GetOut Magazine

New to the area? Check out these 10 hoppin' East Valley bars
By KELLY WILSON
Get Out
Sept. 11, 2003

When the weekend arrives, it's often hard to narrow it down to just one bar to hang out at when you want to see and be seen. The East Valley club scene is full of choices; from casual to chic, there's something for everyone. With this in mind, we compiled a list of 10 popular clubs to help point you in the right direction if you're new to the East Valley or unaware of our burgeoning club scene.

Acme

Acme's two locations (4245 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, and 855 S. Rural Road, Tempe, ) offer something different. You'll find more of an ASU crowd over at Tempe's Acme Roadhouse. The bar is usually packed with people seven nights a week. It's a different story at Scottsdale's Acme Bar & Grill. It's usually on the mellow side during the week and slammed when the weekend hits.
Best viewpoint: Both locations boast large patios, which are favorite hangouts for regulars.

Axis/Radius

Since it opened in 1997, Axis/Radius (7340 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, ) has been one of the top clubs to see and be seen. The Scottsdale gem attracts a beautiful crowd of glammed- up women and dapper men. With two clubs joined by a glass catwalk, Axis/Radius offers everything from a cozy lounge atmosphere to pulsating rhythms to a full menu.
Best viewpoint: You'll see a variety of people who look like they stepped out of a Von Dutch magazine ad grooving on the large dance floor.

CBNC

The Scottsdale dance club (1420 N. Scottsdale Road, ) used to attract a rough crowd during previous incarnations, but has made a miraculous transition into a celebrity- frequented night spot over the past year. Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Eve and DMX have partied at the bar, which draws at least one celebrity every weekend.
Best viewpoint: When celebrities grace the club, they usually can be found in one of three VIP rooms, which include the plush owner's box.

Dos Gringos

Dos Gringos is a popular choice for the casual crowd. The beachlike bar offers $2 Coronas as well as the most laid-back atmosphere in the East Valley bar scene. The small Tempe location (216 E. University Drive, ) is always crowded it's across the street from the ASU campus. The two-story Scottsdale Dos (4209 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, ) offers two large patios for people to mingle. Though its fairly quiet on most weeknights, the bar goes off on the weekends.
Best viewpoint: Although every nook and cranny of this bar is hoppin' on weekend nights, the upstairs patio of the Scottsdale location is the place to relax.

Next

Maybe it's the art seductive photos showcasing womens body parts decorate the club's walls or maybe it's the drink specials the club hosts ladies night on Tuesdays with $2 martinis for the women and $2 domestic bottles for everyone from 9 to 11 p.m. but one thing is certain: People love Next. The swanky Scottsdale bar (7111 E. Fifth Ave., ) is always crowded. Expect to wait in line after 10 p.m. on weekends.
Best viewpoint: You'll find some of the Valley's hottest bartenders pouring shots behind the large bar.

Sanctuary

Like Axis/Radius, Sanctuary (7340 E. Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale, ) attracts the beautiful crowd. From its stunning exterior which looks like some sort of Roman architecture to its plush lounge areas, the sleek and classy club screams "show me the money." Patrons can chill in one of the lounge rooms or get their groove on to a mix of techno and R&B flavors.
Best viewpoint: The dance floor has its own cooling system, which dispenses arctic blasts of oxygen to help keep sweating to a minimum.

San Felipe's Cantina

Although San Felipe's (20825 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, ) is new to the club scene (it opened in February) and is located in north Scottsdale, it already has become one of the East Valley's hottest hangouts. The bar and restaurant, which has a sister location in Flagstaff, brings a Dos Gringos-like vibe for twenty- to fortysomethings to an otherwise quiet DC Ranch neighborhood.
Best viewpoint: Bartenders douse patrons with water while they shake it on the bar during the weekend nights.

6

It's hard to believe that the owner of Mickey's Hangover a laid-back bar with funky patio furniture created the upscale 6 (7316 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, ). 6, which looks like something out of the New York club scene, has intimate booths and lounge areas, such as a bed that sits off to the side of the bar, along with fancy bottled water and colorful martinis.
Best viewpoint: The unisex restrooms are a must-see.

Sugar Daddy's

Sugar Daddy's (3102 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, ) is one of the few hip Scottsdale bars that doesn't have a dress code. Since the bar, which is owned by the man behind Dos Gringos, opened in March 2002, it's been a favorite for people between the ages of 20 and 40. Sugar Daddy's hosts 60s blues, funk and R&B bands inside, which helps the club draw an eclectic crowd, while its patio is the hot spot for the younger crowd, which can often be found tossing out pickup lines.
Best viewpoint: The large patio overlooks Scottsdale Road, making for one heck of a people-watching experience.

The Library Bar & Grill

Don't let the name fool you. This Library (501 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, ) isn't like the one you're used to. Though books line the walls, you'll find the bar staff attired in plaid schoolgirl wear and librarian horn- rimmed glasses not acting very scholarly.
Best viewpoint: The bar. The bar staff can often be found inviting patrons to help them perform choreographed dance numbers on the bar.