The downtown Scottsdale nightlife scene has gone through many changes over the years. 

It used to be a wonderland of massive nightclubs with packed dance floors and pricey bottle service. Now the area is quite eclectic, with many more casual spots cropping up the past few years. Revelers will find everything from trendy lounges to craft beer pubs to western saloons. 

But one trait has always remained constant: downtown Scottsdale is a nightlife paradise. Here are our top bars and nightlife spots in the bustling area.

Ellure Lounge

This sleek lounge opened in January, bringing back an upscale flavor to the area with glittering chandeliers, cushy leather seating, moody lighting and a color-changing LED wall behind the main bar. It’s a great spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks, or table service for a a big Saturday night outing. The menus feature seasonal cocktails, and bottle service ranges from Absolut on the lower end all the way to a magnum bottle of Ace of Spades champagne. 

Details: 7316 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-290-4260, ellureaz.com. 

Pattie’s First Avenue Lounge

This no-nonsense spot turns into a packed club on weekend nights, featuring a mix of neighborhood regulars and college students, and everyone in between. There are pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and ping pong, a dance floor, open-air hangout areas and cheap drinks. 

Details: 7220 E. First Ave., Scottsdale. 480-990-0103. 

Counter Intuitive

This sleek cocktail bar from Jason Asher and Rich Furnari used to regularly switch themes, from Cuba to Bourbon Street to Shanghai. The bar has now gone back to its Arizona roots with the decor, and as always, features an inventive and bold cocktail list from Asher, who previously held the prestigious title of GQ magazine’s “Most Inspired Bartender.” So, you know the cocktails are pretty darn good. 

Details: 7133 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. counterintuitiveaz.com. 

Maya Day + Nightclub

With a patio-dominating pool juxtaposed against a flashy nightclub, Maya Day + Nightclub delivers DJ-driven, Las Vegas-style revelry. Maya is a 9,700-square-foot nightclub and a 17,600-square-foot patio with rentable daybeds, lounges and cabanas. Built by Triyar Companies as a temple to the cult of the DJ, the venue highlights mix-masters inside and out, with both spaces designed symmetrically around DJ booths. Headliners have included Calvin Harris, Benny Benassi, Morgan Page and Steve Aoki. 

Details: 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. 480-625-0528, mayaclubaz.com. 

Coach House

This tiny wooden house turned bar stands out in Scottsdale for being the antithesis of the city’s usual swanky nightspots. Inside, the bar has low-pitched ceilings. Outside, a second bar serves the wraparound patio. While it’s a small place, it’s no dive. The bar opened in 1959 and has been a longtime favorite. The Coach House is a must-visit during the holidays, when every inch of the bar is decorated in Christmas wrapping paper, lights, candy canes, ornaments and tinsel. 

Details: 7011 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale. 480-990-3433, coachhousescottsdale.com. 

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

This Old Town spot offers all the fun of a bar, but with an upscale vibe, Western-style. Signature drinks include the Little Heartbreaker, Tequila Mockingbird, and Dierks’ Lemonade and Dierks’ Dram, both cocktails on tap. If you’re more of a beer person, there’s a variety of brews on tap, boilermakers and The Duke, a personal 32-ounce pitcher of light beer. There’s live bands on Thursday nights and specials throughout the week. VIP tables with beer and liquor taps and bottle service can be reserved. 

Details: 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale?. 480-945-4200, dierkswhiskeyrow.com. 

The District

The District is also a restaurant and popular day-drinking spot, but at night, it’s packed with partyers. The decor is laid-back with exposed brick, a massive wall hanging of the outline of the United States filled in with the American flag, plenty of flat-screen TVs and a globe sculpture created from gears hanging from the ceiling. Attractive cocktail waitresses and bartenders in lace bustiers and booty shorts serve the equally attractive crowd, and regular DJs spin the hottest dance tunes. There’s a full view of Maya Day + Nightclub, so you feel like you’re a part of one mega Vegas-like experience. 

Details: 7333 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale. 480-664-0356, districtbaraz.com. 

Bevvy

This stylish gastropub features wood-paneled walls, a tin ceiling and Chesterfield tufted seating. It’s a great place to watch a game if you want to break away from the standard sports bar, with 40 televisions and off-track betting. There’s a full food menu and brunch on the weekends, with a cheeky $300 special called the Bevvy Champagne Breakfast, which includes two bacon-wrapped corn dogs and a bottle of Dom Perignon Luminous. “Liquid Courage,” the cocktail section on the menu, features drink names like the Ponies Will Play and Suffering Bastard, as well as Rubber Ducky Shots and shots on tap. The playful atmosphere includes a mechanical horse, Skee-Ball, giant Jenga, darts, Quiots, Ring-on-a-String and shuffleboard. 

Details: 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale. 480-525-9300, bevvyaz.com or facebook.com/bevvyaz. 

Beverly on Main 

Go here if you’re looking for a swanky spot that’s away from the main nightlife district. It was previously Mabel’s on Main, and new owners took over in May 2016. The spot pays homage to the speakeasy-inspired space with brick walls, tufted leather couches, wood shelves filled with old books and gilded sconces. But it also has newly renovated modern touches. There’s a full menu with shared plates, burgers, sandwiches, salads and flatbreads, brunch on the weekends and happy hour during the week. The cocktail menu features classic drinks and signatures, such as the Trending So Hard and Aperol We Been Through. DJs perform on weekend nights. 

Details: 7018 E. Main St., Scottsdale. 480-889-5580, beverlyonmain.com.

Scapegoat Beer and Wine

This cozy wine and beer bar is a great, low-key spot to take a date or to have a nice conversation with a few friends. There’s, of course, a great wine and beer selection. The bar currently carries varietals including Failla Pinot Noir out of Napa and Clean Slate Riesling from Germany, and ever-changing seasonal beer taps. The food menu features shareable plates including a meat and cheese board, cheese pretzel with pickled brussels sprouts and avocado toast. There’s a variety of table games available to play, including Cards Against Humanity, Catchphrase, Uno and Dominoes. 

Details: 7150 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-292-7605, scapegoatbar.com. 

MORE AZCENTRAL ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

WANT MORE BARS & NIGHTLIFE?

These top 10 cool dark bars are perfect for summer

Booze delivery in Phoenix? Here’s how services compare

Video: 15 best bars in downtown Phoenix

 

Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/2tttaPF