Arizona summers bring new meaning to the word hot. But while triple-digit temperatures take residence through August, you can get out of the sweltering heat and cool off by quenching your thirst with refreshing summer cocktails. Enjoy a delightful combination of flavors that remind you of summer days like rum, watermelon, berries, coconut, mint and lime–drinks so good you might be convinced to get another round. Whether you’re celebrating with friends or family, enjoying a mid-week happy hour or going out on the weekend, these summer cocktails around the Valley will help you cool off.
Diego Pops
This eclectic restaurant’s exterior neon sign and brightly-colored décor invite you in to enjoy delicious Mexican food and drinks. Diego Pops in Scottsdale has a unique cocktail offering that is as summer as it gets: snow cone margaritas. Their Watermelon Lime with Don Julio Blanco, watermelon liqueur, Triple Sec, muddled watermelon, housemade sweet and sour and lime, and their Mango Habanero with Don Julio Blanco, Triple Sec, mango, habanero, housemade sweet and sour and a chili spice rim are perfect ways to celebrate summer.
Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails
At CityScape in downtown Phoenix, Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails serves up innovative cocktails and food with a view. Their Frost on Windowpane by Jimmy Pederson cocktail was recently featured by Liquor.com as one of the best vodka cocktails to drink in bars around the country. With Vodka, pear liqueur, pinot grigio syrup, lime, soda and sage, it’s a refreshing drink for summer. Or the Instagram-worthy Tropical Ice Age by Michael Mailloux that blends rums, banana, cacao, cinnamon, lime and pineapple that will take your taste buds on a trip.
Sandbar
If you can’t make it to the beach, you’ll feel like you’re there with Sandbar’s bright atmosphere and tropical drinks like the Blue Lemonade Slushie with Pinnacle citrus, Red Bull Blueberry, Patron Citronge and lemonade. Or their Dragon Berry Mojito with Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum, Chambord, strawberry puree, muddled lime and Sprite. Nothing quite says summer like a mule beverage, and Sandbar’s aptly named Summer Mule combines Ketel One Botanical Cucumber and Mint, fresh lime and ginger beer for a taste of summer in every sip.
Lustre Rooftop Bar
Perched on the third-floor deck of Hotel Palomar in downtown Phoenix, Lustre Rooftop Bar has your drink served with a side of nostalgia this summer. Their Desert Island Cocktail with Jamaican rum, Amara Nonino, demerara and fresh grapefruit and lime juices, all topped with a dehydrated lime and orange wheel and served in a mug; or their adult Capri Suns served in a juice box pouch with rotating flavors are sure to please.
Pomelo at the Orchard
Sip on a $6 cocktail through August at Pomelo at the Orchard, or one of their specialty cocktails for $8. Choose from specialty cocktails with flavors like their Run for the Roses with bourbon, lemon juice, peach liqueur and cinnamon syrup; or their Bellissimo with vodka, blackberry thyme syrup, grapefruit juice and sparkling wine.
Hash Kitchen
These cocktails will take you back to childhood. Hash Kitchen’s boozy cereal cocktails for breakfast, brunch or lunch alongside one of their craft dishes will have you reminiscing to summer mornings. Their cereal cocktails include Coco Puffs, Fruity Pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Captain Crunch; or try all four flavors with the cereal shooter flight. More in the mood for a fruity cocktail this summer? Try their indulgent disco slushies such as the Strawberry Pina Colada with strawberry infused spiced rum, coconut cream, pineapple puree, banana liqueur and strawberry shortcake cotton candy.
Pobrecito
No matter your drink preferences, Pobrecito has a handcrafted cocktail just for you. If you enjoy frozen drinks, their Watermelon Froze with watermelon, Giffard Peach, lemon, Aperol and dry white wine will make a splash. Or their Hibiscus Raspberry Tea with Giffard Apricot, lime, lemon and Del Maguey Vida Mezcal. If you’re more of a fruity drinker, escape to paradise with the No. 9 or the Guava– vanilla, lime, Amaro Montenegro, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Banks 5 Island Rum, Wray and Nephew Overproof Jamaican Rum.
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho
Enjoy signature cocktails at the Lounge at ZuZu inside the iconic Hotel Valley Ho such as the Jamaica Mojito with white rum, fresh lime, estate-grown mint, house berry preserves, sparkling water and hibiscus. Or their Fizzy Lifting Drink- with Aperol, club soda, prosecco, Campari-infused blood orange foam and carbonated blackberry.
The Mission
The upscale Latin restaurant has a wide away of cocktails including margaritas, mojitos, mules and house specialties to cool off this summer. Try their refreshing Watermelon Basil Mojito with rum, pressed lime, basil and watermelon sorbet; Strawberry Coconut Mojito with coconut rum, strawberries, pressed lime, mint and simple syrup; or their Strawberry Banana Margarita with tequila, muddled strawberry, Giffard Banana and pressed lime.
The Montauk
This Scottsdale beach-themed spot has eclectic drinks to match their tropical-inspired menu. Try the Cherry lime “cola” with Absolut Lime Vodka, Benedictine, Luxardo Cherry Syrup and lime for you, or if you’re with friends, try one of their punch bowls that serves 4 to 6 people like the Spark Plug Punch with Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, Irish cream liqueur, cold brew coffee and coffee ice cubes.
