Tell Your Friends is a new sultry cocktail and live music lounge located underneath The Americano in North Scottsdale, at 17797 N Scottsdale Road, and accessed through a nondescript side door.
Slated to open in late April or early May, the ultra-luxe, 52-seat venue is a collaboration between Creation Hospitality, owners of The Americano, Mora Italian, and others, and Clive Collective, owners of Cala, according to a recent press release. Chef Beau MacMillan and Keifer Gilbert have been selected to develop the menus at Tell Your Friends. Gilbert has led many projects that have earned some of the industry’s highest accolades and was called by MacMillan for the opportunity.
“When Beau calls, you answer,” Keifer said in a press release. “I have no plans to get back into the cocktail industry, so the opportunity to work alongside Beau at Tell Your Friends informally and casually lends itself to a fun passion project where we can collaborate as longtime friends. What resonates with me is that Phoenix has risen in the ranks regarding beverage culture awards – major recognition has flooded this town, and rightfully so. However, North Scottsdale is almost a ghost town regarding notable cocktail programs. Tell Your Friends is a testament to the expanding reach and need for cocktail culture in every nook and cranny in the Valley.”
Keifer, who will be coming out of retirement for this project, is no stranger to contributing to the evolution of cocktail culture in Arizona – he has been part of some of the state’s most-recognized bars, with former establishments, including UnderTow, Counter Intuitive, and Bitter & Twisted, to name a few. Much like the inspiration for the space’s design, the Gatsby-era theme translates into Keifer’s beverage program featuring approximately 20 cocktails rooted in the classics.
Open Thursday through Sunday from 5:00 pm until late night, guests of Tell Your Friends will enter a dimly lit vestibule enhanced by dramatic floral wallcoverings and a black-tile accented staircase that leads to the intimate lounge. Upon the descent, the space begins to come to life as the venue reveals itself with rich maroon velvet drapes, mirrored walls, and fanciful lighting. As the curtains are drawn, the focal point emerges – a captivating bar adorned with floor-to-ceiling lights that seamlessly trace their way across the ceiling, creating a dazzling connection to the adjacent stage.
The lounge will host nightly performances featuring talented vocalists, musical acts, and entertainers who will be inspired by classic sounds while performing anything but the ordinary. The interiors are being done by Basile Studio, a California firm known for its award-winning work at such notable restaurants as Born and Raised and Morning Glory, both in San Diego.
