Finding a quiet, remote spot in Arizona isn’t difficult---but if you want something to eat while enjoying the view, you’d better be prepared to pack in and pack out your own meal. There is at least one place in the state where you can sit in the middle of the desert and feel like you’re miles away from the world. Actually, you literally are miles away from a town of any significant size. Here is The Desert Bar in Arizona, one of the state's most remote restaurants.
Literally located in the middle of the mountains, The Desert Bar is perhaps the most remote dining and drinking spot in the state. It requires a drive along the highway and onto under-maintained dirt roads before reaching the saloon. That, however, doesn’t stop the dozens of patrons from visiting every fall and winter.
The saloon, also called the Nellie E. Saloon, is located on top of land that once housed an old mining camp in the Buckskin Mountains, just 30 minutes from Parker. The establishment first set up in 1983 and you can still find this first humble bar sitting a short distance from the current buildings. Since then the saloon became a labor of love, with elements like the long covered walkway and a steel church facade incorporated over the years.
The saloon is open during the cool months—October through April—and people arrive here in droves for drinks, food, and music. In addition to a plethora of mixed drinks and canned beer, you can also find plenty of food worthy of any bar or restaurant. The Desert Bar offers burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and other day time fare for your belly.
It’s also worth noting this is a cash-only establishment, so make sure you have enough paper on hand, and the saloon is welcoming to families with children.
Overall, this is a fantastic little spot to stop by when you’re near Parker or even Lake Havasu. If anything, the remote location will have you wondering how the miners who once lived and worked here enjoyed their respective saloons.
To get to the Desert Bar from Parker, take Highway 95 through Cienega Springs and make a right turn onto Billy Mack Mine Road. Drive a half-mile and make a right onto Cienega Springs Road. Continue on this road for about four miles until you reach the Desert Bar. Or you can just refer to this map for details.
The Desert Bar is open October through April on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Keep up to date with their live entertainment schedule and more on The Desert Bar Facebook page.
If you want to check out another unique restaurant around the state, you won’t want to miss our recent article featuring a restaurant in a train car.
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