Phoenix welcomes retro glamour with the new cocktail lounge 'Carry On', inspired by the golden age of luxury air travel. This nostalgic bar is the latest creation from Pretty Decent Concepts, known for popular spots like Wren & Wolf and Chico Malo.
Carry On's debut has echoed through the city's social media strands, inspiring an allure with its distinctive theme. An announcement from the bar promised a journey where "the only flight you wish lasted longer." According to Phoenix New Times, the aviation-inspired hub was set to welcome its first patrons on board on a Friday, with much fanfare following multiple postponed openings.
The ambiance is lifted by handcrafted cocktails from Jax Donahue, a revered figure in the cocktail scene. In an interview with Phoenix New Times, Donahue revealed the bar's inaugural "flight path" features 20 modern riffs on mid-century classics. These beverages are intended to embody the essence of air travel between San Francisco to Mexico City during an era fondly remembered for its cultural and technological breakthroughs.
Patrons looking to snag a seat at this bar will find their reservations—reminiscent of boarding passes—to differ from the usual dine-and-drink establishments. Carry On offers a "show-like atmosphere" with interactive elements such as voiced-over announcements and "Martini Time". As Donahue told ABC15, "It’s meant to be more of a show. Just as a lot of cocktail bars are all about experiences, we are too, but we want to make sure that it's a fun environment that guests want to be a part of. When it comes to this space, specifically, there's a lot more interaction amongst guests and also amongst our crew, than your average bar, meaning your pilots are going to come over and say hello, your stewards are going to be walking around constantly between waters, snacks, martinis, just wanting to make sure that you're enjoying your experience, and it's about the time and the place with the people that you're here enjoying it with."
