Nightlife in Sedona: Best Bars, Clubs & More

For most, Sedona is a pause from city life. During the day, visitors appreciate the area’s natural beauty on a hike, mediate at a vortex, and browse art galleries. In the evening, they tend to linger over long dinners or relax around a resort firepit. You’ll be hard-pressed to find much going on after 11 p.m. anywhere in Sedona, even on weekends. That said, the city does offer a sophisticated nightlife scene. And if you’re willing to travel a short distance to Cottonwood or Flagstaff, you’ll find even more options. Here’s what you need to know about the nightlife in Sedona.

Bars

Most of Sedona’s bars are located in resorts, boutique hotels, and upscale restaurants. The scene is subdued with mixologists crafting cocktails while patrons lounge in plush seating on the patio or inside next to a fireplace. While there are a few dive and sports bars in Sedona, they’re far off the beaten path for visitors. Looking for a livelier scene? Find a designated driver and check out the college town bars in Flagstaff, a 45-minute drive from Sedona.

While here, take advantage of happy hour deals or end the evening with a nightcap at one of these Sedona bars:

• The Hudson: This neighborhood restaurant bar puts a creative spin on classic cocktails and has an impressive list of wines by the glass.
• SaltRock Southwest Kitchen: Located inside the Amara Resort & Spa, the bar mixes some of the best margaritas in Sedona as well as signature cocktails and non-alcoholic offerings. It also has six Arizona craft beers on tap and pours several Arizona wines. 
• Mooney’s Irish Pub & Restaurant: You won’t be limited to Guinness and whiskey at Mooney’s. The pub has more than 300 beers, wines, whiskies, tequilas, and other adult beverages, and it’s one of the few places in Sedona that stays open until midnight. Feel free to cut loose—Mooney’s offers patrons a donation-based shuttle service.
• 89Agave: This local favorite Mexican restaurant also has a great bar. Choose from several margarita options and an extensive tequila list, including premium bottles like Herradura Suprema. 89Agave also pours mezcals and has Arizona beers on tap.
• Bar89: The bar inside Steakhouse89 mixes artisanal cocktails and pours premium wines by the glass. Although beer offerings are limited, it makes up for it with a good selection of happy hour wines and $3 off most specialty cocktails.

Wine Bars and Breweries

Sedona sits on the edge of Arizona wine country, so it’s no surprise that wine is big in the city. Beer is, too. With Flagstaff boasting some of the best beers in the state, the enthusiasm for craft suds spills over into Sedona. The city has three breweries, and most local bars have one or more of them on tap.

Although most wine bars and breweries close by 10 p.m., they’re a good option for visitors who want a more casual scene than resort and restaurant bars or who want to sample locally-crafted beverages. Check out these wine bars and breweries in Sedona:

• The Secret Garden Café at Tlaquepaque: Featuring wines from boutique vineyards, this wine bar in a beloved local restaurant specializes in the best vintages, some of which are on tap. The happy hour is one of the best in Sedona as far as value goes—half off specialty wines, local craft beer, well bar drinks, and appetizers.
• Oak Creek Brewery & Grill: For more than 20 years, Oak Creek Brewery & Grill has been tapping award-winning beers in Sedona. Even though it is only open until 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, it has live music five nights per week.
• Sedona Beer Company: Want to hang out with friends and have a beer? This is the place to go. Sedona Beer Company uses malt grown in the Verde Valley to brew its lineup of IPAs, hazy pale ales, fruit beers, and classic styles. You can also order wine, cider, mead, and kombucha. 
• Vino Di Sedona: One of the best wine bars and stores in the state, Vino Di Sedona has a selection of more than 900 wines from around the world, including a good selection of Arizona vintages. Food is also available, ranging from charcuterie to Chicago-style deep dish pizza.
• The Art of Wine: This tasting room is only open until 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (and until 7 p.m. the rest of the week), but it’s a great place for a pre-dinner drink. Sip the more than 45 wines available for tasting, then purchase one to bring home from the 300-plus available in the store.

Live Music and Performances

Several bars have live music, but for the most part, Sedona doesn’t attract nationally-known acts. (Flagstaff’s Orpheum Theater is the closest option for that.) Instead, you’ll find regional touring acts and local artists that rotate between Sedona’s restaurants and bars. Although they’re entertaining, most will never be the draw. Still, if you’re looking for live music, you’ll catch yourself tapping—or singing—along at these venues:

• Sound Bites Grill: Regional touring acts take the stage Wednesday through Sunday at Sound Bites Grill, a Hard Rock Cafe-style venue with musical memorabilia. (The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.) 
• Mooney’s Irish Pub & Restaurant: In addition to its well-stocked bar, Mooney’s is one of the best places in Sedona for live music. Grab a seat by 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday or 6:30 p.m. on Sunday to hear local and regional musicians. Thursday’s entertainment is either karaoke or a DJ while on Wednesday a magician performs.
• Vino Di Sedona: Live music plays every night—usually from 6 to 9 p.m. or 7 to 10 p.m.—at this wine bar, featuring performers from Sedona and the surrounding communities. Come on Saturday when musicians perform twice.
• Burning Tree Cellars: This Cottonwood tasting room has live music every Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Drink responsibly before making the 30-minute drive back to Sedona.

Festivals

Sedona hosts several festivals, mainly during the summer and fall. In mid-June, the annual Sedona International Film Festival celebrates the best in independent films from around the world. It’s followed by the popular Sedona Photography Symposium in mid-August and the Sedona Plein Air Festival in October.

Music festivals lean toward classical in Sedona. The Piano on the Rocks International Festival, held in August, features piano performances and storytelling while the Red Rocks Music Festival in the fall showcases chamber music.

Tips for Going Out in Sedona

• The Verde Lynx bus primarily shuttles people from Sedona to Cottonwood and isn’t a practical option for getting around the city. Instead, rely on rideshares and taxis.
• If you’d rather walk, stay in Uptown Sedona. You’ll have access to several resort, hotel, and restuarant bars, including SaltRock. Sound Bites Grill is also within walking distance.
• Sedona isn’t a rowdy, party city. There are no nightclubs and almost all bars and restaurants close by 11 p.m., even on weekends. If you want to maximize your bar time, make an early dinner reservation.
• Tipping is expected. Because many of the bars are inside resorts and upscale restaurants, plan to tip at least 20 percent.
• Open containers are not allowed on the streets of Sedona.
• If you go to a Flagstaff bar or live music venue, be sure to have a designated driver and take I-17 south to SR 179 on your return. Although more direct, SR 89A corkscrews through a dark Oak Creek Canyon at night.