Hands down, the friendliest bar in Phoenix. Aimed at the gay and lesbian crowd, it has an "everybody's welcome" vibe. There are more than 300 martinis on the cocktail menu, and the tropical-feeling, tree-covered patio is the ideal place to enjoy them when it gets packed inside on weekend nights. You never know when the next drag show might be or which porn star is making an appearance, so tap the Web site before you go.

Open Sundays through Thursdays 4 pm to 2 am, Fridays and Saturdays 4 pm to 4 am.

This elegant green-hued bar inside the Sanctuary resort attracts a slightly more sophisticated crowd than the nightlife spots in downtown Scottsdale. This is where the Prada-clad jet set watches the sun go down over Paradise Valley, sipping cantaloupe martinis or French cosmopolitans, the specialty of the house.

Something you're likely to overhear: "This doesn't feel like Phoenix at all." Something you're not: "I'll have the house merlot." Kazimierz has a mere (ahem) 3,000 wines to choose from—ask the quite knowledgeable servers for a recommendation. On a quiet path between a parking lot and Stetson Drive, the door to Kazimierz is marked only by a plaque reading "The Truth Is Inside." Check out the candlelit wine cave motif, with its stained glass windows and faux stone walls (hence the "anywhere but Phoenix" vibe). No matter the time of day, it's dark and filled with a refreshingly conversational crowd.

Open daily 2:30 pm to 1:45 am.

Most of the time, you'd never even notice the dozens of nightclubs in Old Town Scottsdale, sprinkled among the art galleries and restaurants. Come Friday and Saturday nights, though, the infusion of guys and girls on the make is pretty unmistakable. If you plan on club-hopping, take a cab into the area; pedicabs can ferry you around between venues all night. Evenings often begin with sushi at Stingray, where club music blares and the crowd is packed in tight (4302 N. Scottsdale Rd.; 480-941-4460; www.stingraysushi.com). The biggest pounding box of light and music is Axis/Radius (7340 E. Indian Plaza; 480-970-1112; www.axis-radius.com). Fresh from a renovation, the venue comprises two clubs: one that's more of a bar/lounge with a big patio, and another with a go-get-'em dance floor. Scottsdale's grande dame, Myst, was designed to feel like a rich friend's living room, but maybe it's more like a rich friend's mansion, with great little break-off rooms for playing pool, ordering drinks, or simply getting away from the dance floor (7340 E. Shoeman La.; 480-970-5000; www.mystaz.com). Six is the most sophisticated spot here, and it feels like it belongs in a bigger city. Celebs such as Michael Jordan, Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz, and Vince Vaughn have been spotted here (7316 E. Stetson Dr.; 480-663-6620; www.6az.com). The classic in Old Town is Martini Ranch, a live-music venue where you can catch local bands, '80s hair metal bands (Winger reunited here!), and "under the radar" tours (7295 E. Stetson Dr.; 480-970-0500; www.martiniranchaz.com).