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Over the past decade the Valley of the Sun has gone from a “cow town” to a “now town,” and the nightlife and culture options are no exception. Downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale especially are packed with entertainment choices.
Nightlife
From brewpubs, sports bars, and coffeehouses to dance clubs, mega-concerts, and country venues, the Valley of the Sun offers nightlife of all types. Nightclubs, comedy clubs, upscale lounges, and wine bars abound in Downtown Phoenix, along Camelback Road in North Central Phoenix, and in Scottsdale and Tempe.
Among music and dancing styles, country-and-western has the longest tradition here. Jazz venues, rock clubs, and hotel lounges are also numerous and varied. Phoenix continues to get hipper and more cosmopolitan, so behind the bar you’re just as likely to find a mixologist as a bartender. There are also more than 30 gay and lesbian bars, primarily on 7th Avenue, 7th Street, and the stretch of Camelback Road between the two.
You can find listings and reviews in the New Times free weekly newspaper, distributed Wednesday, or in the Arizona Republic, also online at www.azcentral.com the paper’s website. The local gay scene is covered in Echo Magazine, | www.echomag.com, which you can pick up all over town.
Downtown Phoenix
Bars and Lounges
CityScape.
The best place to take part in Downtown Phoenix’s thriving nightlife offers a mix of clubs, entertainment, restaurants, and shopping, all within steps of hotels and sports arenas. | 1 E. Washington St., Downtown Phoenix | www.cityscapephoenix.com.
FEZ on Central.
This place is a stylish restaurant by day and a gay-friendly hot spot by night. The sleek interior and fancy drinks make you feel uptown, while the happy-hour prices and location keep this place grounded. | 105 W. Portland St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/287–8700 | www.fezoncentral.com.
Majerle’s Sports Grill.
Operated by former Phoenix Suns basketball player Dan Majerle, this sports bar offers a comprehensive menu for pre- and post-game celebrations as well as some of the best people-watching potential in town. | 24 N. 2nd St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/253–0118 | www.majerles.com.
The Rose & Crown.
Next to two of the Valley’s major sports complexes and inside a historic home, The Rose & Crown serves hearty, traditional, English pub grub—fish ‘n’ chips, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie—with equally hearty beers to wash it down. Expect a wait on game and special-event nights. | 628 E. Adams St., at 7th St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/256–0223 | www.theroseandcrownaz.com.
Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub.
Enjoy one of the dozen European brews on draft at this fun and friendly place. It also has the largest scotch collection in Arizona. A small kitchen turns out traditional Irish fare. | 18 W. Monroe St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/253–6081 | www.seamusmccaffreys.com.
Coffeehouses
Lux Central.
Decorated with local art and retro furniture, Lux is an eclectic gathering place where artists, architects, and downtown businesspeople enjoy excellent classic European espresso drinks. | 4402 N. Central Ave., Downtown Phoenix | 602/327–1396 | www.luxcoffee.com.
Comedy Clubs
Stand Up Live.
This downtown comedy club features national acts. | CityScape, 50 W. Jefferson St., Downtown Phoenix | 480/719–6100 | standuplive.com.
Greater Phoenix
Bars and Lounges
Fodor’s Choice | Jade Bar.
This spot has spectacular views of Paradise Valley and Camelback Mountain; an upscale, modern bar lined with windows; and a relaxing fireplace-lighted patio. | Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, 5700 E. McDonald Dr. | Paradise Valley | 480/948–2100 | www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com.
Postino Wine Cafe.
Postino has grown from a small neighborhood haunt into four separate destinations throughout the Valley. More than 40 wines are poured by the glass. Order a few grazing items off the menu (the bruschetta is unmatched by any in the Valley) and settle in, or carry out a bottle of wine, hunk of cheese, and loaf of bread for a twilight picnic. | 3939 E. Campbell Ave., Camelback Corridor | 602/852–3939 | www.postinowinecafe.com.
Blues, Jazz, and Rock
Fodor’s Choice | Char’s Has the Blues.
This is one of the Valley’s top blues clubs, featuring a calendar of nightly blues, funk, and jazz artists. | 4631 N. 7th Ave., North Central Phoenix | 602/230–0205 | www.charshastheblues.com.
Rhythm Room.
Excellent local and national rock and blues artists perform here seven nights a week. | 1019 E. Indian School Rd., North Central Phoenix | 602/265–4842 | www.rhythmroom.com.
Casinos
Fort McDowell Casino.
This casino is popular with the resort crowd and poker players. In addition to 150,000 square feet of slot machines, bingo, and keno games, it provides free Valley-wide shuttle service. | AZ 87 at Fort McDowell Rd. | Fountain Hills | 800/843–3678 | www.fortmcdowellcasino.com.
Gay and Lesbian Bars
Cash Inn Country.
This bar has an eclectic clientele of women and features music just as diverse, from country to Latin. | 2140 E. McDowell Rd., North Central Phoenix | 602/244–9943 | www.cashinncountry.net.
Charlie’s.
A longtime favorite of local gay men, Charlie’s has a country-western look (cowboy hats are the accessory of choice) and friendly staff. | 727 W. Camelback Rd., North Central Phoenix | 602/265–0224 | www.charliesphoenix.com.
Scottsdale
Bars and Lounges
AZ88.
This spot is great for feasting on huge portions of food and lavish quantities of liquor, but also for feasting your eyes on the fabulous people who flock here on weekend nights. It’s a great stop before and after an Old Town event or a night of partying. | Scottsdale Civic Center, 7353 Scottsdale Mall, Old Town | 480/994–5576 | www.az88.com.
Dos Gringos.
A kitschy indoor-outdoor cantina, Dos Gringos will remind you of trips over the Mexican border, or at least spring break. Crowds (mostly college students and twentysomethings) swig margaritas and beer in a multilevel courtyard surrounded by TVs and limestone fountains. | 4209 N. Craftsman Ct., Old Town | 480/423–3800 | www.dosgringosaz.com.
Kazimierz World Wine Bar.
Enter this bar through a door marked “The Truth Is Inside,” beyond which lies a dark, cavelike wine bar with comfy chairs and good music. | 7137 E. Stetson Dr., Old Town | 480/946–3004 | www.kazbar.net.
Salty Senorita.
This spot is known more for its extensive margarita selection and lively patio crowd than for its food. The restaurant-bar touts 51 different margaritas—with some recipes so secret they won’t tell you what goes in them. Try the El Presidente or the Chupacabra. | 3748 N. Scottsdale Rd., Old Town | 480/947–2116 | www.saltysenorita.com.
Casinos
Casino Arizona.
You’ll get a full entertainment experience here with a steakhouse and buffet, concerts and other live performances, and plenty of gaming including blackjack and keno. There’s live music and dancing most nights. | 524 N. 92nd St. | Scottsdale | 480/850–7777 | www.casinoarizona.com.
Casino Arizona at Talking Stick Resort.
Locals come here for blackjack, poker, keno, more than 200 slot machines, and a dash of Las Vegas–like nightlife. | 9800 E. Indian Bend Rd. | Scottsdale | 480/850–7777 | www.talkingstickresort.com.
Comedy Clubs
The Comedy Spot.
Catch local and national stand-up talent at this venue. They also offer an open mic night for amateur comedians the last Sunday of each month. | 7117 E. 3rd Ave., Old Town | 480/945–4422 | www.thecomedyspot.net.
Jester’Z Improv Comedy.
The improv troupe performs family-friendly comedy shows on Friday and Saturday nights. | Mesa Riverview Shopping Center, 1061 N. Dobson Rd. | Mesa | 480/423–0120 | www.jesterzimprov.com.
Country-and-Western
Handlebar-J.
This is a lively restaurant and bar with a Western line-dancing, 10-gallon-hat-wearing crowd. | 7116 E. Becker La. | Scottsdale | 480/948–0110 | www.handlebarj.com.
Gay and Lesbian Bars
B.S. West.
Tucked behind a shopping center on Scottsdale’s main shopping drag, B.S. West draws a stylish, well-heeled gay crowd. | 7125 E. 5th Ave., Old Town | 480/945–9028 | www.bswest.com.
Tempe and Around
Bars and Lounges
Casey Moore’s Oyster House.
A laid-back institution where students, hippies, and families come together, Casey Moore’s occupies a 1910 house rumored to be haunted by ghosts. Enjoy more than two dozen beers on tap and fresh oysters at this Irish pub–style favorite. | 850 S. Ash Ave. | Tempe | 480/968–9935 | www.caseymoores.com.
The Monastery.
Grill your own burgers and nosh on picnic food at this casual beer and wine pub. You can also play horseshoes, chess, or volleyball. | 4810 E. McKellips | Mesa | 480/474–4477 | www.realfunbar.com.
Casinos
Gila River Casino Wild Horse Pass.
Part of the Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, this place includes 500 slots, live poker, blackjack, and keno. | 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. | Chandler | 800/946–4452 | www.wingilariver.com.
Comedy Clubs
The Tempe Improv.
Part of a national chain, The Tempe Improv showcases better-known headliners from Thursday to Sunday. Get here early for good seats. | 930 E. University Dr. | Tempe | 480/921–9877 | www.tempeimprov.com.
Dance Clubs
School of Rock.
A favorite for Arizona State University students, this is one of the most boisterous places on Mill Avenue. Wind and grind to a mix of techno and rock until the wee hours of the morning. | 411 S. Mill Ave. | Tempe | 602/471–1841 | www.schoolofrockmillave.com.
Microbreweries
Four Peaks Brewing Company.
This beer spot is the former redbrick home of Bordens Creamery. Wash down pub grub—pizza, wings, and burgers—with an ample supply of house-made brews on tap (including some seasonal specialties). There’s also a Scottsdale location. | 1340 E. 8th St. | Tempe | 480/303–9967 | www.fourpeaks.com.
SanTan Brewing Company.
Come here for good food with great beer and an energetic pub atmosphere without the tired, hole-in-the-wall, or overly commercial feel. Wash down some SanTan wings and a stuffed burger with a SanTan IPA. | 8 San Marcos Pl. | Chandler | 480/917–8700 | www.santanbrewing.com.
Performing Arts
For weekly listings of theater, arts, and music, check out Thursday’s Arizona Republic, pick up a free issue of the independent weekly New Times, or check out Where Phoenix/Scottsdale Magazine, available free in most hotels. A good online source for Valley events is the Arizona Republic’s website (www.azcentral.com).
Tickets
Ticketmaster. | 800/653–8000 | www.ticketmaster.com.
Major Performance Venues
To feed its growing tourism industry, Phoenix has cooked up enticing entertainment venues that attract everything from major-league sporting events to the hottest music acts and the most raved-about theater productions.
Downtown and Greater Phoenix
Ak-Chin Pavilion.
This outdoor amphitheater books major live concerts. | 2121 N. 83rd Ave. | Phoenix | 602/254–7200 | www.ak-chinpavilion.com.
Celebrity Theatre.
This 2,600-seat theater-in-the-round hosts concerts and other live performances. | 440 N. 32nd St. | Phoenix | 602/267–1600 | www.celebritytheatre.com.
Comerica Theatre.
Phoenix’s high-tech, state-of-the-art entertainment venue morphs from an intimate Broadway stage setup to a concert hall seating 5,000. There are great views from almost every seat. | 400 W. Washington St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/379–2800 | www.comericatheatre.com.
Crescent Ballroom.
This small music venue only accommodates 350 people, but has a loyal following for its eclectic calendar of indie acts. There is a lounge open nightly. | 308 N. 2nd Ave., Downtown Phoenix | 602/716–2222 | www.crescentphx.com.
Herberger Theater Center.
The home of the Arizona Theatre Company and other local theater companies also hosts performances of visiting dance troupes, orchestras, and Broadway shows. | 222 E. Monroe St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/252–8497 | www.herbergertheater.org.
Orpheum Theatre.
The Spanish-colonial Orpheum Theatre, built in 1927 and renovated throughout the ‘90s, is a glamorous venue showcasing ballet, theater, and film festivals. The Phoenix Convention Center coordinates ticketing for the facility. | 203 W. Adams St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/262–7272 | phoenixconventioncenter.com/venues/orpheum-theatre.
Symphony Hall.
The Phoenix Symphony and Arizona Opera perform here. | 75 N. 2nd St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/495–1999 | www.phoenixsymphony.org.
Scottsdale
ASU Kerr Cultural Center.
Theater, dance, and jazz performances are showcased at this center. | 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd. | Scottsdale | 480/596–2660 | www.asukerr.com.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
Performances at this cultural and entertainment complex typically emphasize contemporary art and artists. You might be able to catch a comical, interactive performance of the long-running “Late Night Catechism,” or an installation of modern dance or music. The acclaimed Scottsdale Arts Festival is held annually here in March. | 7380 E. 2nd St., Old Town | 480/499–8587 | www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
Tempe and Around
ASU Gammage.
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the ASU Gammage Auditorium, which presents more Broadway shows outside the Big Apple than any other venue in the nation. | Arizona State University, Mill Ave. at Apache Blvd. | Tempe | 480/965–3434 | www.asugammage.com.
Chandler Center for the Arts.
The schedule here includes some of the nation’s most popular touring performances for families and children. | 250 N. Arizona Ave. | Chandler | 480/782–2680 | www.chandlercenter.org.
Marquee Theatre.
This venue hosts mainly headlining rock ‘n’ roll entertainers. | 730 N. Mill Ave. | Tempe | 480/829–0607 | www.luckymanonline.com.
Mesa Arts Center.
This arts organization is fast becoming one of the Valley’s top destinations for exhibits, visual-art performances, and A-list concerts. | 1 E. Main St. | Mesa | 480/644–6500 | www.mesaartscenter.com.
Tempe Center for the Arts.
This small, architecturally interesting arts center at the edge of Tempe Town Lake has become a great source of local pride. Visual art, music, theater, and dance featuring local, regional, and international talent are showcased in a state-of-the-art, 600-seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat studio theater, and a 3,500-square-foot gallery. | 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. | Tempe | 480/350–2822 | www.tempe.gov/city-hall/community-services.
Classical Music
Arizona Opera.
This company stages an opera season in both Tucson and Phoenix. The Phoenix season runs from October to March at Symphony Hall and the Orpheum Theatre. | 602/266–7464 | www.azopera.com.
Phoenix Symphony Orchestra.
The resident company at Symphony Hall, the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra features orchestral works from classical and contemporary composers, a chamber series, composer festivals, and outdoor pops concerts. The season runs September through May. | 75 N. 2nd St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/495–1999, 800/776–9080 | www.phoenixsymphony.org.
Dance
Ballet Arizona.
The state’s professional ballet company presents a full season of classical and contemporary works (including pieces commissioned for the company) in Tucson and Phoenix. The season runs from October through May. | 602/381–1096 | www.balletaz.org.
Theater
Actors Theatre of Phoenix.
The resident theater troupe at the Herberger Theater Center presents a full season of drama, comedy, and musical productions from September through May. | 602/888–0638 | www.actorstheatrephx.org.
Arizona Theatre Company.
Based in Tuscon, the Arizona Theatre Company also performs at the Herberger Theater Center. Productions, held from September through June, range from classic dramas to musicals and new works by emerging playwrights. | 222 E. Monroe, Downtown Phoenix | 602/256–6995 | www.arizonatheatre.org.
The Black Theatre Troupe.
This troupe presents original and contemporary dramas and musical revues, as well as adventurous adaptations, between September and May. | Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/258–8129 | www.blacktheatretroupe.org.
Childsplay.
The state’s theater company for young audiences and families holds performances during the school year at Tempe Center for the Arts. | Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy. | Tempe | 480/921–5700 | www.childsplayaz.org.
Great Arizona Puppet Theater.
A yearlong cycle of inventive puppet productions is held in a historic building featuring lots of theater and exhibit space. | 302 W. Latham St., Downtown Phoenix | 602/262–2050 | www.azpuppets.org.
Phoenix Theatre.
Across the courtyard from the Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Theatre stages musical and dramatic performances. | 100 E. McDowell Rd., Central Phoenix | 602/254–2151 | www.phoenixtheatre.com.
Wild West Shows
Fodor’s Choice | Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse at Wild Horse Pass.
A Valley favorite for more than four decades, Rawhide Western Town calls the 2,400-acre master-planned Wild Horse Pass Development in the Gila River Indian Community home. Featuring its legendary steakhouse and saloon, Main Street and all of its retail shops, and the Six Gun Theater, Rawhide is the kitschiest place in town to experience the Old West. Enjoy canal rides along the Gila River Riverwalk, train rides, and a Native American village honoring the history and culture of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh tribes. To get into the spirit of the Wild West, catch a stunt show featuring gunslingers, have a fellow guest arrested and tossed in jail, or watch trick roping performed by the pros. | 5700 W. North Loop Rd., Gila River Indian Community | Chandler | 480/502–5600 | www.rawhide.com.
Rockin’ R Ranch.
This ranch holds a reenactment of a Wild West shoot-out, and—the main attraction—a nightly cookout with a Western stage show. Pan for gold or take a wagon ride until the “vittles” are served, followed by music and entertainment. | 6136 E. Baseline Rd. | Mesa | 480/832–1539 | www.rockinr.net.