Bailey L.
Yelp
Love a good cocktail parlor and grabbed some evening cocktails with an old colleague, per her Yelp bucket list we decided on The Rose Garden!
Little background: This cocktail bar is on the bottom floor of what seems to be a office complex in downtown Phoenix. There are many affordable garages near by, but I was actually able to snag one of the many metered street parking options! 2 hour max from 8-5 and 4 hours during evening at $1.25 an hour, not too bad!
The Rose Garden is "appointment" only, so make sure to plan accordingly. Though they open at 3, oddly enough their "happy hour" does not start until 4 and runs until 7. They have rotating specials on the happy hour menu. It's nothing crazy, so don't expect huge savings. The inside boasts a very moody, Alice in the wonderland meets garden vibe - Very fun! They have many booths, tables, bar seats and an outdoor patio. I'm sure they can accommodate largish parties, 2-6 seems like the sweet spot.
Our server, Shelby was fabulous. She was very sweet, tentative and made sure to help answer any questions or guide us accordingly. She definitely knows her stuff.
My friend and I opted for the mushroom tarte and bleu gem salad as our lite bites. The tarte was delicious! Very garlic forward, lots of flavor and pairs perfectly with any cocktail! The salad was also very good, with crispy prosciutto.
Though the menu is not huge, they have classic cocktails and then a page of their specialty drinks. We both got a Lyre Harmony, with the lemon zested right at the table. This was both our favorite beverage, with apricot foam. I love some good foam on a cocktail! It was very balanced. My second beverage was The Axe, a elevated version of. Whiskey sour if I had to boil it down. Also very nice, but Lyres Harmony was big winner in my book. My friend has the Turaco and Rabbit Hole as well.
Presentation is A plus. Very beautiful drinks and glassware, as well as an atmosphere to match. The reason for four stars is the prices are just a little too steep. Speciality cocktails range from 17-24 dollars. It is a good cocktails, but I have had just as wonderful cocktails at comparable bars and speakeasies that are a bit more affordable. It is worth a visit, but expect to pay accordingly.