Step inside Pablo’s, the next immersive cocktail destination in Downtown Phoenix
Early next year, Saguaro Nights Entertainment Group, the desert-inspired hospitality collective, will make its Arizona debut with Pablo’s, an immersive nightlife destination in the heart of Downtown Phoenix.
Located at the northwest corner of McKinley Street and First Avenue next to the recently opened Saiya luxury apartment community, Pablo’s breathes new life into a 9,000-square-foot historic building originally constructed in 1952 as a medical office. Husband-and-wife founders Cary Prewitt and Melissa Levick are transforming the Spanish-style structure into a multi-layered nightlife venue designed to surprise and connect guests at every turn.
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A new nightlife destination with local creative powerhouses
To anchor Pablo’s cocktail program, Saguaro Nights tapped Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, the award-winning team behind Century Grand, Platform 18 and Undertow, where industry veteran Mat Snapp helps guide their innovative approach. Together, they are crafting a beverage experience as imaginative as the venue itself.
An architectural transformation with international flair
Crater leads the interior design, the hospitality division of Arkham Projects, a Mexico-based firm known for avant-garde, boundary-pushing spaces. Construction is being overseen by LGE Design Build, bringing the historic property into its next chapter.
“Melissa and I moved to Phoenix last year and quickly fell in love with the culture, the people and the incredible energy here,” Prewitt says. “Bringing our first concept to Arizona felt like the natural next step, and downtown was the perfect place to begin. With Pablo’s, we want to add to the city’s momentum by creating something fun, unexpected and a little bit magical; the kind of destination people never want to leave and always want to come back to.”
The heart and soul of Downtown Phoenix nightlife
Set inside a storied historic building, Pablo’s is the house party that hums with kinetic energy, curiosity and charm. Each room reveals a new mood: three high-spirited bars, the Den, Pablo’s Living Room, the Billiards Room, a central courtyard, a lively front patio and Night Tiger, a pulse-quickening nightclub built for dancing until the lights come on.
“We wanted Pablo’s to feel authentic to its historic space while celebrating the artistry of Mexican design,” Levick says. “From the architecture to the furnishings, every detail was chosen to spark curiosity and create an environment where people feel transported the moment they walk through the door.”
Hidden surprises await
Every space offers its own personality, from bustling bars to intimate lounges, inviting guests to connect, flirt, play or simply soak it all in. Serving mezcal and mischief in equal measure, Pablo’s tempts exploration at every turn. Rumor has it there’s even a hidden mezcal room, but its entrance isn’t listed; it’s earned.
“Great nightlife is about harmony, when the music, the design and the drinks all move together,” says Mat Snapp, executive vice president of Barter & Shake. “Our cocktail program at Pablo’s is built with that in mind: a curated collection of inventive drinks, full of surprises, and ready to match every mood of the night. Barter & Shake is pleased to contribute to Pablo’s, bringing cocktails that unite the energy in the room so the party feels complete the moment the glass is raised.”
Construction is expected to begin in October, with an opening slated for early 2026. To register to be among the first to learn about Pablo’s, visit PablosPhoenix.com.
