10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Phoenix

The Desert Botanical Garden sprawls over a 140-acre site on the edge of Phoenix, with 50,000 desert plants growing amid the red rocks of the Papago Buttes. Among them are towering cacti, succulents, and wildflowers. In summer, self-guided nighttime tours let you discover its wildlife and night-blooming plants.

There’s a farmers’ market offering fresh produce, arts and crafts, and ready-to-eat food. A varied programme of music and dance livens up the night, with everything from mariachi bands to puppet theatre. Las Noches de las Luminarias takes place in December. During this annual festival, 8,000 lights illuminate the garden.

The White Tank Mountain Regional Park lies within easy reach of Phoenix. While city lights and stargazing don’t make a good partnership, this spot is the closest place for dark-sky fans to enjoy their passion. Hike up the hill to view the moon, planets and major constellations. The folks from Maricopa County Parks occasionally offer visitors the opportunity to look through their telescope, bringing deep space objects like star clusters, nebulae and galaxies into view.o

If you’re excited to see more, tours depart from Phoenix and head further into the Sonoran Desert. For those content to gaze down on the twinkling lights of the city itself, Phoenix Mountains Preserve or South Mountain Park and Preserve will be more than adequate.

The Phoenix Bat Cave is a place in the city where you can witness a spectacular display at dusk. It's actually a storm drain, but before you write it off, know that as many as 20,000 Mexican free-tailed bats gather there from May to October to raise their young.

During the day, they rest and conserve energy for their migration, but each evening at dusk, they fly out of their shelter en masse to hunt for airborne insects and other food. With much squeaking and chirping, they swoop and dive as they feast on the mosquitos and moths that swarm in the warm night air.

Tempe Town Lake, actually an artificial reservoir, is the setting for a fun paddle on Friday evenings in summer. The City of Tempe provides glow-in-the-dark accessories and, of course, all the necessary kayaking equipment for this fun night out on the water. The sight of multiple kayaks gliding across the still water is quite magical.

If you’re not confident of your skills, book a daytime session first and learn how to paddle with a qualified instructor. Closeby, function meets fun as Arizona’s only light rail bridge also puts on a colourful show. When a train crosses, LED lights “chase” it across the 1,545-ft-long span.

FilmBar is a Phoenix cinema that screens indie, foreign, and cult classic movies with a twist. The original venue on 2nd Street features a bar and serves tamales alongside its films. Catch anything from The Sound of Music (1965) to The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – a fancy dress is optional.

There are also pop-up FilmBars at other locations in Phoenix, including the Nile Theater, PHX Art Museum, and the Orpheum Theatre. Grab a craft beer to go with your popcorn and join like-minded individuals who prefer something a little different to your run-of-the-mill multiplex.

Phoenix Ghosts is a tour outfit that specialises in the paranormal and supernatural. A deep dive into the city’s history reveals many chilling yet fascinating stories. Tales of spirits and legends are brought to life by engaging guides as you walk through downtown Phoenix.

From hauntings at the Hotel San Carlos to unexplained happenings at the Rosson House, the tragedies and mysteries that led to these ghostly sightings are compellingly recounted. After joining Phoenix Ghosts, you’ll probably never look at the city in the same way again. The meeting point is at Hotel San Carlos on 202 N Central Ave. 

Lake Pleasant is one of several lakes in the Phoenix area that offers sunset, dinner, and wine cruises. Lake Pleasant Cruises has a varied programme that includes sunset cruises with live music by local bands, adults-only DJ Party cruises, and more sedate sunset sailings with a buffet.

You can also book boat trips on Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake. Each is located around 40 to 50 miles from Downtown Phoenix, so expect to spend up to 1 hour to get there by car.

From The Rooftop is the high-rise bar at the Cambria Hotel at the Phoenix Convention Center. The view from this venue is spectacular – a panorama that offers a different perspective of the city.

Though From The Rooftop is a popular brunch spot at weekends, nothing beats seeing the city lights late in the evening with a cocktail in hand. Live music takes place on Saturday and Sunday evenings, which attracts a lively, younger crowd. On Wednesdays, it’s happy hour all night long.

Bikini Lounge is a tiki-themed nightspot that opened in 1947 – the oldest in Phoenix. The lack of windows means this kitsch and unpretentious dive bar is always dark inside. There’s cheap booze, along with an eclectic mix of tapa print wall coverings, tiki art and neon bar signs.

The place has personality, attracting grizzled regulars and curious hipsters in equal measure. Most nights, they’re satisfied with the bar’s pool table and jukebox, though regular DJ nights pull in an even livelier late-night crowd.  

Dwntwn is a nightclub in Phoenix that plays Latin music across 3 separate rooms, including a VIP area with plush sofas. DJs mix it up, so you’ll hear reggaeton, cumbia, and salsa alongside hip hop and mainstream pop – anything with a danceable beat.

Dwntwn is packed most weekends, but don’t let the crowded dance floors put you off. Take a breather and order Mexico's popular michelada (tomato juice, lime and beer) cocktail or choose from an extensive selection of tequilas and south-of-the-border cerveza (Spanish beers).