The Cocktail Bar In Arizona That's Serving Up Drinks In A Retro Airplane
We love a good themed watering hole, from temporary pop-ups to Colorado's renowned Adrift Tiki Bar. Aviation-themed bars and restaurants aren't a completely unique novelty — we previously covered The Airplane Restaurant of Colorado Springs, which is contained within a decommissioned Boeing KC-97 tanker. That doesn't mean we aren't still obsessed with Carry On Airlines of Phoenix, Arizona, a completely original take on a cocktail lounge that's a love letter to 1970s air travel. Just like flying on an actual plane, guests of Carry On purchase tickets to 90-minute "experiences" that assign them a seat on what looks very much like a functional 747 jumbo jet kitted out in its finest disco-era furnishings.
Servers costumed as period flight attendants pour craft cocktails from a rolling cart, and the windows project images that make it seem like you are actually traveling. The destination rotates seasonally, and is often tied into the drinks: a flight to Waikiki, for instance, is accompanied by a Blue Hawaiian. No word on whether the bar serves an iconic paper plane cocktail.
For the holidays, Carry On Airlines even takes flight from Phoenix to the North Pole, with holiday-inspired quaffs and all sorts of Christmas cheer. Snacks are served, but actual food isn't on the menu unless you purchase tickets to The Captain's Club. Your admission purchases you a seat at a table for a certain number of guests, a snack or two, and a welcome cocktail, with the option to buy more drinks if you prefer.
What do visitors think about Carry On Airlines?
On Yelp, where Carry On sports an impressive 4.3 out of 5 stars, guests praise the immersive experience, the tasty cocktails, and the date night potential of the "flight." "I saw this on Instagram and I knew I had to experience it in person. It 100% lives up to the hype," gushes one passenger who was influenced to visit. "Just went last month! Very nice experience for my birthday," enthused a Facebook user, who also attached a short video clip featuring background chatter, Carry On wing pins, and a view of the paper ticket issued to all guests.
On TikTok, several comments wondered if the flight was as authentically smoky as air travel in the '70s tended to be. (To answer the question, no, smoking is not permitted.) Over on Instagram, the comment: "So fun! Hope to catch a flight," alluded to the fact that tickets to Carry On can be tricky to obtain, since there is very limited seating.
Judging by the reviews, if a boozy retro flight sounds like your idea of a good time, you will likely enjoy your experience with Carry On Airlines. Taking the best part of '70s glam — the shag carpeting and the earth tones — and subtracting the secondhand smoke, the prejudices, and the political unrest depicts a somewhat idealized version of your grandma's air travel. There's nothing wrong with either escapism or a little escape, even if the wheels never actually leave the ground.