247 september 28, 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | best of phoenix 2023 group of storytellers entertain a crowd. The Music Hall is the side of the bar where live music, dance parties and performance events happen. It is intimate, holding about 250 people, and when fans fill the room to see a favorite band, it ups that cozy vibe, squeezing everyone together in a sonic fervor that intensifies the entire experience. A mobile telling the story of notorious Phoenix murderer Winnie Ruth Judd anchors the main part of the bar called the Rose Room, which also holds a pool table, Skee-Ball and a few intimate booths. Next time you’re looking for a fun night out at a bar, we recommend you head underground. Best Speakeasy THE WHITE RABBIT 207 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert twr.bar You spot the sidestreet with the single red light shining above a descending staircase and a queue of people and think the mystery of how to enter this downtown Gilbert speakeasy is solved. But that’s not actually when the puzzle of how to get into The White Rabbit begins. It starts sooner as knowledge of the monthly password — available on the website — is non-nego- tiable to even earn a place in line. One of the must-stops in the Heritage District nightlife scene, The White Rabbit speakeasy requires a bit of a hunt down a dark path and an apparent dead end at a bookcase. Once you figure out that the bookcase is a well-disguised door and how to open it, your journey is rewarded with a Victorian era-inspired space that’s dark and elegant with an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve discovered a secret VIP club you may not qualify to be in. A sophisticated handcrafted cocktail menu boasts high-end spirits, private labels made exclusively for the bar and original concoctions crafted with house- made mixers and syrups. An exclusive to-go cocktail menu is available should you want to take a taste home. Best New Speakeasy GIN AND REEL 5415 E. High St., #103 480-420-3223 stircoffeebar.com Speakeasies are where you can feel like you’re a part of something special, and Gin and Reel certainly exudes that cool factor when you walk down the stairs and enter a room that feels like you’re visiting another era. It’s definitely a small space, but comfortable in all the ways that matter. Here’s the secret: To gain entry, approach the barista at Stir Coffee (the storefront for the speakeasy) and grab the password to sample the drinks. The cocktails are fun and have inter- esting flavor profiles. We’re partial to the Dream of You, a mix of Tito’s, yuzu Japanese liquor, limoncello, lemon, simple syrup and lavender water. Other highlights include the Royal Rascal and the Fit as a Fiddle. Cocktails can be paired with charcuterie boards, pizza or dessert, and or for those who want to ease up on the liquor, wine and beer are also available. On a weekend night, expect the place to be busy, so get your name on the list fast. You can linger during the busy nights, but after two hours at the speakeasy, you’ll have to head out and give someone else a turn. Best Cocktail Experience PLATFORM 18 3626 E. Indian School Road 602-739-1388 centurygrandphx.com There’s not much we can say about Platform 18 that its avalanche of accolades hasn’t already expressed. The most recent, and perhaps most important recognition came this summer, when the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation awarded Platform 18 the title of Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at its 17th annual Spirited Awards. One of the concepts (along with UnderTow and Grey
