Ultra Lounge Tuesdays at Merc Bar

Looking for something to do this week? "Night Owl" is a quick guide to special nights at bars and clubs around town. We'll give you a few hints re: cover, dress code, music and atmosphere. Tuesday nights mark "Ultra Lounge Tuesdays" at Merc Bar in Phoenix. We're sharing another "secret" event...

By Jessica VanZalen

January 11, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Looking for something to do this week? "Night Owl" is a quick guide to special nights at bars and clubs around town. We'll give you a few hints re: cover, dress code, music and atmosphere. Tuesday nights mark "Ultra Lounge Tuesdays" at Merc Bar in Phoenix.

We're sharing another "secret" event this week. As advertised on Facebook, "Ultra Lounge Tuesdays" is an "in the know" event for you ... and 2,000 of the creators' closest friends.

OK, so it's not so secret after all. But, we've always liked how Merc Bar has managed to avoid cheesy gimmick specials and overexposure to draw a crowd.

The Time: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Place: 2525 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix.

The Cover: Free.

The Parking: Garage behind the shopping center.

The Bar: The bar has understated feeling that's cool without feeling stuffy and the copper-topped, group-friendly seating's a nice change from most Valley hangouts.

The Music: Event creators Sean Watson and William Reed put a new spin on laid-back lounge music that at times feels a little "club," but definitely adds a different feel from other nights at the bar.

The Drinks: There's a full drink menu, but no drink specials, so be prepared to pay a little above average for a drink.

photo by Ryan Wolf

Bartenders at Ultra Lounge

The Style: Merc has a dress code -- no casual shorts, tank tops, sandals, etc.

The People: Trendy but not trashy. Most guests at Ultra Lounge are in their 20s and 30s.

What we loved: This is a great place to have in your book when you're looking for a chill place to hang out for the night.

What we didn't love: Expensive drinks.

Would we go back? For sure.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.