30 N E W T I M E S B I G G A M E G U I D E Feb. 9th-Feb. 15th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com Club DWNTWN Situated next to Central Avenue bars The Grand and Sanctum, DWNTWN consists of multiple rooms, bars, and amenities. Pay $10 and head left for access to the main room and its sizable dance floor and serpentine-shaped bar furnished with a towering supply of cerveza, many kinds of tequila, and other intoxicants. Pay $20 and head right for the VIP area with plush couches and bottle service. DJs spin a mix of Top 40, hip-hop, and Latin urbano genres as patrons dance and party into the wee hours. The place stays open until 2:30 a.m. or later. (702 North Central Avenue; clubdwntwn.com) Monarch Theatre The Monarch has ruled downtown Phoenix’s club scene for more than a decade. The two-story spot has done so by offering a diversity of events, rang- ing from Latin dance nights and hip-hop sessions to all-out EDM ragers, on both of its floors. Its 7,000-square-foot main room is spacious, laden with amenities like elevated VIP booths, and equipped with a PK Sound system and an enormous stage. Upstairs, the popular Scarlet Lounge hosts DJ events put on by tastemaking local promoters like Techno Snobs that frequently feature under- ground sounds and undiscovered talents. Here’s hoping Monarch Theatre reigns supreme for de- cades to come. (122 East Washington Street; 602- 821-8569; monarchtheatre.com) Stardust Pinbar Stardust Pinbar is anything but dull. The colorful and clandestine lounge inspired by David Bowie is hidden inside the same building housing concert venue The Van Buren. It features 13 pinball machines, an illumi- nated disco dance floor straight out of Saturday Night Fever, a fuzzy DJ booth, and a bar with stools covered in glittery silver vinyl. Getting inside is also fun, as it involves a secret entrance rigged up like a walk-up freezer in the neighboring Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop next door. (401 West Van Buren Street, Suite C; 602-354-2931; stardustpinbar.com) Tru Ultra Lounge What once was aborted nightspot Track Club is now Tru Ultra Lounge, an upscale cocktail bar and hang- out offering R&B, hip-hop, and other urban dance genres. The 3,600-square-foot space, located in the front of the historic DeSoto Building, offers premium libations, bottle service, a 30-foot-long bar, posh seating, and an elevated DJ booth adorned with an LED wall. Overhead, video projects and state-of-the-art chandeliers add a touch of style as patrons engage in drinking, dancing, and various other social rites. (915 North Central Avenue; insta- gram.com/truultralounge) TEMPE Aura Hip-hop heads of the Valley have a regular hang- out in downtown Tempe, thanks to Aura. The 9,500-square-foot nightclub and venue located on Mill Avenue brings in local and nationally known rappers on the regular to perform. Its enormous main room offers a 5,000-square-foot dance floor, 14 VIP tables, several 4K high-def screens, intelli- gent lighting, and a state-of-the-art sound system. There’s also a huge stage for shows and an adja- cent lounge with a chill vibe and its own bar. As is the norm for many Tempe spots, big crowds turn out on weekends, even for Aura’s dance nights. (411 South Mill Avenue, #201, Tempe; 480-210-2872; auratempe.com) C.A.S.A. Tempe Been into C.A.S.A. since its recent remodel? One of Tempe’s best party spots just got better. There’s now more room for nighttime fun at the outdoor/ indoor establishments on Sixth Street just off Mill Avenue, including a large alcove on its patio that features seating areas for large groups and bottle service, a new DJ booth, and various HD screens. All of C.A.S.A.’s regular amenities remain, though, including the two-level open-air bar and the indoor dance club next door. They’re also still serving signature cocktails in plastic mini-buckets, which are just as potent as ever. (5 East Sixth Street, Tempe; 480-557-8226; casatempe.com) Darkstar In the mood to dance? This two-story nightclub and music venue inside the historic Tempe National Bank Building features multiple bars, a large stage dotted with video screens, an A/V setup with PK Sound, and a mezzanine level allowing views of the enormous dance floor. Later this year, it’s adding an adjacent cocktail lounge and eatery. The brainchild
