5 of 25 essential bars in metro Phoenix: The best places to drink in 2024
Whether you're looking for a dive or a saloon, craft beer or a cocktail these are some of the most iconic bars from downtown Phoenix to Scottsdale. The Arizona Central Phoenix bar scene includes a list of 25 essential bars in 2024, with contributions from the entire Features team. The list will be released in July and will be rolled out five bars at a time over the next five weeks. The Dirty Drummer has been an essential bar since 1975 and serves live music, mostly country, and has several TV screens throughout the bar to catch a ballgame. The Cave at Quartz bar in Phoenix is a cocktail nerd's paradise with drinks inspired by deserts and exotic locations. Cider, made from fermented apples, is the star at Mesa taproom Cider Corps, which has been recognized for being the best in the U.S. for gluten-free diners. Other bars that didn't make the list are also being considered.
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A bar can take many forms, from cozy neighborhood dive to swanky cocktail lounge, There are sports bars, tiki bars, cowboy bars, gay bars, arcade bars and your little-bit-of-everything low-key neighborhood bars.
We've got an embarrassment of riches in this department here in metro Phoenix and we want to celebrate the bars that feel special, irreplaceable, uniquely ours. That's why we're launching an annual essential bars list, with contributions from the entire Features team.
The list of 25 essential bars will be rolled out five bars at a time over the next five weeks.
Are there other worthy places that didn't find their way onto this list? You bet. Join the conversation by emailing me at [email protected] with the subject line: "My essential bar" and tell me about it. It could end up on our readers' essential bars list, which we'll release in July.
In no particular order, here are our first five essential metro Phoenix bars.
As it says on the menu, the Dirty Drummer has been “an eatin’ and drinkin’ place since 1975.” A lot of things about this bar will take you right back to that decade, from the Kenny Rogers portrait on the wall to the steady stream of Eagles, Seger, Fleetwood Mac and Linda Ronstadt on the jukebox to the signs on the restroom doors (Olivia Newton-John and Elton John).
The Drummer also hosts live music, mostly country, but also touring rock acts, and has several TV screens throughout the bar to catch a ballgame. Last time I was there, I saw the Pirates beat the Dodgers.
Go off menu for a killer Bloody Mary and enjoy some hot wings – they’re as juicy (and as hot) as promised – or a burger if you’re there on Burger Tuesday.
The Cave, a reservation-only, mirrored back room at Quartz bar in Phoenix, is a cocktail nerd’s paradise with drinks inspired by deserts of the world.
Often strange (think black olive and cherry cola with Scotch) and never boring, the presentation is over the top and the service is so friendly that drinking there makes you feel like you’re part of the cool kid cocktail club.
The rum-based Abricadabra Daiquiri said to be inspired by the Iranian desert of Dasht-e Kavir, seems to take cues from the cucumber and yogurt dip mast-o-khiar, balanced with mint water and lime. The yogurt cracker “snack” is a playful garnish reminiscent of kashk, a dehydrated yogurt Bedouin people take on long desert treks.
Though highly Instagrammable, it’s not all just for show. The Cave is serious about their conceptual drinks and offers the most cutting-edge cocktail program in a town with seriously great mixology.
Regular beer isn’t for everyone. Cider, made from fermented apples, is the star at beloved, veteran-owned Mesa taproom Cider Corps. Their ciders have been recognized for being best in the U.S. for gluten-free diners, especially the Mango Foxtrot, a mango and rose hip semi-dry cider with 6.9% ABV.
In the historically gay culture hub of the Melrose District, Charlie's stands out. Opened as a country-Western bar in the 1980s, over the years it has evolved into a vibrant, inclusive nightclub that maintains its Western roots.
You can expect drag shows, karaoke, Latin and country dance nights, nightly drink deals and an iconic taco truck out front. The blend of country charm coupled with a lively, modern LGBTQ+ club atmosphere makes Charlie’s a uniquely Phoenix nightlife staple.
Yucca Tap Room might be as synonymous with Tempe as the Sun Devils and the Gin Blossoms. At the intersection of Mill and Southern avenues, the long-running dive bar sits in a moss-hued strip mall that looks like it’s stuck in the 1960s.
At the legendary local hangout, guests can choose from a selection of 29 beers on tap and enjoy a happy "hour" that lasts from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beyond its reputation as a neighborhood watering hole, Yucca is also a live music space where you can catch a punk or metal show.
Don’t forget to bring quarters for the rows of pinball machines at its Electric Bat Arcade.
She toured with Puscifer.Now she's putting Tex Mex center stage at Yucca Tap Room in Tempe