256 NIGHTLIFE SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 e e e B E S T E S P R E S S O M A R T I N I ÉLEPHANTE 7014 E. CAMELBACK ROAD, #601 480-576-8168 ELEPHANTERESTAURANTS.COM Now that even movie theaters are serving espresso martinis, it’s clear this caffeinated cocktail is the drink of the moment. Élephante sets itself apart by elevating the beverage with premium ingredients. Espresso enthusiasts are offered a choice of top-shelf vodka, reposado mezcal or reposado tequila as a base. We particularly enjoy the mocha varia- tion that showcases creme de cacao and vanilla. Take an iPhone shot of these pictur- esque martinis if you must, or go the extra step: Snap the menu’s QR code that allows you to upload any photo on your device to be printed on top of your cocktail. e e e B E S T J U K E B O X GRACIE’S TAX BAR 711 N. SEVENTH AVE. 602-793-1110 GRACIESPHX.COM When you can corral Magdalena Bay, Fleet- wood Mac and T-Pain into the same jukebox, you know your night won’t be constrained by anything as fickle as genre. Situated on the farthest wall from the door in this cozy neighborhood lounge, the eclectic jukebox has beckoned many a regular to invest a fiver into setting a vibe. Sidle up to flip through the CD collection. Press the numbers to cue up a SZA record, then queue up a Talking Heads classic. Once you rejoin your party, you’ll notice the bar almost physically thumping to your tunes. Turns out Gracie’s doesn’t just have a great music selection — it also plays it at borderline-uncomfortable levels, forcing you to lean in close, conspiracy-style, to make your close friends even closer and make sure you get your money’s worth. e e e B E S T K A R A O K E THE GRAPEVINE RESTAURANT & KARAOKE BAR 4013 N. BROWN AVE., SCOTTSDALE 480-994-1792 GRAPEVINEAZ.COM You’ve been at bad karaoke bars before, dull spots with nervous singers and listless applause after each number. Grapevine is none of the above. Fearless singers and the people who scream “woooo!” for them pack this two-story Old Town Scottsdale bar and restaurant seven days a week. Are all the singers good? Hell, no. Does the crowd cheer each one like it’s the “American Idol” finale? You bet. We’ve got a million stories from our visits to Grapevine. On a recent Wednesday at midnight, two guys in sunglasses sere- naded the room with Usher’s “Love in This Club” as the rest of the patrons danced and sang. We remember the time that there was no one in the bar except us and a pack of wasted bachelorettes scream-singing “You Belong With Me.” Then, there was the time that two strangers pulled us up to the mic for a “Killing Me Softly” trio. Spend an evening at Grapevine, and you’ll have a story or two of your own. e e e B E S T D R A G S H O W RISING STAR TALENT COMPETITION STACY’S @ MELROSE 4343 N. SEVENTH AVE. 480-621-7747 STACYSATMELROSE.COM Supporting queer artists and entertainers starts at home. The abundance of amazing drag talent across the Valley serves up shows any night of the week. But for a taste of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in your own neighbor- hood, sashay into Stacy’s @ Melrose for the Rising Star Talent Competition. Hosted by Mia Inez Adams, a local drag icon with decades of experience performing and hosting, Rising Star is a 10-week, zero-elim- ination talent competition showcasing a truly deranged array of local drag talent: kings, queens and everything in between. Come for Mia’s hilarious stage presence, stay for the laugh-out-loud performers (you never know who might be the next breakout star). The show goes off every Tuesday night, hopefully until the sun expands into a red dwarf in 5 to 7 billion years, incinerating the Earth and claiming the ultimate “rising star” title. e e e B E S T G A Y B A R KOBALT 3110 N. CENTRAL AVE., #175 602-264-5307 KOBALTBARPHOENIX.COM The weekly calendar is packed with events at this hotspot located in the heart of midtown Phoenix at the revamped Park Central Mall, right off the light rail. We’ve sung the praises of this venue’s karaoke nights — it’s still among the top destinations for unleashing your vocal stylings upon the world. Drag shows here are legion and top-notch. You’ll see a mix of performers from favorites like Barbra Seville and Lexxx A’Pro to newbies making their drag debuts. Trivia Tuesdays are also a hoot at this spot, so get your brainy
