1. Coach House
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 990-3433
Address: 7011 E. Indian School Rd.
Description: Coach House is the premier “dive” in Scottsdale, but of course nothing in Scottsdale is truly a dive. It’s a far more unassuming bar than the modern, trendy joints around Old Town. It’s also popular with everyone from native Scottsdale residents to off-the-plane tourists from nearby resorts. The place dates to 1959 and has retained much of its original character of a tiny wooden house with low ceilings. The big wraparound patio bar is a great place to enjoy a cool desert evening with a cocktail. The bar is also a few blocks from other downtown Scottsdale bars, so it’s a perfect addition to a late-night out.
2. Old Town Tavern
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 945-2882
Address: 7320 E. Scottsdale Mall
Insider Pick:
Description: The patio at Old Town Tavern is one of the coolest places to hang out in Scottsdale. The brickwork, outdoor fireplace, and chairs make for an ideal place to sip a cocktail. Live music adds to the warm atmosphere inside and out. It has the feel of an old neighborhood bar with the modern lift of a new Scottsdale hangout. Plus, it’s in walking distance to other Old Town bars, but tucked off the beaten path enough to remain relaxing.
3. Papago Brewing
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 425-7439
Address: 7107 E. McDowell Rd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Papago rotates 30 taps of draught beer daily in its cozy, recently expanded brewpub restaurant. The bar is set next to the big statue of a sleepy, buzzed Trappist monk holding a beer. This place is hidden in the back corner of a strip mall at McDowell and Scottsdale roads, completely unnoticed from the main drag. But it’s a local spot with a huge following, both for the beer and the food. Lunch and dinner are served daily, with pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. Papago serves its own beers made by local Sonoran Brewing Co. The coolers are stocked with dozens of American microbrews and imported bottles. Mix and matching a 6-pack here is cheaper than drinking at most bars, and it gives you the chance to try a lot of unique labels.
4. The Comedy Spot Comedy Club
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 945-4422
Address: 7117 E. 3rd Ave.
Description: Located at 3rd Avenue and Scottsdale Road, the Comedy Spot has an unmistakably cozy ambiance. It’s a popular Scottsdale date night, and a great place to sink into a chair and laugh with friends. Once a week the venue hosts an open mic night, but you need to sign up months in advance. If you’re really hooked, you can sign up for a stand-up comedy class. There’s a full bar on site. Shows are Thursday to Sunday nights. Be sure to check the website for discount coupons. There are also half-price nights for women and students.
5. Jester’Z Improv Comedy
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 423-0120
Address: 7117 E. McDowell Rd.
Description: Jester’z is a family-oriented alternative to other comedy clubs. The shows are free of profanity and vulgarity, which doesn’t matter at all. The performers are hilarious enough to get any audience member cackling like a hyena. Like so many great finds in the Valley, the club is tucked away in Papago Plaza at a small, relatively unmarked theater. Jester’z is well reviewed annually as one of the best first-date spots in Phoenix. With friends, it also makes a great night out when combined with dinner and drinks at next-door Papago Brewing (see the Brewpubs section of this chapter for more).
6. Handlebar-J
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 948-0110
Address: 7116 Becker Ln.
Description: The Handlebar-J is another place with a long history. It’s been in the Herndon family since 1975. Its hallmark has been the family’s music. Ray Herndon, who has played with J. David Sloan, Lyle Lovett, and McBride and the Ride, may be the best known of the Herndon Brothers Band members. Nights are filled with bands, dance lessons, and big parties. The full country menu includes barbecue and steaks. There’s a huge patio where you can eat and drink between trips to the dance floor.
7. Axis/Radius
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 970-1112
Address: 7340 E. Indian Plaza
Description: Bust out your glow sticks for the nightly trance-like techno party at this place, which seems to ooze sex appeal. The 2 clubs, connected by a glass walkway, are longtime favorites for young professionals and college students looking to brush up against each other on the dance floor. Axis is the more laid-back of the two. Decked out with ultramodern furniture, the spacious bars and lounges make a good place to meet with friends over a few drinks and food. Radius is the high-energy dance spot, where the dance floors tend to be crowded on weekends and can get pretty packed on weeknights, too. The clubs offer a VIP lounge with floating bar and a cigar bar as well. Of course, there’s a cover every night. No sneakers or logo sports gear allowed.
8. Myst Night Club
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 970-5000
Address: 7340 E. Shoeman Ln.
Description: If you enjoy big clubs, drop by Myst on the weekends. It’s 18,000 square feet, and this place rocks. Myst has a variety of rooms, each with different colors, themes, and music, as well as a kicking dance floor downstairs. The upstairs area has 2 VIP sections, which we’ve heard are nice, although poor authors like us can’t afford the fee. If you do have the money, the Cat Walk VIP Lounge is cool. The crowd tends to be on the young side, as lots of Tempe college students come here on weekends.
9. The Shaker Room At Martini Ranch
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 970-0500
Address: 7295 E. Stetson Dr.
Description: The upstairs Shaker Room features a light show, live music, and plenty of dancing. Sit in romantically dark booths and watch the show floor while sipping a designer martini, or get up and shake your booty on the central dance floor. The venue features local bands some nights, in addition to a DJ spinning rock, hip-hop, and mash-ups. Phoenix tends to be casual, but you’ll feel more comfortable here in your very best club attire.
10. Mabel’S On Main
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 889-5580
Address: 7018 E. Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: This place is a bit like Mad Men meets the 21st century. The studded leather chairs, hand-crafted cocktails, and swanky happy hour (5 to 7 p.m. Tues to Sun) enhance a night out in Scottsdale. The lounge is closed Monday. Mabel’s is a decent place to enjoy one or two excellent drinks with friends and meet locals, many of whom consider it one of the sexiest lounges in Scottsdale.
11. Scottsdale Center For The Performing Arts
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 994-2787
Address: 7380 E. 2nd St.
Description: At about 800 seats, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts offers an extremely intimate atmosphere for shows by jazz and folk-music performers. A contemporary dance series brings in national companies. Summer brings performances of Native American music and performances for children in the outdoor amphitheater (within walking distance of the Scottsdale municipal complex). The sound in the auditorium is stellar, and all the seats provide excellent views of the stage; the sound in the amphitheater is good. It’s also the site for the Scottsdale Arts Festival in March.
12. Coach House
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 990-3433
Address: 7011 E. Indian School Rd.
Description: Coach House is the premier “dive” in Scottsdale, but of course nothing in Scottsdale is truly a dive. It’s a far more unassuming bar than the modern, trendy joints around Old Town. It’s also popular with everyone from native Scottsdale residents to off-the-plane tourists from nearby resorts. The place dates to 1959 and has retained much of its original character of a tiny wooden house with low ceilings. The big wraparound patio bar is a great place to enjoy a cool desert evening with a cocktail. The bar is also a few blocks from other downtown Scottsdale bars, so it’s a perfect addition to a late-night out.
13. Old Town Tavern
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 945-2882
Address: 7320 E. Scottsdale Mall
Insider Pick:
Description: The patio at Old Town Tavern is one of the coolest places to hang out in Scottsdale. The brickwork, outdoor fireplace, and chairs make for an ideal place to sip a cocktail. Live music adds to the warm atmosphere inside and out. It has the feel of an old neighborhood bar with the modern lift of a new Scottsdale hangout. Plus, it’s in walking distance to other Old Town bars, but tucked off the beaten path enough to remain relaxing.
14. Papago Brewing
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 425-7439
Address: 7107 E. McDowell Rd.
Insider Pick:
Description: Papago rotates 30 taps of draught beer daily in its cozy, recently expanded brewpub restaurant. The bar is set next to the big statue of a sleepy, buzzed Trappist monk holding a beer. This place is hidden in the back corner of a strip mall at McDowell and Scottsdale roads, completely unnoticed from the main drag. But it’s a local spot with a huge following, both for the beer and the food. Lunch and dinner are served daily, with pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. Papago serves its own beers made by local Sonoran Brewing Co. The coolers are stocked with dozens of American microbrews and imported bottles. Mix and matching a 6-pack here is cheaper than drinking at most bars, and it gives you the chance to try a lot of unique labels.
15. The Comedy Spot Comedy Club
City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (480) 945-4422
Address: 7117 E. 3rd Ave.
Description: Located at 3rd Avenue and Scottsdale Road, the Comedy Spot has an unmistakably cozy ambiance. It’s a popular Scottsdale date night, and a great place to sink into a chair and laugh with friends. Once a week the venue hosts an open mic night, but you need to sign up months in advance. If you’re really hooked, you can sign up for a stand-up comedy class. There’s a full bar on site. Shows are Thursday to Sunday nights. Be sure to check the website for discount coupons. There are also half-price nights for women and students.