Less than three months after launching, Century Grand, Arizona’s most innovative cocktail and dining concept, was crowned Best New Cocktail Bar of the Southwest region by Vinepair on January 6. I accepted a media invitation when it opened in October 2019, and for me, Century Grand not only lived up to its anticipated billing “to push the boundaries and expectations of immersive hospitality,” but surpassed it.

The creation of Jason Asher, Rich Furnari, and Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality (who are also behind award-winning tiki bar UnderTow), Century Grand opened in October of 2019 and consists of three distinct experiences.

Step through the art deco stylized door and you’ll be greeted by the hosts, who will confirm your reservation. To the right is Century Grand, the establishment’s restaurant (and a dining destination in and of itself).

To the left is Platform 18, where you take a seat to wait for your train to “arrive.”

Off the platform is the entrance to a brick “building” housing Grey Hen and “store proprietor” John Christie, whiskey expert extraordinaire. With 80+ single barrel whiskeys, Grey Hen contains the most extensive single barrel selection of whiskeys in the country. Since this 20-seat space doubles as a shop, you can also purchase whiskeys (over 400!), bar equipment and cocktail ingredients. Grey Hen opens at 2 p.m. and you’ll also find a daily whiskey punch offered to all its guests.

Once your train “arrives” (your reservation time), you’ll be led into this opulent 36-seat Presidential Pullman car recreation, where padded stools and intimate seating beckon guests to settle in.

Sip a glass of complimentary bubbly as you peruse the menu, but don’t skip the story of Platform 18 as you flip the pages. Extraordinary thought has gone into the narrative of fictional character Hollis Pennington, setting the tone for the snow-covered scenery that passes by your window.

“Platform 18, hiding amidst the rocky mountain terrain, is often a surprise even for those expecting its arrival. A dense grove of evergreen trees obscures the front edge of the platform from view until you’re directly upon it. Once a part of the Pennington Private Estate, the building itself is smartly adorned on all sides with lavish gardens, stonework, and paths that dart into and out of the surrounding forests. Only two trains had ever used Number 18 as a port of call - one was the private locomotive of Hollis Cottley Pennington and his extended family, the other was a passenger train on the Union Pacific line that was diverted there during a winter storm in December, 1918. The Pennington family, there for holiday, took in all forty-eight passengers for three days and three nights.
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All aboard! Video below:

The expansive craft cocktail menu offers 47 different libations that cleverly combine premium spirits, housemade infusions, tinctures and bitters, divided into categories from American Single Malts to Low ABV.

One of my favorites is the Weekly Shipment, which arrives as a crated bottle containing a complex yet refreshing blend of mezcal, rum, red bell pepper-infused Campari, Giffard apricot liqueur, Heirloom pineapple amaro, raspberry, Lapsang Souchong smoked black tea, and fresh lime juice.

Tip: You’ll be served chocolate truffles at the end of your 90-minute “train ride,” but plan to order one of the boozy sorbets or ice creams too. I highly recommend the Winchester Rifle.

It was a grand way to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails before our reservation at Century Grand, where executive chef Sacha Levine’s modern spin of Roaring Twenties-inspired dishes showcases global flavors and ingredients sourced from local purveyors. Guests can dine inside or on the hidden back patio.

Two-thirds of the menu is served dim-sum style with different carts rolled out throughout the evening.

Click on the video below to hear the delicious details of the dim sum selections pictured on the cart above.

Some more highlights:

Hamachi crudo with avocado, raw coconut shavings and sesame cracker
Onset oysters from Massachusetts with dashi roe, paired with Nika Coffeey Grain Japanese whiskey
Tuna-stuffed Spanish piquillo peppers with romesco sauce
Beef salad with Thai vinaigrette and crispy shallots

How to end such a perfect night? With a nightcap at Grey Hen, of course!

The Century Grand bar is open Sunday through Thursday 5 pm to midnight and to 2 am on Friday and Saturday. Bar seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The dining room offers three seatings nightly with reservations highly recommended:

5:00 PM & 5:15 PM
7:00 PM & 7:15 PM
9:00 PM & 9:15 PM

This stunning venue is understandably booked weeks in advance. For Platform 18, train car reservations can be made two weeks out for a 90-minute seating. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 4 pm to midnight and to 2 am on Friday and Saturday. Though walk-ins are accepted, there is rarely an open seating. Note: There is a 5-minute grace period so be prompt for your reservation! Century Grand is located at 3626 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018.

I received a media invitation and my experience was complimentary.

Century Grand Makes Vinepair’s Ten Best New Cocktail Bars of 2019 List