Larger place than I expected, and was very happy with the happy hour menu we ordered a bunch of things from before seeing a show. Forgot to take a photo of the happy hour menu, but there were lots of options and pricing was very fair. $6 Appys, wines and beers. Don't expect fancy - this is a quick place to have a tasty beverage or two and some food - not a five star restaurant. Service was friendly, ambience was open and airy (despite the AC not working great at that section of the building and was being repaired), and the food was tasty. We ordered several little Caprese salad stacks, minestrone soup, shrimp cocktail, and the pretzel bites to share. Definitely make a reservation if you're going to visit before seeing a show. Super convenient location for sure and you don't have to worry about re-parking. Park in the lot in front of the Phoenix theater and walk into the front of the property down a hallway to find the entrance to the art bar. It's in inside the lobby where you enter the theater, but there wasn't any signage outside from the parking lot, so a bit confusing if you're not familiar with the property. read more

Artbar Bistro - 7/2025 Menu - Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We were here before a show and had my wife's 83 year mother and her 92 year old boyfriend with us. It is obviously convenient to the theater. Food was OK, drinks were tasty but not strong. Sadly the waiter got our order wrong and although both seniors ordered the lasagna, only one came out. They brought a different dish that he had asked about but then clearly said he wanted the lasagna instead. Mistakes happen, but after about 15 minutes we wondered why they had not brought out the other lasagna. They were NOT made from scratch so it could not take that long. When we inquired, the server, not the waiter never told the waiter or the kitchen of the mistake. They ended up sharing the one. They comped that but it would have made for a more pleasant outing if they had gotten it right or at least took care of the issue quickly and not dropped the ball. read more

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Great place to eat lunch before the show waiters and waitresses are very friendly and you're right there at the theater so it's very convenient. We just walk in have to have lunch and enjoy the show. read more

I enjoyed the food options and server, Paul's, recommendation of their french dip. Cute space that accommodated about 25 of us. Projector display of current play advertisment on the dining room walls. Ambiance is some regular diner chat volume but not overwhelming loud. I'd definitely return! read more

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I made a reservation to eat here with a friend before the performance of Come From Away. I became violently ill at 3 am vomiting and diarrhea that lasted 24 hours, salmonella poisoning. The server gave me butter that was not cold, could have been the source. I went back in person to tell them about my experience and the manager of the Art Bar said someone would call me. I left my name and number and no one ever did. I would not recommend eating there either, poor customer service. read more

Great location if you're going to a show at The Phoenix Theater Company. The service was excellent and the prices reasonable, except for their specialty drink which they must be really proud of!! The menu provided a pretty good selection. Kids will like the mini corndogs and fries for sure. I won't avoid this nice little bistro when coming back to the theater; I'll just stay with the ice tea though. read more

Artbar Bistro - Specialty drink to be really $$ proud of! - Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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It would be nice to have a vegetarian entree without dairy ; not a salad. The fish and chips were over cooked. read more

Artbar Bistro - Fish looks like it has been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. Very dry and not very tasty. - Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Fish & Chips, Penne Pasta & Gumbo and Pear Salad everything yummy !! And later we got to see the show Let the Good Times Roll..... read more

I updated my review. We had a great meal here tonight before Jersey Boys. it has a smaller menu but is suppose to expand when the new theater opens. I have tried pretty much all the items on the menu and it is all so good. The lemon dessert is extra delish. They changed it a bit not as good as the previous dessert but still yummy. read more

bad quality, cheap crappy plates, plastic cutlery, bad service, overall bad experience.

Located within the Phoenix Theatre Company, Artbar Bistro is a must-stop whenever you need a pre-theatre libation. You ARE in the habit of going to the theatre.... right?? You by all means should! The quality of performances there are always outstanding, as I've noted in another review about the venue. But this is about Artbar. The service is always friendly and outgoing, even when slammed with the theatre crowd. There is usually a signature cocktail themed to whatever performance is currently going on, and you can even pre-order another, or anything of your choice to be waiting for you when you come out for intermission. How great is that? There is a pretty decent selection of liquors to choose from, so you'll be able to have your favorite cocktail crafted as well. I've yet to sample the food options but I understand them to be enjoyable as well. I will have to sample at some point. Of course, Artbar Bistro and the theatre are also adjacent to the excellent Phoenix Art Museum so you should have no excuse to stop by on your next visit. read more

Artbar Bistro - people sitting at the bar - Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Best thing I can say is it's very convenient if you're going to see a play. $90+ for 2 chicken finger plates and 4 cocktails seemed excessive. Plastic utensils and paper plates didn't make a great impression, but the food was edible and the cocktails were delicious. read more

We made reservations which was a good idea. Went for a quick bite to eat before seeing The Waitress. Great service. Food was good and the atmosphere was light and open. Very convenient. read more

Okay, the most important aspect of this experience is: " You're going to the theater, you'd like to have an, at least somewhat ambiance appropriate venue." Unfortunately, this isn't the spot; paper plates and plastic silverware......enough said! Food and service met expectations. read more

One of our favorite things to do with any show at Phoenix Theatre is to arrive early, have a cocktail, relax & grab a bite before a show. It's fun to order the show themed drinks they come up with & the food is pretty good as well. They do an excellent job of getting you in & out before showtime (so long as you show up at the times they say). The service is always fast & friendly. read more

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Great cocktails & perfect treat prior to a show! Wonderful place for network with fellow theatre lovers! Menu is light and overpriced in the summer but when they have use of a kitchen food is great. read more

How convenient when going to the theatre to park at the venue and have dinner right there. Once you're done, it's a very short walk to get to your seats. It's a little basic, but the food was good. Chicken tenders were tasty with just a light breading. Shrimp cocktail was very good. Drink menu was fine, and the service was very good. It's a nice option when attending The Phoenix Theatre, which is also a nice venue. Give it a try! read more

Perfect spot to grab a quick bite before the show. The prices are perfect, the taste of the food is de want and ambiance is great.

Honestly, a fun, classy vibe. For most people, this is a place you would only come to before or after a show at the Phoenix Theatre. But if you lived in downtown Phoenix, it's really a place I would consider coming to for a glass of wine or cocktail. On that note, the Phoenix Theatre offers a monthly package that costs $39 and includes unlimited performances, etc. You also get a 20 percent discount at ArtBar & Bistro. Again, if you lived nearby, it is something to consider! I found the bartenders to be friendly and accessible. They were happy to give suggestions (hilarious when one recommend the brownie and another the Key lime cheesecake; go with the cheesecake!) and worked fast. If you are coming for a performance and want to get a seat, I would recommend arriving at least 45 minutes early. It is a great place to people watch and can extend your evening out. Once the show is about 30 minutes away, the bar gets slammed and there will be a queue to order (no table service, counter service only). Pro tip: you can pre-order drinks for intermission which will save time. If you are coming for food, note that they shut down the kitchen about 45 minutes before the show (a bit odd I felt, but it is what it is). The most expensive food here is $13. The menu isn't innovative but there should be something for everyone with offerings from mozzarella sticks to a grilled chicken BLT. I only ordered dessert and at $6, I didn't feel ripped off. There is a concession in the main lobby that sells some small snacks and drinks but nothing substantial and no booze. I was expecting the prices to be outrageous but they were decent, if not outright fair. Cocktails were in the $10 range and I loved the creativity that was put into the menu. The Hadestown Press was a blend of pomegranate vodka, club soda, and Sprite which was refreshing. They also usually have a rotating cocktail that is related to the performance (am guessing "Roxy's Revolver" emerged when Chicago was in town). Several types of wine are available both by glass and bottle as is prosecco. At $10-12 for a glass, it feels fair. You are able to take your drinks to the theatre. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food at the Artbar Bistro at the Phoenix Theater. Great happy hour Nice specials. Enjoyable way to go before your theater experience. read more

The service was great and the patio was quiet however the food was on par with Denny's. Some of the worst food I've experienced in that price range. Rubbery deviled eggs with a potato chip garnish...fish and chips that tasted like they'd come from the local grocery freezer section and my pear, walnut chicken salad had the driest chicken I've ever tasted. Do not eat here before the show. Maybe grab a drink, but that's it. read more

Our favorite place for a pre-show cocktail and dinner! Tremendous staff that will always cater to your needs. Fresh-made martinis and margaritas are simply fabulous! Ample craft beer selections with some on tap as well as on can/bottle. Holly runs the food/beverage section like a well-oiled machine and it is evident in the service! Food is promptly delivered and tables are always cleared (and cleaned) as guests rotate. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and pour the perfect cocktail every time! There are seats at the bar, lounge area, dining room, as well as an ample outdoor courtyard so relaxing you'd think you were home! Simply no need to go anywhere else for drinks or dinner when you can stop by the artbar bistro and patiently wait for the opening curtain. Oh, and the staff would be happy to provide you a drink in a plastic container to take with you to the show! And don't forget to order your intermission beverage prior to show time so it is waiting for you during the show intermission instead of you waiting in line. Love this place!! Applause!!! read more

Artbar Bistro - THE place to grab a drink before the show! Oh, and dinner is served as well!! - Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We haven't had any food at the Bistro (we always seem to show up too late), but we now have extensive experience drinking at the Bar location. Before our shows, we like to show up a few minutes early to order either a craft cocktail or glass of wine to bring into the theater with us. Artbar usually has fun themed drinks for each show! Service is always friendly, the bartenders are very efficient, and the drinks are well-made. There's a large range of potential drinks - this is a full bar, which isn't always the case at other theaters. The prices are actually very reasonable considering the fact that you're seeing a play. Alcohol prices are about the same as any other restaurant or bar around town. Pro-tip: if your play has an intermission, pre-order an additional drink before the show. You'll walk out the doors directly to the bar, where your drinks will be waiting for you, freshly made and with a little sign with your name (or whatever absurd title you desire) on it. read more

I have patronized the art bar bistro several times while seeing a theater performance and have always been underwhelmed. Some of the staff and managers seem to wander around looking busy but doing nothing. The menu is incredibly disappointing with no vegan or vegetarian menu distinctions or offerings. We wind up having to snack on fries while we wait for the show to start. If they had a menu with vegan items and a friendly and competent staff we would definitely plan to eat there before every performance. As it is, we are going to have to start going to dinner elsewhere before our season ticket performances. I am hopeful there will be menu updates in the future that are more inclusive to the modern customer needs. read more

They are in transition apparently, something we didn't know before we arrived. Our Server was amazing. That said the rest was far to be desired for a pre show meal. Cost did not align with food delivered, small eggs for deviled eggs and 4 small half's for $6 at the happy hour price. Cant imagine paying full $12 for those. Salads were placed with one having 3 olives and the other 2 thinly sliced pears when both items were part of description. They did bring extras of both half way through eating. Served on paper plates and with plastic utensils. Really disappointed. read more

Don't waste your time if you are looking for decent food. For $150 and a beautiful setting I'd at least expect real silverware and dishes instead of plastic and paper. The tacos consisted of basically two fish sticks inside flour tortillas with hardly any toppings and a little blob of "Spanish" rice. You'd be better off eating at Filibertos! read more

Nice place for a meal before the show. Very limited menu but the food is good. Atmosphere is nice and we sat outside in the garden area

A neat Cafe before a show. Nice selection of dishes at fair price. Although served on paper plates. Servers are super pleasant but because of the circumstances a bit slow. We enjoyed our experience. read more

We sat outside after our show and just had the nicest and quietest experience. Really enjoyed our experience today. Helped that there was a wedding in the courtyard of the museum so we people watched as well. Loved and I highly recommend. read more

Arrived early, decided to try dinner at the bistro. Big, Big mistake, the world worst chicken Cesar salad ever. The chicken had no flavor, almost impossible to cut. Guess the chef does know a microwave is a bad thing to warming up meat. Basically it was a plate of lettuce with dressing on the side and a tough chicken breast on the side. read more

Sat outside which is beautiful. Great place to stop before the show or to have a glass of wine

Thought having supper at Artbar Bistro before the Jersey Boys show last evening was a good idea - were we ever wrong. I ordered the Marguerita Pizza, which was as good as any frozen pizza I can buy at Albertsons. My husband had to settle for the chicken strips, because (at 5:15 pm) they were already sold out of the fish & chips. Everything comes to you on paper plates with plastic cutlery. Everything seems to be prepackaged/frozen food, including the cheese cake. The only positive was the delightful hostess that seated us and helped out our server, when service was slower than expected. We will be returning to the Phoenix Theatre, but we won't be returning to Artbar Bistro. A preshow stop at McDonald's would be a better choice. read more

My favorite part of this place was the location and ambiance. Really nice setting to eat before watching a show. The service was good. The food was priced well but nothing special. Very basic, almost like diner food. The cocktails were not cheap but well made and delicious. read more

Not a good experience. Would tell you how the fried food was but the fryer was down and of the 12 menu items, 4 were fried, 2 were not available because they sold out because no one could get fried food, the rest were French Dip and salads. The sandwiches were ok but one of our party couldn't eat any of the items and will go through the whole show (3 hrs) without dinner. No one seemed concerned the fryer was out and didn't even mention it until we were ready to order. Would be convenient to eat here before the show but you can't trust they can actually serve the food. read more