22 Sept 19th-Sept 25th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | hue. The cocktail menu seen one weekend will not be the same on your next visit. The mixologists trade menu responsibilities every weekend. It’s not uncommon for Melinda’s to reach maximum capacity, so try to time your visit right. Find the entrance in an alleyway on the east side of Central Avenue, between Adams and Monroe streets. No password is required, but looking for the bathroom is a comical adventure. The Ostrich 10 N. San Marcos Place, Chandler At The Ostrich in Chandler, the history goes beyond design inspiration. The subterranean bar used to be a storage room for ostrich feathers in the early 1900s and is now a vintage-inspired speakeasy concept named after the base- ment’s former use. It’s located below Crust, an Italian restaurant at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort. There are two ways down to the bar, one from inside the restaurant (look for a door covered in kitchen utensils) and one from outside (look for a descending staircase and a red light). Antique mugshots, barrels, books and a life-sized ostrich decorate the establishment. Bar stools, high-top tables and leather booths invite customers to sit and stay awhile. Along with craft cocktails, the bar serves draft beer and food. Not sure what to pick? Order the Dealer’s Choice and let your bartender take the lead. Pigtails Cocktail Bar 1 E. Washington St., #128 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., #46-1405 Spread across the Valley, there are two locations of Pigtails Cocktail Bar, both hiding in plain sight. At Desert Ridge Marketplace, Pigtails discreetly neighbors its sister concept, The Whining Pig, and caters to craft drink fans in an elegant setting. Opened in February 2019, the bar features low- hanging light fixtures, shiplap walls with copper accents and excessive plants which create a relaxed and oxygenated environment for sipping your favorite spirits. Once you’re in the Desert Ridge Marketplace, go across the way from Dave and Buster’s. You don’t need a password, and you get to exit from a secret bookshelf door. In downtown Phoenix, Pigtails neighbors Coabana, another excellent cocktail experience by the same company. Pick a drink off the menu, or let the bartender create something just for you at The Ostrich in Chandler. (Photo by Tirion Boan) Pigtails is tucked inside Cityscape in downtown Phoenix. (Courtesy of Kyla Hein) No Password Required from p 20 Tell Your Friends 17797 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale One of the newer bars on the list, Tell Your Friends has quickly made an impression. Located underneath The Americano in north Scottsdale, the speakeasy-style lounge is accessed through a descending staircase and a red mirrored hallway. Inside, red velvet drapes, floral decor and a shimmering gold ceiling and bar set the tone. Live musicians perform as expert mixologists shake and stir unusual cock- tails behind the bar. Try a sweet and savory concoction made with bell peppers or opt for a banana-infused old fashioned. Small bites accompany the drinks and there are plenty of opportunities for expensive upgrades to elevate your under- ground experience. Stardust Pinbar 401 W. Van Buren St., Suite C Many speakeasy-style bars around the Valley take design inspiration from the Prohibition era with dim lanterns and dark woods. That is far from the case at Stardust Pinbar, a rainbow kaleidoscope next door to The Van Buren in downtown Phoenix. What makes it a secret is how you get in. Enter Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop, a bright pizza counter where you can grab a slice or two. Then, walk down the hallway to the right of the counter and go through a door that looks like it surely must be for employees only. Cross a small hallway and you’ll start to see the shimmer of the enormous disco ball. Ziggy’s counterpart, Stardust, awaits. Grab a drink at the bar — these skew brightly colored and candy- flavored — and pick your adventure. Do you want to take a spin on the light-up dance floor, try your hand at one of the many vintage pinball machines or grab a table to enjoy your pizza? Stardust is loud and fun, with a DJ spinning most nights. So different from many of the moody and dark hidden bars around town, this spot is a party for those in the know. The dancefloor lights up at Stardust Pinbar. (Photo by Benjamin Leatherman) Hidden bars, tucked in basements, alleys and other restaurants, are having a moment. Find Tell Your Friends underneath The Americano, entered via a secret staircase. (Photo by Tirion Boan)
