Yucca Tap Room

Yucca Tap Room is foremost a music venue — and a legendary one at that. It’s been around since the early 1970s and is known for offering a stage to the practitioners of the Tempe Sound, touring punk bands, and many other alternative acts. But this windowless, wood-paneled strip-mall tenant is also an excellent neighborhood tavern, frequented by soccer fans and regulars who sometimes arrive when the doors swing open at 6 a.m. to slap the bar, down bloody marys, and cheer on Arsenal. Yucca has expanded east and west in recent years, taking over neighboring suites in order to add the Whiskey Lounge and Electric Bat Arcade. The place boasts good food, too, in the form of progressive Asian fare served up by Bao Chow. There’s an impressive selection of craft beers, daily drink specials (shout out to hot chicken and bourbon Thursdays), and a busy dance floor most weekends.