1980s). Mostly he had been going 90s grunge and 70s rock so this was quite a pleasant surprise! Definitely the highlight for me!But the food was amazing too! Hubby was feeling a bit lightheaded from not having had lunch so we ordered an appetizer, the portobello mushrooms with veggie and cheese filling. It was out of this world! I also ordered the French onion soup, which is their standard soup. It was way more than standard though, with a lovely swiss cheese "lid" baked on top and extremely savory broth filled with lots of onions and bread pieces. Yum-O!I really couldn't eat it all though because then our entrees arrived. I had the Southwest Mac and Cheese -- to die for! -- and hubby had a Gardenburger with fries. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle with great flavor, which is very unusual to find. I couldn't come close to eating all my pasta dish so took about half of it home.I also had a blackberry margarita which was as good as it was beautiful. Hubby just had Diet Coke but they were very attentive about refilling that and our waters. The waitstaff was just awesome in general.I also used the facilities while there, and the bathrooms were beautiful! It was a layout I had never seen before, where the men's and women's rooms did not have sinks; they had a collective sink wall outside the restrooms that was beautiful too!I forgot to mention that the whole building is glass walls to the outside, which made it really fun to people watch and look at the views. There was a patio/courtyard in the middle and then the "bar" on the other side. They had sports on big-screen TVs but the sound was off so you could visit.Very nice! Definitely will go back! Not cheap, but super duper delicious!"

Golden 9 Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (81) • $$

"We were staying nearby and wanted some diner-style home-cooked food. This place was touted to fit that description so we stopped in. They had some tables blocked off for seating to facilitate social distancing, and the staff was wearing masks. It wasn't too busy so it was easy to stay separated from others.My husband ordered the hot turkey open-faced sandwich that came with mashed potatoes and cranberries. He said it tasted very good. I ordered the chicken fried steak with chicken gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It came with a side salad (or soup if you choose) and a dinner roll. The steak appeared to be a fresh patty rather than frozen and the mashed potatoes were not the instant kind. The green beans were buttery and tasty. The dinner roll was light and fluffy with a hint of sweetness. The side salad was fresh and the blue cheese dressing had yummy chunks in it as I prefer.There was plenty of food in my meal, and I may have overeaten a bit just to finish it all up. This is a good place to stop for a sit-down meal if you are willing to brave the freeway exit semi-truck and car traffic trying to get to the gas station across the street."

Blue Sushi Sake Grill

★★★★★ 4.5 (37)

"I've been dying to try Blue Sushi Sake Grill for months after seeing their IG posts announcing their arrival in Tempe! So when my friends and I had an upcoming event nearby, we thought this was the perfect time to check them out since they just opened on the 27th. The restaurant is stunning and located in downtown Tempe at the new Novue Place, right next to ASU! Our server, Damaris, was so sweet and very attentive. She offered excellent recommendations on food and cocktails. Between the three of us, we ordered several appetizers, including the Charred Spicy Edamame and the Mango Crab Rangoon. I tried the Crispy Rice Cake topped with spicy tuna and the Crunchy Blue roll, both of which were delicious! My friend had the Cloud Nine 2.0 and the Hotel Cali, and she said they tasted amazing! Our other friend, who isn't a big sushi fan, ordered the 'Just Shrimp Tempura Maki' and liked it a lot. I will definitely return, as the food and service were outstanding. If you're in the area, be sure to check them out! They are offering HH all day ever day until February 26th! Plus, they have a second AZ location opening up in Surprise next month! Yay for us west siders!"

Chic Chef 77

★★★★☆ 4.3 (119)

"Great food and cool drinks. This is a nice spot for brunch or an after work wine down. Chef Nik is serving up a delicious atmosphere and when you are in her restaurant you can relax and have a great time. We were there on Mother's day and it was a perfect experience and I usually avoid restaurants on this day but I am so glad we ventured out to enjoy ourselves. If you are visiting the valley or a resident put Chic Chef 77 on your list."

Bourbon & Bones Chophouse | Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (33)

"Having eaten here once before, I really wanted to like this place, but for a high-end steak house, they fell short in many areas that added up. First off, meeting 8 other guys, they put us next door vs the main restaurant. Being the first to arrive, I went to the main restaurant hostess who said, oh check in next door. She didn't tell me their entrance is not on Scottsdale rd, but on the side. I walked over along with another patron who was also confused how to enter. There's a little swing gate that we found and entered; and then had to walk thru the place to find the host stand. Strike one. Checking in the table was ready but I chose to hit the bar and wait for the guys. Here's something none of us have heard of before. They wouldn't serve me a drink since I didn't have a bar seat, and all of them were taken. The bartender simply walked away. I felt completely disregarded, and stood there like an idiot. Strike 2. Fortunately the guys arrived and we took our seats. The server asked about drinks and I ordered a dirty martini first. But then she walked away. The guys asked where she went. I had no idea and 5 min later she arrived with my drink. One at a time we thought. She then took their orders. Strike 3. After she brought the drinks, she took our food order. One of the guys ordered a beer. It never came. When the food arrived I asked her about his beer. She went to the bar and brought the bottle over. No apology. No acknowledgment of it taking 20 minutes. Strike 4. The rest was ok. My steak was good. Not great. They do not know how to char or sear. The steaks were gray. May have been sous vide. Overall, not a great experience. Did I expect too much?"

Motomoto Sushi & Izakaya

★★★★☆ 3.7 (128) • $$

"Great experience! ...from the ambiance to the staff. I could not get enough of the spicy edamame. The tempura salmon roll was on point. While not a full bar, there's something for the pickiest of drinkers. It's located downtown, so plan for parking. Accessible entrance."

The Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (184) • $$

"Absolutely love this place!!!It has taken me forever to finally visit the bar. and they did not disappoint. The number one thing I absolutely LOVE about the bar, they serve fresh cut fries. The wings were amazing, I had them with the John Blaze honey hot and the sauce was delicious!!! The drink I ordered, Sexican, so good.To top all that off, they played throwback 90s rap and r&b, which took me down memory lane. I will be back again and again and again!!!Rate 10/10"

Sip Coffee & Beer

★★★★☆ 3.9 (454) • $$

"Fun, and different but with same old menu! I typically come for coffee and ambience both of which are great! Staff is also pretty nice and good! During the day-there seems to be lots of folks doing the work and atmosphere is just right for it!!"

Lane Park

★★★★★ 4.6 (14)

"The experience and staff were equally wonderful. We tried ax throwing, curling, and duck pin bowling during our visit. The service was amazing. The staff helping us today we're Sam, Maddy, Katie, and Bella. They were very attentive and helpful throughout. We hadn't experienced any of these events and it was a great time. Don't come to Scottsdale without visiting Lane Park!"

The Porch

★★★★☆ 4 (677) • $$

"Good bar food. The Hot Shot Burger (angus, pepperjack, grilled jalapeño, lettuce, chipotle aioli), Sweet Potato Fries, and Chicken Eggrolls were all great! Nice staff too."

Devil's Hideaway

★★★★☆ 4.3 (39)

"Great bar, great drinks, chill spot. If you're looking to wet your whistle or be three sheet in the wind this place is a good place to start and end. Plus the food pairs well with damn near anything on tap"

Glow Shots & Cocktails

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (41)

"We visited Glow while on a girls weekend, and it didn't disappoint! From the start, the experience was super enjoyable! Bottle service is the definitely the way to go. Nothing was too much to ask---check out the sign they had waiting for us!My friend lost her phone and everyone involved (Jeremy, Sebastian and Jay) did everything they could to help us find it and also open the bar on a day they were closed so we could get her phone before we flew home. If you're looking for a high energy, fun night out--this is your spot!"

Alibi Tempe

★★★★☆ 4 (64)

"Walking in, Alibi has a nice atmosphere. I love the roof top vibe. Came here for a work event and boy was it a mess. It seemed like they were not prepared to accommodate our group. The menu is very limited so it was concerning how long some items took to come out. We were in no means any rush but chips and a salsa should not take over an hour to get to the table. The food was a hit or miss. I really enjoyed the buffalo cauliflower. A fellow co-worker enjoyed the edamame but said they were messy and spicy. I personally had the seared ahi with some Asian noodles. I could not eat the pasta. It just didn't go well with the tuna for me. The noodles did not give Asian vibe. It was also cut on the thinner side. I really wish the sesame seeds I saw on the edamame was encrusted on the tuna."

Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails

★★★★☆ 4.2 (34) • $$

"This is the only one site restaurant and bar at Canopy Hiton old town Scottsdale. They serve breakfast and dinner, also happy hour daily but no lunch. We had a couple drinks at the bar and the cocktails were very good. Our bartender was a sweetheart and very friendly. The breakfast was just OK, food tasted pretty bland but portions were huge. I appreciated the gluten free toasts! The coffee bar was great for grab and go coffee drinks to start the day! As far as hotel restaurant goes, this one was pretty decent!"

Alter Ego

★★★★☆ 3.9 (197) • $$

"Great ambiance! Very open and upscale. Plenty of parking around (free street parking on Sundays). They had a good crowd but I was still able to be seated right away. The mimosas looked heavenly. I went with the protein açaí bowl with a side of chicken sausage. Everything was delicious and under $20 total. There are still plenty of items on the menu I'd like to try. Service was pleasant and efficient. I really enjoyed my meal!"

Palma

★★★★☆ 4.1 (479) • $$

"If you like trendy and loud places, you'll love Palma. The vibe is definitely more sit and enjoy small bites and drinks. We had a large party (and reservations) and it wasn't the best place for what we were trying to do. It was hard to talk to each other without screaming.The various items we ordered were good, but nothing was really out of this word crazy good, including the drinks.Personally, I wouldn't come here again. There were many better options for drinks, food, or both in the area."

Eureka!

★★★★☆ 4.2 (158) • $$

"Food was goodService was fine for a Friday night. I felt like a lot of hidden fees are involved and there is no mention of it. Ordered a vodka tonic and they charge for the tonic. $1.50! Who charges for a mixer!? All sides are an additional fee too, again no mention of it. I won't be back. The additional charge for a mixer rubbed me the wrong way. Always ask for itemized receipt!!"

North Italia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (591) • $$

"Having traveled to Italy and very in step with good Italian food, I was very happy with this visit here with a friend colleague.The place is gorgeous and when we arrived for dinner at 6:45pm, the place was swarming with lot of people! That's a good sign.We made reservations and were seated in a booth in the middle of the restaurant. This place is huge and also with a nice bar area and big TVs.We had a lovely waiter and my dining mate was interested in a glass of wine and since it's the summer, we went with a sparkling rose and my friend wanted a new bottle opened. Sparkling rose was great!We both also opted for the branzino and that was just delicious, reminded me of the summer I was in Sardinia and plenty of meals I had in NYC.There was a squid ink pasta on the menu and I would've loved to try that and I'll be back to have that next time.What was the cherry on top of this dining experience was the tiramisu. I'm not a fan of the typical tiramisu but this was made more like a pudding and that worked really for me! I loved this dessert and would come back just for this!Overall, an amazing dining experience, excellent service, solid meal and lovely company! I will be back!"

Hai Noon

★★★★★ 4.7 (46)

"Really nice ambiance, good staff, unique flavors. The absolute star of the night for me was the ceviche - citrusy tang, high quality fish, and a crunch from fried taro topper. The staff were kind and helpful. The fritter dessert was bland and a slight letdown after a flavorful meal. I think it's a place everyone should try at least once! However, it's fairly pricey and small portioned so I don't think it's going to be a place we frequent."

Pigtails Downtown

★★★★☆ 4.3 (221) • $$

"Cool bar that was hard to find. It's marked on the outside, but you kind of walk through a kitchen then into the quaint little bar. You enter the bar from Central Ave just south of the hot dog place.There were about 8 of us and some weren't drinking and it had a nice mix of cocktails and mocktails. I had the Mezcal Cocktail (I can't remember the name) and it was delicious.We stayed about 45 mins or so and enjoyed the back corner booth. Service was great as he kept checking on us. It was fairly busy, but not overly packed on a Friday night. We walked right in and got the last table.I'd go again and try some more unique cocktails. Fun spot!"

North Italia

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8)

"The food was so good! We enjoyed a family lunch for my daughter's 22nd Bday. Chase gave us wonderful service! He was polite and personable! Also, the atmosphere was one of good vibes!"

The Peppermill Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4.2 (342) • $$$

"Recommend: Yes! But it is a small restaurant so I hope not everyone decide to go all at once lol. Food: amazing! Delicious and they know how to put things together. Service: great service. Sounds like family own. The husband is one for he chef and the wife works at the bar. Details:Can I tell you that this place was so good that I want to go back already? The octopus was cooked perfectly well with amazing sauces around it. So colorful. A must order dish. I hope they always have this item in the menu. The other dish I got was the seafood of the day. It has risotto rice, seafood with tomato base. So good. I'll definitely be back soon."

Pizzicata - Mesa

★★★★☆ 3.9 (172) • $$

"To toast my 900th review on Yelp, I knew I needed to do something a little special and go with someone to celebrate. Who better than my Yelp Bestie/Cousin Chelsey H.?! This location has been bookmarked to try as I saw a Yelp friend review and saw they had Caprese. If you know me, you know I'm a Caprese aficionado and always looking to see who locally has the best Caprese!When you pull into the very large parking lot, you will want to enter from the right side labeled patio. It can be a little confusing as we walked to the left as it was labeled restaurant, but it was the golf resort side. Once we entered, the hostess was very friendly and asked if we wanted a window view which was a nice touch. Genuinely amazing how beautiful the view was as we both witnessed a sunset and the rolling in of a monsoon storm. The beauty of Arizona in the summer!To start the meal, we began with Caprese which despite the menu I didn't realize didn't come with balsamic. Shame on me for not reading it fully lol. I personally love balsamic glaze and/or balsamic vinegar, so we asked the waitress (receipt says Serena - we didn't catch her name sorry!) who grabbed a bottle which added the little something I felt it missing (personal preference). Before we could even finish the caprese salad, the beautiful vegetariana pizza came out. Pictures do not do it justice as this pizza was perfectly crunchy and the vegetables cooked perfectly! Since we were on a roll, we ended the night with the brownie that's topped with vanilla gelato and whipped cream. Though the texture didn't seem quite brownie-like, it was incredibly rich and delicious! Ended the meal on a sweet note.Definitely recommend this location if you are in the area, and when I have a craving for good pizza then I'll drive the 10 miles from my house to try this place again!"

Aftermath

★★★★☆ 4.4 (331) • $$

"They made a bunch of menu changes last time we went and the quality of the burger went way down hill as of a couple months ago. I used to crave this spot and now it's an easy pass for me and quality no longer matches the price point ."

Prep and Pastry

★★★★☆ 4.1 (220) • $$

"This review is for the Gilbert location. I stop in here at least monthly while my dog is getting groomed. Sitting at a table inside or on the patio are options, but I love sitting at the bar and chatting up the wait staff. They're super friendly and very attentive.I love the honey matcha drink and the baked goods are to die for. I often end up, leaving with something to take home for my honey bunny. I never have to worry about high fructose corn syrup in this food.The menu has fairly eclectic offerings and each dish can probably feed two or three people. It's a lot of food in my opinion. And all very tasty."

Nook Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (655) • $$$

"The vegan Campanella is my new favorite pasta dish. Probably have thought about it on a daily basis since going so... if y'all wanna drop me the recipe to try to copy it since I live out of state Service was great, decor is cute, not too busy on a Saturday evening around 6pm. Parking is a little wonky but they offer valet, if you're now down to valet there's a parking lot next door it's just a bit of a walk."

The White Rabbit

★★★★☆ 4 (405) • $$

"A group of us were able to make a reservation to come check out this speakeasy in Gilbert. The White Rabbit is a hidden cocktail lounge located in the basement of the Heritage Court Building. The staircase is on a side street with only a red light to light your way. If you sign up for their emails, they will email you with the latest password to enter. Reservations are required and can be made on OpenTable. The door into the White Rabbit is located at the end of the narrow hallway and is disguised as a bookshelf with a door knob in the shape of a rabbit. The White Rabbit speakeasy has a fun vibrant atmosphere to it. They dim the lights and the walls are adorned with old black and white photos. There are blue tufted couches in the main area. Maximum time for seating is two hours during peak hours. White Rabbit lists their rules of etiquette on a sign outside the lounge and on their website. The menu has a wide range of cocktails on it that includes both classic and signature cocktails. I am a bourbon or mezcal drinker and ordered a Whirligig to drink. We had a fun time soaking in the ambiance of this place over good conversation. The White Rabbit has been a fun addition to Downtown Gilbert and is a nice throwback to the days of prohibition."

Sanctum

★★★★★ 4.5 (32)

"We came here on a Saturday at around 9:30pm. This place is only open on Friday and Saturday from 9pm-midnight so I'm glad we were able to stop by here since we wouldn't have any other time during our trip.This place is above The Grand on the second floor. There's a door that you can walk through that will take you to a tiny room that can probably seat like 20 people total. All the drinks are about $12-13. I ordered the sazerac which tasted really good. My girlfriend got the blue Wallis which she did not like because it was essentially straight gin with a dash of blue curaçao.This is a really nice speakeasy with a cool ambience. The drinks are really strong (a lot of them contain absinthe) so be prepared for that. I would definitely come back."

Almost Famous

★★★★☆ 4 (35)

"What a gem! 50 Shades is truly THE spot to check out for a girls trip, birthday trip, or any time you want to be transported to a chic bar! Walking around the area for a bachelorette party, we decided to pop in for a quick drink. The music was sooo good and lured us right in!The seven of us were seated an elevated booth that fit us perfectly. Some of us orders cocktails, and the others the frosé (rosé slushee!). Drinks were bomb! I loved that they had other cocktails, not just wine. They even have an Arizona iced tea cocktail in the can! Although we didn't get the flights, they are served in a must-see tower/bouquet! Food is also available. Staff were welcoming and friendly! From the decor to the drinks, 50 Shades is a must! Overall, I highly recommend stopping in for a drink and some pics!"