Think You Have the World’s Best Designed Bar? Here’s How to Prove It.
Carry On in Phoenix, named Best Bar Design in North America by The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025. The immersive airline-themed interior was designed by Peter Bowden and PETERMAX Co.
Carry On in Phoenix was named Best Bar Design in North America by The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2025. The recognition was highlighted in the official launch announcement for the 2026 Best Bar Design Award.
Designed by Peter Bowden and PETERMAX Co. for Pretty Decent Concepts, Carry On is an immersive cocktail bar inspired by the glamour and spectacle of 1970s air travel. The experience begins before guests enter the aircraft, with a richly carpeted jetway leading into a fully constructed 30-seat airplane cabin.
The interior uses warm wood paneling, vintage airplane-style windows, leather seating, brass details, amber lighting, and period-inspired furnishings to create the atmosphere of a luxury flight from another era. The design prioritizes complete immersion, carrying the airline concept through the architecture, materials, service, and guest experience.
Carry On’s details extend beyond the interior. Guests receive boarding pass-style cocktail menus, servers wear era-appropriate pilot and steward uniforms, and the experience is built around the rituals and theatricality of air travel.
The World’s 50 Best Bars recognized Carry On as the leading bar design in North America during a year defined by a renewed interest in retro hospitality concepts. The award places the Phoenix project among the most notable bar interiors recognized by the organization.
The Best Bar Design Award evaluates bars across innovation, aesthetics, accessibility, ergonomics, ecological compatibility, and emotional impact. Carry On’s recognition reflects the way its design unites visual identity, operational storytelling, and a fully immersive guest experience.
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