Valley Bar

Friday night New Wave 80’s music! Depeche Mode, The Cure, New Order, etc. The bartenders are awesome! Great vibe! Reminds me of some cool clubs in Chicago and LA!

I love this bar so much. It reminded me of being back home in the bay area. The drinks and service are amazing and well-​priced. I can’t say much about the live music portion, as I haven’t been in that room very long, but the lounge area is a great atmosphere and has some awesome, good vibes goin’ on.

I was walking around forever trying to find this place! Once I finally found it (its in the back of 130 Central, so go around the corner into the trash filled alley), I ended up having a great time.
Here are a few quick thoughts, as most other reviews seemed to cover the overall gist…
1) The flat breads are $ 9 bucks and incredibly small. Not a great value.
2) The beer list is okay — they do have some craft (like Fresh Squeezed from Deschutes), but mainly the tap list is focused on beers like PBR.
3) The cocktails are a good value at $ 9. They dont skimp on the alcohol and use fresh ingredients.
4) If you play skeeball and score 650 points, you get a free beer. I scored 650 points twice, so the night went downhill quickly!
5) The vibe is mysterious, in a good way.
6) Friendly service.
I dont know if I would be back in Phoenix again (it was 110+ degrees), but if I do, ill come right back to Valley!

Stopped here from Chicago since I had 3 hour layover, nice chill atmosphere. Friendly bartenders. It was kind of hidden around the back a building a little hard to find but over all great place to relax for a drink.

Feels like a bar in Chicago, New York or Boston not new shiny Phoenix. I think that’s the fun part about valley bar. The entrance is in a stinky alley and the bar is below a building. But once inside, it is packed with people every weekend. They’ve got a great cocktail menu named after different Phoenix «celebs» like the McCain and some old school arcade games. But what gets this place the 5 stars is their stage. A revolving list of live acts play at the valley bar that compare to the acts that come to crescent ballroom.

I love this speakeasy-​eque type bar. The décor is creepy, underground and awesome. I love the arcade games, live music portion and all the bartenders and servers are mega-​friendly, knowledgeable and timely in their service. They have a killer $ 8 old fashion cocktail at happy hour and although a lot of the patrons are hipster/​business people right off work, there’s a really enjoyable harmony of different types of people there, which I truly enjoy. It’s pretty cool too that you walk down an un-​assuming alley, to then arrive at this entrance where if you are lucky, are given the okay to go to the basement. well not if your lucky. but it feels that way. If you go before 9 pm, most likely you’ll be able to get in. after that– there will be a little bit of a wait. Protip while you are there– there is no cell phone signal so be ready to tune out the rest of the world :)

We were told about this place by a bartender at a nearby place and would have walked past it if we hadn’t asked a «loitering stranger» in the alley if he knew where The Valley Bar was… He simply opened the nondescript door for us.
It has a fun, mysterious, illicit vibe. I had an old fashion and it was good. Bartender was friendly and checked on us enough to make sure we didn’t run dry.
Met a couple fellow patrons at the bar and had fun conversations.
A fun place for something out of the ordinary.

I love everything about this place. I almost kissed my friend who brought me here! It’s by far the best bar/​venue I’ve ever been to in Arizona. Situated in a Basement, you’d never know this place existed. It literally feels like you’re in another world upon entering. You can almost feel the good times to come. Literally.
The drink prices are probably the best in the area. The bartenders and servers are so amazing and friendly, it’s like coming home!

What a neat adventure stopping by here. I had heard about this nar that has good live music.
So off I wandered to find this place. I put my GPS and swear that when it said «you have arrived at your destination» there was no way that I had arrived. I tried again. And then some sweet stranger asks me what I am looking for. I tell him Valley Bar. Mr. Stranger tells me to go down the alley way turn and go down another alley way. Ummmm are you serious?! Can I trust Mr. Stranger who is telling me to walk down two alley ways… all alone?!
Since it was around 5pm and not too dark. I felt my sens od adventure kick in and wandered down the alley. turn walk down another alley.
No signs of a bar. No neon beer signs beckoning at me. Then I see several people walking up some stairs and out of an open door. There it is a small painted sign. Valley Bar. and a guy wearing a securty shirt. BINGO I found the bar.
I tell myself. Alice go down the rabbit hole and see whats inside.
Down the stairs I go. and I was NOT disappointed.
They had a live music venue. The doors were closed but I could hear the band warming up. I turned left and there is the lounge/​bar area. Bar tables, a few couches and the countet bar.
I spy a chair at the counter and belly up. Ordered myself a signature drink. No food was being served as their kitchen is going through an overhaul or something.
Cool lights iluminate the ceiling of the counter bar area. After I down my drinks. I see people walking out of a back area. Curiosity gets the best of me. And I decided to see where the hallway goes.
And I was pleasanrly surprised. It led me by booths of people playing Jenga. To the game room. Billiards, Skee Ball and board games! I knew that I loved this place. and it was worth walking down the alley and down the stairs to find this treasure of a place.

Love this place and how cool it makes you feel going through an alley to get in :) going down the steps your unsure of what it will look like and become pleasantly surprised with all the fun décor! Love the bar area and the animated merry round thing that displays all sorts of fun things. If you walk past the bar and to the right, you will discover all sorts of fun games to play, including my personal favorite shuffle board.
They have plenty of seating but it does get busy as the night continues so you may have to stand, which you can preoccupy yourself with pool, shuffle board, etc. The only con was I haven’t had a good specialty cocktail from here, which is disappointing, so I end up sticking to a simple drink. Aside from that service is always great & it’s a fun place for you to end up at!

Phoenix is so fucking lit these days.
Alley entrances to dimly lit basement bars. I mean, how cool are we?
Things I like: the couches, the cool servers, all sorts of fun board and card games, shuffleboard, pool tables, the music venue with bar inside, the people watching.
Things I don’t like: walking out after a super hipster band finished their set. I feel so self-​conscious. Turn those judgemental eyes behind those oversized fake glasses towards the direction you are vaping and let me live my life!!!
Start your bar crawling here early before the place gets too packed and there’s a line to get in.

Yay!
My friend and I were visiting AZ for a weekend and we met up with some locals who suggested Valley Bar for some libations.
This is a cute little place. It’s a bit difficult to find (you have to go to the back of the building and then walk down a flight of stairs) but that’s part of its charm.
I love the display above the bar with the animated shadows and the ambiance is comfortable but also kind of hipster-​y chic.
I had their classic margarita, which was made with fresh lime juice. It was well-​made; there was no gut-​punching boozy bite and instead it was nice and smooth with a good balance of sweet and citrus.
The food menu looked pretty good; maybe next time.

Guys with man buns sporting beards, the ladies wearing plaids and overalls. The DJ is playing mashup genre from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s coexist with current top 40 music. And wait there’s more, a music room for bands to play indie reggae with electronic beat. Where am I? This is not a bar in Scottsdale. It’s located in downtown Phoenix.
X marks the spot. Curiosity sparked my interest to find this place. Follow the crowd of people going into a alley. It’s scary at first but the part of the unknown and yet to come. It’s a good indicator you are close to the bar.
The bar/​lounge have the ambience of combination of artsy, hipster and indie crowd. No fancy decorations but fun old school games. I like the most about this bar is the music venue and anvangarde of authenticity.

Was a little sketched out trying to find the alley entrance. My immediate reaction (s): «Is this where Bruce Wayne lost his parents? Can three twenty-​somethings muscle their way out of a mugging? Is this bar hip enough to offer artisanal pizza rolls as fare?»
After being briefly stopped by the doorman, all thanks to the curse of my boyish good looks, and one accidental tumble down a set of stairs later, I took my first step in and immediately found myself digging the feel of this place. The actual bar feels like a sleek and hip anachronism nestled in the bosom of a venue that almost boasts a kind of kitschy, divey Goodwill chic. Ended up going fairly light on my tab since I had gone in on a few drinks over dinner. Grabbed a Stella (tried and true) and was curious to try the McCain. I found out that night that I am NOT a fan of Mezcal. Even still, I fully appreciated Valley for crafting a drink that left the same unpalatable taste in my mouth that Arizona politics are typically prone to do.
Pool and darts available towards the back, as well as an assortment of games. We went for Uno. Loved the mix of music playing. Felt like the weirder side of my Spotify, and I was entirely into that. I’d definitely be interested to come back for a night of live music sometime soon. I’ve been nothing but glad to see all these great new places springing up in Phoenix; excited to pop in the next time I’m in town.

I really want to give this place a low rating just to keep it from being over-​crowded and too popular, but I must give an honest review instead.
I attended a concert here in the music hall and decided to come early for dinner/​drinks. Speaking of which, the food is incredible. I love Short Leash, but I also like the Valley Bar only creations that they serve as well. If you are feeling like a snack or starter, then GET THE FIGS & GOAT CHEESE. I don’t often use ALLCAPS, but this is worth it. Delicious in every way and served with fresh bread (you can ask/​pay for extra bread if needed too).
As for drinks, they have a great selection of wines and local beers, but I think their cocktails are the most interesting I’ve found around town. I love the names and great ingredient combos. My favorite is the Tom Horne-​y which is kind of like a honey version of a Moscow Mule. This drink is served in a 16oz pint glass which makes it definitely worth the price too. I rarely order the same drink twice during a visit, but this one was just too good.
I like the atmosphere and the music venue. It’s much smaller than Crescent, and therefore more enjoyable. I like that they have a bar inside the venue, but I’m an even bigger fan of the fact that you can order on your restaurant/​main bar tab and just ask for the drink to be put in plastic to take with you around the game tables or into the music venue.
This place is one of the few true gems that I’ve discovered downtown. I guess I’ll just have to hope that people can’t find the unmarked door in the alleyway and end up over at the new Cornish Pasty location instead, because this place is awesome!

Oh, how I wish this place existed when I was living in Phoenix and working downtown. We would have never found it but for our hip Über driver who suggested it to us.
To get in, you walk down the alley across from Seamus McCaffrey’s. There will be a door guy on your left just a bit in (no cover!) As you descend down a long staircase, let the hip vibes wash over you. When you’re downstairs-​head left. Literally no idea what’s on the right. There was some weird elevator and other odd happenings. Maybe this is an advanced level for bar goers.
The bar is gorgeous and looks straight out of the 1920s. Excellent mixologists whipping up delicious cocktails off of their signature menu. I had the mezcal drink and it we perfection. Ok, I had two. :)
My only issue is the confined space and lackluster ventilation. We were here on a Monday, so it wasn’t too busy, but I could see it getting pretty murky down there with a bigger crowd.
Nice to see some life coming to DT Phoenix. It’s actually starting to feel like a downtown with places like this! Cheers!

I haven’t been out and about in Phoenix in almost 5 years and Valley Bar completely caught me off guard! I never would have expected such a cool spot to exist here. I’m a sucker for speakeasies and hidden bars, and Valley Bar hit every mark I was looking for.
The ambiance was quiet, intimate, but super chill. Everyone was there to have a good time, meet friends, and enjoy the secret basement. No one got super drunk or messy, and it was a really nice night. The drinks were affordable and tasty (according to my friends since I don’t drink) but the doughnuts REALLY won me over. I ordered the orange-​something and the maple bacon. The maple bacon was literally inhaled by my friend and I, and the orange one a close second.
I also got the fried pickles and my friend got the classic dog. Unique, affordable, foodie eats in a secret location? It doesn’t get better than this!
I’ll be back before I leave to check out the music section.
I love you, Valley Bar!

This review is gonna be really long, so the short version is this: There’s rad music, groovy games, a kitchen, and a baller cocktail menu. If you’re browsing the mobile app and you’re nearby, you need to drop in. Like, now.
Still with me? OK, here are the details…
There is no place in Phoenix I will defend as much as Valley Bar. Seriously, it’s my litmus test for whether or not I’m going to like your reviews – give this gem less than five stars, and I’ll take everything you write with a grain of salt.
It’s just that good.
It’s an eclectic establishment with the quintessential Phoenix vibe – artsy and unassuming, attracting clientele from gruff hipsters looking for indie shows, to the all dolled-​up in five inch heels treating this like a club, to businessmen and politicians coming in wearing full suits.
I met Congressman Ruben Gallego while drinking a Kate + Ruben. He didn’t seem amused when I said «Hey there’s a drink named after you amirite?»
On another evening, I shook hands with mayor Greg Stanton while drinking a Stanton. Groovy, right?
I keep ordering my favorite cocktail – The McCain – but the old ‘Maverick’ is yet to show up! Bummer, but at least I can revel in the sweet, smoky, spicy goodness of mezcal, citrus, and a mouthwatering bite from an ancho chili liquor. At $ 8 a pop, these craft cocktails really are a steal, and the Rose Room, the lounge they’re served in, is so comfortable and dimly lit you’ll feel you’ve stumbled into a much more expensive environment.
If you’re hungry, take advantage of the kitchen run by Short Leash hot dogs, and have a seat in one of the booths. Like every other table here, it’s illuminated by real candles, lending an intimate feel. We haven’t invented a love potion quite yet, but let me tell you right now that having a chat and playing one of their many board games over a glass of wine will certainly suffice. Just down the hall will be a cool game room with pool tables, ski-​ball, and a couple of awesome arcade games.
It’s important to remember that above all, this is a music venue! Emphasis on medium-​sized indie shows, but they have stellar DJ sets. My favorite is Blunt Club, the hip hop night that brings the best Thursday night fun I’ve had in the valley. Some of the local bands are especially great, and tons of fun.
This is up there with my favorite spots in Phoenix, but of course there will be some growing pains. This place is just so gosh darn popular, it’s near impossible to get in during prime time. I have waited 20 minutes for this, something I won’t do for any other establishment. It can get terribly busy on Saturday – I’ve heard of hour-​long lines close to midnight! Be prepared for standing room only! Also, keep in mind some shows/​sets that used to be free now carry a charge, and this will be the rare time I hope entry gets more expensive so as to thin down the line a bit.
I can easily spend several hours here without getting bored. It’s fun, affordable, hip… I just do not have enough good words.
GET IN

In the alley down some dark lit stairs is one of the coolest spots in the valley to get a drink.
The drinks, a little bit of a play on Arizona’s Political history are pretty classy.
I went with the «The Rose» Mofford which has Tito’s vodka, Tempus Fugit Violette, Lemon Juice, Rose water & Simple syrup. This is a classy cocktail, makes you feel like a classy dame for drinking it.
Valley Bar has rooms within rooms, if you make it in to the reading room, check out some of the books, they are a wide variety and interesting finds. They have live music too.
The only downside, the ladies restroom, only one sink was working, and the 1^st stall is in clear site of those who are outside of the restroom when the door opens. And the last step when coming down the stairs is a killer!

This place reminds me of some of the dives/​hangouts/​pubs I used to frequent in my formative adult years.
The waiters are cool and friendly, which makes a huge difference especially when the bar is new and unusual and has a story to tell. Angel, our waiter, was really helpful and attentive.
There are about four distinct areas in this establishment and each one exudes a different vibe.
The bar: pretty standard but many tables and booths for getting friendly with your latest amour.
The game room: cool games and fun space.
The reading room: interesting space. Lots of opportunity for a variety of activities behind closed doors. Whips and chains? Check the schedule on the clipboard for a list of events.
The live music bar: you pay a cover charge for some awesome music.
Every time you come here expect a different experience.