The Scottsdale area has a lot of posh resorts and hotels, and just because you don't want to pay $600 a night to stay there doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy their bars, with their expansive desert views and opulent fire and water features.
One of the better ones to visit is the Gerber Group's Stone Rose Lounge in the Scottsdale Fairmont, a "modernist take on a classic 1950s beach club."
The Stone Rose has a woody indoor bar that opens to a large patio area with fire pits and fountains. A central fountain contains a large flame in a globe, while blue lit water and river rock surround an elevated bar across the way. The cocktails are significantly better than average -- and significantly more expensive. But it's worth it to go once in a while and take in the surroundings, especially around sunset.
7575 East Princess Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85255 - (480) 585-4848
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