four times a year the regulars get together to pick up trash along a nearby stretch of 12th Street. By the time you pay your check, you’ll feel as if you were just hanging out in someone’s living room. Which, in a very real sense, you were. MIDTOWN Bar 1 Casual, neighborhood gay bar Bar 1912 High-end, architectural bar Boycott Bar Casual, upbeat lesbian bar Karamba Nightclub Gay Latino dance club Kobalt Karaoke, drag shows, cheap drinks Nu Towne Saloon Historic gay bar Rips Bar Multi-genre music hub Sidecar Social Club A mini, moody bar Stacy’s at Melrose LGBTQ+ event hub The Boom Boom Room R&B and hip-hop lounge Title 9 Sports Grill Women’s sports bar Wren House Brewing Co. Cozy bungalow brewery KOBALT Park Central 3110 N. Central Ave. #175 The sound of passionate karaoke perfor- mances drifts out of the south end of Park Central. The energy is magnetic at Kobalt. It feels like everyone in the room knows each other as the predominantly LGBTQ+ patrons cheer, encouraging anyone to sing their hearts out to show tunes, ’80s ballads and pop songs from the early 2000s. Drinks are reasonably priced, with most cocktails costing $11. Taste the Sage Advice, where Hendricks gin, kiwi puree, elderflower simple syrup and lime juice create a lightly floral and tart combo. They are easy to down as you notice your song is in the cue on the TVs littered around the bar. From birthdays to local entertainment, drag shows, RuPaul’s Drag Race watch parties, special events and trivia nights, it’s easy to see how community traditions are made at the welcoming space. RIPS BAR 3045 N. 16th St. One of the top dive bars in the Valley, Rips’ combination of edgy and welcoming energy makes it a quintessential Phoe- nix institution that nets drinkers from all backgrounds. Originally opened during the 1950s postwar desert boom, legends like Waylon Jennings have played the night away in this joint, which specializes in bringing in a diverse variety of live acts. On any given night, you could catch punk, goth, metal, rockabilly or a karaoke showcase. With plenty of beers on tap at the wrap- around midcentury bar, Rips has character and attitude. If you want a taste of Phoenix eternal, this ain’t a bad place to start. ARCADIA-EXTENDED Chopper John’s Bikers and rock music Far Away Wine and Provisions Your wine friend’s living room Jade Bar Valley’s O.G. craft cocktail bar JT’s Bar & Grill Wings, beer and sports Lon’s Last Drop A sip of Valley history Platform 18 A tasty train trip Six Byrd Cider Co. Gluten-free heaven The Dirty Drummer Diner meets dive country bar The Little Woody Every 30-something’s favorite dancefloor The Starving Artist Moody lounge, full food menu The Wandering Tortoise Neighborhood beer patio UnderTow Immersive tiki ship THE DIRTY DRUMMER 2303 N. 44th St. This place has a rich history in the Valley, first opened in 1975 by friends Frank Armstrong and Dave Werner, who went on to launch more than 10 establishments around town. Though it was closed for some years, Frank’s daughter Dana Armstrong and two friends reopened it in 2019, and the bar, restaurant and music venue was eagerly embraced by folks who love its down-to- earth feel and its running roster of predomi- nantly country touring and local acts. It might be line dancing and honky tonk one night, the next, you might catch back-to- back rockabilly acts gracing the stage. The bar offers happy hour Monday through Friday with deals from 2 to 6 p.m., and if you’re hungry, there’s a daily food special as well as a bar menu loaded with the usual suspects like wings, burgers and nachos. Sports fans have a home here, too, with games on multiple TVs and a large screen. There are plenty of ways to whoop it up at this local institution. JADE BAR 5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley There are bars that claim they have extraordinary views, and then there’s Jade Bar. This luxe lounge is located inside Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, which is perched at the base of Phoenix’s most famous mountain. Just about every booth, club chair and plush leather bar stool is oriented to look out at the oasis of the resort, which gives way to a wild, craggy mountain landscape. There’s not a bad seat in the house. This walk-in-friendly lounge is ideal for golden hour, not only because you can watch the painted sky but also because it lines up with the bar’s daily happy hour. Jade Bar has a proud mixology history, with barman Jason Asher crafting cocktails there before launching some of the Valley’s most notable and popular bars. Its bartenders still craft impressive tipples, including a clarified Mai Tai. Don’t skip the bar snacks, which include an umami-laden Miso Hummus. SIX BYRD CIDER CO. 3619 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 1920 E. University Drive, #101 Tempe Phoenix isn’t exactly awash in verdant apple orchards, but that hasn’t stopped local makers from crafting juicy and adventurous ciders. The Thorn family founded Six Byrd Cider Co. in 2019, taking the leap from hobbyists to bona fide brewers. They now have two friendly taprooms that are a paradise for those seeking gluten-free sips. Head cidermaker Jared Thorn finds inspi- ration in places like the juice aisle, leading to unique ciders made with prickly pear and pomegranate or sour cherry. Despite all the fruit, the Thorns manage to keep these ciders dry or semi-dry and always crisp. Our favorite is their flagship Hazy Apple — a boozy take on unfiltered apple cider. Because cider’s not as ubiquitous TOP 100 BARS from p 15 >> p 18 Sam Babalola stirred up a “Bear Witness” with Kikori whiskey, grapefruit and pink peppercorn honey syrup at Bitter & Twisted. (Brigette Doby) Vance Haywood heating it up at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour. (Brigette Doby)
