367811 Mon Feb 05 10:34:01 -0800 2007 9 6 Southwest 0 2261185 I'm traveling to Scottsdale for a conference in about a month. Staying at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch. Is there a place relatively closeby, where I can escape the drones I will be with, and enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail? A fairly quick cab ride from the Hyatt will be fine. (Is anything walkable in that area?) Mon Feb 05 10:34:01 -0800 2007 11148 Alcachofa 1 2261279 I seem to remember the bar at Gainey Ranch being a nice place to hang out...but this was the mid 90's and good ol' Esteban was strumming away in the bar. Down the street at The Shops at Gainey is Village Tavern. They have a nice bar to eat at as well, so if you're dining solo you have a good option there. Garduno's is in that center as well. Mon Feb 05 10:51:42 -0800 2007 2261185 13915 mamamia 1 2261353 The bartender at La Locanda (N. Italian food) is great and the selection of vodkas is very impressive. I highly recommend his coffee martini. La Locanda is on Scottsdale and Golddust, just north of where you are staying. Short cab ride. For great wine (I know, not a cocktail) and decent cocktails and great ambiance, Tapino (just west of scottsdale Rd, north off of Shea) is a good choice. Short cab ride. Great people watching and good cocktails can be found at Sapporo, just a few miles north on Scottsdale Rd, just north of Cactus. Fairly short cab ride. Mamamia is right, your hotel has a great bar so you may not need to stray far. Mon Feb 05 11:05:52 -0800 2007 2261185 52195 HomeCookKirsten 1 2261726 Also @ The Shops at Gainey Village is Bloom: They offer some nice cocktail choices and special House Martinis....they have a nice top shelf liquor selection. Also try Thaifoon...they have many different asian themed tropical drinks as well as a terrific Happy Hour. ..(Half priced Apps and discounted drinks.) Mon Feb 05 12:19:23 -0800 2007 2261185 16764 ciaogal 1 2267127 Not only should you check out the bar at your hotel but the restaurant Vu is currently producing some of the finest food in the valley. The Chef Brian Lewis is very talented, the wine list is great and the room very nice. You can have a great cocktail before or after in the Lobby Bar and enjoy their entertainment as well. Bloom is over rated and the Village Tavern while good is just another bar w/ decent food that you can find anywhere. Tue Feb 06 21:36:07 -0800 2007 2261185 72342 drpny 2 2269615 I stayed at the Hyatt last year (it was a company trip). We had a group tasting dinner and the food and wine were great. Unfortunately, I didn't travel away from the hotel at all. I'm headed to Scottsdale next week and staying at Sanctuary at Camelback mentioned below, so I'll be sure to post on the Jade Bar (I'm sure we'll be spending quite a bit of time there as my friends have already scoped out the cocktail menu!). Wed Feb 07 13:28:35 -0800 2007 2267127 12702 lissy 1 2267537 That's good to know about the restaurant there, thanks. Unfortunately, the food is pretty much taken care of at the conference. Kinda would like to "escape" anyway, so the bar in the hotel may not work. Or, it may, as the place looks huge. But, I'm not sure, someone "strumming away at the bar"? Do you mean playing "soothing" acoustic guitar music? :::shudder::: Not my thing. I looked at a map and the shops actually look like they are walking distance. Nice. Also, I was kinda hoping Grence would chime in with his thoughts! :o) Wed Feb 07 06:07:59 -0800 2007 2261185 11148 Alcachofa 1 2267886 Just a reminder, folks, to stay focused on the request of the original poster. While you are certainly welcome to make a passing mention in your responses that a particular venue has entertainment, please refrain from making that discussion the point of your responses as entertainment is not the focus of Chowhound. Wed Feb 07 07:51:49 -0800 2007 2261185 0 The Chowhound Team 1 2269544 Another thread on this board ( http://www.chowhound.com/topics/368622 ) reminds me of the Jade Bar at the Sanctuary resort. I think you could get a proper cocktail there in a great atmophere. It would be a cab ride of about 5 or 6 miles. http://www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/content/jadebar.html Wed Feb 07 13:15:23 -0800 2007 2261185 26466 silverbear 1 2270092 AZ88 has the best cocktails... a serious escape, you can't remember your name after 2 of those things! It's right behind the new Mondrian in the Scottsdale Civic Center. Wed Feb 07 15:14:32 -0800 2007 2261185 71999 slimline45