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    Idle Hands

    4.3 (52 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

    Idle Hands Photos

    IDLE HANDS ATMOSPHERE

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    Halloween themed for the holiday.
    Vlad V.

    I've been to Idle Hands twice, about a year apart, and there's a lot to like. The most recent was on a Thursday night around 10:30 p.m. This speakeasy is located on Mill Ave., the center of Tempe's party scene. Because of its location, parking isn't easy. If you're looking for free parking, you're going to have a long walk. Outside of that, you'll have to pay for parking in a garage or metered street parking. Ambiance (4/5): Hint hint. Idle Hands is located inside Devil's Hideaway. A true speakeasy shouldn't have signage outside indicating its location. Unfortunately, there's a sign for Idle Hands outside of Devil's Hideaway which takes away the sense of mystery and intrigue that a true speakeasy provides. Outside of this hiccup, it's a cool speakeasy. It's intimate, with 10 or so seats at the bar and about 10 seats in booths facing the bar. There's a projector screen behind the bar that had mystical motion graphics the first time I stopped by (thinking wizards) and Halloween motion graphics the second time (with it being a day before the holiday). There were some other Halloween decorations up. The only area of improvement? The music often doesn't match the vibe. A lot of the music they were playing on my last visit was Irish music that would be fitting for a pub. Service (4/5): I had the same bartender each time. He knows how to make a good drink and is pretty efficient. When you close out, he only gives you the merchant copy. Which is a pet peeve of mine. Let me get that customer copy too. But overall, a good experience. Especially at a college bar. Food (N/A): I've only had drinks both times. Idle Hands actually doesn't have food, but Devil's Hideaway does. And you're allowed to bring food from there into the speakeasy. Drinks (4.5/5): It's pretty surprising to see a speakeasy on a college campus. I was impressed with the creativity of the menu, both in terms of the ingredients used and the fusion of flavors. I've had a different cocktail each time, and they've all been great. My favorite was one served in a box filled with smoke. Talk about a cool presentation! The hallmarks of a solid speakeasy are elevated cocktails, nice ambiance (dimly lit), an intimate space, and mystery/intrigue. While the intrigue is lacking at Idle Hands, and the music can be improved, they hit it out of the park in the other areas. One of my favorite speakeasies I've been to in Phoenix (and surrounding areas). I am, after all, the self-appointed king of speakeasies. The king gives his stamp of approval.

    Christina M.

    Idle Hands is a cool bar tucked away in the back of Devil's Hideaway off Mill Ave, replacing the former Rula Bula. It's a hidden speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar accessible through a hallway near the kitchen. Both places are relatively new. Opening in the Spring 2024. The vibe is dark, candlelit, and Victorian-like. I really like the lighting and relaxed environment. The cocktails there are incredible and we had a great time. I had an amazing tiki cocktail, the #180, with tasting notes of "boozy, tiki, donuts". My perfect combo :) I also loved the clarified punch I ordered, #69 "tropical, salty, and sweet". It was SO yummy. And we tried a Cocoa Butter Kisses shot- a very nice Amaro. The bartender was great-- attentive service and helpful recommendations. I definitely look forward to going back and trying other drinks.

    Carrisa G.

    Okay the vibe was so cool! You felt like you were in a different era. The drinks, however, none of my friends and I enjoyed. We had to make a reservation as well as they get booked up quick.

    Heidi M.

    After grabbing a couple of drinks at Devil's Hideaway on Mill, we headed next door to Idle Hands! It's a speakeasy inside of Devils Hideaway. We had a reservation, so we got seated right away. The vibe was really cool. It felt like you were in a giant greenhouse. It's really pretty. Our server came over quickly and took our drink orders. Everyone really enjoyed their drinks, except for one from the spring menu. I don't remember the name other than it had a few pistachios on top. It wasn't the best, but the staff was super cool about it and took it off the bill. We also ordered the hummus. It was tasty. If you into speakeasies, you should definitely check this place out!

    Sabine T.

    Devil's Hideaway is a really cool spot on Mill Ave, and there's a hideaway within the hideaway! We have some really cool speakeasies in the Valley and Idle Hands is certainly among them. I went for the Miami Vice theme and love what they did with it. It's not a huge space and reservations are recommended (it's a $25 deposit that later gets taken off your check). Tried 3 different cocktails, all were excellent. Good presentation, good service. Also had the poutine, which I would definitely order again - it was tasty, and $8 with plenty enough food for two. Cocktails were about $16 each. Cool vibes, and the music is not so loud that you can't have a conversation. They rotate about 5 different themes per year. Before this one, they had a greenhouse/floral theme. It's Tempe so you likely won't find free parking, but there's a paid parking lot right next to the bar, with lots of spots for $3 per hour.

    Christa M.

    We had no reservations prior to arrival but when we checked in with host, she let us know it would only be about an hour wait. The hour turned to be more like 35 minutes and we received a text when our table was ready. The hostess was friendly and she walked us to the bar. We sat down and looked over the menu and decided on the following drinks: #4 - cognac, apricot, grapefruit oleo, butter, thyme - $15 #17 - citrus vodka, lemongrass, sauv blanc, thai basil quinine soda - $14 #401 - Agricole rum, Jamaican rum, quince, grapefruit lime, allspice, clove brasil nut - $14 The bartender was friendly and he whipped the drinks up pretty quickly. People came in and went but it was never chaotic nor super busy. The crowd seemed manageable and there were several empty tables. I ordered the #17 and it was very refreshing. The #4 wasn't too bad and it was definitely better tasting then #401 (in my opinion).. We didn't like the #401. The inside was super coool and the vibes were alll there. The screens were one color the whole time we were there though so it wasn't impressive. I overheard the couple next to us say the same thing as they also wondered why the screens were just one solid color and no picture was displayed. Overall, might be back.

    Inside the bar
    Erin G.

    We visited while on vacation. Such a cool vibe although half of the screens were not on. Pricey drinks but so yummy. Would recommend for a night cap or pre dinner drink. Server was very friendly and helped us choose a dinner spot

    Kelci S.

    Get the #5! My fiance' and I decided to check out Idle Hands after shooting some pool at Devil's Hideaway. We didn't have a reservation, but they accommodated us at 5pm when they opened their doors. You can find Idle Hands in the back of Devil's Hideway. The speakeasy is definitely date night approved. We loved the ambient lighting and decor. The speakeasy offers light bites and delicious cocktails. Our favorite cocktail of the night was the #5. The cocktail smelled incredible. The chai & chamomile was delightful. Our mixologist gave us a little cocktail lesson on how to create clarified milk punch. We also enjoyed the #4's finish. The apricot gave off a "fruit rollup" aftertaste. Prices are on the affordable side, which we love. This bar is a nice addition to Mill Ave!

    #4s & #22
    Lien S.

    My friends and I put our name down for Idle Hands. We were told it would be a 10-15 min wait so they got one more round at Devil's Hideaway. 30 mins went by and still no text so we checked again with the hostess. She was able to seat us at the bar. It's a small place, like a lot of speakeasies. Looks cool inside though. I felt like I wasn't in AZ for the moment! There is a time limit of 90 mins per party. We were only there for an hour since we only had 1 drink It took a while to get our drink order in. My friend and I both ordered #4 and my other friend ordered #22. I really liked my drink, minus the wilted looking thyme. Honestly, I can't remember if it tasted like buttery baked goods like the description says but I do remember it being very refreshing. The #22 was definitely too boozy for me though. I would come back again and probably try the #401 next time!

    On left there is an animated mural. Picture here makes it look brighter than it actually is
    Kyle H.

    I guess speakeasies are the new thing to do these days. So, when in Rome... Enter through Devil's Hideaway (not Devil's Advocate, as per my first mistake) and make a right turn, go straight and into a dark hallway. Check in with host. I think they said the "experience was 90mins" so not sure if they kick you out after 90min if people were waiting or what. I think we were there for 90mins and people that were there before us were there when we left. The room is an experience in itself. Dark and kind of mysterious. Drinks coming out all garnished, all in different looking glasses. Oh look there goes a drink in a lantern and it is smoking. Oh that one has a whole leaf in it. Bar is standard fare. But the seats were looking cool, like tuffed bench seats with some eerie glow. My picture makes the place look more bright than it really was. Reality was that while we could see people on other side of the bar and what they were generally doing we couldn't really see their faces. Ya know, like a speak easy with dark corners because drinking was illegal. Do not expect to be attended to routinely. This is more about getting a drink or two, enjoying the concoction, and chatting with your date/friend in a dark swanky room. Drinks are exotic and somewhat odd compared to normal bar drinks. Bartender was busy busy. But even so, still making every drink with flare. I went there on Memorial weekend and it was 1 bartender and I think it may be nicer if there were 2 bartenders so you could get the chatty bartender experience along with it (or maybe that is just my expectation that a speak easy would have a bartender spreading stories and lore about the town, townspeople, and the building you were in). But even so, the bartender was good... just busy. The drinks we ordered, the 401 and 817, were pretty good. The 401 was very strong, though, a little stronger than the wife wanted at that time. The 817 was much more smooth and fruity. In either case the drinks coming out were not the type of drinks you just hammer down. It is drinks you sip over conversation. Again, this was an experience. Last but not least by the time we left Devil's Advocate actually had patrons and hit the neons rippin. It too looked cool. It reminded me of a few clubs I went to when I was in Europe that were converted bunkers with the rounded, brick ceilings.

    Love the low light vibe!
    Jon H.

    Newly opened speakeasy within Devils Hideaway! Walking into the room is an amazing experience. The unique lighting and animated screens behind the windows throughout makes it feel like you walked into another world. Really cool place to chill with friends or take a date. The bartender was knowledgeable and attentive to us while we sat back for a couple drinks and took the experience in. Music was playing but not so loud that we couldn't have a quality convo without having to talk super loud. Decent selection with high end drink options...definitely a place to check out!

    The #5. It screams fall, in the best way! Amazing drink!
    Emma N.

    Incredible! Located right inside of Devils Hideaway, the drinks were delicious! The bartender was awesome and very knowledgeable. Super cool backdrop. Awesome, low key spot.

    Charcuterie board
    Danielle B.

    Not much of a secret speakeasy as it was pretty obvious. Nice cozy area for some curated drinks. The light snacks available were definitely on price point and tasty. I would definitely go here as a group of two since it's a small space. The staff were very attentive and were able to fulfill non menu requests.

    #2 espresso martini

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    4 months ago

    Great atmosphere and drinks. Feels like you are in a greenhouse. Bartender was amazing.

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    7 months ago

    Great ambiance. Great, interesting cocktails, friendly service. Will definately return

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    10 months ago

    Jenna was amazing! Great drinks, fun atmosphere, enjoyable conversation. Appreciated the ambiance and tasty beverages.

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    11 months ago

    Jenna was our bartender and was amazing! Super personable, drinks tasted amazing, great experience overall!

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    10 months ago

    The drink menu is delightful and "not your ordinary cocktails." Jenna is an awesome bartender!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Idle Hands

    Review Highlights - Idle Hands

    Idle Hands is a cool bar tucked away in the back of Devil's Hideaway off Mill Ave, replacing the former Rula Bula.

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    Drop Dead Gorgeous

    Drop Dead Gorgeous

    4.2
    (89 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Gotta luv the changing vibes in Tempe!!! After a great dinner experience celebrating an anniversary…read moreat Filthy Animal, we slid over to Drop Dead Gorgeous to relax, chill & take in some more craft cocktails. Anytime you're dealing with a speakeasy, you feel like a VIP, and that's how we felt that evening. What a great way to close out the night, as the vibe and decor are what I'm all about. Do plan ahead with reservations. Our Server from FA & Bartender here hooked it up for us with a special toast and celebration for our anniversary!! VIP Treatment with the 70's to 2000's vibe. Looking forward to my return.

    I really wanted to love this place. Let me set off with the positives. The decor, the DJ, the…read moreseating ambience, and overall just vibes are 100%, 5/5 out of five stars. The chicken tenders were fire!!! What is lacking on this occasion was service. The server that we had was so unattentative. I have never been in a cocktail lounge in my life and had to beg for drinks. Our server would wait until every drinks was made for all of her tables before bringing out drinks. It was ridiculous. She was nice but seemed high. I ended up only having 2 drinks. We would have ordered more but they have 90min max seating and we didn't event get drinks for the first 30min. No exaggeration. Also one of my drinks I had to send back. My apple martini tasted like soap. It was like they did clean the glass after giving a soap bath. No bueno. So they need to get their service to match the vibe of a true cocktails lounge. Yes it is a 70s vibe but doesn't mean the lackadaisical style service. I would come back and try again. The music, the atmosphere and the food was good. They gotta get these cocktails together and service. We ended up walking to nearby competitors and that was money lost for DDG.

    Photos
    Disco Ball Entrance on the left.  DJ booth behind.
    Disco Ball Entrance on the left. DJ booth behind.
    Interior
    Interior
    Table seating

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    Table seating
    Killer Whale Sex Club

    Killer Whale Sex Club

    4.1
    (334 reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$

    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.

    I started coming here back in 2019, and at the time it felt like one of those rare places you…read morealmost don't want to tell people about because it was so special. The atmosphere was unique, the bartenders were genuinely engaging, and there was a real sense of community that made every visit memorable. It became my go-to spot to bring friends from out of town and every single person I brought absolutely loved it! Back then, the cocktails felt intentional and creative, not just rushed out for volume. The staff remembered regulars, conversations flowed naturally, and the whole place had this warm, eclectic energy that made you want to stay for hours. Even on busy nights, it somehow still felt personal. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, the vibe has changed quite a bit. The drinks just aren't as consistently good as they used to be, especially considering the prices now. Service feels far more transactional and impersonal, and the atmosphere that once made this place stand out has faded into something much more generic. It feels less like a neighborhood gem and more like a stop on a nightlife circuit.

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    Behind the bar amidst the free photos
    Behind the bar amidst the free photos
    Killer Whale Sex Club
    Interiors

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    Social Hall

    Social Hall

    4.2
    (934 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    We recently hosted our son's rehearsal dinner for 40 guests at The Social Hall and could not have…read morebeen happier with the experience. Since we were planning the event from out of town, having a team we could trust was incredibly important -- and Bailey and the entire staff handled everything flawlessly. Even the decorations were set up beautifully and exactly as we had hoped. The food was excellent, the staff was friendly and attentive, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. A special thank you to Bailey, the Event Coordinator, who was wonderful to work with throughout the entire process. She was organized, responsive, and made everything feel easy and stress-free leading up to the event and the night of the dinner. The highlight was definitely the Rafter Room -- it was even more impressive in person than in the pictures. The space had a great atmosphere for a rehearsal dinner and made the evening feel really special for our family and guests. Highly recommend The Social Hall for anyone looking to host a private event in Tempe.

    One of the worst DoorDash experiences I've ever had. Social Hall accepted my order, which consisted…read moreof only two items, then made me wait over two hours. If your kitchen can't handle a simple order in a reasonable amount of time, don't accept DoorDash orders in the first place. What's even more frustrating is the complete lack of respect for customers' time. There was no urgency, no accountability, and no reason a two-item order should take longer than two hours. Accepting orders you clearly can't fulfill is misleading and incredibly unprofessional. I won't be ordering from Social Hall again, and I wouldn't recommend anyone else waste their time either. Do better.

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    Social Hall
    Free table games. Ping pong, 2 billiard tables, and foosball.
    Free table games. Ping pong, 2 billiard tables, and foosball.
    Free arcade games

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    Free arcade games

    Idle Hands - speakeasies - Updated August 2026

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