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 When I inquired, I was told that the menus were outdated...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.

The bartender's are always on point! Rob is an absolute doll and Kyle is so professional, sweet,…read moreconsistent and never ceases to amaze us. We had the personality curated NY Sour, the Rosemary, and a classic gin martini. Ah-May-Zin!!! We love this place . It's a spiritual experience, get on over.

Great service, I cam with a party of 8 and they were so nice and attentive. Drinks are good and the…read moremusic is good too.

I've been looking forward to having some cocktails at Highball. I was not disappointed. Highball is…read morea chill bar with dark, moody lighting and brick walls. We had a reservation for 3 on a Friday night and I recommend doing that if going on the weekend. It was pretty full when we arrived at 8:45pm. The bar is not a huge place, there's an area up front with couches, bar seats, and high top tables along the bar. Main takeaways for me-- the cocktails are fantastic and complex. Really well balanced. I also appreciate the service was great, even with a busy bar. I love clarified cocktails and there were 3 options, our server was able to help me decide which one to try based on her descriptions and what I like. The menu is detailed which helps as well. My friend is vegan and she ordered the Living Color cocktail but she didn't notice the taro root cream, only after getting the drink and taking a sip, she realized due to how creamy it is. The bartender had no issue with making her a different drink that doesn't include dairy. But just know I'm not vegan, so down the hatch it went! I liked it as my final drink due to the desert feeling it has-- creamy and almost reminded me of an adult milkshake once melted a bit. During our time there, we ordered a couple drinks each, no snacks this time, we had already eaten dinner. Drinks we enjoyed: living color, passion project, quiet luxury, twig & berries, climate control, and a beer & shot. If you like to imbibe at a bar that isn't gimmicky, just great flavor profiles and spirit forward drinks come here. I'll definitely be back.

Just on the cusp of the iconic Willo neighborhood, Highball has become the successor to the swanky…read moresecond-floor space that previously hosted Sidebar (and before my time, the original Lost Leaf). It maintains the intimate lounge layout, and serves up fun and unususal cocktails. What I love: A wide range of flavors from fruity and sweet to spicy and savory. I am a huge fan of their clarified cocktails, and the elote-inspired one (featuring corn whisky, creme fraiche, and a the kick of green chiles) was a blast. There's plenty to explore, and you should really indulge in the espresso martini shots. I do wish they worked a bit on the interior design, as the space has lost some of its charm. I also wish they had a little pizazz in how the cocktails are presented, as that's part of the fun in a classy libation. But overall, you should really consider spending some time here if you want to have fun while avoiding downtown crowds.

Had a nightcap on 11.12.25:…read more A quaint place in a small plaza with plenty of parking. There was a live Jazz jam session which happens every the 1st & 3rd Wed of the month. There's different live music, game nights and even movie nights depending on the day. Bartender on Wed was Ivan & he was super friendly & gave great customer service! Def give this laid back bar a try!!

Easy tigerrrrr, easy. I've stopped by this hidden gem (potentially a speakeasy) twice. Both on the…read moreweekend. On my most recent visit, I came on a Friday night and was able to find a spot in the small lot they share with several other businesses including a Chinese restaurant, massage parlor, and more. Easy Tiger Bar isn't located in the nicest part of town but it's a really cool spot. Look for the door with the tiger on it, and walk on in. Ambiance (3.5/5): Easy Tiger is a dive bar with some character. There are some seats at the bar and a good number of booths. Which is where I've sat both times. It's a casual spot with one pool table and they had a projector screen showing a movie on my most recent visit. Service (4/5): You order at the bar. Service is typically efficient, though there is usually only one bartender or two working so if they're busy, you may have to wait a bit. Food (4/5): On my first visit, I had some food. They have a small menu, mostly consisting of Asian fusion dishes. Think things like loaded fries with bulgogi. Which was delicious by the way. If you're looking for a large menu, you won't find that here. But what they have, they do well. Drinks (4.5/5): I love a dive bar with quality cocktails. They have an interesting list of cocktails and I haven't had one I haven't liked. To make things better, they often have specials. And they also have Jell-O shots. And last but not least, Easy Tiger is where I first had sake in a juice box... you read that right! It's quite the sensation to drink alcohol out of something we associate with being a kid. Too funny!

This place is so cool!! I like the speakeasy vibe but they also have food! So many unique drinks…read moreand martinis! I stopped in to try their happy hour, and I am very pleased with the gin collins! They give you a nice big glass, and it looks so pretty! Service has been great, with very friendly and attentive bartenders who are talented! I'm excited to try this place again!

The service here was above and beyond! Our hostess Kora was…read morekind, helpful, and sympathetic. Our hostess Patrick was friendly and fun. Our server Monique helped answer all our questions and had a great personality. Joselyn also helped us during our visit and she was so amazing and very helpful. The food was very tasty and fresh. The drinks were top of the line - both beautiful and tasty! The vibe was kicken and very upbeat yet also chill. Loved being here and absolutely cannot wait to return

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.

Sal and his team are amazing! We loved our time in The Trophy Room!…read moreThe heart shaped vice as a mocktail was incredible! So tart! I loved it! Fire!! I hope they never take it away!! I totally hope to peak at Carry On!

It's the perfect place to take someone you actually like talking to. Cell phones aren't allowed and…read moreit's a much needed break from having your attention hijacked by an inanimate device. The vibe is basically "Rich Grandpa's Hunting Lodge on Shrooms." There are taxidermy animals everywhere, but they're wearing jewelry or holding martini glasses, and look like they've seen things they can't unsee. It's like the animals had a coup, took over the mansion, and started a high-end cocktail program. It's dark, moody, and fancy enough that you forget you're in downtown Phoenix. In all seriousness though, I love this place and go as often as time allows.

We weren't sure what to expect when one of our favorite bars closed for almost a month…read more Happy to report we went to the reopening Thursday night and the place was full. Captain Alex had things running smoothly with the help of Captain Dave (formally of Coabana) The decor is the same, and the drink menu is a bit smaller - 8 signature cocktails and 9 tiki classics. The back page of the menu was all food items. The three cocktails we had were boozy, yet perfectly balanced. The flavors of the drinks were un mistakable, making them more pronounced, and quite frankly, just plain delicious! Glad The Captains Cabin is back, and you can bet we'll be stopping by to say hi to Captain Alex and Captain Dave and enjoy more great tiki cocktails.

Fun dinner conversation: "Have you ever been to a…read morespeakeasy? "No" "Let's go to one!" "OK!" Off to The Captain's Cabin we went. You enter through a door with a porthole and red light. You are then transported to a pirate themed tiki bar kinda thing with great drinks and a super friendly bartender. We didn't order any of the specialty drinks, but ours were really good anyway.

Very amazing service and drinks I liked the music and the atmosphere at the bar and very friendly…read morepeople definitely will be back.

Get the sazarita (house marg!) -- it is premade and sweet but not sickeningly so. So it's quick and…read moreeasy, but also delicious! During our brief stay, we saw a couple get into a heated altercation before storming out (drama!!) but it was nice to see a few of the service workers go out and check on them to make sure things didn't escalate. We stayed in the indoor portion, so we didn't really explore the DJ area, but this place was packed on a Friday evening (~10:30pm) and folks seemed to be enjoying themselves! I will also note this place is efficient -- almost to the point of making you feel like they want you gone. The minute my sister finished her drink, the bartender scooped it up. That said, the efficiency is also quite appreciated because a server broke a glass right next to our table and within 2 minutes it was cleaned up!

Another speakeasy unlocked! Located inside Valentine, this one has a very swanky, casual feel to…read moreit. Very nicely decorated, with a bit of sophistication. The bar is clean and the surrounding tables and chairs make for a good hangout spot with friends. They do have an extensive menu of drinks to choose from and the bartenders are friendly and efficient. They do offer some desserts and some light bites as well. The restroom is pretty bougie and I'm mad that I didn't get any pics or videos because that has got to be the fanciest toilet I have ever seen in public! Lol You just have to see it for yourself! If you're looking for a casual vibe with a good drink selection, this is a good one to try. Great for a date night, too! Have yourself a ball at Bar 1912!

This place was so cool. The entrance is easy to find. It's on the side of the building but since th…read morerestaurant was closed we weren't able to enter through the back. I absolutely love the atmosphere and it's not high energy. Very relaxed which is great for me. The food was good. We got the basil pesto ice cream and omg. Divine. The pesto ice cream honestly was lije pistachio ice cream. It worked amazing and so refreshing. Underneath was a lemon ice thing that was exquisite and very palate refreshing. It tasted tart and like lemons. Not crunch. Soft ice. One thing though. The drinks weren't bad price. Average for tha area. The only thing is the bar tender made all of our drinks very strong. Most people think that's a good thing but honestly all I could taste was booze. I ordered a whisky sprite (7and7 spoof) and wow I could only taste whiskey. Every sip was booze booze and more booze. For the cocktails I wasn't able to taste any of the ingredients since it was so strong on the alcohol. Definitely moneys worth I guess lol. The bartender though was very nice and knowledgeable about all the drinks. Could explain all the drinks and the different types of alcohol. Not bad. Definitely would come back. Super cute for date night or a small gathering night out since space wise isn't huge.