Dining Guide | 7 Great Neighborhood Bars in Phoenix

The holidays are over and now its time to gather your friends and make a night of it. These great neighborhood bars cover any mood or personality and are all guaranteed to serve up a great time.

7 Great Neighborhood Bars in Phoenix

The Attic
4247 E. Indian School Road| Phoenix| 602.955.1967
You can thank Cave & Ives former bartender and manager, Ryan Nishijima, for the creation of The Attic. When the owners were getting ready to close the restaurant for good, Nishijima came up with the plan for The Attic. Switching up the venue and creating a more upscale lounge while keeping some of the previous menu items.  With an impressive collection of craft beers, more tv’s for comfortable sports viewing as well as an intimate setting this place is definitely one of the best neighborhood bars in the area. Wednesday night plays host to one of the best burger specials in town in which you receive the Ivan Burger and a beer for only $10. If you’re more interested in drinks and appetizers you’ll have to choose between a decadent charcuterie or artisan cheese platter to accompany your choice of any one of their 9 rotating red or white wines. Insider tip: make sure to make a visit close to sunset and claim your spot on the patio. You won’t regret it.

Blue Moon Sports Grill
7811 N. 12th St.| Phoenix| 602.331.8500
If you’re looking for an alternative to the rowdy sports bars in the area and you just want to catch a game while you enjoy a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends or family, this spot has your name all over it. Blue Moon features authentic Mediterranean dishes as well as the fare you would expect from a sports bar. Be forewarned, the parking lot is pretty tiny so if you are heading there with a large group you may want to carpool.

Garage Wine & Tap
1534 E. Bethany Home Road| Phoenix| 602.265.4125
While you sit out on the patio with a glass of wine with friends noshing on Garage Fries or a Garage Board you probably can’t even imagine that this location once housed a greasy auto shop. The high ceilings, dark accents and exposed brick have transformed the space into an inviting gastro-pub. With great happy hour specials (7 days a week) as well as live music on Saturday nights, this is the perfect place to stop in when you feel your tank is empty.

The Gladly
2201 E. Camelback Road| Phoenix| 602.759.8132
Chef Bernie Kantak appears to have done it again with the opening of The Gladly. The decor here is bistro-style but not overly pretentious and can cater to power-lunchers in business suits or hungry passersby donning jeans and flip flops. The space has been lovingly redesigned from its former life; it is located in the old Ruth’s Chris location. You’re sure to find lots of flavor experimentation in the kitchen as well as at the bar as can be seen in the Pistachio Chicken Liver Pate all the way to their signature cocktail, the Gladly Manhattan. The bar features some phenomenal happy hour specials which are perfect for partaking in while celebrating bringing in a new client or just making it through a random Tuesday.

Ice House Tavern
3855 E. Thomas Road| Phoenix| 602.244.1179
Tucked inauspiciously beside the Arcadia Ice Rink, awaits the Ice House Tavern. If you love hockey and beer this is definitely the place for you. On any given night, when seated at the ice-level bar, you can catch some great local hockey teams in action. The Ice House is also host to dart tournaments, comedy shows as well as musical acts. If hockey isn’t your thing or if there is a lull in the live game in front of you all you need to do is glance at any one of the six flat panel TV’s for something that interests you. Your beer choices range from standard domestics and imports all the way to local and micro brews. Aside from some great beers and an interesting atmosphere, the staff and regulars are all friendly so you’re sure to make some new friends while trying to decide which beer to settle in with.

The Little Woody
4228 E. Indian School Road| Phoenix| 602.955.0339
If while driving along Indian School Road you spy the glowing eyes of an owl staring back at you, follow him to The Little Woody. Once you meander around the building to find the entrance you will be struck by the sweet perfume of the juniper wood pieces lining the walls and intrigued by the low lights and rich red upholstery leading you to wonder if you were transported to a mountain lodge. Rest assured, the only place you have been transported to is one of the best-kept secrets in town. Find a cozy spot at one of the community tables and make some new friends or opt for a cozy booth to enjoy quiet conversation with someone you already know. Expect some cheekily named cocktails and some stellar noshing items. Their Old Skool Pretzel Knob is outstanding and you’ll be delighted with the daily gumbo offerings. The best part of the bar? There are board games hidden in the bench seating and once your belly is full and you are ready to roam the joint with your drink be sure to head to the skeeball machines. That’s right skeeball, they even have monthly tournaments. This neighborhood bar is full of great eats and so many opportunities for fun.

Thirteenorth Grille
1301 E. Northern Ave.| Phoenix| 602.795.1397
For some, thirteen may be an unlucky number, but you’re sure to get lucky with any one of the daily specials at this neighborhood bar and grille. This cleverly named spot features a welcoming vibe which reverberates in the friendly service you will encounter, whether you opt to saddle up to the bar or enjoy a full meal with family or friends. The appetizer menu leans more towards seafood creations than traditional “bar food”, they even have four different versions of mac & cheese. On the thirteenth of each month, Thirteenorth offers up a Lucky 3 promotion in which you can $13 special entrees and a second glass of wine or beer for only thirteen cents. With a friendly, welcoming environment, great American fare and friendly service, thirteen could easily become your new favorite number.

This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of Uptown Magazine.