Hollywood Alley

Hollywood Alley RIP!
In my wildest dreams, Hollywood Alley would still be open. I would be at the bar watching the Goonies, eating way too many hot wings, drinking too many vodka crans… Talking shit with the bartenders and other patrons. Ahh, sweet memories.
I loved Hollywood Alley. We would come here early and watch creepy documentaries with the bartender Eric. Crappy bar food, cheap beer, strong drinks. What’s not to love? Never use the bathroom and try to never imagine what it looked like with all the lights on :) I hope Ross is doing well, such a shame to see this place closed.

I used to frequent this place back in the day and was sad to hear it’s days were numbered. Loud!, rockin and packed is how I will always remember It. Hopefully someone takes this place to new heights.

My heart’s breaking… I got attached too soon, I fell too hard.
Hollywood Alley is closing… as far as I’m aware this past weekend was the finale… and as some of my Unilocal friends can attest, I saw the sun rise on more than one occasion after closing out Hollywood Alley this week.
Music:
–rock, punk, metal extravaganza
–great sound system
–intimate venue
Atmosphere:
–reminds me heavily of the Rainbow off Sunset Strip: big black leather rounded couch seating, dim lighting, band stickers and movie paraphernalia pasted on every surface.
–this weekend it was PACKED… too bad we couldn’t muster this kind of crowd regularly, I doubt they would have closed.
–dark, sexy, dirty, sleazy rock bar. Goddamn I love it.
–no smoking patio, must smoke out front
–two bathrooms, one «for staff only» ;)
–it’s hot (the AC broke)
the Bar:
–great bartending staff, both the men and the women
–fast, professional and a bit surly but I like it (basically, don’t be a jerk, tip your bartender and give em a smile… they’ll love you for it).
–movies playing over the bar– usually a classic like the Goonies, Reservoir Dogs, the Crow, etc.
–most of the taps were dry by this weekend, everything was cans/​bottles. PBR $ 2, Coors Light/​Miller Lite/​Budweiser $ 4 :O
the Food:
–cheese pizza was amaaaazing. Hot gooey burn-​the-​roof of your mouth deliciousness. I could eat it everyday… and I don’t even LIKE pizza. $ 10 for a larger-​sized personal pizza.
–tried a friend’s chili dog… it was meh.
–breakfast USED to be served. When I tried to grab some nosh on Saturday morning, was told that they weren’t serving it, since they were closing down :(
Other Schtuff:
–2 pool tables in the back room
–arcade games (pinball, video games, etc) in the back room
–jukebox mounted to the wall in the back room
–had t-​shirts for sale, $ 20, my new favorite tank top
Listen, I’ve never shed a tear over any business, but I’m torn to shreds about losing this place so soon after I discovered it. Anybody have $ 300,000? We’ll open this sh*t back up.
I’m begging you, Gods that Be, swing wide open Hollywood Alley’s door… and quick. Once you’ve had a taste, nothing ever seems the same.

I can’t believe I never reviewed here before, and so sad it’s too late. Just got news that after nearly 25 years, they’re closing their doors. Devastated. Me and my guy fell in love here. Planned to get married here. Planned to have Holleywood Alley around! We live 1,200 miles away now, and we are so sorry to hear the awful news. We will miss this place no doubt for many reasons. Thank you, Hollywood Alley, for the amazing memories.

Not that this review will matter because theyre closing, but I just had to get it in.
I love this place. Theres always something going on, whatever day of the week it may be. From live music, to movie nights, to the bloody mary bar on Sundays. There really is something for everyone… or I guess I should say was.
Ive seen countless bands perform here and have even sang here myself. The stage is huge. A great jam session stage, if you will. And theres plenty of seating/​space for those there to enjoy whatevers going on onstage. Theres even the «back room» that has games and more seating if you feel like just listening to whos playing.
One of the biggest things Ill miss about the Alley is the food. Grandma does it up right. Ive never had a bad meal here. They have one of the best cheesburgers Ive ever had. The service was always slow as molasses at lunch, but that burger was always worth the wait.
Every single employee that I encountered here was so so nice too. Thats rare in a rockbar. No attitudes.
Im sad to see you go Hollywood Alley, I have lots of great memories of you though.

When I first moved to AZ back in 2007 I lived within 5 minutes walking distance of this place, and since I didn’t have a car it became my regular hangout. The inside is dim, divey, and dumpy (just the way I like it).
They have surprisingly good food which is pretty inexpensive. They even serve breakfast. Great selection of beers and mixed drinks, and priced right. They also have some of the best local bands playing on the weekends. The staff is always really friendly too.
Overall, this is a great spot to spend a Friday or Saturday night, or just a few hours in the afternoon if you have nothing to do. I have a car now and don’t live next door anymore, but I still go once in a while and grab a burger and a beer.

Awesome place to kick back after a graveyard shift

One of my favorite watering holes, Hollywood Alley is a must for a drink in this part of town. Great greasy pub food and awesome service makes for a good time. Check it out!

Not a bad place. I came to the jazz and poetry night Tuesday. I enjoyed the atmosphere and my cheap beer. The round booths facing the stage makes for comfortable place to sit for a few hours.

One dive bar to rule them all…
Seriously, this place is the definition of a dive but on the flipside it’s some of the best grub I have had in a bar, the staff is really nice and they have pretty decent shows. I am a fan.
Tip: There is a hidden bathroom behind the pool hall that doesn’t smell of death.
I saw nothing.

Holly Would in the Alley
By The Rue
I spent a few hours at Hollywood Alley,
I didn’t go with a girl named Sally,
Located in Arizona, not in Cali,
$ 21.64 was my bar tab tally,
Live music here isn’t like a pep rally,
It’s one of the best dives in the valley,
It’s as big as a ships galley,
They don’t do a grand finale,
The owner’s last name isn’t O’mally,
If in Vegas don’t stay at Bally’s,
I like berries just not Halle,
When you order don’t dilly dally!
Van Nuys!

Imagine if your stoner rock buddies who loved movies made a man cave and then decided to turn it into a bar, then a music venue, then a restaurant and stay open 20 hours a day…
Thats this place.
Its like the first level of Guitar hero.
I can never get the Wifi to work though

Not sure what it is, but I love this place! It’s not so much the cheesey Hollywood themed dealio, but every time I have gone here I’ve had a good experience. That counts for something when you are talking about night spots. Mostly original, local bands play here, on a medium sized stage. Nothing special as far as service, bar, etc. Check to see who’s playing before arriving– You may not like the genre/​type of music. Overall, very cool place!

I’ve been going to this place for twelve years. This is the BEST dive bar, and my favorite day drinking weekend spot. The bar has all forms of life. Since it opens at 6am, you see hospital staff in scrubs just getting off work to the local drunk. And yes, I have been there before at 7am. The food is awesome and reasonably priced. Super dark, comfortable seating. The service is sketchy — sometimes it is fast and efficient, other times I think the bartenders and cook is hungover as much as I am on the weekends. I love the family that runs the place, but their interaction with customers over the years has dwenldled. Hands down the best kept secret in Phoenix.

Best 80’s music in Phoenix, and no cover! Between the ambience and the deejay I ended up spending a lot longer than I had planned. i heard LOTS of songs i hadn’t heard in more than a decade. I the service was okay, but i didn’t mind waiting because the music was really good, and the food was very good. Try the Fajita wrap!

I JUST heard about this place and am sad I’ve lived in Tempe for four years without checking out Hollywood Alley. Its fantastic! There is live music almost every night… cool stage… really dark in there… big black 50’s style leather round booths/​tables, posters and random art all over the walls. Perfect! I really prefer dives that ‘try’ to have an atmosphere… make themselves an ‘eclectic hole-​in-​the-​wall’ not just a hole in the wall. Hollywood Alley totally lives up to my expectations.
The back room is packed with vintage arcade games galore, a book exchange (YES, a free book exchange!!! How great is that?) … mostly trashy romance novels but a few gems in there…
Drinks were cheap and big… they put well drinks in HUGE glasses… definitely twice the size of the usual lowball glasses at most bars. Really fantastic beer selection too! Haven’t tried the food but I will… definitely going back to Hollywood Alley!

This place is really cool. The ambiance is certainly one of «sunlight sucks, that is what the outside is for». If you are new to the place then PLEASE use the double doors as if they were an air-​lock: let the outside one close before opening the next. My retinas will thank you later.
There are three things that makes this place awesome imho:
1– Food. The bar food is very tasty and you should get the large order of sliders if you have the appetite of a bear waking up in early spring or if you are chill with reheating.
2– Movie Screens. That’s right this ain’t no sports bar. The TV’s, and often a projector screen, show movies that you probably haven’t seen in at least 10 years unless you are a 2 AM junkie of TCM and the like. It makes for a nice laid back atmosphere.
3– A sound guy who knows whats up? For live music in the 3 – 4 tempe bar venues I’ve been to this is the only place where each band was able to NOT just throw the wall of sound at us. Kudos to you sir.

I live just up the street from here and pass the place all the time. Today I finally decided to stop in and check it out.
I was there in the middle of a Monday afternoon, so I cannot speak to what the place might be like when they have bands there. But for an afternoon it was just great.
They have a pretty eclectic selection of draft beer, so I had a 90 Shilling (excellent) and a Hemp Ale (also good). They have a couple of more unusual brews, plus the regular assortment of domestic brews, Fat Tire, Kilt Lifter and an IPA… oh and Guinness, of course.
I had just eaten, so I did not try the food, but some of the others in the bar seemed to be enjoying theirs. I looked over the menu, and pledge to return for food and report back.
The gal tending bar was great, super friendly and willing to give me the scoop on the good stuff they had.
Two premium pints and a $ 3 tip came out to $ 10. Needless to say, I will be back! An über-​dive to be sure, with low prices to match.

A timeless classic a place with more shows than I can /​care to remember.
Seen a lot of up and coming people here as well as some pretty good regular nights as well.
Always an interesting collection of different music styles mixed in with a ton of talents of all sorta both local and elsewhere.
Cheap drinks and plenty of pool tables.
Old school video games and of course darts
Pizza and bar food that is actually decent!

I have lived here in the Valley forever, and I’ve been here at least a hundred times to see various punk rock shows over the years. Hollywood Alley is definitely a classic venue.
I went here last night to see a friend’s band play. It had been probably a decade since my last visit. Walking in was a very familiar feeling — passing by the cloud of cigarette smoke in front of the door (yack) and past the door security. I recognized the high-​back booths and the layout hasn’t changed much at all.
Something was different though. It’s clean now. It’s actually decorated thoughtfully rather than just decorated with random band stickers. It’s certainly not as legit as it once was, but it’s nice now. It seems like it’s more for grown-​ups. Most dive bars seem to end up getting shittier and grosser over time, but this place is miles away from the dumpiness of the days of yore.
I probably wouldn’t make a point to go here unless there was a band I wanted to see. That’s mostly because of the location. As a bar, I think it’s nice. Strong drinks, cool layout, comfy booths. I can’t picture this place booking a solid band I would want to see, so it’s gonna be a rare occasion that I’ll come back. I do like it though and I’m glad to see it still around. Brought back some memories.