as craft beer, the bar team is eager to chat about ingredients and pour small samples. Don’t be surprised if others lean in and ask what you’re drinking — it’s a place to lean, and maybe curse gluten, together. NORTH VALLEY Buffalo Chip Saloon Bar, barbecue and bull riding Butler’s Easy Neighborhood craft cocktail spot Dubliner Irish Pub Sports and live music tavern Kitsune Brewing Co. Geeky beer Pinnacle Brewing Co. Unique craft brews Simple Machine Brewing Co. Clean-cut, friendly brewery Tell Your Friends Swanky underground lounge The Bearded Barber Anthem speakeasy BUFFALO CHIP SALOON AND STEAKHOUSE 6823 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek On any given Wednesday, Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse may be the liveliest spot in the Valley. “Saloon” isn’t quite accurate; it’s true that there’s a large, rustic indoor drinking space on-site, but it’s just one part of what makes up the unimitable Cave Creek watering hole. The draw on Wednesdays and Fridays is bull-riding; cowboys and cowgirls of all ages pay $10 to pack into a small arena on the property and watch the action. (The same space hosts a church service on Sunday mornings. Yes, really.) In between rounds, patrons can fill up at a barbecue buffet or order off the standard menu, listen to a country band inside the bar or simply get a refill on their beverage and take a seat at the long, outdoor tables. While the atmosphere is old-timey, the drink prices are quite modern. You might not identify as a cowboy, but a cold beer and an arena seat at Buffalo Chip Saloon is something every Phoenician should experience. THE BEARDED BARBER 3434 W. Anthem Way, Anthem If you’ve found yourself in Anthem, you’ve likely made the trek north to shop at the outlets or make a stopover while going to or from Arizona’s high country. The Bearded Barber is another worthy reason to visit the otherwise cookie- cutter exurb. It’s a speakeasy that hews as close as possible to the definition in a post-prohibition world. The front of the bar is a functioning barber shop. Stroll past men getting their hair trimmed and enter through a hidden passage. Be ready with the password (which you can get from The Bearded Barber’s website) to gain entry to a tiered lounge that is meticulously decorated with Victorian-era charm, including a historic Brunswick-style bar. Choose from the Barber’s signature cocktails or order from the bar’s expansive spirits list. With a full kitchen and regular live music, the Barber can make you forget where (and even when) you’re at. SOUTH PHOENIX SILVER PONY 620 W. Dobbins Road It’s a shame that the Silver Pony doesn’t have any windows. The country-tinged dive bar in South Phoenix boasts excellent views of South Mountain from the parking lot, but in exchange for some scenery, patrons get a watering hole that feels like a home away from home. What kind of home? The kind where the bartender shouts “Love you!” as regulars walk out the door. The kind where the folks at the bar break out into impromptu sing-alongs when a favorite song pops on the sound system. Inside the Silver Pony, the drinks are cheap, cold and flow freely. There’s not much of a food menu, but what it serves is fresh and less expensive than many bars. (We recommend the Western BBQ Bacon Burger.) Come on a weekend to catch a band on the small corner stage, but the Silver Pony is lively any night of the week. And don’t forget to appreciate the views on your way out. WEST VALLEY Aguila’s Hidaway Drinks in a bomb bunker Easy Tiger Bar Hip, casual new-school dive Hopsology Taproom and Wine Bar A beer nerd’s paradise Irish Wolfhound Restaurant & Pub Live music, billiards, Irish fare Longbranch Saloon Pool and grub in Tolleson Roman’s Oasis A good time in Goodyear Saddle Mountain Brewing Co. Classic brewpub AGUILA’S HIDAWAY 1235 N. Dysart Road, Avondale There aren’t many places you can pound a beer in a former bomb shelter. Unless you visit Aguila’s Hidaway on the weekend, that is. The far West Valley watering hole began its life as a fallout shelter in 1959, then found a new purpose as an underground bar in 1962, back when Avondale was a dry city. Today, the space called the Bunker is open on weekends for patrons seeking a nightclub atmosphere. But the above- ground bar, built in 2006, is a popular spot for a drink any day of the week. Daily drink specials keep tabs low, and if sitting at the bar and chatting up the regulars isn’t enough of a diversion, check out a pool cue or some darts and play a game or two. Tucked away behind a liquor store, Aguila’s Hidaway is worth discovering. TOP 100 BARS from p 16 Steve Pearson of Bitter & Twisted scooped up “Double the Pleasure,” a tequila tipple topped with goat cheese raspberry sorbet. (Brigette Doby) Sonny Cano prepares a “Taste The Rainbow” with a printed caticorn surprise at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour (Brigette Doby) >> p 20
