Yeah so this place is like Fukyeah buuuut the drinks did seem watered down, UNTIL I mentioned it to the bar chik, then it immediately changed. So evidently she knew what I was saying. But other than that this place is definitely chilll even Wisconsin can walk up in here and chill with the coolest crowd, non binary non confrontationable crowd. So this place a definite must. Try the vodka Red Bull. read more

Live music, cheap drinks, a pool table, and pinball. Need I say more? ;) read more

Rips Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is the perfect dive bar. This place was recommended as a "good gay bar" while my wife and I were passing through Phoenix. Not your typical gay bar; in fact it was pretty much a regular bar and the crowd was super chill with good vibes all around. It was a great time. They had karaoke on a Monday night and everyone was killing it. Karaoke went on strong until 2 pm. They had friendly bartenders, 2 arcade machines, enough seating for everyone both inside and outside, a game of string in the patio, and good beers. read more

Awesome bar great drink specials amazing staff if you're looking for a great dive bar this is the place to go read more

Rips Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great priced drinks. Cool bartenders Awesome music Dive bar games: what's not love about rips? Def our "go to" spot read more

Not a bad dive bar. Drinks are pretty cheap and the staff is pretty friendly. Security seemed laid back. Went for the addiction event period was a little hard to see the movie but the music was fairly decent. read more

best neighborhood bar! Everyone is friendly and there to have a good time. Weekends (Friday/Saturday) get pretty packed, especially if there's a show, which sometimes has a $5-$10 cover charge until midnight. Sunday, Monday karaoke every week- its the best! read more

Rips has a stage for bands . Good sound . Pool table available. Friendly staff and fair prices . Outside looks a little odd structurally but that's just aesthetics . Cool crowd , clean bathrooms. Parking on side street . Great place to check out some live music! read more

Rips Bar - Outside sign . - Dive Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Asked to leave by Barback IDK why. Threated to call the cops! Absolutely no confrontation. Just bought our sodas. Bar Back even followed us to business down the Street Yelling Profantinities. very unprofessional uncalled for! read more

Stopped in here on a Monday evening, so not surprisingly it was pretty chill. Our bartender, Danielle, was very sweet and attentive (and had an amazing singing voice). They had karaoke going, which was fun, and the drink prices were so cheap we couldn't believe our tab. Definitely recommend for a good night out at a dive. read more

My favorite neighborhood bar! Fantastic bartenders, outdoor patio, live music, local art displays, food trucks. If you haven't been, check it out! read more

I'm fairly certain Rips offers the *best* Bloody Mary in town. Every time I get one it's perfect. Atmosphere is always fun, too. Be warned, though, the parking lot is small. read more

We went on goth night and it was a great crowd and good music. The drinks were yummy and decent prices. It's chill but still live. I would recommend it. read more

If you're looking for a lovely dive, Rips never fails to disappoint. I especially enjoy their Shadowplay/darkwave nights. read more

We went to this bar for the first time this past weekend. It's not the typical kind of bar we would go to but we were looking to hear some different music and for a different vibe. Right when we entered we were met with glares. I'm guessing because we were the only ones who didn't look like we were attending a Marilyn Manson concert. Bartender didn't greet us or even really look at us. I went to the bathroom and while I was washing my hands, a woman, (I'm not sure if she was a customer or an employee) she opened the door and threw something with force at me. Luckily she just missed my head. She then claimed someone threw it through the door as she walked in. Unbeknownst to her, my friend was waiting for me right outside the bathroom door and said nobody threw anything from outside. I felt so uncomfortable and unsafe that we couldn't get out of there fast enough! This was the worst experience I've ever had at a new place. I wouldn't return if they paid me to! Avoid this place if you want to have a good time with good vibes. You'll get treated like crap if you aren't a regular or look like a regular. I just wish I could give negative stars since that's all I felt there from the second we walked in. read more

It was after a day hanging out at Steele Indian School Park for Pride. My feet hurt. I was dusty, and just found out there was no way we were getting into the March Madness concert. Contemplating going to bed early, I received a call from Paul shortly after getting out of the shower. He told me to put some clothes on and get ready to head over to Rips to watch local punk bands perform. Namely, Cadaver-Dabba Doo. He ordered an Uber, I put my hair in a ponytail, and we were on our way. Sometime after 9 p.m., we arrived to hear Cadaver-Dabba Doo on stage. Shortly thereafter, they performed "Kelly Got Hit By a Bus", a song I've been waiting almost a year to hear in person. It was so worth it. Then there is their song about a hotdog, and of course "James Franco is Hot." Which is pretty much the god's honest truth. Other bands took the stage while we were on the patio smoking and drinking (water for me) and having a good time. As we were leaving, some band that had something-Spider as its name were playing, and they were awesome! The clientele on this evening ran the gamut from suits to leather biker, and everything in between. Because it seems Rips has no pretenses. Rips exists for those seeking local flavor in their bands. Rips is your mother and your father. read more

NICK! Nick was a hero tonight. Not only did he relate on a personal level with me which is a selling point on my returning, He came thru with a phone charger! Killer service. Gonna be a regular read more

Fabulously strong (and well priced) margaritas, served in a no-nonsense, working class, punk/alt rock bar with occasional theme events and live bands, AND it's close enough for me to walk to/stumble home from?? Yes please! read more

Man, what a wasted opportunity to discover Obscura right before I shoved off to work thousands of miles away on another continent. I randomly ventured into Rips on my way home after a full night out in Tempe, given that it was practically spitting distance from me. What I encountered once inside was a full-on modern rock dance party going on in the back, folks all chill playing pool up front, and a collection of randoms enjoy their cheap drinks at the bar. The music that played while I was there? I documented a selection: * "Crash" by the Primitives * "Cars" by Gary Numan * "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie & The Banshees * "Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop * "Close to Me" by the Cure * "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division * "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo * "I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You A Rose Garden)" by Kon Kan Groups of friends, many in black, dancing up a storm (reminiscent of the Goth kids whenever "Bizarre Love Triange" played during high school dances). I was a little taken aback since so many of the folks on the floor looked no older than their early 20s - about the age of a lot of the songs they were dancing to. Rest assured, there were older folks at Rips enjoying the tunes as well, with memories of their teen selves in their bedrooms recording these songs from the radio on their Sony dual cassette boombox, futilely trying to avoid the DJ's voice from chiming in too early and ruining everything. Besides the crowd enjoying the dance floor, there were other patrons enjoying the atmosphere by the bar. This included two hipster guys trying to recreate moves by Kid N Play, one girl lying on her chest on top of a bar stool and another guy spinning her around by her legs (amazingly, she didn't fly off), and yet another guy planking between two stools and his friends doing the limbo under him. Did I mention this place has cheap drinks? I was enjoying mine while observing everything happening around me, when an old guy with very few teeth came up to me, angry. "Everyone else here is too drunk to play pool! What are these fools doing? Did you see that? Hey, you know what gangsters in Sicily do with anyone who crosses them? They first hit their knees with..." "Sorry, my English bad. Only here for Kon Kan!" I replied in a thick accent. He walked away, confused and cursing. All in all, if I'm ever back in town on the weekend that Obscura is happening (and for some reason I've magically conquered jet lag), I'll be here. To me, it's like listening to Live 105 in San Francisco back in high school all over again. Except this time it's combined with a live genetic hybrid of Club MTV, 120 Minutes, Jackass, and just plain old WTF? 4 Stars. read more

This is a fun place, if you want to get your ass grabbed by strangers, and sometimes you need to keep your hands to yourself. Awww the weird 80s punk classical music being pumped into your brain makes you want to grind up onto anyone around you, but I like my personal space. So give me three feet brotha! Trying to get away from the sound and grabby hands for a minute out on the covered patio didn't work with all that smoke in your face. Let's just say, anything covered outside still holds in the smoke. I don't think I'm ever going to venture out to this spot ever again. If you end up here, bring cash or order more than $6 with your card or else the bartenders will get snooty. read more

Okay...so I've read thru some of the reviews. I remember when it used to be Paco Paco (also a fun-spot), but that was in my past-life experience, and it bears not-a-lot of resemblance to the place it used to be. And I'm not complaining. Yes, the music is pretty frickin badass (we went on Saturday but I don't believe it was an Obscura night). I'm a punk rock girl (don't let the current wave of office-inspired playwear fool you) and I enjoyed their ecclectic music mix of 80's subversive occasionally poppy songs...the drinks are good and well-(well meaning decent, not well meaning bottom-shelf bar)-priced. It's nicely dark and murky...unless you sit by the door, which is what we did at first...hey! we were trying to pace ourselves (that didn't really work, I think I sucked back 4 Jack and Cokes in 30 minutes, don't judge me, I had a rough day!) 4 drinks...under $25. You have won my loyalty. (So what, I'm easy) So during that first 30 minutes, I was my counter-characteristically (read: sober) delightfully demure and polite self...by minute 45 I was back to normal and having a grand old time, making friends, making enemies, trying to make friends out of aforementioned enemies...you know, whatever. Anyone who said that alcohol isn't the answer was not asking the same questions I asked that night. And I absolutely love the conglomeration of off-beat characters that came through the door. This dive bar kicks patooty. I like it. I like it alot. read more

I love rips. When I moved here I missed my neighborhood bar family. Rips is family. Cheap drinks, good pours, live music and cool bartenders with a pleasing lack of douchebags or pretentious asshats. read more

This place is not what I expected. I expected a hipster bar with a decent selection of beers (it says ales) in a funky but cool building. What I got was an alcoholic bar with a shit selection of drinks and beers, and a bunch of 60 year olds who had been drinking alone since 'Nam ended. This place is grimy, dirty, and kind of scary. There were a few charachters who came in through the front door and scared the crap out of everyone. There was a guy smoking in the bar and the bartender didn't ask him to stop. It's just a shit hole. read more

Still a fan of the music and overall vibe. One of the few bars in this part of town doing special events (i.e. Zombie-walk wrap party, themed music nights, that sort of thing) I've noted that the later it gets, the gayer it gets. It starts off as predominately hipster and as Midnight approaches seems predominately gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you . . . read more

O Rips O Rips O Rips. You had me! You had me when I tried to walk in through the exit and you said, c'mon in. You had me as I ordered my lunch day shot of Rumpys and you explained to a regular that Rumpys is what Schnapps aspires to be. You had me at your outdoor patio, your stage for live music, you regulars at the bar and smoking out back. You had me as my new lunch hour sneak away. And then... You Poured. You poured the most pathetic shot possible and left me wanting. I like my Rumpys shot at lunch with time to consider my life while drinking that sweet nectar down my throat. O Rips, You had me, and then you "Poured." read more

They have different performers each weekend so the crowd differs vastly based on that. We have been twice, and once it was a trance style DJ and the next it was freestyle rap night with different people performing. The drinks are cheap and stiff. Goose and soda $6.50. Service is fast and friendly. read more

I love Dive Bars. I love Rock Clubs. So I had high hopes for Rips, but sadly this place fails at both. This venue has the distinct feel of an owner who's patrons have moved on (or died) and this whole "Rock Bar" thing is just a desperate and finial grasp at survival. The staff are all middle aged and clearly could give two shits about the local music scene. Therefore there's absolutely nothing organically cool about this place. And with The Crescent Ballroom, The Valley Bar and Rebel Lounge all in the nearby vicinity, I see no reason for this place's existance. Granted, those venues are significantly more Rock than Dive Bar, so if you're looking for a good combo of both, The Rogue would be a significantly better choice IMHO. read more

I've been to Rips a few times and I really enjoy the laid back attitude and the fact that it's so close to my house. They used to give you yummy popcorn, when I went yesterday it was stale prezels, boo! I still want to try the Obscura dance night, sounds like fun! Honestly the only draw back is the not so friendly waitstaff. Get this, I had a 3 dollar well drink laid down a 5 and never saw any change. Even though I would have given you the $2 as a tip, you have NO right to assume it's yours without any communication. Really tacky! I hope to post a more positive review when I check out the Obscura night! read more

It's a good neighborhood bar. If you stop in after work, I see a lot of regulars there and it's not too lively if that's what you are looking for. Great, cheap happy hour specials. It's dark inside, and the patio is decent size if you can handle cigarette smoke. Superb service - all the bartenders are great. read more

Decided to hop in the Lincoln and take a drive and we decided to stop at Rips! So glad we did. It is a great little dive bar. We didn't stay long as we were not planning on staying for more than one or two drinks. We each ordered a basic vodka/tonic (simple) and then I decided to get a shot and not sure what I wanted the bartender made me a very tasty pineapple upside down cake shot and it was great! The bartenders were friendly and always were attentive to your empty glass. They also had a live band the night we stopped in as well. Can't wait to head back in one night! read more

Rips Bar - Out for a drive... - Dive Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Been going here for 6 years since i moved to the area. Cheap drinks, live rock bands, walking distance. What more can you want? I love it.

I go to Rip's only when Obscura is happening, the second Saturday of each month. I don't know if it's only during Obscura, but drinks are way cheaper than other bars, between $3-$5. I'm not sure how they determine that, as some bartenders only charge me $3 and others $5. Sometimes there are (kind of annoying) drink promoters there handing out such fun things as footballs and key chains and shots of whatever drink they are promoting. Obscura is a fun time for people who like good music. As in good music, I mean cool music that is considered "indie" and/or Brit pop, good stuff from the 90s. The DJ Roya and DJ Funkfinger always bring a good show. Obscura also features prizes from a raffle. I have never won, but at least one or more of my friends wins each time. The prizes include new release CDs, tickets to shows, etc. Rip's also has numerous other theme nights, but I have not been yet. I'm sure those might be just as fun. I get invites from their Facebook account for 80s night and other theme nights. I will definitely be back in the next months during Obscura. read more

I used to come here every weekend when Philthy Phil's was open, but after they closed I never had a reason to be over there. Though I did venture there a few weekends ago again... Things that are Great: -The music. Always great mixes and totally perfect for the crowd. -The drinks. Made right and made strong. -The space. The back patio and inside and bar are the perfect sizes for a large crowd without being too packed in. Things that are Okay: -The dance floor. I don't know when they put a stage in, the dance floor was great before that though. -The cover. It sucks to pay cover but it's only $5 and it usually doesn't start till late (10 or 11pm). -The prices. Nothing special, but nothing worth going out of your for. Things that are Crappy: -The SERVICE oh my god could these bartenders be any more rude? I've had drinks forgotten about, told I need to update my ID (wtf?), had eyes rolled at me (for having a Yelp discount, no less), and been blatantly told "we'll take your drink order later". The bartenders are so unhappy and angry to be there, it's miserable just watching someone be so unhappy. Overall, a great place to dance and drink with friends for a suitable price. If the location was better and the bartenders had any semblance of emotion outside of anger, it'd be a 5 star. read more

Been going here for years. Dancing, drinking, fun and unexpected adventures. It's probably technically considered a dive bar but that's not important. It's a Phoenix staple, a known place, a great place to get a Sunday brunch drink or go dancing with strange people all night. The patio helps to facilitate a good time with the mounted ring game, tv, and plenty of drinking and smoking space. Embrace it if you come here. They serve good basic bar drinks and usually have a good selection of beers on draft including 1-2 local selections like my favorite right now, the Sonoran Brewing Co. White Chocolate Ale. Have fun when you come here. Happy safe drinking. read more

I am so glad to know there is a place like Rips that's bringing back the younger night crowd to Phoenix. Yes, I do have other neighborhood bars that I casually have a drink at but Rips has great drink specials, the star-like ceiling is beautiful, and i love that it's also showcasing local artwork on its wall. What Phoenix was lacking was a rocking dance night. Since Hot Pink ended its Friday nights at Carumba's, Obscura at Rips has definitely filled the void. I definitely get pumped up for second Saturdays! I love dancing to music you don't hear everyday on the radio and the mix those two DJs spin is just what the doctor order after a long day of retail. Drinks, oh the drinks! Rips has an array of liquors and beers. Pinnacle vodkas...what flavor do they not make? I think I saw around a dozen different flavors from Pomegranate to Cotton Candy! Every time I return I try a new one. But most of all, I love the fact the owner kept the original vintage sign. With the over sized red arrow outlined in light bulbs, you'll have no problem spotting it when driving down 16th street. I suggest you check it out and befriend the bar on Facebook because you don't want to miss out on specials or events. read more

OK... I went to Rip's for my very frist time just two weeks ago. I had very high expectations... the place looks SO RAD from the outside with its old school sign and oddly shaped building! Biggest. Letdown. Ever. It was a Monday night, so as you can probably guess we walked into a pretty empty bar. To make the experience even more awkward, we were greeted by karaoke. Bad karaoke. I mean really bad. I immediately began to draft this Yelp review in my head... But then my wife suggested we come back for Obscura that following Saturday. So I held off. I wanted to give Rip's a second chance, because deep down I really wanted to like it. Fast forward to Saturday night: Obscura. Upon walking in, we were greeted with a much different scene... Loud (but good) music, lights, dancing, and PEOPLE... lots and lots of people! We hung out at a table on the smoking patio, crushing $3 Dale's Pale Ale (also a huge draw for me), and after a few drinks decided to go back inside and get our dance on!! The music was great, the drinks were cheap, and everyone was just there to have a great time! Will I ever be back on a Monday? No way in hell. But I'm at least open to coming back on a weekend, and I'll definitely check out Obscura again in the near future! read more

Karoake sucks! I've been here 3 hours and sung once. Everyone who walks in gets to go right up. The reputable places work the new singers in so those of us who arrived early are not punished . I might have waited other places but not like this. Then he's going to "move me to the top" bs I've been sitting here. On the other hand travis is awesome. My drinks were stiff, his smile is to die for and his personality is tops. I won't be back. read more

So, some friends texted for me to get my keester down to Rips, because they were doing their super rad 80's-style dance party (a.k.a. Obscura). I had just had my fill of two stepping and line dancing at the Cash Inn, so I figured I could use something a little more my style. It cost five smackers to get in, which included a raffle ticket (for what, I don't know...obvs I didn't win...stop rubbing it in). They were totally spinning the sweet stylings of 80's bands of yore. This was my kind of party. I spotted my friends on the dance floor somehow (it was pretty packed) and jumped right in. The dance area was darker, with lots of little lights bouncing off from every which way and movies were playing behind the DJ. I can't comment on the drinks or prices of said beverages, as I was being a responsible driver. The vibe of this place was great, although I heard that Obscura only happens once a month, so it may very well be different on other nights. I will definitely be back to get my 80's fix again next month! Like, gag me with a spoon I must be really freaking out, cause no other Val dude can touch these guys! (anyone?) :) read more

My girl friends and I finally made it to Obscura last night and we had an amazing time! The night started with some indie tunes here and some electro songs there, which was a nice change from the usual, booty-poppin, bumpin n' grindin songs you'd hear at other bars or clubs. As the night progressed, they started playing a lot of old songs from the 80's and 90's, and I was seriously in HEAVEN! (Anybody that knows me well knows that I am in love with 80's music...) Every song that was played kept me out on the dancefloor! If it hadn't been for the plans we made with other friends later in the night, we would have stayed until closing time. In addition to awesome music, they have wallet-friendly prices on drinks all night. And from my experience last night, the people here were cool. And didn't have to deal with the unpleasant surprise of a creeper sneaking up from behind and dancing with their crotch on me, which is probably why I don't go out to bars or clubs so much anymore. I wish this place was closer to my house! But of course, being in the West Valley, there isn't anything too cool and exciting until you've reached Phoenix and east... I definitely will be coming back next month for Obscura! read more

This place reminds me of Ky's in the early days when Randy was working the place. I am a big fan of Ky's, GLAM and Shady's. And if you don't know either then you won't understand this at all. I know they keep advertising this place to all you tempe kids and scottsdale schmucks, but really Rips is a neighborhood bar. So if you don't like hanging out in the shadows with some shady characters walking in the door once in a while, like the pussy below, and a nice pour on the drinks then head back to your home town and your comfort zone because we are very comfortable without you here. To the Owners... Dave, Karl and Monique, if you want this place to stay alive don't advertise it. Word of mouth is better. Those tempe kids will drop Rips like a hot potato the day they don't see tons of action. Same with the snottsdale douchbags. If you wanna keep Rip's ripping it up then let it develop a strong local vibe. BTW Obcsura rocks and so does Dj Manchester. read more