Swim and sip a seriously good cocktail at these metro Phoenix poolside bars

Tirion Morris, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

In a city where summer temperatures reach for 120, thankfully there are many swimming pools offering visitors and locals the chance to cool off.

There are neighborhood pools, water parks, day clubs with live music and poolside dancing and there are a few waterside spots around the Valley where you can snag a stellar cocktail.

Here are six great cocktail bars where you can lounge poolside with drink in hand.

Lylo at Rise Uptown Hotel

Lylo, named after a type of pool floatie, opened at the Rise Uptown Hotel on Camelback Road just west of Third Avenue in fall 2020. It is open to both hotel guests and the public.

Cocktail fans may recognize owner Ross Simon as the man behind award-winning downtown Phoenix bar Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour and co-owner of swanky hotel spot Little Rituals.

Poolside at Arrive Phoenix hotel's Lylo Swim Club.
Poolside at Arrive Phoenix hotel's Lylo Swim Club.

He's now making waves in uptown Phoenix with poolside specialty cocktails, including a rum-spiked Dole whip that inspires memories of Disneyland, a spicy mango cocktail with mezcal, along with a few favorites from the Bitter & Twisted menu.

Lylo's menu doesn't stop at drinks. Guests can also order a bowl of poke, spam musubi or a bucket of fried chicken.

Reservations are recommended for the bar. Swimming is permitted for hotel guests and the public with an online reservation through Resort Pass.

Details: Lylo at Arrive Hotel, 400 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 480-536-8900, riseuptownhotel.com/phoenix_restaurants/lylo.

Proof is in the drinks: Phoenix was named one of the country's top cocktail cities

Alibi at Canopy Tempe

The view from Alibi, the new rooftop pool bar at the Canopy by Hilton hotel in downtown Tempe.
The view from Alibi, the new rooftop pool bar at the Canopy by Hilton hotel in downtown Tempe.

Take in the views of downtown Tempe at Alibi, the pool bar on the 14th floor of the Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown Hotel. Enjoy the rooftop destination's menu of poke, short rib sliders and tacos accompanied by craft cocktails.

The menu includes a few locally produced spirits, including Tempe-based Arizona Distilling Company's Commerce Gin, which joins tamarind and ginger beer in the Tamarind Mule.

The Kissed By A Rose cocktail at Alibi, downtown Tempe's newest rooftop pool bar. The cocktail is made with Effen Rose Vodka, Pama Marie Brizard, watermelon, lemon juice and hibiscus flower water.
The Kissed By A Rose cocktail at Alibi, downtown Tempe's newest rooftop pool bar. The cocktail is made with Effen Rose Vodka, Pama Marie Brizard, watermelon, lemon juice and hibiscus flower water.

Seasonal beer selections from Huss Brewing Co., Four Peaks Brewing Co. and Walter Station Brewery are available as well.

The bar is open to the public while the pool is open only to hotel guests and those who purchase a resort pass to swim.

Details: Alibi at the Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, 108 E. University Drive, Tempe. 602-612-7872, alibitempe.com.

Outrider Rooftop Lounge at Canopy Scottsdale

Canopy by Hilton Old Town Scottsdale features two dining concepts: Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails and Outrider Rooftop Lounge.
Canopy by Hilton Old Town Scottsdale features two dining concepts: Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails and Outrider Rooftop Lounge.

Canopy hotels are springing up around the Valley, with another location now open in Scottsdale. Like its Tempe neighbor, the new Scottsdale Canopy features a rooftop pool bar for hotel guests and the public to enjoy.

Outrider Rooftop Lounge is on the hotel's seventh floor. The pool bar offers a menu featuring snacks and shareable plates including poke, chicken wings, hummus and pretzel bites.

Take in the views of Camelback Mountain and Old Town Scottsdale while sampling small bites and cocktails inspired by Arizona flavors. A seasonal slushie rotates in flavor and offers a quick way to cool down.

Along with the pool, the rooftop bar includes a fire pit, turf areas, lounge and bar seating.

The pool and cabana rentals are available for hotel guests and visitors who buy a Resort Pass.

Details: Outrider Rooftop Lounge at Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town, 7142 E. First St., Scottsdale. 480-590-3864, hilton.com.

Sips with a view: These swanky Tempe rooftop cocktail bars are best at sunset

Lustre Bar

Lustre Rooftop Bar sits atop the Kimpton Hotel Palomar in Phoenix.
Lustre Rooftop Bar sits atop the Kimpton Hotel Palomar in Phoenix.

Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, Lustre Bar offers views of Footprint Center and the surrounding skyline from its rooftop deck.

A food menu of sandwiches, tacos and flatbreads accompanies a beer, wine and cocktail list brimming with Arizona flavors like a prickly pear margarita and beers brewed in Chandler, Tempe and Flagstaff.

The pool is open to hotel guests staying at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix and those who purchase a Resort Pass for the day.

Details: 2 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix. 602-258-0231, lustrerooftopbar.com.

The Clarendon

The Clarendon Hotel is a midcentury property in Phoenix.
The Clarendon Hotel is a midcentury property in Phoenix.

The Clarendon Hotel in midtown Phoenix offers one of the more affordable options for a day at the pool in the Valley.

The storied, mid-century hotel offers daily pool passes for $10 per person, which can be purchased over the phone or at the hotel's front desk.

Snacks and cocktails are provided by the team that runs the hotel's restaurant, Fuego.

Guests should note that the Clarendon is a cannabis-friendly hotel, however smoking in public areas is not permitted.

MORE THINGS TO DO: For restaurant reviews, travel tips, concert picks and more, subscribe to azcentral.com.

Details: 401 West Clarendon Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-7363, www.goclarendon.com.

Bar hero: MeThe 23-year-old 'underdog' who won Arizona's biggest cocktail competition

Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.

Support local journalism and subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Poolside bars for swimming and cocktails Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale