Scottsdale Nightlife: Old Town Bars & Clubs

When people in the Valley want a big night out, they go to Old Town Scottsdale. This compact, walkable district is the undisputed nightlife capital of metro Phoenix, a dense concentration of bars, clubs, lounges, and restaurants packed into a few blocks. On weekend evenings the streets fill with people moving from dinner to drinks to dancing, and the energy rivals nightlife districts in much bigger cities. It is a perennial destination for bachelor and bachelorette weekends, and a great night out for just about anyone. Here is a local guide to Scottsdale nightlife.

The Old Town entertainment district

The heart of the action is the Old Town entertainment district, a cluster of streets where the bars and clubs sit shoulder to shoulder. Because everything is so close together, Old Town is one of the few genuinely walkable nightlife zones in the car-dependent Valley, you can park or rideshare in and spend the whole night on foot. The mix is broad, so the district works whether you want a quiet cocktail or a packed dance floor.

• Nightclubs: Old Town has the Valley's densest concentration of dance clubs, with DJs, bottle service, and big weekend crowds.
• Bars and lounges: From dive bars and sports bars to upscale cocktail lounges, the range covers every mood.
• Live music and patios: Plenty of spots offer live bands, patios, and a more relaxed scene.

See what is happening in Scottsdale right now.

Rooftop bars and the Scottsdale scene

One of the signatures of Scottsdale nightlife is the rooftop bar. The warm desert climate and clear skies make elevated patios and rooftop lounges a natural fit, and from fall through spring an evening with a cocktail and a view of the city lights and surrounding mountains is hard to beat. Several of the district's most popular spots feature rooftop or open-air settings, and they are some of the best places to start a night. In the summer, look for misted patios or step inside to the air conditioning.

Dinner before the night out

Old Town's food scene is every bit as strong as its nightlife, which makes it easy to build a full evening in one place. The district packs in everything from upscale steakhouses and sushi to taco joints and gastropubs, so you can have a great dinner and then walk straight into the bar scene. Starting with a meal also lets you take advantage of happy hour deals, many Old Town spots run strong early-evening specials before the nightlife crowd arrives.

The Scottsdale ArtWalk

Nightlife in Old Town is not only about bars and clubs. Every Thursday evening, the galleries of the Old Town arts district stay open late for the long-running Scottsdale ArtWalk, one of the oldest weekly art walks in the country. It is free to stroll, and the mix of contemporary, Western, and Native American art makes for a more cultured, low-key kind of evening out, one that pairs perfectly with dinner and a drink afterward in the same walkable district.

Old Town beyond the nightlife

Part of what makes Old Town such a good night-out destination is its character. By day it is Scottsdale's most charming district, with adobe-style architecture, Western shops and galleries, bronze cowboy sculptures lining the streets, and souvenir stores that nod to the city's frontier past, Scottsdale still bills itself as "The West's Most Western Town." That history gives the area a distinctive backdrop that sets it apart from a generic bar district. You can spend the afternoon browsing the shops, watching the ArtWalk roll in, then transition right into dinner and the nightlife as the sun goes down. See the Old Town Scottsdale page for more.

Tips for a night out in Scottsdale

• Rideshare or have a plan. Old Town is walkable once you are there, but getting in and out is easiest by rideshare; do not drink and drive.
• Weekends get busy. The clubs and bars peak Thursday through Saturday; arrive earlier to skip lines.
• Dress the part. Some upscale clubs and lounges enforce dress codes.
• Start with happy hour. Many spots run early-evening deals before the nightlife crowd arrives.
• Mind the season. Rooftops and patios are glorious from fall through spring; in summer, the action moves indoors.

Plan your Scottsdale night out

For a big night out in metro Phoenix, nothing matches Old Town Scottsdale, walkable, packed with bars and clubs, and anchored by great dinners and a famous art walk. To see what is on during your visit, from the ArtWalk to special events, start with the Scottsdale hub and check the happy hours page to kick the evening off.