If we tallied every bar-restaurant hybrid in Mesa, we’d probably outnumber the saguaros in the Sonoran Desert. That’s a lot of watering holes (and yes, there are too many saguaros, but that’s a prickly debate for another time). With so many spots blending craft cocktails and killer eats, you might spend all evening deciding—only to realize it’s last call and you still haven’t ordered.
The Trough
$ | (480) 986-1119 | WEBSITE
This lively spot on a bustling Mesa corner is an excellent addition to your Friday night rotation with friends. The atmosphere is energetic, but features some really welcoming touches, from the attentive staff who happily accommodate special requests, to the vibrant sounds of laughter, music, and clinking billiard balls. It’s tough to go wrong—unless you don’t order the cold beer, which comes frosty and refreshing, and is the kind of drink we plan on enjoying the most this season.
The dedicated team, including standout servers like Hailey, Sami, Drew, and Jacqueline, goes above and beyond with their positive attitude and attention to detail, ensuring a pleasant experience even on busy days. With great food, friendly people, and that fun, popular vibe, it’s a spot where both locals and visitors feel right at home.
Tipsy Chicken
$ | (480) 265-8766 | WEBSITE
This lively Korean fried chicken spot in Mesa serves seriously satisfying comfort food, and is a perfect place to go when you need something reliably delicious. The space is ample, so you can usually find seating without much wait – try to snag a booth if possible, since some find the metal chairs a bit firm. You can enjoy the fun ambiance with music and TV while you dig into crispy wings and pork belly with corn cheese.
Margaritas Fresh Cocina
$ | (480) 969-5812 | WEBSITE
You spent all day coordinating seating charts and tasting cake samples for your sister’s wedding, and you’re completely over making decisions. Treat yourself to a solo dinner at the bar at Margaritas Fresh Cocina, the vibrant Mexican restaurant in downtown Mesa.
This place is arguably better experienced alone – when you sit at the bar, the staff will bring you a margarita without you even asking, share stories about their favorite dishes, and generally make every part of this already-great restaurant even better.
Spice Spirit Chinese Cuisine and Bar 麻辣诱惑
$$ | (480) 809-6030 | WEBSITE
If you want Chinese food in Mesa and you don’t want to exert any effort to get it, go to Spice Spirit. The spacious restaurant is a comfortable spot with lots of tables full of regulars. It’s clearly meant to be the place you wander into, still in your casual clothes, and enjoy some really excellent xiaolongbao with chili oil.
September’s Bar & Grill
$ | (480) 969-5373 | WEBSITE
September’s Bar & Grill is one of those Mesa spots you take your buddy who thinks dive bars need to be grimy to have character. It feels authentic because there’s pool tables and darts scattered around, but not so divey that you can’t enjoy a decently poured drink and some solid karaoke. The vibe stays lively every night of the week, and you might need to lean in to hear your friend over the music and game on the TVs.
It’s tough to have a dull moment here, but grabbing a spot at the bar where Crystal works her magic and catching the Shawn show on a Friday will quickly show your friend that Arizona knows how to have a good time.
Tacos Chiwas
$ | (480) 590-7163 | WEBSITE
Tacos Chiwas is a Mexican restaurant in Mesa that’s a perfect escape from whatever you need to get away from this evening. After a couple of margaritas and lengua tacos, you’ll never want to leave. Tacos Chiwas is the kind of place you can bring anyone – you’ll see plenty of families, dates, and friends grabbing after-work drinks or dinner before heading out for the night.
Chilaquiles Modern Kitchen
$$ | (480) 427-0662 | WEBSITE
Chilaquiles Modern Kitchen is a more than acceptable choice for pretty much any kind of semi-casual brunch. The vibrant spot has great chilaquiles, along with a lot of other solid, shareable plates. You can eat in the lively main dining area with the DJ, or, for a drinks-and-a-light-bite situation, head to the bar for their mango mimosa or pina colada.
Tipsy Cactus TapRoom & Bottle Shop
$ | (480) 268-9887 | WEBSITE
If you want a craft beer in Mesa, you could either grab a six-pack from the grocery store and drink it at home or you could head to Tipsy Cactus on Main Street. They have some of the best local brews on tap in Arizona and an extremely cozy taproom up front. And like all the best taprooms, beer here often comes served from food trucks parked outside. We promise it tastes best that way.
Cider Corps Mesa
$ | (480) 993-3164 | WEBSITE
A nice thing about living in Mesa is that your out-of-town friends end up visiting a lot for the weather. Another nice thing is that they usually get to put their drinks on the company card. If your cider-loving friend is in town, rescue them from whatever conference they’re at, take them to Cider Corps Mesa, then convince them to pretend you’re a client and order the $14 Apple Pie Cider slushie and a whole wood-fired pizza from Myles Pizza.
Kay’s Place
$ | (602) 666-6634 | WEBSITE
Karaoke nights are tricky—you want to sing your heart out, but there’s also a good chance someone will butcher ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and you’ll need to cut the night short. So if you’re ever planning a night of singing, go to Kay’s Place. This Mesa spot is the dive bar/karaoke mashup ideal for casual fun—you can start out at the bar patio drinking cheap beers, and if things go well, you can grab the mic and belt out some classics.
But if someone starts screeching off-key, you can easily finish your drink and leave without any mention of staying for food. The wheelchair accessibility makes it easy for everyone to join in, and the decent food selection means you won’t go hungry between songs.
Manna BBQ
$$ | (480) 733-5000 | WEBSITE
Manna BBQ has been around for a while now, and it’s firmly established itself as a go-to Korean BBQ spot in Mesa. You’ll see groups of friends celebrating birthdays over sizzling grills, families from nearby suburbs treating themselves to a weekend feast, and solo diners at the bar enjoying a quick meal with some Soju.
The all-you-can-eat menu is generous, so you might be tempted to over-order, but the friendly staff, like Un Sun, will keep an eye on your pace and make sure you’re not overwhelmed (as long as you get the gyoza and fried rice).