A Reddit user recently asked the r/Phoenix subreddit, "What is the grimiest bar you have seen in the Valley?" and the other members of the subreddit had plenty of opinions.
Next time you're looking for the diviest of dive bars, consider these nominees from r/Phoenix Reddit users. (You can also check out our take on the Top 100 Bars in Phoenix.)
Skipper’s Lounge
U/offensiveline nominated Skipper's Lounge near Bethany Home Road and 43rd Ave. "That is where I go to meet people I'm not supposed to be meeting."U/Dry-Firefighter8337 concurred, writing, "I don’t drink anymore. But this used to be my spot! lol. Def a staple of the community. I think it opens at like 6am. And I will see cars there that early from time to time. I will say they do have some good live music from time to time."
Hambone Sports Bar
On the other side of town, Hambone Sports Bar in east Mesa was mentioned quite a bit.U/pitchblack1138 called Hambone the "nastiest bar I've ever been to with the weirdest fuckin people.... People smoke in there, I don't know how they get away with it."
(Fun fact: Patrons can smoke in Hambone because technically there are no windows, just screens.)
U/azdude19900 wrote about Hambone, "Went there for a beer once. Didn't get the warm fuzzies being there. When you walk in all the regulars turn and stare at you with a 'what are you doing in my bar, you don't belong here' look."
Bikini Lounge
One of the oldest bars in Phoenix was mentioned several times in the post.U/Puznug wrote, "The Bikini in central Phoenix. A roach crawled up from behind the bar and sat there staring at me."
U/DonKeighbals agreed about the roaches: "I’ll never forget the first time I was in there, taking a leak and several roaches scurried across the floor. Under normal circumstances, one might find this appalling. It was oddly cathartic, knowing there’s a place like this where dirty souls can come and warsh away all the darkness & sins of the Valley in the serene safety that is The Bikini Lounge."
Maverick Saloon.
Phoenix New Times archives
Maverick Saloon
This west Phoenix watering hole got several comments.U/Nautical26 wrote, "It’s not a bad bar at all, pretty fun and tight knit from what I saw. Bras hanging from pipes up by the ceiling, you’re allowed to smoke in there because of a loop hole they found since some of the walls are technically just big weather screens. I’ve only been there once for a celebration of life for a guy I knew who frequented there, but it’s the most dingy I’ve been into, dark, loud, smokey."
U/Eeebs-HI added, "I love grime! When I show up, I blend right in."
Royale Lounge
Centrally located near Thomas Road and 16th Street, Royale Lounge has been the site of some pretty dicey experiences.U/1hewchardon wrote, "The first time I went there we saw a trail of dried blood on the ground going out the door and when we asked the bartender she shrugged it off and said yeah someone got stabbed last night."
U/vicelordjohn recommended, "Go at 2pm on a Tuesday for maximum effect."
Yucca Tap Room
Proof that a bar can be beloved and grimy at the same time, several people brought up Yucca Tap Room.U/lamus13 wrote, "I have lived in Tempe for 20 years and went to the Yucca for the first time last winter. It was 4 PM. I was looking at one of the photos on the wall and someone walked over to me, puked in the trash can beside me, and then walked out. Perfect!"
U/Ltstoney added, "That is what i consider a true dive bar… a bar whose smell depicts the vibe of the bar so well."
Palo Verde Lounge
If there was a winning bar in the thread, it was Palo Verde Lounge in Tempe. The top comment of the entire post came from u/supakitteh, who wrote, "Palo Verde lounge. Dark, kinda scary, low ceilings. And I hope it never changes."Other users echoed the sentiment.
U/mmmggg: "Dirty Verde forever and ever."
U/Tacosconsalsaylimon: "Same. Been going since the 00's. The toilet has never worked. Great for shows though."
U/andymfjAZ: "The toilet that was tied to the wall with a rusty coat hanger in the men’s room was the first place trophy for me."
