Discover Gilbert 2024 Official Guide

Gilbert After

Dark

Experience the vivacious atmosphere of Gilbert’s late-night hot spots.

By Julia Hill
Photo by Lenny Catalanotto
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hether you’re hungry for a late-night meal or hunting for the best happy hour near you, Gilbert comes alive at night. In Gilbert’s historic Heritage District, dozens of locally loved Arizona breweries, restaurants, and bars rub shoulders in a unique, walkable downtown destination that bustles during the day and is just as exciting after the sun goes down.

Photo by The White Rabbit
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ne of Gilbert’s most beloved late-night hot spots, The White Rabbit is an attraction as much as a bar. As the story goes, Gilbert’s legendary Dr. O’Hare flouted prohibition laws in 1920 by prescribing alcoholic concoctions to his “patients” behind the hidden doors of his Apothecary. Today, The White Rabbit still uses this hidden entrance and a secret password (hint: join the VIP list online or ask around as you stroll downtown). Guests descend a staircase beneath street level and slip back in time to a swanky Prohibition-era speakeasy, where vintage portraits adorn the walls and bartenders whip up dazzling cocktails. In addition to drinks, The White Rabbit serves a menu of small bites late into the night.

Speaking of speakeasies: The White Rabbit has a sister lounge named The Parlour Room around the corner, and there’s no password required. Fashioned after the private chambers where eclectic Dr. O’Hare held galas for exclusive guests, The Parlour Room draws patrons into plush booths under decadent red mood lighting to indulge in a menu of martinis, beers, spirits, and twists on classic cocktails. Consider it either a starting place or final stop on your tour of Gilbert’s speakeasies, but come dressed to impress in your best night-out attire. A DJ spins on Fridays, and happy hour caters to the late-night crowd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Photo by Elaine Kessler
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or those looking to imbibe above ground, cocktails on the rooftop are the purview of Sotol Modern Cocktail Kitchen, where dinner with a view meets cleverly crafted drinks. Meant to be savored and sipped, Sotol’s menu invites you to slow down and soak in the ambiance, whether you’re watching a gorgeous desert sunset sink on the horizon or lights glitter on the street below. For a one-of-a-kind experience, try the “Don’t Push the Button!” cocktail that comes with a tongue-tickling “buzz button.”

Drinks and dining aren’t the only late-night activities in Gilbert. If you’re nostalgic for arcade games or just a fun-seeking newbie, Level 1 Arcade Bar sports a selection of retro rotating games, drink specials, and a food menu that you can enjoy past midnight. Feeling artsy? The Art House Gilbert invites you to order a drink from the bar and tap into your creative side at its urban studio, where instructors guide participants through creating painted canvas art, beautifully decorated cookies, charcuterie masterpieces, and more. Evening workshops and classes typically occur after 6 p.m. and are purchased online in advance

Photo by Foskett Creative
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y day, visitors to downtown Gilbert’s historic Heritage District can refuel with lunch after shopping, hiking, and enjoying the entertainment scene. By night, these hip eateries are open late for happy hour, dinner, and beyond. Crowd-favorite Clever Koi serves delicious ramen, steamed buns, and other elegant Asian fusion in digs perfect for date night. Locally beloved brewery Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company offers craft beers and full menus until 10 p.m. You can grab a bite to eat anytime at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Gilbert, but after dark is your best bet for late-night fun as the dance floor lights up with club DJs or live country music.

You don’t need to be in downtown Gilbert to find good restaurants open late. Located in the open-air SanTan Village shopping destination, Thirsty Lion Gastropub is open until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, while The Whining Pig neighborhood bar serves craft beer and wine until midnight or later every night except Sunday.

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Make Time for Murals

In the heart of the Heritage District, the kaleidoscope of colors in the Zinburger mural, on the south wall of the popular burger joint, are sure to catch your eye. Nearby, at one of the Heritage District’s newest restaurants—The Porch—the vibrant plantscapes of the Desert Dream mural on the north side of the building are equally as bold as the over-the-top cocktails on the restaurant’s menu. Covering the back wall of Flashback Antiques, another Heritage District stop, the Gema Hispanic heritage mural celebrates diversity and strength among women of color. As you explore the Heritage District, capture the creativity of Gilbert’s Open Seating Public Art Project by snapping a selfie in one of many decorative art benches. Wait until nightfall for your photo op to get the changing colors of the circular lights above Hearne Way in your photo.

The Heritage District isn’t Gilbert’s only photo-worthy stop. Look for the fun Bubbles mural or the I Love You So Much wall as you browse the shops of the SanTan Village shopping center.

A border collie dog sits in front of the brightly colored, abstract Zinburger mural in Gilbert, Arizona.
by @KOHSOGOOD
Some of Gilbert’s best backdrops are the works of art that can be found while strolling through the shopping and dining districts.

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