Before Arizona's summer heat arrives, head to one of these fine East Valley bars where you can enjoy an ice-cold drink, beautiful weather (read: below 90 degrees) and a little patio ambiance.

Most happening new patio
Since Mexican-themed cantina The Salty Señorita (3636 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, ) opened in late December, the 2,000- square-foot courtyard, which overlooks Scottsdale Road, has been a prime people-watching destination.

“The patio is where it's at,’’ says Julie Cheney, 24, of Scottsdale. “It's more of a social occasion out here. The families tend to stay inside from what I've seen ... With the weather so cool, this is a nice way to spend a night out.’’

The patio is usually packed from Thursday to Saturday with people drinking everything from Coronas — which are always $2 — to a bevy of flavored margaritas.

Best boardwalk-style patio
Kick-back south Scottsdale bar Flicka's Baja Cantina (2003 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, ) has become a favorite East Valley hangout due to its 3,000- square-foot patio.
Flicka's owner Flicka Alvarado added a wooden boardwalk-style patio in December 2002 in an effort to give the bar more of a beach feel.

Best hook-up patio
You're sure to find young men and women mixing it up on Acme Roadhouse's (855 S. Rural Road, Tempe, ) large patio. The patio is usually slammed and features more of a meat-market scene Thursday through Saturdays, when you'll find a mainly college-oriented crowd.

“People don't usually come here on a date,’’ says Jennifer Richardson, 21, of Tempe. “They come here to meet someone. If you look around, you'll see that a lot of the guys here are throwing their mack down on someone.’’

Best patio for canine companions
People often bring dogs of all sizes with them when they lounge at Sugar Daddy's (3102 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, ) on a weekend afternoon. And regular Seth Meyer is no exception.

“I live pretty close so we walk up here,’’ says Meyer, 30, of Scottsdale, referring to his Golden Retriever. “We're up here almost every weekend. It's a nice way to relax and get the dog out of the house for a little while.’’

You'll find a diverse group of ages mingling on the 5,000-square-foot patio during the afternoon.

Best tropical patio
Although Drift's (4341 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, ) patio is on the small side, it's a gem. The wooden patio is decorated with tiki torches, which give it an island flair, and the bar's menu features fruity cocktails such as the Evil Bastard, the Big Chief and our favorite, the Rumbatini (rum, peach schnapps, champagne and passion fruit).

Best neighborhood patio
If you go to Casey Moore's (850 S. Ash Ave., Tempe, ) often enough, everyone really will know your name and, chances are, you'll run into someone you know on the large patio. This relaxed and rumored-to-be haunted Tempe hot spot attracts everyone from hippies to college students to professionals. Just ask ASU student and regular Sean Lanning.

“I can't come here on a Friday or Saturday night without running into someone from one of my classes,’’ says Lanning, 22, of Tempe. “Casey's has the best patio for socializing. There is no loud music and you'll see a lot of interesting folks.’’

Best two-story patio
Popular two-level bar Dos Gringos (4209 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, ) is consistently packed with wall-to-wall people on weekend nights, when you'll find people in their 20s to 30s throwing back $2 Coronas. The upstairs patio features an air hockey game and a nice people-watching view of the first floor.
“I've been going here for years,’’ says Marissa Key, 28, of Tempe. “I love the atmosphere. And they have the hottest guys.’’

Best family patio
When The Monastery (4810 E. McKellips Road, ) opened an east Mesa location, many residents cried, ‘‘Hallelujah!’’ The outdoor-oriented restaurant and bar provides a fun atmosphere for families and singles alike. Dogs are welcome on the 2,000- square-foot patio, which offers activities such as horseshoes, Ping-Pong and foosball (on the second-level patio).
There's also a stage for live music where classic rock bands perform Friday and Saturday.

Best patio for happy hour
Get to Chandler Fashion Center happy hour hotspot Kona Grill (3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, ) early if you want to enjoy the half-price appetizers and extremely cheap drinks. The bar fills up quickly after 4 p.m. and there is often a long wait.
The sushi is delicious and drinks range from $2 to $3. The bar offers happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Best patio decoration
The best aspect of Cabana's Beach Bar & Restaurant (6810 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale, ) is a 24-foot pontoon boat, which sits on the wooden patio. Since twin brothers Ryan and Rusty Tussing opened the bar last October, patrons can often be found partying it up in the pontoon boat, which can fit about 15 to 20 people.
“This is so cool,’’ Meg Wilson, 22, of Mesa, says of the boat. “I've never seen anything like this at a bar. I like the whole beach theme they're going for. It works.’’

Best weeknight patio promotion
Although McDuffy's (230 W. Fifth St., Tempe, ) has always had a cool patio, the bar only recently began to pull in the ASU crowd when they started Island Thursdays. The patio is packed with college students every week during this promotion, where Red Stripe bottles, Sailor Jerry's Rum drinks, Smirnoff Triple Black, Kona Longboard Lager, well drinks, wine and domestic drafts are 25 cents from 8 to 10 p.m. There are also 75-cent domestic drafts and 10-cent wings thereafter.
The fun starts at 8 p.m. Thursdays. Cover is $3.

Most quaint patio
If you're looking for a quiet and relaxed patio scene, look no further than The Wild Hare (4910 W. Ray Road, Chandler, ), where you'll find families, couples and groups of friends lounging on the patio. “The patio is pretty small, but it's a nice place to sit back with a drink and carry on a conversation,’’ says Rosa Hallerd, 35, of Chandler. “You won't find anything too crazy happening out here.’’