Amsterdam Bar, Phoenix, Arizona

The flagship of a glamorous row of downtown bars that also include the similarly chic Club Miami and Malibu Beach Bar, Amsterdam Bar is the sort of snazzy club that thought oriented toward the gay crowd draws all walks of life, although tending toward a well-heeled, well-coiffed, if in some cases snooty bunch. The elegant decor, spacious back patio, and extensive martini list draw a sizable after-work crowd, and the place keeps buzzing into the evening (staying open after-hours, till 4 a.m., on weekends). Talented torch singers occasionally perform by the baby grand piano. Next door, there's dancing at Club Miami. If you're wondering about the construction apparent in this photo, downtown Phoenix was busily installing a light-rail system, when this shot was taken.