Best Sports Bar, Tempe 2008 | Four Peaks Brewery | Bars & Clubs | Phoenix
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Best Sports Bar, Tempe

Four Peaks Brewery

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It took us a long time to choose this one. The Arizona Cardinals' (and subsequent Fiesta Bowl and Super Bowl) exodus from Sun Devil Stadium left Tempe without the sports scene the East Valley was accustomed to. Longtime game-day favorites like McDuffy's and Bandersnatch vanished and, apparently, locals were left without a good gathering place. We should know — we grew up here and visited five of Tempe's so-called best sports bars before choosing Four Peaks Brewery. If you live in Tempe and don't want to drive far to catch a game, this is your spot. Though not technically a sports bar, it's still packed on game days with fans rooting for the local teams (and the Vikings during the NFL season). What it lacks in flat-screens, it makes up for with a nice selection of tasty microbrews and relaxing patio atmosphere.

Best Pool Hall

Kolby's Corner Pocket

If you're serious about billiards, follow the pros. Literally shoved into the corner pocket of a Tempe strip mall, Kolby's Corner Pocket attracts the top names in pool. Last year, trick shot pro Johnny Archer took on fans at Kolby's, and earlier this year, local superstar Scott Frost bested world-famous One Pocket player Efren Reyes on his home turf. Sure, there are cheaper pool halls in town, but cheap often equals moth-eaten felt, shabby balls, and rickety old cues. Trust us: You want your balls to be smooth and fresh, and Kolby's equipment is in tip-top shape. The hall has 15 nine-foot regulation tables, a full menu, and bar. There are also a few less expensive (but smaller) hourly tables, if you're not on par with the pros.

Best Lesbian Bar

Cash Inn Country

Cash Inn has managed to persevere where other lesbian clubs have closed, and there are many reasons for this. The club gets its share of regulars, for one thing, but Cash Inn's combination of cheap drinks (including $1 draft beers on Tuesdays, $2 pitchers on Thursdays) and expanded entertainment events draws lesbians from both other bars and out of town, and the girls run the gamut, from feminine, politically minded college girls to the older, mullet-sporting types. Contrary to its name, Cash Inn Country isn't dominated by a huge yee-haw vibe (although there is country dancing on Fridays and Saturdays). DJ Sting spins Top 40 and hip-hop on Thursdays, and the bar also hosts everything from Rock Band competitions and karaoke to Texas Hold'em.

Best Gay Bar

Amsterdam

The décor in this chic lounge is striking — a beautiful, wood-paneled Art Deco bar; white Roman pillars; sparkling chandeliers; burgundy leather couches, and a black baby grand piano all add to the classy ambiance. The drink of choice is the martini, of which Amsterdam serves more than 100 different variations, each served with a huge chunk of fruit. The music is a mix of dance tunes, diva crooning, and avant jazz, but the place is so crowded with warm bodies and loud voices on weekends that you probably won't hear the music much anyway.

As for eye candy, Amsterdam's got something for everyone. Though it's one of the most celebrated "gay bars" in the city and draws the lion's share of young, hot gay men (and a good portion of lesbians, too), it's also become a magnet for stylish straight women and the hetero-metrosexual men who pursue them. Amsterdam's element of refinement is balanced with tongue-out flamboyance — the club offers everything from $5 Martinis & Manicures on Mondays to "live boys" from brokestraightboys.com dancing on the patio for special events.

Best New Gay Bar

Retrobar

The building that formerly housed the clubs Shepherd's and The Eagle is now Retrobar, a groovy, space age-themed club that combines vintage fashion with retro imagery. Guests are greeted by a cluster of mannequins, all dressed in Studio 54-style garb and huddled around tables. A gigantic flat-screen TV covers half the south wall of the bar and plays muted music videos while '70s disco favorites boom out of Retrobar's club speakers. The lava lamps behind the bar encompass every color of the rainbow, fitting for a neighborhood gay bar that has a black leather-paneled VIP cove. The vibe is low-key, with mostly 30-something males huddling around the bar to discuss politics and popular culture — or just to sip mixed drinks. Retrobar also has its own signature drink, a $1 Jell-O shot called an Alien Cocksucker. Beam us up, hotties!

Best Dive Bar

Dilly Dally

Some things are just classic. Hard to top. If you have a fetish for dank smells, dirty fish tanks, and hot salty nuts, then there is no better dive for you than the Dilly Dally. If you're turned on by doing tequila shots with old men and staring at titty photo collages, then you won't be disappointed. We can't resist; we've gotta say it: Don't dillydally. Get over there.

Best Place to Turn Green — Without Envy

Skeptical Chymist Irish Restaurant & Pub

Whoever invented the phrase "green around the gills" was Irish, probably from war-torn Belfast. How do we know? 'Cause we braved Skeptical Chymist's annual Guinness & Oyster Festival last St. Pat's and personally experienced the culinary terrorism — er, hallowed Irish tradition — of swallowing raw marine slime and then chugging a pint of thick, black beer. We revisit the experience in our nightmares. Often.

However, watching other people screw on that what-the-hell-have-I-just-done face makes for great spectator drama on St. Patrick's Day, and the Chymist is the only joint in town we've found that honors this (most questionable) custom. BYO barf bag.

Best Place to See and Be Seen

SkyBar at the Mondrian

There is so much eye candy on display at SkyBar, it's hard to figure out exactly where to rest your gaze. (Just make sure that when you go in for the kill, your target's legal — the place was busted on Valentine's Day with more than 20 underage drinkers inside.) But it's not quite your typical Scottsdale fake-tit fest; you're likely to see a model or two from The Agency, located downstairs at the Mondrian, gliding around the room as well. It's set up to feel kind of like you're lounging on a wealthy friend's outdoor patio, and the fireplace burning in the winter months is a nice touch. If you've got the cash, you can rent a bed (well, the bar calls them "veiled cabanas") and get a little cozier with your date. This is definitely a place to look sharp at — the ambiance is just swanky enough to let you know you're in Scottsdale, but not grossly over the top, like other Old Town bars we can think of.

Best Bar to Run into Old Phoenix

Feeney's

Jacob Tyler Dunn

Technically, this place is a restaurant, a solid, old-school prime rib joint that also does great seafood and still features a salad bar. (You know the type.) But the real secret here is the bar, which is dark and friendly and filled with the most interesting people. You never know if you're going to run into the criminal defense attorney who got off Bishop O'Brien after he hit a drunk Indian and just kept driving — or a Deep Throat-type who whispers that he's got the real goods on who ordered Don Bolles' death. It's not a Scottsdale crowd, that's for sure.

Best Hotel Bar

Wright Bar at the Biltmore

When it comes to hotel bars, we don't want one of those sealed-off, hipper-than-thou Ian Schrager nightclubs. We want a place to chill out, chat up the bartender, and watch the foot traffic. And, on every count, the piano bar tucked into the lobby of the Biltmore delivers. The look is pure Frank Lloyd Wright, but the vibe is casual: You can watch the Suns game and even play checkers. Don't miss the Tequila Sunrise — the classic drink was invented here, and the bartenders are happy to show off their skill.

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