Best Ladies Night 2010 | Roka Akor | Bars & Clubs | Phoenix
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Best Ladies Night

Roka Akor

Nicole Hoffman
Hope you've saved your pennies. If it's Wednesday and you're a lady, it looks like your second glass of wine (and every glass afterward) is just one cent. This may wreak havoc on Roka Akor's cash register on a weekly basis, but we're not concerned. We're too busy marveling at the restaurant's specialty ice cubes and Japanese décor. Also up for grabs are specials on cocktails and snacks and sushi. And keep an eye out this fall — the super-trendy Roka Akor will start Ladies' Shochu Nights, which will feature drinks with Fuji Apple Shochu. Hope they stick to that penny thing.

Best Ladies Fight

Stripper Fight League at Cheetahs Gentleman's Club

Putting women in cages may sound oppressive, but give them some boxing gloves and headgear and you've got a moneymaker. Several strip clubs around town host some form of stripper fights, but Cheetahs was the first and remains the most popular. Around 11:30 p.m., dancers leave the stages and the DJ turns the music off. House lights shine down on the cage to spotlight the battling dancers. The ladies at Cheetahs are among the more attractive exotic dancers in town, with largely unscarred bodies and mostly real breasts. Any bruises on them likely come from the cage fights, because, despite wearing little more than g-strings and fight gear, these dancers throw down hard. They're not trained in mixed martial arts or anything, but their matches are more street fight than catfight. They do throw punches and kicks, but they spend a decent amount of time wrestling around on the ground, too — much to the delight of the screaming coed audience. There are anywhere from two to five fights every week, and fights last for three rounds (two minutes each). The show's always entertaining, but the more money patrons throw in the cage, the better the fights tend to be.

Best Bartender

Philthy Phil

Don't let his name fool you. Philthy Phil may have a sleazy moniker, but the owner and bartender of this neighborhood good-times dive bar is straight-up good people. An orphan from Detroit, Phil grew up the hard way. And while there's a scrappiness about him (he 86s anyone making trouble, especially in defense of the ladies who are drinking at his bar), his gracious way of making his lively mix of patrons feel welcome is infectious, carrying over to his friendly staff. With a hard pour, a soft spot for the downtrodden, and a reputation for joining in on the fun, Philthy Phil is your new best friend behind the bar.

Best Place to See Midget Bartenders

Giligin's Bar

Benjamin Leatherman
Giligin's Bar is awesome for a lot of reasons, but there's one in particular: midget bar. This Old Town hot spot redefines the term mini-bar by placing a miniature version of a traditional bar to the right of the entrance — miniature chairs, little-person bartenders (a.k.a. Chuey the Rock 'n' Roll Midget and his Lilliputian friend named Giant). It's adorable and is a good home base for bar-hoppers. There's even a life-size statue of Captain Morgan at the entrance, which makes the perfect prop for a late-night, drunken photo shoot with the pair.

Best Sports Bar, Central Phoenix

The Ox Sports Bar

Screw the sprawling, network-themed sports bars where nobody knows your name. Tucked behind a Circle K just off 32nd Street north of Thomas Road, The Ox Sports Bar is a cozy hideout with a colorful neighborhood crew that eagerly accepts new fans. Join the cheering section for dart tournaments, pair with new friends for a pool match or a game-time holler-fest at one of the high-def TV screens, hold 'em Texas-style on Sundays, or croon to the crowd at nightly karaoke events. With plenty of cheap booze, The Ox Sports Bar is chummy good fun.

Best Sports Bar, Downtown Phoenix

Coach & Willie's

There's a lot missing from downtown Phoenix, but there's no shortage of places to watch the game if you can't nab tickets (or would rather nurse an all-too-frequent loss from the comfort of a barstool). But Coach & Willie's is not your typical sports bar. It's decked out in flat-screens — no need to worry about the tall guy with the big head sitting in front — and throws the best pre- and post-game parties of any joint in town. Their remedy for a post-Artest-rebound breakdown? A dozen different import and domestic beers are on tap, and these bartenders are known to pour a strong cocktail.

Best Sports Bar, South Phoenix

Gallagher's Sports Grill

Timur Guseynov
If we ever had the opportunity to design our dream sports bar, chances are it would probably wind up looking just like Gallagher's. The amenities are plentiful, including off-track betting windows, arcade games, 14 ales and lagers on tap, and a posh outdoor patio with a sparkling waterfall and splendorous views of South Mountain (particularly at sunset). Speaking of getting an eyeful, more than 25 TVs have been conveniently placed at every conceivable viewing angle, with everything from bowling to basketball being broadcast. Complementing this smorgasbord of sporting exploits, the menu boasts a rich repast of enticing eats, including such stomach satisfiers as chicken queso baked potatoes and a bevy of barbecued ribs and other succulent smoked meats, all of which are served by comely 20-something waitresses.

Best Sports Bar, North Phoenix

16th Street Sports Bar

Keith Prescott's a man of many passions, and chief among them is soccer. Ask the UK native about soccer and you'll hear tales of his tenure with the Liverpool Football Club, as well as his experience attending the 1966 World Cup (when Britannia ruled the roost). Along with his wife, Marianne Hansen, the 63-year-old has utilized his footie fanaticism to transform their North Phoenix neighborhood bar into a preferred hangout for others who are passionate for the pitch. Match-ups from around the world are featured on the bar's tellies and dozens of jersey-clad types packed the place during this year's World Cup. Thing is, it's also a great joint in which to witness every other kind of televised athletic endeavor. Being proper Europeans, Prescott and Hansen also know a thing or three about beer and stock more than 40 bottled imported and domestic brands, with 16 brews available on draught (including Boddington's, Strongbow, and Dundee).

Best Sports Bar, West Valley

Yard House

Courtesy of Yard House
Yes, this is a chain eatery, but hear us out: The Yard House, located in Westgate City Center, is the shiz. For one, due to its killer proximity to University of Phoenix Stadium and Jobing.com Arena, the place goes off pre- and post-game, whether it's for the Cards, 'Yotes, or the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Plus the food — which isn't just a plate full of microwaved mess — rocks, especially the organic tomato bisque soup and the seared ahi steak sandwich.

Best Sports Bar, Southeast Valley

Crabby Don's Bar & Restaurant

This rough-around-the-edges spot in a ubiquitous Gilbert strip mall near Val Vista Drive may turn off clean-cut suburbanites. But those who are willing to branch out can definitely enjoy this place that seems to attract folks who like sports, fried food, and metal (live bands play on the weekends). Along with a full menu, including burgers that are off the chain, Crabby's offers some craft beers as well as all sorts of hard liquor, all of which can be enjoyed while watching the big game on the tube. Happy hour goes off each day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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