Filthy Martini Bar is a Return to the Golden Age of Cocktails

2026 Summer Cocktail Camp Interview with a Mixologist!
Rebecca Vandersommen from Filthy Martini Bar

Unveiled by Pretty Decent Concepts in Downtown’s resurgent Arizona Center last November, Filthy Martini Bar is the cocktail-slinging sidekick to rockstar steakhouse Cleaverman. The sultry and swanky lounge recalls a cocktail golden age of live piano, elegantly dressed patrons and expertly crafted martinis. On June 21, the next installment of PHOENIX Magazine’s 2026 Summer Cocktail Camp will take residence in this gilded hideaway. We asked Filthy Martini bar manager Rebecca Vandersommen to come clean with the details.

Tell us about the cocktail program at Filthy Martini.

It’s centered around martini culture with a balance of elevated classics and playful, modern signatures. We focus heavily on presentation, technique and creating drinks that feel polished but still fun and approachable. The overall experience is a huge part of it too. Between the live music, energy of the room and glamorous atmosphere, Filthy Martini feels like stepping outside of Phoenix into a big-city cocktail bar in a world of its own.

We want to know about you! Give us your story.

Before stepping into my current role, I was the bar manager at [Downtown cantina] Chico Malo, where I had the opportunity to help build one of the city’s most exciting cocktail programs and grow within the Pretty Decent Concepts family. Now, I’m the bar manager for Filthy Martini Bar as well as Cleaverman, which has been an incredibly exciting evolution. Filthy Martini gave me the chance to dive deeper into martini culture – I love building spaces where guests can escape for a few hours, enjoy incredible drinks, music, food and really feel taken care of.

Hard to choose, we know, but is there a favorite cocktail on the menu?

One of my favorites has to be the Pretty Decent Martini. We make the brine in-house, which gives the cocktail a fresher and more balanced flavor profile than a traditional dirty martini. I love that it takes something people think they already know and elevates it. That drink really fits the atmosphere of Filthy Martini, classic, glamorous and a little indulgent in the best way.

The heat has started in Phoenix – what’s the first drink you reach for on a summer’s day?

A really clean gin martini or a citrus-forward spritz is usually my go-to. When it’s 110 degrees outside, you want something bright and refreshing that still feels a little elevated. Anything with fresh citrus, bubbles or a super chilled martini glass just feels right in the Arizona heat.

What should guests expect if they’re coming to Filthy Martini for Cocktail Camp?

Expect a fun and immersive experience centered around the resurgence of martini culture and why martinis have become such a huge part of nightlife again. We’ll walk guests through martini fundamentals, techniques, flavor pairings and some of the little details that elevate a great cocktail. Of course, there will also be plenty of opportunities to shake, taste and experiment along the way.

Summer Cocktail Camp tickets available for September 13 at Little Rich Girl in Flagstaff.

Tickets are sold out for all Cocktail Camps in the Valley through September 6.