Counter Intuitive

I have been dying to check this place out since it opened, but Friday and Saturday from 10pm — 2am was a bit of a challenge for me… especially living in downtown Phoenix. I was so excited when I heard the announcement that they were now opening at 8pm, so we decided to stop in last night after dinner. Lively, fun atmosphere, great and engaging bartenders, fun, rotating themes and extensive drink menu. We were a little overwhelmed by all of the choices, so we told the bartender what flavors we liked and he mixed us up something tasty… definitely out of our comfort zone, but good all the same to try something I wouldn’t normally order. Excited to see what the next iteration of this cool bar will be… definitely a draw to keep you coming back!

Love the atmosphere — the fact that it is more lounge/​speakeasy like than most of the other bars in the area. Coming from NYC, I had missed a good lounge bar. The rotating themes is really an innovative concept and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Great age range in the place, too — not full of millennials.

This place is intimate and exclusive (open two days a week and limited hours) and has a speakeasy atmosphere. Walking in I honestly felt like I was somewhere exciting and foreign. They rotate the theme, menu and décor every few months. Most of the décor used is for sale as well. I mean how freaking creative is that?! The menu book was so beautiful and unique I actually considered stealing it.
I came during the Shanghai Social club concept and had the Sippin tea in the LBC and Stewed.
The BEST cocktails I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. The mixologists are incredible at what they do and you can tell how much they enjoy it.
The menu is a little overwhelming because everything sounds lovely and somewhat exotic. I asked our bartender for suggestions and was hooked first sip. Truthfully, I would have probably loved everything here, but I’ll be back for the next theme! All of them from here on out.

If you’ve met me for a hot minute, you know that I rarely drink. However, I would gladly sacrifice a hangover for this place.
The bar is theme-​based and the theme rotates every few months. Their current theme is Chinatown, so everything on the menu aligns with this. You’ll find a lot of citrus and ginger flavors. My boyfriend and I went there the other night and had a variety of cocktails. My favorite one is the Sippin Tea in the LBC, recommended by my lovely mixologist. It has a strong yuzu flavor, which is a japanese tangerine with really strong floral notes, and is delightful. The prevalent alcohol is mezcal, which adds a really nice, smokey and throaty finish. Everything else I tried was complex but well balanced and absolutely enjoyable to drink.
If you need a respite from the regular old town scene, I highly recommend coming over to Counter Intuitive!

Being an East coaster, I miss the bars that truly concentrate on the fantastic, write home about, cocktails. Well, Counter Intuitive made that list for me. And I love that they rotate their theme every 6 months! Currently Chinatown themed, looking forward to the next change in May!

If you are looking for a charming bar with an incredibly unique cocktail menu, come to Counter Intuitive! The bartenders are passionate about the cocktails and put lots of love and attention into every delicious, hand-​crafted drink.
Show up at 9:55 pm, or else you’ll definitely have to wait for a spot to open or stand around the bar area. This place is filled by 9:59 pm (no exaggeration) and they open at 10.

Counter Intuitive lives up to the hype!
After visiting the bar on a Saturday night, I can see why it has been rated one of the top craft cocktails bars in the country. The décor is super eclectic, and from what I understand, it changes every 6 months. Right now, it has an Asian flair to their menu and décor, so the place is filled with paper lanterns and fun tchotchkes strewn about.
As for the cocktails, they are not only beautiful to look at, but they are mighty tasty. We tasted the Stilettos in Hand, which was a vodka based drink mixed with thai basil, lemongrass, grapefruit and bitters, and it was absolutely fantastic! Nice balance of sweet, sour, dry… it was a perfect cocktail.
One thing to note, is that they are a cocktail bar, so no beer here. You’ll have to go elsewhere for a brewski.
If you’re into fun cocktails with a whimsical atmosphere, then definitely come check out what Counter Intuitive is all about!

Counter Intuitive is one of, if not, my favorite drink spots in Old Town. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, they completely change out the theme and entire menu of the restaurant every 3 months or so. The talent behind every drink is spectacular and the entire staff is so helpful, knowledgable, and awesome even in the midst of a fully packed bar. They auction off everything you see inside before changing the theme so put yourself on the wait list if you see anything from a poster, to the cups, to the lights that you like! They open at 10pm for drinks and serve a small food menu usually around 11pm (depending on when Cowboy Ciao closes because they share the kitchen). The cocktails are out of this world amazing and the list is extensive so be prepared to have your mind blown. It’s not your typical Old Town spot and that’s what makes it so damn great!

Awesome hip bar. Went during the Chinese theme… The crowd is friendly, the service is awesome, and the atmosphere is very relaxing.
The drinks are average, but everything else makes up for it.

AMAZING PLACE! definitely a diamond in the rough in Old Town Scottsdale. Amazing craft cocktails and ambiance.

Great place with some interesting and extremely tasty drinks!!! Haven’t tried the food yet but I am sure it’s as great as the cocktails.

Came here on a Saturday night and was very impressed. Place was packed in about 15 minutes after they opened the doors. The theme was asian inspired and the décor was both unique and interesting. The cocktails were outstanding, great vibe and the bartenders know what they are doing.

Hands down one of the best drink spots and definitely a hidden gem in Scottsdale, it is truly amazing!
For a bit, I wondered if I would ever find a place that could serve up well made drinks in an environment that allows exploration of new drinks and a great place to socialize … one similar to Bitter & Twisted. Counterintuitive is just that! From hearing of this place from a colleague, we decided to have a girl’s night out and was amused that the current theme was «Asian».
Upon entering, it was as if we were transported to an underground bar in Los Angeles or San Francisco. It was adored with typical «Asian» décor, such as lanterns, straw hats, cats and even an old Chinese film on their TV. The menu itself was based off of cities and historial Asian figures, it was very fun!
We were served a delicious concoction in tea cups as a complimentary drink consisting of gin, cognac and a plethora of other alcohols … but it was pure magic at how delicious and well crafted it was. As for the other cocktails, we ordered a cocktail from each page to get a good taste of what they were providing for their current theme. There was not one drink I would not order again. There was one drink, the only alcoholic boba beverage, I did not enjoy that much purely because it was the mixture of tart coconut and the boba absorbed most of the alcohol making it literally– hard to swallow.
Besides, the well crafted drinks (I could drink everything on the menu– if possible) the service and how the bar operates is phenomenal. I love the idea of an always changing theme and really shows their willingness to adapt and pushes limits. Definitely a new favorite and will keep coming back, they are amazing!

After months of failed attempts, we finally stayed awake late enough to try this place out! And now I thoroughly wish I could stay awake until midnight every single Friday and Saturday… The joys of being old…
We came here for post-​dinner drinks on date night, and I am not exaggerating when I say they were the best cocktails I’ve ever had in my life. The theme of the bar rotates every 3 – 4 months, so we were here during their Chinese theme, and the menu was separated by parts of the world. They had Asian inspired cocktails from Oahu, Los Angeles, New York, and one other that I can’t remember right now. The bottom line is these guys are genius when it comes to great drinks; the guys who own it are the top mixologists in AZ and they employ only the top bartenders.
This place is a do not miss. They’re only open from 10pm-​2am Thursday-​Saturday, but we got there about 5 minutes before they opened, and as soon as they did it was packed, so plan ahead of you want a spot at the bar. Also, this is a late 20s/​early 30s crowd, so none of your normal old town idiots are here. It’s hands down the best bar in old town.

When a place tries to pretend that waiting 40 minutes for a drink is totally normal and okay… that’s a red flag! Be aware when coming here!

Coolest place in all of Scottsdale in my opinion. I lived in old town and north Scottsdale for the past ten years, right as this amazing spot was opening up I moved away :(on a visit last weekend I finally got to check out Counter Intuitive and I am SO glad I did. Best cocktails, staff, ambiance and crowd. This is not the Scottsdale douche scene this is the cool vibe to enjoy a damn good drink that a true bartender has made for you. I cannot say enough about how great this place is. I was here with 6 girls and two guy friends and we all left ranting and raving about our own experience. Now if only CI was in my new home, Austin!
Thanks for a great time Counter Intuitive!!!

Counter Intuitive is the perfect late night spot for excellent food and drinks. It’s so good! I wish it had been around a couple years ago while I still lived in Scottsdale, but I’m just happy there’s such a great place to hang out at whenever we’re in town.
My husband and I visited on a Friday night, and everything was so tasty we went back the next night with friends to try the rest of the menu. They have a rotating menu that corresponds with a theme, and everything from the food and cocktails to the music and art on the walls fits with the current theme. We went during their Picasso’s Visit to Cuba. I’m Cuban and from Miami, so this was an especially special treat for me. Getting restaurant food with Cuban, Spanish or Caribbean flavors was next to impossible when I lived in Phoenix but Counter Intuitive pulled it off. The mofongo (Puerto Rican) was delish and the fried yuca and tostones really hit the spot. Everyone we were with loved their meals. The drinks were super good too. I’m a fan of classic daiquiris, but we also tried about six different cocktails and they were all delicious.
On top of having great food (especially late night great eats — also not easy to find in Phoenix) and cocktails, the ambiance and lighting at this place rocks. We felt so comfortable we lost track of time our first night and just hung around for three hours. The bar area feels welcoming and is really nice for standing around and socializing, with bar height seating in that space and shorter (but longer) tables in the back. The layout is really well thought out — not a surprise considering how great everything else was.
I can’t say enough good things about Counter Intuitive. We can’t wait to go back and try whatever menu they’ll have next time we’re in town. We highly recommend it!

New York’s hottest club is: Counter Intuitive.
This club has everything: it’s in Phoenix, it’s actually a bar, and it’s themed like a New Orleans estate sale of a fictional/​deceased Bartholomew Chesterfield Ignatius Sugarman, who may or may not be a midget.
The theme will change right when you get used it, and you’ll love it.
It has obituaries, bacon beignets, and drinks that taste like effervescent Flintstones vitamin molly water.
This club has a Peas-​Sco Sour with snap-​pea infused pisco, egg white, watermelon, & yuzu.
It has whiskey, tequila, pineapple, lime, AND coffee liqueur in a mêlée of hell yessery.
It’s website-​less, it’s late-​night, it’s weekend-​only, it’s the brainlovechild of Cowboy Ciao + Crudo collaboration, and anyone who’s everyone is there.

Late night hidden gem. You need to go see Micah & Keifer & enjoy some of the best, inventive, creative cocktails in AZ. Their hours are only 10pm-​2am. It is next door to Cowboy Ciao and is the perfect place for a late night date or just a good time. Go enjoy!

A gator bite in Scottsdale tonight!
From those who bring you Kazimierz World Wine Bar and Cowboy Ciao, (and in the space adjacent to the latter), you will find Counter Intuitive.
Here, you will imbibe the likes of «Cuffs & Buttons» (brandy, sloe gin, etc), Sazerac (with a take-​away flask, should you choose & we did since we had a nice «Arizona Cocktail Week» promo price) or a good old Pimm’s Cup. You’ll enjoy the kind of fare as determined by theme — the current being «New Orleans Estate Sale» –complete with a fictional character, his obit on the back of the menu and a curious selection of personal items inspired by this character. These items are available for viewing at the front door.
Foodwise…think beignets and rabbit rillettes, gator bites and gumbo. We loved the shrimp remoulade deviled eggs ($ 2 per) as well as the bacon beignets ($ 8 heap) though my tastebuds can’t vouch for the bacon content. Our server brought one from the kitchen (pre-​cooked dough) to show the bacon bits. There are flecks but I need chunks, I imagine. Service was exceptional for a second night open.
The lights are low. The spirits high. We enjoyed.
Open 10 pm — 2 am, Friday and Saturday only for cocktails and late night bites. All other times the space is available for private party rental.