Dining Guide | 6 Best Scottsdale Neighborhood Bars

Let’s face it, you deserve a drink. You’ve made it through the holidays relatively unscathed; you ate far too much, hosted a party or two and ran yourself ragged shopping and traveling from party to party. So this month it’s all about a little R&R. Gather your friends and let loose at any one of these great Scottsdale neighborhood bars.

6 Best Scottsdale Neighborhood Bars

Armitage Wine Lounge & Cafe
20751 North Pima Road| Scottsdale| 480.502.1641
Set amongst the eclectic shops at DC Ranch that despite its size feels like an old-school intimate bistro. If you stop by after work for a drink to unwind and let go of the stresses of the day you can feel the mood change as the minutes click by. Eventually, the lights start to dim and the music changes up a bit to create a more animated and almost electrified environment. They extend their happy hour throughout the entire week from 5 to 7pm and offer an array of specials. Relax on the patio with their roasted beet appetizer which pairs a red onion marmalade and orange supreme splashed with an apple cider vinaigrette alongside Boursin toast. Pair this, or any other of their appetizers, with a nice glass of wine and watch the night unfold.

Cibo e Vino
34522 North Scottsdale Road| Scottsdale| 480.595.6600
Sometimes the best meals are created out of an array of appetizers and that can easily be done at Cibo e Vino with options of bruschetta, a roasted red pepper crostini, pesto rolls and their succulent fried calamari. With discounted beer and wines you could gather with your closest friends, fill up on your favorite Italian snack and warm your soul with wine and laughs amongst friends. Their regular menu items are equally delightful with classics like veal scaloppini and pasta carbonara as well as their cleverly named pizzas whose monikers are derived from Valley lakes and landmarks. This neighborhood spot is tucked into a shopping plaza, which makes it an easy gathering spot to come in and relax any night of the week.

Citizen R&D
7111 East 5th Avenue| Scottsdale| 480.398.4208
Ready for a little mystery and intrigue? Head to the alley behind Citizen Public House and look for a sign posted with specific rules, one of which includes a contact number to call. Call the number and let the person that answers know how many people are in your party and you will be told how long the wait will be. It may feel a little ominous, hanging out in a dark alley amidst dumpsters, but you’re soon to find out that it was worth the wait. While the drinks are on the pricey side this is most definitely a case of “you get what you pay for.” You’ll receive handcrafted drinks made with unique ingredients and creative tinctures. You are also offered a limited appetizer menu that typically falls in line with items offered downstairs at Citizen, but you’re really here for the drink experience. The mixologists and doormen are there to ensure that you are able to enjoy and savor every moment of this exclusive experience.

Proof Canteen at the Four Seasons Resort
10600 East Crescent Moon Drive| Scottsdale| 480.513.5085
Proof Canteen provides a relaxing environment that is upscale while still extremely approachable. The menu is based on the Chef’s travels around the country and you can find a dish to represent any one of our great states. The bar features cleverly crafted cocktails, a craft beer list focused in-state as well as wines made here in the States. If the duck fries aren’t enough to keep you coming back time and again, the friendly staff, beautiful desert landscape, and reasonable prices are all the ‘proof’ you need to make this your newest hangout spot.

Rock & Vine Bar and Grill
8900 East Pinnacle Peak Road| Scottsdale| 480.305.0907
Created by recent Michigan transplants, Rock & Vine Bar Grill was created with the intention of being a friendly neighborhood pub and they seem to have hit their mark. Executive Chef Nery Palma has successfully created an accessible menu with a few twists like the Green Chili Meatloaf and Olive Cheddar Burger. Their wine menu is pretty impressive with a wide selection of wines from California among other notable regions. This relatively new spot has the makings of a great neighborhood bar, straight-forward food, great cocktails and wines as well as attentive service.

Tavern Grille Scottsdale
8880 East Via Linda| Scottsdale| 480.614.5254
Tucked away in a small retail plaza, Tavern Grille could very well be the best neighborhood bar you’ve never been to. Offering up all the bar food you’ve come to expect like nachos, wings, sliders  along with ice cold beers, they can still keep it interesting with daily specials like half off burgers on Saturday or half-price bottles of wine on Wednesdays. The bartenders are friendly and ensure that you never have an empty hand, there are plenty of TV’s to catch the game as well as Off-track Betting. With a large group of regulars and a long standing reputation, this tavern is doing something right.

This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of So Scottsdale Magazine.