IN ANY GENTRIFIED urban space, there are unpolished relics of the very bohemian social scene that helped attract the masses in the first place. And with downtown Phoenix being gradually revitalized by condos and public transit tracks, Carly’s Bistro is becoming that touchstone.

Carly’s has long been the unpretentious anchor of an area embraced by budding artists like Christina Ramirez, who has created her layered, “meditative” paintings in a nearby studio for the past few years. The joint’s comfy leather seats, mellow vibe and enthusiasm for local creativity also make it an essential stop during First Fridays (Phoenix’s immensely popular art walk; artlinkphoenix.com), which, according to Ramirez, turns downtown into “a street fair for one night of the month.” 

Asked what draws her to Carly’s on a quiet night (aside from the cheap, eclectic menu and a laudable range of artisanal beer, cheap wine and colourful cocktails), Ramirez nods to the sheer range of engaging performance acts. “They do everything,” she says. “The last time I was in here they had a solo saxophone guy; one time I came in here and there was a magic act going on—this guy with an assistant in a little nurse’s outfit... I think they try to change it up and give everyone a chance to play.”

DOOR “I think you can always get in here, but if you want to sit, probably the earlier the better.”

DÉCOR “The art on the walls runs the gamut from figurative to abstract. I like what they did to the tables and up at the bar: They took artist sketches from anyone who wanted to put them in there and incorporated them in the tables… I like that; you can guess who did what.”

DRESS “Whatever you want to do… the weirder the better.”

DRINK “They have a good list of beers and cocktails. ‘The Dutch’ is my favourite. It’s Van Gogh espresso vodka and Amsterdam chocolate liqueur in a martini glass. That’s very good.”

Carly’s Bistro is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday to Saturday and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday

carlysbistro.com