Night PHX

If nothing else, the British know how to tie one on. So it's only fitting that the Britannia-themed Rose & Crown is stocked with enough brews and booze to keep any Englishman or Anglophile happy (and properly soused). The usual pints of Newcastle, Tetley's, and Guinness are available, as are a slew of microbrews and other alcoholic delights. 628 E. Adams St., 602-256-0223, www.theroseandcrownpub.org

Hanging out at the indoor/outdoor drink spot nextDOOR is a delight for the senses. Phat beats spun by turntablists will fill your ears and wicked-looking metal architectural touches (such as the face of Buddha or the mushroom-like outdoor bar) will amaze the eyes. And such top-shelf alcoholic concoctions as cucumber kamikazes or lip-smacking appletinis are sure to please the palate. 901 N. 4th St. 602-254-6424 www.nextdoor4u.com

The folks behind The Lost Leaf are pretty sincere about beer. The bohemian-style drinkery, located in a vintage 1930s-era domicile, boasts a selection of more than 75 different kinds of ales, lagers, stouts, and other brews available by the bottle. If that isn't enough to wet your whistle, the Lost Leaf also serves more than 20 different wines and sake, to boot. 914 N. 5th St., 602-258-0014, www.thelostleaf.org

You'll find it hard to remain perched on your barstool while hanging out at Homme, because the DJs rocking the record decks both downstairs and up on the second floor in the upstairsBAR at this bi-level beat shack are sure to get you shaking that moneymaker out on the dance floor. 138 W. Camelback Rd., 602-234-3023, www.myspace.com/phoenixhomme

Exotically bumpin' beats and other tropical rhythmic treats await nearly every night at Sky Lounge, where the steamy and sultry Latin club serves up two floors of local DJs spinning cumbia, bachata, reggaeton, and other jams en español on the turntables from Wednesday until Sunday every week. Don't forget to bring some agua, cabrón.132 E. Washington St., 602-229-1110, www.skyloungephoenix.com

The gorgeously gothic Palazzo is notorious among downtown nightspots, not only for its darkly opulent haunted mansion-like décor, but also for the weekly fetish/dance night Tranzylvania, where ghouls of every shape and size writhe around to industrial and darkwave music every Friday evening. Two other red-hot dance emporiums, the gay-friendly Amsterdam and fiery Latin discotheque Club Dwntwn, are right next door. 710 N. Central Ave., 602-229-1150, www.clubpalazzo.net

One of our favorite places to check out live music in downtown undoubtedly has to be the Brickhouse. The cavernous concert venue has an unpretentious vibe and intimate rock club feel where we can kick back with a Bud and partake in such national acts as KRS-One or Turbonegro, as well as local bands like Phunk Junkeez and Pinner. 1 E. Jackson St., 602-258-7880, www.brickhouse.tv.

Jumping and jiving every night of the week, the Rhythm Room has served as the Valley's best joint for blues, jazz, and roots musicians to do their thing. Since opening its doors in 1992, owner Bob Corritore has booked plenty of legends from those down-home genres, including Big Pete Pearson, Chico Chism, and Sanford Clark. 1019 E. Indian School Rd., 602-265-4842, rhythmroom.com

Wanna get the lowdown on the coolest and quirkiest bands the downtown music scene has to offer? Look no further than the Ruby Room Lounge, a swanky watering hole run by the folks behind the bygone Emerald Lounge. Hipster favorites such as Fatigo, Minibosses, Lonna Kelley, and Sweet Bleeders grace the Ruby Room's tiny stage during weekend shows. 717 S. Central Ave., 602-258-6900, www.myspace.com/therubyroomlounge

Few places in downtown ooze as much old-school Phoenix cool as Chez Nous, which is why we're grateful that proprietor Amina Uben faithfully recreated the superfly lounge at its new location on Grand Avenue. It's almost a carbon copy of the old haunt, right down to the chintzy-yet-chic gold-and-black wallpaper and the garish (and perpetually non-functional) lava rock fountain. 915 Grand Ave., 602-266-7372, www.cheznouscentral.com

Whenever the day-drinking mood strikes us, we typically head for Garnett's Rite Inn, because this rough-around-the-edges roadhouse offers the dive bar hat trick of cheap booze ($1.75 Bloody Mary's from 6 to 9 a.m. on weekends), saucy-yet-friendly bartenders (Becky is our favorite), and a pretty kickass jukebox (stocked with Otis Redding, Reba McEntire, and Johnny Cash). 4134 N. 7th Ave., 602-279-6086

Spend an evening at the Bikini Lounge and you'll see why the legendary tiki-themed dive bar is a favorite among the downtown crowd. Rub elbows with barflies and artist types as they down dirt-cheap drinks like $3 PBR pitchers, shoot stick at the pool table, listen to hipster DJs spinning jukebox-worthy music mixes, or converse with bartending mainstay Wesley. 1502 Grand Ave., 602-252-0472

Night Spots

Alice Cooper'stown
101 E. Jackson St.
602-253-7337
alicecooperstown.com

Amsterdam
718 N. Central Ave.
602-258-6122
www.amsterdambar.com

Bar Smith
130 E. Washington St.
602-229-1265
barsmithphoenix.com

Cellblock Phoenix
998 E. Indian School Rd.
602-266-5640
www.cellblockaz.com

Char's Has the Blues
4631 N. 7th Ave.
602-230-0205
charshastheblues.com

Club Central
3110 N. Central Ave., Suite 140
602-200-8121
clubcentralphx.com

Club Dwntwn
702 N. Central Ave.
602-258-8343
www.clubdwntwn.com