If you think dive bars are just dimly lit places for inexpensive drinks, think again. These establishments are often the heart and soul of a destination — a spot where locals gather and connections are forged. (OK, yes, and the booze is also cheap!) Here, your guide to all the Scottsdale dive bars worthy of divey distinction.
Coach House
Coach House has a few claims to fame. It’s Scottsdale’s oldest dive bar, for one. Secondly, it opens at 6 a.m. each day, likely the only bar in town welcoming patrons at that hour. And thirdly, it’s famously bedazzled in colorful holiday lights. Though the lights display is only a Christmas thing, in my years frequenting Coach House, I’ve learned an insider secret: The staff starts hanging the lights in October, so for day-drinkers seeking a festive vibe, fall at the Coach House is the place to be. It’s also a good time of year to take advantage of Coach House’s outdoor seating, a rarity in the dive-bar world.
As for the drinks, the pours are heavy, and the crowd is a happy mix of regulars and out-of-towners. Read: The perfect atmosphere to make a new friend.
Giligin’s Bar
Strolling through Old Town, you can’t miss Giligin’s. The building is aglow in dazzling green lights, a neon lure to the fun to be had inside. And what fun indeed. Sporting a vague island theme — a vodka tonic might come in a tiki glass, for example — Giligin’s is a gleeful spot where spinning a Wheel of Booze helps undecided drinkers with their beverage choice and trivia night, karaoke and bingo keep guests on their toes.
A food menu isn’t standard for a Scottsdale dive bar, which is why I appreciate Giligin’s. They offer everything from burgers to sandwiches (I’m a fan of the French dip) to nachos and mozzarella sticks. And I’m no connoisseur, but even I can appreciate the bar’s impressive liquor lineup of more than 450 whiskies and 100 tequilas.
Pattie’s 1st Avenue Lounge
In the heart of Old Town, Pattie’s holds court, a literal hole-in-the-wall (the entrance is an opening in weather-worn brick) that’s been beloved since 1992. Dive bars notoriously get better with age, and that’s certainly felt as soon as you enter the bar. Or I should say bars, plural, as the space is divided into three sections: a side room with pool tables, an open-air “alley” in the middle with high-top seating, and my favorite, the main room. Here, I like to sit at the long bar to chat with the bartenders and see what interesting beers are on offer.
There’s no old-school juke box and no yummy pub grub to eat (and no website, but you can find Pattie’s on Instagram @pattiesfirstave). But there are thousands of dollar bills affixed to the ceiling and a feeling of familiarity about the place, a sense that maybe you’ve been here before. And that just might be the most authentic hallmark of a great dive bar.
Rusty Spur Saloon
The Old West meets the New West at Rusty Spur, a registered historic landmark and storied watering hole that leans hard into its Western roots. Such as: actual saloon doors, taxidermy décor, wagon-wheel lights and a stage that hosts live country music seven days a week.
Its cheeky charm is part of the reason why the Spur is a go-to for locals and visitors alike, the latter including celebrities such as Blake Shelton, Post Malone, even Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. The other reason? When the band gets going on a Friday night and things get rowdy on the dance floor, Rusty Spur is the most fun place to be in Old Town.
TT Roadhouse
An unmarked green door leads to the dark and cozy space that is TT Roadhouse, an intimate dive where regulars come at all hours of the day for the bar’s daily specials — usually some version of a beer and a shot. TT’s hides off the beaten path of Scottsdale’s bustling city center, which gives it dive-bar street cred. You’ll never accidentally stumble onto this place. You have to know that this is where you want to be. And you should definitely want to be here. The beer selection is excellent, stacked with local brews and classics like PBR and Hamm’s; the carved initials of guests are etched into wooden beams; regulars get their own koozies; and the bartenders are the best in the business.
