On a Saturday evening, I was unexpectedly looking for a hookah spot so I hopped on the trusty Yelp…read moreapp. It had been at least a year and a half since I last smoked hookah, so this is a rare occasion for me. Axis Hookah Lounge was the closest one to where I was, and the reviews were solid, so I made my way over. They're located in a shopping center along with several other businesses including a Latin club. Parking wasn't an issue. Ambiance (4/5): While it doesn't look like much from the outside, the inside is pretty nice. There is plenty of seating, mostly comfortable red couches. Which makes for a nice way to kick back and relax. There are also some tables if you'd prefer that instead. The seating is spaced out well enough where you have a little bit of privacy. And they were also playing music while I was there. Service (3.5/5): Pretty much your standard service. We were greeted upon entering, allowed to pick our seats, we ordered promptly, and the waiter brought our hookah to us. I had to proactively order drinks and close out, but overall, the service was fine. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior, so no food for me. I did notice they have crepes, but I'm not sure if they have more than that. Drinks (3/5): I had a Gatorade. They have various cans and bottles including water, La Croix, Coke, pineapple juice, and various other soft drinks and juices. No alcohol here. Which isn't uncommon as many hookah spots are Middle Eastern. Some hookah spots have alcohol and some don't. I prefer spots that do. Now to what's most important, the hookah. Pretty much your standard options. They have a good number of their own creations or you can create your own mixing fruit flavors, mint, etc. We went with one of the creations and hung around for about an hour or so. The price of the hookah was reasonable. I'd return.

ended up coming across this place. this location is space. the couches are really comfortable. the…read moreservice was great. the music was good too they played r& b, hip hop and rap. a perfect vibe. the hookah was so smooth. they also have a pool table. id definitely be back.

I went here Fourth of July weekend with my meet up group. They mentioned that due to it being the…read moreFourth of July, it was a little slower. We had the whole place to ourselves! This could be a cool spot if you were looking for more intimate vibe for karaoke. The ambience was right and they have the best karaoke set up. I have yet to see. I love that you can browse through various curated playlist, see and change your spot on the queue, and even alter the sound settings as you're singing. The screen is large and ample size to see and read. They also do fun little trivia games throughout the night with the reward for the winner! I love that they have a mocktail menu, and I think that their snacks are a perfect array of choices. If we hadn't eaten before we came, we definitely would have ordered more. I really liked the piña colaca drink. It couldn't be a little difficult to find as it's in a strip mall and the very back, so it's a little bit harder to see from the road. But I would definitely check this place out!

Downside up is the perfect place to hangout and enjoy non toxic drinks and snacks! Nintendo night…read morewas a blast obviously everyone went crazy on Mario kart. And the owner is the sweetest person you'll meet. Bring your friends, there's events almost every night, it's defiantly worth it

When we first got here, wasn't sure what to make of it. But after we sat down, checked out the…read moreamazing happy hour specials, and began settling in, we started to fall in love. The bartenders are SUPER nice. The happy hour deals are amazing. Sometimes there's a food truck. We got sliders that night and they were so good. Nice, big TVs to watch a game or in this case, find a new Netflix show to binge. Loved that they displayed local artists' works on their walls! And they have a lot of fun, themed nights like trivia or drag trivia! Also, super dog friendly with a patio out back. Definitely a fan! Cannot wait to keep returning!

What an underrated bar! Easily my favorite bar in phoenix. I'm shocked this doesn't have way more…read morehype. If I lived in phoenix, I'd be a regular for sure They opened during Covid and are relatively new but they got all their cocktail drinks on lock. Every drink we've had has been amazing! My favorite is the lavender fog and the mulled wine (which is only available in November) The service is awesome and the bartenders are so chill and down to earth. This bar also has live music on saturdays, trivia's and game nights. In fact, at every table, they have a deck of cards against humanity. At the entrance they also have a variety of other games like connect four, jenga and such. Lavender fog: great balance of lavender and earl grey tea! The foam is the best creamy touch to the drink. I feel in a relaxed daze when I have this drink. I think it's the most special one here. It was even featured on a magazine! Pour favor: I don't like mezcal but this was nice. The mango puree was prominent which I loved and was well complimented with sour and spice. This drink style is a little more commonly found in other bars too which is probably because it's popular! Indoor smoking: smoky, cool and well done twist in the old fashioned. They prepare it in such a cool way with the smoking process and the delivery is great. SMOOTH old fashion. It was alcohol forward but I didn't feel any burn that I normally get from any common old fashion. It also had the best citrus aftertaste The sunny slope sour: great if you love whiskey sour. I loved this drink the pear and peach made the whiskey taste less harsh. One of the better renditions of whiskey sours I've had My brightside. Bitter but works so well with watermelon! Refreshing, balanced and delicious. I typically don't love Negronis but I loved this rendition. The nanny: mezcal espresso martini that was also well done. You can also taste raspberry and chocolate every sip Mulled wine: hot wine with spices that I argue was better than the mulled wines I've had in Europe. All the spices and aromas were so complex yet cozy for a chilly night! The bartenders treat their regulars well and seem to really have a great community here. With offers for movie nights, paint and sip, jack box games, wine club, etc

I love a good dive bar and this definitely is in the running for that! My only problem was a went…read moreon a really dead night (Monday)and there was hardly anyone there, but on the flip side I had full control of the TouchTunes! They had lots of fun looking drinks but I just stuck with a vodka/cran. It was strong but not overwhelming like some dive bars. I loved all the funny signs around the bar and the bartender, Joy was very friendly. I want to check out another night when there are more people. Just as a side note, the parking lot was a bit sketchy -- I arrived around 730pm on a Monday so it wasn't very late -- There is a weird split in the parking lot one side is the Aldi side (which seemed more populated with people going in and out of the store) and the other side is a bunch of shops that were closed . There were some interesting people chilling out in their cars and yelling to each other when I came out - I was by myself and felt a little sketched by it, but I was fine.

Fun place! Visiting from out of town and Closed the place. Met the locals, Emily was awesome, and…read morethe iguana balls were delicious. Not a fancy place in anyway shape or form but was fun, inviting atmosphere with tvs for us to watch games. Food was bar food.

Ordered a black widow with red and it does have a bite to it I'm not a fan of tea but thought I'd…read moregive this place a shot and it did not disappoint at all prices were affordable and the quality of drink was amazing.

This place was incredible!!!…read more Our kavatender was named Liz and was really sweet and answered all of our questions. We tried the guava lotus - which was more energizing. The kavachata was my favorite and I would order that one again next time! I bought two teas from their store. The Don't worry be happy and the women's monthly. I can't wait to try them! The place is really cool and has neat decor. They have events during the week and I'd love to attend one in the future. I highly recommend this place!

Came here for a little staycation with my family and decided we didn't wanna leave the hotel so we…read morepicked 26 for dinner. I'm gonna give three stars because the service was great at the bar and the server was attentive outside and quick although she didn't know the menu well. I ordered the cheese plate to split with my children and no one knew what was on it when I asked, but I was later informed that I got a tomato jelly and honey mustard as the sauces. To me a $30 cheese plate would not come with a container of honey mustard so I was not impressed. When I asked what cheeses were on it they told me there was 2 different cheddars. There was no way it was a cheddar it was a very soft cheese. I believe it was a goat cheese. The almonds were probably the best part of the whole platter. My husband got wings, which were very big. He enjoyed those and the sauce, and my other daughter got meatballs, which she enjoyed, but thought they were a little spicy, I find that usually when kids order things that are spicy servers will say just so you know that has a little bit of heat to it to which the waitress did not again, I don't think she was very knowledgeable on the menu in general . For the type of hotel twenty6 was kinda of major let down. Definitely will pass on the next visit.

Nana had the kids, so we stepped out for an after work cocktail date night. Twenty6 lounge is the…read morebar in the lower lobby of @jwdesertridge and is a casual spot for resort guests, or a couple on a mini date night. We each enjoyed a couple of drinks while chatting about life. Sitting at the bar was quick service and quiet, but you can also relax in a plush patio chair out in the courtyard. Next time, we will plan better and be sure to play some arcade games in the new space before it closes at 9!

Located in Desert Ridge Marketplace, I checked out The Whining Pig on a Saturday night. Since I…read morelive in the area, I walked over. There is ample parking if you're driving. This beer-focused bar isn't the easiest to find because it's underground down a stairwell. Look for the signage close to the stairwell. Ambiance (3.5/5): We sat at a booth at the bar. It's one of the few seats that have back support (which is important to me due to my old man back). Outside of that, it's all barstool seating with no back support inside. Outside, they have a small patio with chairs. That would be another option for me when the weather cooperates. The decor inside is your typical beer bar decor. Laid back. Comfortable. There's a jukebox. A cool place to grab some brews. Service (3.5/5): Two bartenders were working that evening and they were pretty solid. I did have to grab their attention a few times but no biggie. The Whining Pig has daily specials including a beer and grilled cheese combo on Wednesdays. I was curious on the price. They didn't know nor did they find out. That was a miss. Food (N/A): No food for me on this visit as I had dinner prior. They have a small menu, mostly made up of various grilled cheese sandwiches. They have a classic one, a pizza one, and a few others. I'm a dan of grilled cheese so I'll definitely try one out at some point. They also have charcuterie boards. Drinks (4.5/5): Now for the good stuff! Unlike most beer spots, they also have wine and several cocktails. But when in Rome, so I went with a beer flight. You can choose five beers of your choosing from a list of 40 beers or so. While they don't brew their own beer, they have an interesting selection of local craft beers and European ones. The types of beers you're not going to find at your neighborhood bar, including saisons and sours. The flight is served in a pig shape holder which was pretty funny. Flights are always my go-to when they're offered as they allow you to try out a nice variety. Added bonus: Walk down the hallway past the bathrooms and you'll run into Pigtails---a speakeasy owned by the same folks. That way, you can get both your brews and elevated cocktails fix in the same night.

The atmosphere was fun! Had a couple glasses of wine and went to listen to the live music outside…read more I love the decor in this bar with everything written in chalk on a chalkboard. The bartender was nice and efficient. It's also really cool that there are several games at the bar that you can play while you are drinking. Will definitely visit again.

One person.... That's all it takes One person who doesn't…read moreknow how to make a drink then after being asked to ring me up 10 minutes later. Taking and talking with other customers. So "hey do you mind taking my payment please?" Shirley: you need to wait. "I need to keep things in order," Me: I asked for the check before you started taking their order. Shirley: taking my money then slamming her hand down with the change." Sorry, I don't want to sit down and drink Kava and have to deal with a rude person.

Regular for over two years. I love the place and people still, but often times I wait upwards of 20…read moreminutes to be acknowledged. Especially during times of needing to grab and go, atleast the management saying 'we'll be with you in a moment' or going to grab the kavatender preparing product would be appreciated. I mean no negativity, this is an honest review of an establishment I frequent at. They lack proper service and the common sense surrounding being in the service industry, but I suppose they make up for it in the kavatenders' wonderful personalities.

Swung by with a large group on a Saturday night. Fairly busy, but we luckily snagged a corner booth…read morethat accommodated all of us. Cozy atmosphere with rustic/modern decor. Waiter had to bring us menus because none of us were able to get cellular service to open the QR menu code. Started off with a few dozen oysters and a cheese board. So many drinks were ordered and our group enjoyed each one. Can't remember all the names, but they were all well prepared and brought out quickly. Oysters were very fresh and cleaned nicely. Cheese board was decent as well. Will definitely be back for a night cap.

Oink oink oink. I stopped by Pigtails Desert Ridge on a Monday night for some drinks. As the…read moreself-appointed king of speakeasies, I was excited for my second visit. Located in Desert Ridge Marketplace, there's plenty of parking though it is a busy area. As someone who has been to speakeasies all over the world, there are certain things I look for so that it's an authentic experience. Sadly, as speakeasies have become a popular thing, some have opened that don't stay true to the historical roots of what a speakeasy is. Let's see how Pigtails fares (and note: they have another location downtown. Ambiance (4/5): Speakeasies popped up during the Prohibition Era when alcohol was illegal in the U.S. Since they were underground bars, there was no signage. You had to know where to go to find it. Which is part of the experience. There should be a creative way to get into a speakeasy. This is an area where Pigtails fails. While it's somewhat hidden, there's a neon sign that says Pigtails. Dead giveaway. You walk down a flight of stairs and that takes you to the bar. When you arrive, you'll see a central bar with bar stools surrounding it. With some nice booths on the exterior. Which is where I sat. The lighting could be a little darker (after all ambiance is one of the hallmarks of a speakeasy) and the music was a bit too loud, but outside of that, nicely done. Service (4.5/5): Friendly and mostly efficient service all-around. They fill up your water cup without you asking. They provide you with helpful recommendations. And there's free WiFi which you might need because my reception wasn't great underground. You pay using one of those hand-held electronic card readers which have become super popular. This may be a pet peeve of mine but I like to see an itemized receipt before I give you my credit card. Food (N/A): I don't think they have food, but if you're hungry, The Whining Pig is attached to Pigtails and they have food there. All it takes is a short walk down a hallway to get there. Drinks (4.5/5): When I'm at a speakeasy, I'm not trying to see a margarita, mojito, gin & tonic, etc. I'm trying to see creative crack cocktails that blend an interesting group of ingredients. And this is what you'll find here. Despite several cocktails not being available, there was a ton on the menu that I wanted to try. I had three cocktails on this visit including Panic at the Disco (IYKYK), and one that was served in a clear tea cup with a huge ice cube (and earl gray tea was one of the ingredients). Exactly what I was hoping for. While the "Pigtails" signage outside of the speakeasy was disappointing, these rest of the experience was terrific.

When the first song you play is Sweet Caroline and the bar sings along I have found home. Cold…read morebeer. One pool table. Touch tunes to get crowd hype. lol. I had a good time. And they can make a true whiskey sour with bitter Woodford reserve and a splash of coke. Kept on playing songs on TouchTunes and the vibe was on. Snacks-popcorn with seasoning choices and tortilla chips with nacho sauce. My kind of place!

A very typical dive bar; sticky bathroom floors, snarky bartenders, strange regulars with odd…read morevibes, and dirty bars... average for a local dive but not worth a true night out to a bar, especially with their service (usually all bartenders have quite an attitude and little to no social abilities even with patience). Not my recommendation for a local bar. The Burg is much better and cleaner