Jonathan’s guidebook
Bars
It's a great bar that has live music. Great beer list and food is quite food (for bar food).
33 locals recommend
Yucca Tap Room
29 W Southern AveIt's a great bar that has live music. Great beer list and food is quite food (for bar food).
It's my favorite bar in Arizona. Half mile from Arizona State University -- great patio. Solid oysters, great beer list. A ton of ASU Alums frequent here (myself included) and it has a wide age demographic.
91 locals recommend
Casey Moore's Oyster House
850 S Ash AveIt's my favorite bar in Arizona. Half mile from Arizona State University -- great patio. Solid oysters, great beer list. A ton of ASU Alums frequent here (myself included) and it has a wide age demographic.
It's one of my favorites in Tempe. One of Arizona's first local breweries and their food is quite good.
187 locals recommend
Four Peaks Brewing Company
1340 E 8th StIt's one of my favorites in Tempe. One of Arizona's first local breweries and their food is quite good.
It's just classic -- especially if you love good ol' fashioned dive bars. Well, this is it.
24 locals recommend
Swizzle Inn
5835 N 16th StIt's just classic -- especially if you love good ol' fashioned dive bars. Well, this is it.
The food is great. The beer list is even better. They always have around 35 beers from across the country on tap. Located in Roosevelt Row in downtown PHX.
114 locals recommend
Angels Trumpet Ale House
810 N 2nd StThe food is great. The beer list is even better. They always have around 35 beers from across the country on tap. Located in Roosevelt Row in downtown PHX.
It's one of my favorite dives in Scottsdale. I love it due to the atmosphere, ping pong tables (2) and cheap drinks.
43 locals recommend
Pattie's First Avenue Lounge
7220 East 1st AvenueIt's one of my favorite dives in Scottsdale. I love it due to the atmosphere, ping pong tables (2) and cheap drinks.
Scottsdale's oldest bar. If you like good ol' country, check it out. They have a live local country band that's been playing there for at least 20-25 years (Th-Sat).
101 locals recommend
Rusty Spur Saloon
7245 E Main StScottsdale's oldest bar. If you like good ol' country, check it out. They have a live local country band that's been playing there for at least 20-25 years (Th-Sat).
Scottsdale's 2nd oldest bar -- recently renovated over the last few years (bigger patio). Classic. Cheap drinks, good times.
80 locals recommend
Coach House Entertainment
7011 E Indian School RdScottsdale's 2nd oldest bar -- recently renovated over the last few years (bigger patio). Classic. Cheap drinks, good times.
The Whining Pig Arcadia
3730 E Indian School RdGreat beer/wine list.
Great beer selection -- you can buy beer there (large variety of beers in the open fridges). There's always a local food truck there Thu-Sat too.
36 locals recommend
The Wandering Tortoise
2417 E Indian School RdGreat beer selection -- you can buy beer there (large variety of beers in the open fridges). There's always a local food truck there Thu-Sat too.
Okay, it's a bar. Moreover, it's an arcade game bar!! Old school arcade games + drinks and a food truck. Definitely a younger crowd, but if you love old arcade/classic games...check it out.
137 locals recommend
Cobra Arcade Bar
801 N 2nd StOkay, it's a bar. Moreover, it's an arcade game bar!! Old school arcade games + drinks and a food truck. Definitely a younger crowd, but if you love old arcade/classic games...check it out.
Bikini Lounge
1502 NW Grand AveDive bar? Uh...100%. This place is always fun.
It's just great. Go there. Food? I think they still have food trucks outside.
48 locals recommend
Wren House Brewing Company
2125 N 24th StIt's just great. Go there. Food? I think they still have food trucks outside.
Coffee Shops
It's the first local coffee shop that became popular amongst local ASU students, others. They have five or six locations statewide now.
158 locals recommend
Cartel Coffee Lab
7124 E 5th AveIt's the first local coffee shop that became popular amongst local ASU students, others. They have five or six locations statewide now.
Well, Lux is a bit of a hipster coffee shop, but they also specialize in pastries, cocktails, food, etc. I call it "Laptop City."
259 locals recommend
Lux Central
4402 N Central AveWell, Lux is a bit of a hipster coffee shop, but they also specialize in pastries, cocktails, food, etc. I call it "Laptop City."
Valentine
4130 N 7th AveGood coffee shop, ambiance/decor.
Probably the best overall coffee shop in Phoenix Metro and central Phoenix.
14 locals recommend
PALABRA/FUTURO
909 N 1st StProbably the best overall coffee shop in Phoenix Metro and central Phoenix.
The Coffee Builders
Great coffee shop/pastries/food/cocktail lounge!
Sightseeing
Sedona
Food scene
OMG...pasty's...amazing English pot pies of a large variety of choices. They also have a solid beer list and this particular location is the best because it's in downtown PHX in an old renovated building.
209 locals recommend
Cornish Pasty Co
3800 N Goldwater BlvdOMG...pasty's...amazing English pot pies of a large variety of choices. They also have a solid beer list and this particular location is the best because it's in downtown PHX in an old renovated building.
It's amazing that's why. It's by far my favorite Mexican food restaurant in the valley. Go there. Trust me. You won't be disappointed in whatever you get.
20 locals recommend
Comedor Guadalajara
1830 S Central AveIt's amazing that's why. It's by far my favorite Mexican food restaurant in the valley. Go there. Trust me. You won't be disappointed in whatever you get.
Uh...best BBQ in the state. Go. Be prepared for a line...it's worth it though.
39 locals recommend
Little Miss BBQ-University
4301 E University DrUh...best BBQ in the state. Go. Be prepared for a line...it's worth it though.
OMG...best thin gourmet pizza in AZ. I always get the roasted corn pizza (sourdough). Although it might not be on the menu, you can still ask for it. If you're a meat eater...their burgers are fantastic too (cheeseburger or green chile). PARKING is a pain, so be patient.
274 locals recommend
La Grande Orange Grocery & Pizzeria
4410 N 40th StOMG...best thin gourmet pizza in AZ. I always get the roasted corn pizza (sourdough). Although it might not be on the menu, you can still ask for it. If you're a meat eater...their burgers are fantastic too (cheeseburger or green chile). PARKING is a pain, so be patient.
Best steak/fillet in the state. Cool vibe from the 50s/60s...enter through the back (kitchen) and everyone greets you. Very cool. Interior is old school with a lounge feel -- great cocktail bar too. Expensivo...expensive, but awesome.
137 locals recommend
Durant's
2611 N Central AveBest steak/fillet in the state. Cool vibe from the 50s/60s...enter through the back (kitchen) and everyone greets you. Very cool. Interior is old school with a lounge feel -- great cocktail bar too. Expensivo...expensive, but awesome.
Love seafood? This is it for North Scottsdale. It's not cheap, but worth it.
169 locals recommend
Mastro's Ocean Club
15045 N Kierland BlvdLove seafood? This is it for North Scottsdale. It's not cheap, but worth it.
What can I say? Great fillets, great T-Bone...check out the Butter Cake too.
197 locals recommend
Mastro's City Hall
6991 E Camelback RdWhat can I say? Great fillets, great T-Bone...check out the Butter Cake too.
Music Venue
Great sound/acoustics. Great place to see a show -- roughly 1,000 people total, so more intimate setting than, say, an arena.
87 locals recommend
The Van Buren
401 W Van Buren StGreat sound/acoustics. Great place to see a show -- roughly 1,000 people total, so more intimate setting than, say, an arena.
Same owner that runs "The Van Buren" runs Crescent Ballroom. A much smaller venue -- say, 200 or so, but very cool venue.
204 locals recommend
Crescent Ballroom
308 N 2nd AveSame owner that runs "The Van Buren" runs Crescent Ballroom. A much smaller venue -- say, 200 or so, but very cool venue.
It's an underground speakeasy...off a small alley and next to "Cornish Pasty" and across the street from "Seamus McCaffrey's." Live music + bar. Very hip place with games too.
186 locals recommend
Valley Bar
130 N Central AveIt's an underground speakeasy...off a small alley and next to "Cornish Pasty" and across the street from "Seamus McCaffrey's." Live music + bar. Very hip place with games too.
Neighborhoods
Roosevelt Row
Art, murals, coffee shops, bars, breweries, and food! Great area!
Arcadia
Great area/neighborhood!
Cocktail + Lounge Bar
It's just classy...really well-made cocktails -- just a pain in the butt to get to -- you'll have to find parking.
151 locals recommend
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
1 W Jefferson StIt's just classy...really well-made cocktails -- just a pain in the butt to get to -- you'll have to find parking.
It's located on the 4th floor of the Residence Inn. I know, a bit weird, but trust me, you're in for a treat. Yes, the drinks are not exactly cheap, but you're paying for the atmosphere/decor and creativity of each drink (not to mention the amount of alcohol in each concoction).
12 locals recommend
Little Rituals
132 S Central AveIt's located on the 4th floor of the Residence Inn. I know, a bit weird, but trust me, you're in for a treat. Yes, the drinks are not exactly cheap, but you're paying for the atmosphere/decor and creativity of each drink (not to mention the amount of alcohol in each concoction).
Just go. Great back patio. Cool interior bar. Solid drinks. Good times.
35 locals recommend
Gracie's Tax Bar
711 N 7th AveJust go. Great back patio. Cool interior bar. Solid drinks. Good times.
It's just super cool. Think "Swingers" (the movie). Always live music...different genres of music too. It does tend to get super busy and crowded, so be prepared for a wait or get their fairly early to beat the crowds.
47 locals recommend
The Womack
5749 N 7th StIt's just super cool. Think "Swingers" (the movie). Always live music...different genres of music too. It does tend to get super busy and crowded, so be prepared for a wait or get their fairly early to beat the crowds.
Thunderbird Lounge
710 W Montecito AveIt's great. 80s-themed lounge bar with yard games out back.
First & Last
Really good cocktails!!
They also serve dinner, but offer amazing cocktails - the reason I go. It is a speakeasy, so make sure you know where to go!
Rough Rider
They also serve dinner, but offer amazing cocktails - the reason I go. It is a speakeasy, so make sure you know where to go!
Highball
1514 N 7th AveGreat cocktail lounge!