Royale Lounge

# of Bars: 1 Ease of access: 5/5…read moreCost: 1/5 $4 bottled beers, can't beat that # of Pool Tables: 1 (coin) Ease of access: 4/5 # of Darts: 1 (steel) Ease of access: 1/5 Crowd size: 1/5 Crowd Composition: Mixed, slightly older Music: Live Band Music level: Loud Food: n/a They also have pinball machines and a photo booth. Nice patio space as well, not crazy busy, parking is fine.

I went to the new wave, nerdcore, 80s/90s dance party last Saturday and it did not disappoint! The…read moreDJ was on point and the drinks were cheap and strong. Plus they have pinball! Just 3 but that is enough for me! I am a pinball junkie!! Overall the service is quick and pleasant despite how many people were there. RIPS has all kinds of people, young and old, normal and off the wall and everything in between!! The only negative was that the patio was a smoking den -- My hair and clothes smelled so bad the next day and it was really hard to find a small corner of the patio that wasn't smoked out. I will definitely be back for this dance party -- every 3rd Saturday.

Detour

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Killer Whale Sex Club

4.1(334 reviews)

1.5 mi

Had a fantastic Wednesday night, and a big reason was our server Max. From the moment we sat down,…read moreMax was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made the experience feel special. The recommendations were spot on, exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes you feel like you're in good hands. Never had to wait for anything, and Max had a way of checking in at just the right moments without being intrusive. One of those servers who reminds you why going out is so much more than just drink. Will absolutely be back!

They had me at the name... though I will clear the air. There are no killer whales present at…read moreKiller Whale Sex Club. Nor is it a sex club. But, if you're looking for a really cool bar, KWSC is for you. I stopped by on a week day evening around 8:30 p.m. Located in Roosevelt Row, while there isn't parking, I found free parking on the street a few minutes away on foot. Ambiance (4.5/5): My type of spot. Dimly lit with a speakeasy vibe. There are eight or so seats at the bar, and the rest of your seating options consist of comfortable chairs and sofas. You'll see a lot of photos of people's bums on the walls lol. This is indeed part of the appeal. For free, if you would like, they will take a polaroid of your butt and memorialize you eternally on the walls. While I didn't do that, if that's up your alley, go for it. Service (2/5): This is the main area of improvement. After being seated, I was greeted promptly and got my first cocktail promptly. From there, things fell apart. I had to grab the bartender's attention to order my second drink and to close out. It was a week day and they weren't busy. And there were two bartenders. A lack of attentiveness. When I closed out, I noticed that the cocktails were both $2 more expensive than what was listed on the menu. When I inquired, I was told that the menus were outdated... umm what? If you're not going to re-print your menus, give people a heads-up when they arrive. I understand that most people won't notice, but this is deception. Food (N/A): I was on a liquid diet. If you're trying to eat here, all they have is snacks. The menu doesn't specify but I'm thinking it's probably chips or somethign like that. Drinks (4/5): A lengthy, and interesting, cocktail list. Similar to a speakeasy, you're going to see creativity and an interesting blend of flavors here. The most popular drink is Fuck Nazis. We're seeing a theme here. KWSC is an interesting spot. For various dollar amounts, you can get funny things outside of the polaroids of your bum. My first cocktail was great. My second one, a tiki drink, not so much. The menu said that there would be some flame action happening. It didn't. Just another example of the service falling short. If the service were better, Killer Whale Sex Club would easily be a five-star experience.

Behind the bar amidst the free photos

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Interiors

Sunny's Lounge

4.5(62 reviews)

2.0 mi•Biltmore Area

Locally owned & operated

Boutique

Sunny's may not have the recognition as a cocktail bar but I need to say this - these are the most…read moreinventive and creative cocktails in the valley. The Oaxaca Asada- perfectly savory and balanced- wow. Pornstar Highball- crushable- all the flavors of a pornstar martini but so delicious and more approachable. Monsoon Season- spicy clarified mai tai- loved that you could specify the spice level. Garrett and Kenzey went above and beyond with service. I also got to try the strawberry fernet and Anna's play on a daiquiri and her exquisite bramble shot. Everything was thoughtful- balanced and above and beyond in the flavor department. It's nice to see this bar crank on a busy Saturday. I cannot wait to be back and try more cocktails. Truly pushing the boundaries and the cocktails truly were the best I have tried in the past two years in Phoenix. Keep it up Sunny's - I will be back ASAP.

This is an awesome little dive bar. It's the kind of place where the neighborhood gathers, as we…read moresaw a couple of regulars that the staff knew right away. It is the Halloween theme of Psycho Killer Cocktail Club pop-up. There were skeletons throughout, Barnes wire across the ceiling, a large screen showing an old movie, and the walls are covered in vintage posters. There is a pool table and an 8 screen TV showing old movies. We ordered a Crime of Passion and two Buried Alives. Both were good, especially the Buried Alive. Int was like boozy chocolate milk with Oreo cookie crumbs. Delish! It's did take a bit for someone to come to our table, and we watched people who came in after is get served before we even had sometime take our order. All in all, this is a great little place to hang out.

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Bikini Lounge

3.9(267 reviews)

2.7 mi

If you're in the mood for a dive bar with decades-old personality, bikini Lounge is just that spot…read more This tiki themed drinking hole has several generations of patrons. Service is always solid and the beer is cold.

What an unexpectedly fun night!…read more I honestly had no idea what I was walking into when a friend told me I had to check out Bikini Lounge because they know I'm drawn to all things eclectic. They were absolutely right. From the moment the friendly bouncer smiled and said, "Step right on in," I was hooked. Yoooow!! The first DJ was incredible. He was spinning all kinds of trip-hop, indie, electronic, and remix-style tracks that had everybody partyin'. It wasn't your typical dance music, but every song seemed to connect with somebody in the room. The crowd was incredibly diverse, and it was so much fun watching people of every age and style dancing and nobody cared. The second DJ, a younger woman, shifted the vibe a bit and leaned more toward a younger crowd. It wasn't quite my style, so I took that opportunity to grab a seat at the bar and do what I apparently do best... chat with complete strangers. I'm a talker, and thankfully they seemed just as happy to strike up a conversation. This isn't some fancy cocktail lounge, and that's exactly the point. It's authentic. There were people dancing at the bar, grooving in their booths, bouncing in their seats, and filling the dance floor with great energy. I came by myself, and within minutes a cool group of strangers invited me to squeeze into their booth like we'd all come together. That's the kind of place this is. At one point they even offered me a glass of beer from their pitcher. I politely declined (look at me making responsible life choices... sometimes), but then I realized almost everyone had pitchers! So I sauntered over to the bar. I did have to wait a bit; apparently chivalry doesn't extend to letting a woman cut the line, but once I reached the bartender, the service was fast and friendly. Every trip back to the bar was the same. No complaints there. As the night went on, the energy just kept building. Before I knew it, I was on the dance floor sweating, smiling, and dancing with complete strangers. After a while, I had to retreat to the patio just to catch my breath before heading back in for more. My ankles are still sore... and the glutes? Fuhgetabouttit! The best part of the night wasn't the music or even the drinks. It was the people. Every generation was represented. Every fashion style imaginable. Every personality. And somehow it all worked. There was this genuine sense of joy and community that you just don't find everywhere. If you're looking for polished and upscale, this probably isn't your spot. But if you want great music, a welcoming crowd, zero pretension, and one of those nights where you leave happier than you arrived... give Bikini Lounge a shot. I went in not knowing what to expect. I left wondering why I'd waited so long to go.

An original

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The Starving Artist

4.5(227 reviews)

1.7 mi•Biltmore Area

Vibes. And chill. Bartenders are great drinks and delicious. Food is definitely something to note…read more10/10 The staff is amazing truly some of the sweetest nicest friendly bartenders in town

Very woke. Drinks are delicious. I mean that. I've never had…read morea bad drink here and if you're lucky enough to score a seat at the bar the bartenders earn their right to be total snobs because they know what they are doing. Art cool and interesting. Mix of people enjoy this bar. Maybe for the PICKLE PIZZA!! Server is great too young man with bronze skin and no hair... I love him. Can't remember name. Pool darts and board games. Bathroom situation pretty weird. Doors don't lock or maybe they do but every time I'm here I walk in on someone ohgoodness

Sandwiches, NY stlye pizzas, salads, and shareables

Champagne of Beers were super cold

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Seems like a cool vibe....let's check it out :)

Sidecar Social Club

4.5(85 reviews)

1.5 mi

A fabulous experience with enjoyable mocktails, cocktails, creative menu items that were high…read morequality and full of flavor. Engaging and friendly team enabled a relaxing and valuable night out with colleagues.

I love that they have an indoor and outdoor seating area. Isaac and Tyler both provided great…read moreservice and recommendations on the cocktails. I had the road runner and donkey. Donkey was a little sweeter than I anticipated. Both were delicious. And I ordered the roasted beets. Although I don't know how "roasted" the beets actually were, all the flavors were very well put together - flavors that I would never have thought to pair together with, and I was surprisingly full after eating it all.

Bar area

Pasta with ragu

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Entrance

Swizzle Inn

3.8(230 reviews)

3.4 mi

The Swizzle fo shizzle. Finally made it to the Swizzle Inn. Been on my list of bars to go to for a…read morewhile. Seemed like a steady flow of patrons coming and going. Divey for sure. I liked it. I didn't have any problems getting served and the staff was friendly enough. Had a couple Church Music IPAs. Diamondbacks game was on which was nice. Id recommend the place.

I do love the Swizzle! As I mentioned before, drinks are strong and cheap. They also have a good…read moreselection of tequila and whiskey -- so that is appreciated. This last time I went to Swizzle it was on a Saturday night and I didn't get there until 10pm and it was off the chain with no where to park or sit. When people get talking it is really loud inside and you can't hear the touchtunes. People were getting wild and that was super fun. There was a also a little food stand outside in the parking lot, which is really good for a bunch of drinking folks!!

$2 Mystery Shot

Church Music IPA

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Church Music IPA

Chopper John's

4.3(94 reviews)

1.9 mi•Biltmore Area

Had a great time at this place! Very eclectic crowd. Bikers which shouldn't surprise given the…read morename, regulars and strangely some sorority girls. Fun time, good prices, strong drinks and a fun bartender. Check this spot out!

Dive bar in the middle of Arcadia…read more First off - they have photo hunt, IYKYK. Classic game from 2000's, very hard to find these days. They also have 1 pool table and karaoke on Tuesday Nights. Lots of locals here and it's a nice change from all the high end bars around, service was good. Bathroom were okay, single bathroom for men and single bathroom for women.

Patio

Inside

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Holiday lights and decor

Gracie's Tax Bar

4.3(162 reviews)

2.3 mi

I honestly don't think I could do a better job writing a review than what's in the description…read moreprovided above. Cheap drinks, like, really cheap. Great food (hot crisp tots) and a jukebox full of happiness. I came here for the first time due to VIVA PHX. I live north of town, and had no idea this place existed. I do now! I've only been back once, but it was so clearly my happy place that I will be back again and again. The booths are cozy, and the outside is pleasant.* It's a great spot for live music under the stars. And the staff - they are - like - nicer than I've even thought possible in a bar nowadays. I was there during happy hour last week and was offered a pitcher or a pint. I got the pint, but it went down so fast I needed another. The barkeep laughed and said "I knew you should have gotten the pitcher. I'll only charge you the difference in cost for the second beer." The difference? $3. Seriously. *The outdoor atmosphere was perfect when I saw Kora Puckett in late April. I'm not sure it would be in late July

My sister and I went to Gracie's Tax Bar earlier this week for a lighter decorating event in…read morecollaboration with Sissy Art. Neither of us have ever been to Gracie's Tax Bar, so we didn't really know what to expect. The bar itself is composed of a kind of tiny interior and a large patio with ample seating. The event was hectic and busy, but very chill and well-organized at the same time. It was definitely a crowd that was well handled. I also felt safe at the venue because they were scanning IDs and checking bags at the door. Regretfully, we did not try any of the food options at Gracie's, though we saw many other people enjoying it and it looked super good. The drinks were super reasonable prices and the crowd had such a cool vibe. We will certainly return.

Inside

Chopped cheese sandwich.

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Signage

McKenzie's Midtown Tavern

4.4(217 reviews)

2.2 mi

This place is so amazing, I don't want to tell anyone about lol! So if you come don't fuck it up!…read moreMy family and I loved the amazing service and prices, not to mention the food was off the hook and fast! Make sure you order the green chilli nachos the pickle fries! Thanks again guys!

Great bar food with high quality ingredients. Excellent bourbon selection. Friendly bartender…read more Visually stimulating interior will keep you from entertained. Highly recommend.

Wall of Whiksey

BLT with a smoked potato salad and Woodford reserves, sweet Bourbon

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Seats at the bar snd lighting

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Sylvania T.

1 year ago

It's a nice, little, cozy bar. The mirror! The Royals Travelers.! Wow I'm having trouble and unsure of how to explain this place. Don't want to post or expose the family recepi. So, this is all I have to say.! read more

Kenny B.

11 years ago

Some of the cocktails are excellent . The food is above average pub fare, although they could try harder for a creative menu. Avoid Fridays and Saturdays as it get overly crowded. Sunday evenings are awesome. read more

Joey B.

4 years ago

If pirates were still around, they would definitely be going here. Get your drink on you scallywags ‍

François M.

14 years ago

this place is legendary, seriously!

Royale Lounge - divebars - Updated November 2026

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Wanderin

3.9

(30 reviews)

I just love the pool play, jukebox, the karaoke., and all the bartenders are amazing... drink…read moreprices are absolutely amazing. And you can't get better atmosphere just enjoying a dive. Great TV's for football Sundays.‼

Was in there early one morning, dark damp depressing dive bar. Barely saw the bartender outside…read moresmoking, no music,just morning news,smelt like old coffee. Owner just died, management is overwhelmed,bartender suffers from dementia poor thing took 10 min to give me change for a hundred,wow! Would not recommend this place

Swizzle Inn

3.8

(230 reviews)

Kitty's

4.2

(21 reviews)

I love Kitty's! I come here often for the pool, cheap drinks, and great company. I've met some…read moreawesome people here. I love a dive bar and this is just that - no fancy frills or anything like that. Relaxed atmosphere, a homey vibe. The owner Mo is awesome!

Shoutout to Nick behind the bar!! He's one of the main reasons I keep coming back. He's friendly,…read moreremembers what people like to drink, and somehow manages to keep the whole bar running smoothly even when it gets busy. You can tell he actually cares about the place and the people in it. If you like laid-back dive bars with character and great bartenders, Kitty's is absolutely worth a stop. I'll definitely keep coming back.

Rips Bar

4.0

(144 reviews)

Valley Bar

3.8

(514 reviews)

Very amazing place to go for drinks on a Saturday night the security and the bartenders do a very…read moreamazing job the drinks are very good and fast. The music and the set up downstairs is very nice and well kept definitely worth coming back every weekend.

You are searched TSA style with a wand at the door prior to entry. I would have been a bit more…read moreunderstanding if I hadn't brought a completely clear bag with very few items in it, yet I was still MADE to show the contents while security put the same hands they had touched everyone else's bag with on my small clear plastic bag. Quite unsanitary and really unnecessary. Im a 51 year old 4"10 woman with my husband ( who they didn't even bother to check him) and hardly represented a threat. I had seen two girls before me go in with super baggy pants and no one asked them to empty their clearly full pockets. The bar is cute but clearly needing some updating. I had been here last year for Satsang and in the short time between it has seemed to deteriorate. The bartenders are overwhelmed and the only ones working are the men. My husband told me he tried several times to get the attention of one of the ladies and she turned her back to him. Also an experience I had with the ladies last time I was here. There was an incident where a girl slipped on water that was puddled on the floor and fell face first, knocking herself unconscious for a couple of minutes during the set for post crucifixion, and only my husband and I helped her, despite there being security there. I even tried once more to get the attention of a gal behind the bar with short black hair to get a towel to pick up the spill and she would not even turn to face me. I cleaned the spill myself by reaching over the bar and grabbing napkins, since the employees didn't seem to care. That will be the last time I attend this venue. I don't believe they care about their patrons and the staff is pretty rude.

So Far So Good

4.6

(24 reviews)

Alex made me the best amaretto sour of my life. I had a taste of my friends drink, the Space…read moreOddity, which was also delicious. He was quick to make recommendations and extremely friendly.

AZ Cocktail weekend event spot. Popup tiki bar event with yummy rum drinks. I'd come back again to…read moretry other drinks.

North Central Sports Bar

4.0

(27 reviews)

First time my husband and I were ever at this bar. Sandy was amazing and so sweet…read more Great bartender. The locals and regulars were so nice and welcoming. We even ran into a good friend of ours who's a bartender from a Scottsdale bar. All in all had a really great time and will definitely go back... Perfect neighborhood bar!!!!

Amazing environment. This is basically our go-to bar. All bartenders are amazing, shoutout…read morespecifically to Sheena and Andree.

Seamus McCaffrey's

3.6

(493 reviews)

My go-to spot when I'm downtown. Not exaggerating when I say this, but they have the greatest…read morechicken tenders I've ever had. I've also had the corned beef and cabbage... amazing. Plenty of refreshing international beers as well as domestics. Best prices I've seen downtown for alcohol and you get that real pub feel when you're there. Great lighting and woodworking. Amazing and friendly staff. The next time you head to a D-Backs game, stop by this spot and have a few. *P.S: STOP STEALING THE GUINNESS GLASSES!!

Years ago, I spent the summer in the United Kingdom and kicked it off with a week in Ireland…read morelearning about the culture, the arts, and the food. It was probably my first time being introduced to Irish pubs and the traditional dishes and drinks that they serve. Today, I was walking around near the ASU Downtown Campus and came across Seamus McCaffrey's. I gave it a try for lunch and enjoyed some tasty food and great service. While I didn't grab a drink, I'd certainly consider meeting friends after work there another time. I walked into the bar, and I was literally behind the bar where is was quite dark. Many of the bar seats were taken though I stepped into an area behind the bar where there were a number of open tables where I could seat myself. There was yet another room further back with booths and some creative decor, though I was happy with a table near the bar. The server came right over and made some great suggestions and introduced herself to me. She checked on me multiple times during the meal and made sure I liked what I picked. I ordered an item off the Traditional Favorites menu, the Chicken Pot Pie, which consisted of tender shredded chicken, peas and carrots smothered with herbs in a creamy white gravy under a flaky puff pastry. It also came up with a cheese stick. Both were tasty yet not too filling as I expected. There was a light breaded top to a bowl and then no bread on the bottoms or sides, but that was alright as I didn't need an over-the-top dish for lunch. While the prices are a bit higher than I would have expected them to be, it was certainly worth it, and I'll be back again. Seamus McCaffrey's opened in 1991 and brought a real Irish pub to Central Phoenix. It is a family-run bar that serves Irish classics and pub favorites. From Boxty, shepherd's pie, and fish and chips along with stacked sandwiches, burgers, and starters, the menu is not huge but still feels like it has a bit of everything. They have live music on the weekend and host special events throughout the year. The biggest celebration is its annual St. Patrick's Day street party on Monroe, a Downtown Phoenix tradition filled with great beer, great food, and a whole lot of green. Check out its website (https://seamusmccaffreys.com) to see its menu, upcoming events, photo gallery, and specials. The specials include daily specials, happy hour specials, and a $13 lunch menu. I look forward to returning again this summer!

Snap Lounge

3.0

(17 reviews)

We ventured into this fine dive cash only establishment on recommendatio from a great salesman at…read moreShoot the bull cue store based on the allure of 25 cent tables. They also have 4 tables so unless really busy its easy to play. I dont normally like cash only but my wife recently won a lot at the casino so I would rather keep it in my wallet than her dumping it back into the slot machine They have a great long square horseshoe bar with plenty of seats and reasonable prices on drinks. Got 2 mich ultras on a saturday afternoon for $8. They also have red bull in tap which may taste better in a side by side contest with a can. On our first visit, the Fire Depeartment made a showing to cart someone away to an ambulance so that told me these people know how to party. The waitress was a little dismissive but I did mention my wife had syphilis and was taking antibiotics so she couldn't drink. Pool table was open but there didnt seem to be a lot of people looking to challenge others on to visits. I did notice there was a large Native American presence which I notice a lot in that area of town, but never really found out why. In our second visit all tables were full so we both put our name on the white board but only my wife managed to play. Multiple people said they were next despite the writing on the wall. Eventually a couple left and we got our own table to play to our hearts content. I didnt see anyone eating food, so dont plan on curbing a hangover if you get to drunken or get the munchies. The bar tender for our second goaround was a real go getter with a smile and made us feel welcome. He really hustled to everyone in the bar running the place solo and still having time to chat and watch some pool festivities. We did have some guy hit on my wife despite the aforementioned syphilis and another seemingly alcoholic regular made an introduction tableside and looked a lot like the guy getting the ambulance ride the last time we were there. Last but not least they have karaoke on Thursday and Slayer in the juke box with a great sound system. Only really negatives were cash only for when my wife loses all our money at the casino, one brusuqe bartender, no food, and the patrons that knew each other stuck with the regulars for the most part and didnt openly invite or take on new billiards challengers.

25¢ pool? Sure Cheap…read moreDrinks? Definitely Good Bartender? Yep Did I feel like I might get shot? 100% Vibes need some work, but if that's not your priority, this could be a good spot I guess.

Bikini Lounge

3.9

(267 reviews)