Last updated: June 6, 2026
What’s the best happy hour in Scottsdale?
The best happy hours in Scottsdale split between two hubs: Old Town (ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Cien Agaves, Diego Pops, Postino) and North Scottsdale (Buck & Rider, The Mission at Kierland, Maple & Ash). Most run 3–6 PM daily, with deals like $2.50 oysters and $3 tacos. Always confirm hours before you go — Scottsdale specials change seasonally.
Scottsdale takes happy hour seriously. Between Old Town’s bar scene and the upscale patios out at Kierland, you can eat and drink well for half what dinner costs — if you know where to go and when to show up. Here’s the local rundown, organized by the two parts of town that matter.
My pick for the best happy hour in Scottsdale
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho — Old Town
ZuZu’s mid-century lounge inside Hotel Valley Ho is the move when you want the deal and the vibe. The hotel opened in 1956 and is marking its 70th anniversary in 2026, so expect special cocktails on the calendar. Happy hour bites typically run $9–$12 with drinks around $6–$7 — chef-driven small plates, not soggy bar food.
Typically: Mon–Thu, 4–6 PM · Best for: a stylish patio start to the night
Best happy hours in Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town is the walkable, high-energy core — you can hit two or three spots on foot. These are the ones locals actually rotate through:
Cien Agaves
A perennial “best of” pick for tacos and tequila. Expect around $3 Tinga tacos, $6 select apps, and savings on margaritas, beer, and wine by the glass. Head upstairs for patio views over Old Town. Typically daily 3–6 PM, with an all-evening deal mid-week.
Diego Pops
Modern Mexican with a loyal happy-hour crowd: half-off appetizers, roughly $6 Diego Margaritas, plus $2 off beers, typically daily 3–6 PM. The Brussels sprout nachos and street corn are the move. Mondays often add all-day $3 tacos.
Postino
The wine-and-bruschetta crowd’s favorite. The headline deal is around $6 glasses of wine and pitchers of beer until 5 PM daily — pair it with their bruschetta board and you’ve got a full dinner for happy-hour money.
Best happy hours in North Scottsdale
Up around Kierland and the 101, the happy hours skew a little more upscale — bigger patios, raw bars, and serious cocktails.
Buck & Rider
Seafood flown in daily, with one of the best raw-bar happy hours in town: roughly $2.50 oysters and $3 wild shrimp, plus small bites and signature cocktails around $11. Typically daily 3–7 PM at the oyster bar, alcove, and patio.
The Mission at Kierland Commons
Home of “Guac-Tail Hour”: chips, salsa, guac, and a bottle of wine bundled for about $20, plus $2 roasted-corn gorditas, $5 ahi tostadas, and half-off Tecate and frozen margaritas. Afternoon daily at the Kierland location.
Maple & Ash
The splurge that doesn’t feel like one at happy hour — think $3 oysters and a ~$40 seafood tower from a two-Michelin-star chef’s steakhouse. Typically daily 4–6 PM. The best value-to-luxury ratio on this list.
Scottsdale happy hour deals at a glance
| Spot | Area | The Deal | Typical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZuZu (Hotel Valley Ho) | Old Town | $9–12 bites, $6–7 drinks | Mon–Thu 4–6 PM |
| Cien Agaves | Old Town | $3 tacos, $6 apps | Daily 3–6 PM |
| Diego Pops | Old Town | ½-off apps, $6 margs | Daily 3–6 PM |
| Postino | Old Town | $6 wine & beer pitchers | Until 5 PM daily |
| Buck & Rider | North | $2.50 oysters, $3 shrimp | Daily 3–7 PM |
| The Mission (Kierland) | North | $20 wine + guac bundle | Daily afternoon |
| Maple & Ash | North | $3 oysters, $40 tower | Daily 4–6 PM |
Deals and hours shift seasonally — call or check the venue’s site before heading out.
⚡ AZ INSIDER TIP
Happy hour in Scottsdale runs on two seasons. From October through April — snowbird and Spring Training months — Old Town packs out Thursday through Saturday, so get to a patio right at open or you’re waiting. In summer, locals flip it: skip the midday heat, hit a shaded patio or an indoor lounge like ZuZu after 4 PM, and you’ll have the place half to yourself. Either way, the patio seats go first.
🍽️ Turning happy hour into dinner? Toca Madera — Old Town
If happy hour rolls into a full night, Toca Madera is the upscale Old Town Mexican spot we feature in the AZ Charged directory — high-energy room, serious agave list, and a patio built for it. A natural next stop after drinks a few blocks away.
When is happy hour in Scottsdale?
Most Scottsdale happy hours run 3 PM to 6 PM, with some starting at 4 PM and a few stretching to 7 PM (Buck & Rider) or running all evening on a chosen weekday (Cien Agaves). A handful of Old Town bars also do late-night weekday deals after the dinner rush. Because specials change with the season, treat every time above as “typical, verify before you go.”
Where to go after happy hour
Made a night of it? Keep exploring with our other Scottsdale guides: the best restaurants in Scottsdale, the dinner-focused best restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale, the full list of things to do in Scottsdale, or — if you’re feeling fancy — where famous people go in Scottsdale. Browse every dining spot we’ve vetted in our Arizona restaurants directory.
Scottsdale happy hour FAQ
What is the best happy hour in Old Town Scottsdale?
For Old Town, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Cien Agaves, Diego Pops, and Postino are the local favorites — all walkable from one another, with most running daily from around 3–6 PM.
What time does happy hour start in Scottsdale?
Most Scottsdale happy hours start at 3 PM or 4 PM and run until 6 PM, though some go to 7 PM and a few offer late-night weekday deals. Hours change seasonally, so confirm with the venue.
Where is happy hour in North Scottsdale?
North Scottsdale’s standouts cluster around Kierland Commons and the Loop 101 — Buck & Rider for the raw bar, The Mission for the wine-and-guac bundle, and Maple & Ash for $3 oysters.
When is the busiest time for Scottsdale happy hour?
October through April — peak snowbird and Spring Training season — Thursday through Saturday afternoons. Arrive right at open if you want a patio seat. Summers are quieter and more local.
Run a Scottsdale restaurant or bar?
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