#1708 - En Fuego, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/19/2012

A pretty typical hotel restaurant and bar with pretty good food and not so good cocktails.

5401 North Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85250 - (480) 947-5400
web site - yelp -  azcentral

#1707 - Bikini Lounge, Phoenix, AZ - 3/18/2012

I had few expectations of the Bikini Lounge -- I envisioned just a dive bar with a cardboard thick devotion to the tiki theme. I was delightedly surprised.

It certainly is divey, as many of the best tiki bars are, and it has its insensate, day-glo tiki after-thoughts. But it also has aged charm and quirky appeal. Duane, the bartender (and member of the band Iconoclast, although I imagine they spell it differently), happily told us a few stories of the place, with many of the items dating back to its 1947 founding. The centerpiece hula girl painting behind the bar is said to be to have the head of the original owner's wife and the body of his mistress. While it was owned by a gay couple, the hula girl apparently had her breasts painted over and the grass skirt added, then the subsequent owner restored the bosom to its former glory.

 The New Times claims that this is the oldest bar in Phoenix.  Basically, it has an earnest quantity of tiki, and everything a you need for a dive bar of integrity, including the location in a dicey neighborhood. I don't imagine that I will ever go to Phoenix again without stopping in.

1502 Grand Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 - (602) 252-0472
Est. 1947
thebikinilounge.com - tikicentral - critiki - azcentral - yelp

#1706 - Hula's Modern Tiki, Phoenix, AZ - 3/18/2012

Hula's is a swank, mid-century place with good tiki drinks and very good food.  We met fellow tiki aficionados Mike M. and his wife, who were very friendly, as tiki people generally are, and compared notes on Phoenix and Tucson (from whence they had just come and we were just heading).

Hula's has some familiar sites for the tiki crowd -- glass cases of Munktiki mugs under the bar, a Tiki Tony carving, a Bosko shield.  It's romantically lit and as full of mid-century shapes and angles as a Shag painting.  The concept is well executed and the people are friendly.  It's a great exception to the strip mall, chain store dreariness of so much of the valley of the sun.

4700 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85012 - (602) 265-8454
hulasmoderntiki.com - facebook - critiki - thetikichick - backpage - centralphoenixfood -  phxrailfood - phoenixmag - yelp
Est. 2009

#1705 - Pussycat Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

4426 N Saddlebag Trl Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 481-3100
www.pclaz.com - azcentral - azxclusive - voiceplaces

#1704 - Oasis Hookah Cafe, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

4441 North Buckboard Trail Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 751-5362
yelp

#1703 - Rockbar, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/16/2012

"There won't be any pulsating electronica beats or brutal dubstep drops coming from Rockbar Inc. in Scottsdale." -- Phoenix New Times

DubRock Wednesdays at Rockbar.

Filter - Rockbar, Scottsdale - 3/16/2012

Bad Luck (Social Distortion tribute band), Rockbar 3/16/2012

4245 North Craftsman Court Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 331-9190
Est. Nov. 2011 
rockbarscottsdale.com - phoenixnewtimes - yelp

#1702 - Casablanca Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/16/2012

This place is less frenetic than most of Scottsdale, far better cocktails, an embracing dark decor with fires on the patio, and these fantastic cocktail menus that light up when you open them.

7134 East Stetson Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 970-7888
Est. Oct 1, 2011
Previous bars in this location: Estate House, Napoleon Cigar Lounge
thecasablancalounge.com - facebook - phoenixnewtimes - azcentral - arizonafoothills - yelp