Yo this place was fire! It was a pretty small indoor place but really enjoyed the vibes in there. I…read moretold the bartender it was my first time there let him know what kinda beers i enjoy and he let me taste some recommendations before i set on a drink! the whole experience felt super great! nothing worse than getting a beer you don't even like so i super appreciated it!! would definitely come back for some delicious brews ! ps THEY HAVE A WATER STATION!! and the bathroom looks cool lol

With a name like Chupacabra Taproom, I couldn't say no. I attended a concert at the Mesa Arts…read moreCenter on a Tuesday evening. I was looking for a bar that was open late close to the venue. Chupacabra was open, was a three-minute drive, and had excellent reviews. So my decision was made. I parked on the street for free a minute away on foot. Ambiance (3.5/5): Pretty much your typical beer bar. Relatively small inside, but they also have a patio out front with picnic style seating. Casual. My type of bar. My only complaint? I hate picnic style seating because it doesn't give you back support. Which made me want to avoid the patio. Service (5/5): Super friendly service. The guy working the bar did a great job. I ordered one beer and called it a night. A seamless experience from beginning to end. They also have complimentary water in a water cooler, which is always a nice ou Food (N/A): I read they have food trucks, but I didn't see any when I visited. I had dinner prior anyway. Drinks (4.5/5): I love trying new beers and Chupacabra has an excellent selection. They have a rotating screen above the bar. Some interesting brews, ranging from local craft brews to quality European beers. This is not the type of place that has your typical assortment of mediocre beers. You'll find a lot better here. Overall, a cool spot in downtown Mesa. I'd definitely return the next time I'm in the neighborhood!

Killing time in downtown Mesa, I stumbled upon this particular distillery. The reviews looked good,…read moreand as a lover of spirits and cocktails, I decided to give them a try Through the front doors you take a right and enter a very intimate lounge and bar area. The light is very dim, but you can see the central bar, the almost decorative stills behind glass in the back, and many booths and seating areas You order your drinks at the bar. They have a list of signature and classic options using spirits distilled at the whiskey as well as other spirits. Each cocktail is a work of art. The artisanal elixirs are made to order right in front of you at the bar. This means they are quality drinks, but it also means they take slightly longer because they're made with care... they also might cost you a bit money The staff are friendly. We spoke to a couple about the cocktails, the distillery, eating options in the area, etc The drinks are solid. They aren't the heaviest of pours or too strong. Each cocktail has specific drink rate, garnishes, etc that will accompany it The distillery has a prime location, smack dab in the middle of the downtown Mesa. You can find restaurants, bars, shops, and even a place where you can both play pinball and shop for antiques or a spot where you can eat Cronuts while playing Super Mario Kart (Outcast) Some tips: Tell the bartender what you enjoy drinking and let them guide you towards a selection They offer tours on Saturdays (1hr in length) where you can learn more about the distilling process and try samples They have a couple clarified cocktails that were truly unique and refreshing. If you're into that They are open 7 days a week but their hours vary depending on the day Cheers!!

Updating my original 4 star review to 5 stars! AZ distilling is a fantastic place to grab a…read morecocktail or two, at their beautiful bar situated in downtown Mesa. I've grown to really enjoy the expanded list of cocktails on their menu and that has improved my experience when I go. Plus, I just love sitting at that horseshoe bar. Until next time, cheers!

I came here knowing I don't enjoy beer but came with friends who wanted to stop for rats and a…read moredrink. I didn't end up having anything but the vibe was cool. Very alternative and dive bar-y. And older friend in our group struggled to understand the bartender but seemed to enjoy the surprise beer the server brought. We were all starving and while Oro doesnt have food, they do have a QR code for about 4-5 walkable options that they allow you to bring food from (or some will deliver to Oro). Nothing on that list appealed to us so we closed our tab and headed across the street for food. All in all, it was a fun dive bar showing the classic Young Frankenstein with low lighting and a pool table.

Honestly amazing. The place is so friendly. The beer was excellent - I had a couple IPAs and a…read morefarmhouse ale. I think I met the owner (Dave?) who was so gracious and friendly. I will be back.

I am a big fan of Level 1 Arcade in Mesa. Alchemy 48 is a speakeasy that is located in the basement…read morebehind Level 1 Arcade Bar in Downtown Mesa. In order to enter you will need to see the staff at the back patio and descend down the staircase behind Level 1. You must solve a brief riddle to reveal the entrance. A group of us hung out at Level 1 recently and had a fun time checking out Alchemy 48 afterwards. The bar offers a unique experience with decor that transports visitors back to 1920s Prohibition era. Alchemy 48 has purple velvet walls, unique lighting, creepy wall pictures and a fireplace at the center. The staff is dressed in authentic speakeasy-era attire. There is live music on occasions. There are several cocktail drinks like the Alchemy R N' R, The Peacock, Old Fashioned, Dark Arts Black Manhattan and the Rittenhouse Rye, For food, patrons can sample a charcuterie boards and other light snacks. I love the vibe here and enjoyed a fun evening out with friends for my first visit here.

This is as real as it gets! From the secret entrance to the crafted cocktails. The staff are…read moredressed the part and provide fantastic service. This is a great spot for an intimate date night. Jon and Brandon are gifted mixologists and come up with the best cocktails you've ever had.

12 west is generally a solid option for food and drinks in Downtown Mesa. I used to really love…read morecoming here when Mike was one of the main bartenders, he made excellent cocktails. I've been here a bunch of times over the years. Giving 4 stars simply due a mix of experiences, good and meh. Most recently we sat at the cocktail bar ordered a beer & whiskey sour. Drinks came quickly but then it took a while for anyone to ask if we wanted food (we originally intended to). I think what happened is that our original bartender may have gone on break, while a new person coming on shift was busy doing things and didn't know to check with us since we already had drinks in front of us. It wasn't a major issue. It just created a long gap which gave us the option to decide to go elsewhere. We also noticed the beer we ordered was flat and we eventually let the new bartender know. She offered to get us a pint of something else but we had decided today wasn't our day at 12 West and move on. Typically beers are great, cocktails are solid, and food is good too. What seems to vary the most is service.

My husband and I stopped in for an impromptu lunch date over the weekend. The weather was perfect…read morefor sitting on the patio. We got a couple drinks as well as the popcorn chicken and Birria tacos. This wasn't our first time visiting this location and probably won't be the last. It's a great spot in downtown Mesa. There's ample seating for larger parties. They have a couple patio areas as well as a couple bars inside.

Hambone Sports Bar is my go-to spot, and David is hands-down my favorite bartender. He's friendly,…read moreattentive, and always makes me feel safe and welcome. They keep my Coors Light frosty, frozen, and ready with the perfect slice of lemon -- just the way I like it. It's the perfect place to kick back, do some homework, smoke a cigarette, and catch whatever game is on. The atmosphere is comfortable, the service is great, and I can't wait to be here for football season!

Went there for karaoke with a old friend. Had a good time. Beer was cold and music was loud…read more People were playing pool and having a good time

Stopped by here after a baseball game and it was the perfect destination! The beers were crisp…read more The pretzel was soft and chewy and the maple butter amazing. The bartender was super knowledgeable and friendly. Great space to sit outside and enjoy the perfect weather.

Stopped in here before an event for a beer and a bite…read more The beer was good but the burger was lacking. The patty crust was bordering on burned and I'm not sure there was anything else besides cheese and a wedge of lettuce on the burger. There's a literal burger place across the street so you'd think the burgers here would have to be pretty decent in order to be bold enough to offer it on the menu. I'd try something else next time.

I'm from the Eastcoast. Ive been pretty much unimpressed by Southwest food. Its good, but not…read morehome for me...UNTIL I had Gabby's Cheese Sticks and dipping sauce. Perfection! The service by Ashley, who not only balances bartend and short order cook, and is as pleasant as they come, made it worth it too! The cheese sticks embellished all the tastes folliwing through the deep fry and it blended perfectly. The sauce, Ashley didnt expose, but the combination was the South Philly/New Jersey taste I remember. Ill be back soon for the affordable sticks! Thank you!

Just moved to the area and headed over to Gabby's to see what the local dive bar was like, it was…read moregreat! It was a Friday night so it was a little busy with what seemed to be regulars.. the bartender was friendly and fast with service. The bathroom was SO CLEAN! And they have a big patio with plenty of tables and seats. I didn't try the food but the drinks were great and reasonably priced.

One of my favorite places in downtown Mesa to grab a beer and unwind with some retro video games…read moreand new and retro pinball machines. Always clean and well organized, the staff is also very friendly and attentive. Decent selection of some great local beers and some domestics for those not into craft beers. Also a nice selection of canned beers, ciders, sodas and some NA offerings. Several individual unisex bathrooms that are always clean and well maintained. There are also several different events throughout the week from pinball tournaments, to open mic comedy, and live music.

Visited in a Saturday evening and I have to say downtown Mesa has completely transformed from what…read moreit used to be. The streets were lively with people and bands playing on almost every corner. There was a band playing when we got there and it was pretty loud. It would be really cool if they had like a large door upfront to open. Lots and lots of pinball machines and other games. Cool place to hangout but very limited seating.

Really good beer lots of non alcoholic choices and they have really good pizza service is on point…read moreand the ambiance is a cool beer brewery

In the area on a quick business trip and this joint was near my hotel…read more Plenty of great brews, but the pizza was a hit as well... Cool crisp salad, crunchy pizza, and so many draft options... I'll be back!