The 480 Bar

If you dig three things: karaoke, drinks and food, and prefer all of them served nary a frill, The 480 Bar could be a contender for your new favorite hang. It’s so laid back and without pretension that your mustache doesn’t even have to be ironic. It’s a simple and fun dive bar in downtown […]

Six Byrd Cider Co.

Phoenix isn’t exactly awash in verdant apple orchards, but that hasn’t stopped local makers from crafting juicy and adventurous ciders. The Thorn family founded Six Byrd Cider Co. in 2019, taking the leap from hobbyists to bona fide brewers. They now have two friendly taprooms that are a paradise for those seeking gluten-free sips. Head […]

Jamie’s Bottle Shop

Sampling wines over a tasting menu at Biltmore’s storied Wrigley Mansion is out of reach for most of us. Owner Jamie Hormel’s Old Town Scottsdale bottle shop makes sipping a fine vintage a bit more accessible. The well-appointed store is stocked with over 700 labels. There are recognizable and rare bottles that range from $15 […]

Hopsology Taproom and Wine Bar

On its face, Hopsology Taproom & Wine Bar is a traditional taproom. It has an exceptionally well-curated taplist that exclusively features Arizona brewers. That taplist changes up regularly, and you’ll find pours from Valley brewers like Roses by the Stairs and Kitsune Brewing Co., along with beers from farther flung places, such as The Brewery […]

The Bearded Barber

If you’ve found yourself in Anthem, you’ve likely made the trek north to shop at the outlets or make a stopover while going to or from Arizona’s high country. The Bearded Barber is another worthy reason to visit the otherwise cookie-cutter exurb. It’s a speakeasy that hews as close as possible to the definition in […]

Three Beans Cafe

After opening less than a year ago, Three Beans Cafe is the new kid on the block in Old Town Scottsdale. It both fits right in and offers something a little different than its neighbors. The small, nostalgic yet chic space is basically open all day, every day with hours from 10 a.m. to around […]

Boom Boom Room

There’s a vibrant yet relaxed energy to the Boom Boom Room, a Black woman-owned lounge right off the Coronado neighborhood. Focused on crafting classic cocktails with a twist and placing R&B and hip-hop music at the center of the vibe, owner Rasheda Worthy has made the Boom Boom Room a sophisticated piece of Phoenix’s nightlife […]

The Greedy Hamster

With one of the smallest rooms on this list, the Greedy Hamster proves the power that walkable urban density has on a bar. You could throw a cantaloupe from here and hit the 17-story Landmark Tower, making this pocket-sized wine-and-beer nook a great perch to grab a pint, half-watch a ballgame and nibble on the […]

Longbranch Saloon

This windowless self-proclaimed dive bar on a lonely stretch of Buckeye serves one of the most deserving populations in the county: the shift workers who drive the fulfillment centers and factories of west Phoenix and Tolleson. Pull up a stool at the bar, order a basket of waffle fries and chicken tenders, and drop $23 […]

The Chill Room

For the past two years, this pretense-free strip-mall gathering spot has been serving an alcohol-free menu and a packed slate of community-led events five minutes from the Arizona State University campus. The trappings of a big night out are here: flatscreens turned to the NFL, weekly karaoke that people sing stone-sober, open mics, board games, […]

Tom Ryan’s

This Nashville-flavored live music destination — clearly the result of a one-night stand between a sports bar and a honky-tonk — has the most abundant happy hours of just about any bar in existence. For more than nine hours a day, on average, Tom Ryan’s knocks dollars off your tab. More hours than not are […]