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Sip and celebrate at these holiday-themed bars in the Valley

By Robert Gundran

December 8, 2023

Whether you’re spending the holidays with family, friends, or just by yourself, it’s nice to get out of the house and take in what the Valley has to offer this time of year.

Nightly temperatures drop to the 50s and 60s, making it warm enough to still sit outside, but cool enough to wear a long-sleeve shirt or a light jacket.

Next time you’re out and about in the Valley, check out one of these pop-up Christmas bars:

 

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour

1 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
Instagram
Hours:
Closed Sundays and Mondays
4 p.m.–12 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays
4 p.m.–1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Bitter & Twisted got the season started early last month by transforming their downtown Phoenix cocktail bar into a holiday-themed hangout spot with decorated palm trees and over 10,000 lights.

Their menu is the boozy version of Cheesecake Factory, with pages and pages of specialty cocktails. Each holiday drink comes in a specialty glass or mug you can buy and take home.

Make sure to grab a reservation or join the online waitlist if you plan on going, because it gets packed during the holidays. The last day to check it out is Christmas Eve.

 

Après Chalet at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale

7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale
Instagram
Hours:
Closed Sunday through Wednesday
4:30 p.m.–10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays

The Hilton Regency Scottsdale started their own holiday pop-up bar, Après Chalet. It’s only here for select days until Dec. 23, so take a look while you can.

Après Chalet is themed after a luxurious ski resort, offers specialized cocktails, and donates 5% of revenue to Healing Hearts Animal Rescue, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that provides shelter to neglected, abandoned, and abused animals.

 

Floor 13 Rooftop Bar

15 E. Monroe St., Phoenix
Instagram
Hours:
9 a.m.–9 p.m. daily

The Miracle Bar at Floor 13 is the Christmas version of Floor 13 Rooftop Bar.

Holiday decor is strewn across the rooftop alongside heating lamps to keep patrons warm in the open-air bar.

Floor 13 has specialized cocktails served in fun mugs that you can buy separately. They also have a holiday-themed food menu. The Scrooge sliders are a must-try.

The bar does have a spending minimum, from $50 for two people up to $400 for eight guests. Grab a reservation on their website.

 

Salt and Lime Modern Mexican Grill

9397 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale
Instagram
Hours:
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays
11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fridays
10 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturdays
10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday

Salt and Lime Modern Mexican Grill transforms into the Feliz Navidad Cantina every December.

The menu stays the same, but Salt and Lime changes its look from head to toe with Christmas decorations.

 

Trophy Room

2 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Instagram
Hours:
5 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays
5 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Fridays
4 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Trophy Room is a secretive cocktail bar attached to Wren & Wolf. The bar doesn’t allow phones or photography inside, so to get the full scope of what it’s like, you need to experience it firsthand.

For the holidays this year, Trophy Room put together an immersive experience called “Rudolph’s Wrath.” In the narrative, Santa Claus was kidnapped and Rudolph goes on a mission to save Christmas, according to a description from the Phoenix New Times. You can get reservations on their website. The experience lasts about 90 minutes.

 

Saguaro Summit Ski Lodge

2 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix
Instagram
Hours:
4 p.m.–11 p.m.

The Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix is hosting the Saguaro Summit Ski Lodge holiday pop-up this year.

It’s inspired by mountain resorts and is located in the hotel’s second-floor lounge. Their speciality menu has eight winter cocktails. If you want to get crazy, they have a shot-ski for up to four people. A shot-ski is a ski with shot glasses attached, and everyone needs to lift it together to take their shot at the same time.

The bar also has small plates like grilled cheese and fondue.

 

RELATED: Your holiday light display guide for Phoenix and Tucson

Author

  • Robert Gundran

    Robert Gundran grew up in the Southwest, spending equal time in the Valley and Southern California throughout his life. He graduated from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 2018 and wrote for The Arizona Republic and The Orange County Register.

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