Hidden Speakeasy Bars in Phoenix

If you’re on the hunt for history around Phoenix, there are certainly a few places you can go. Of course, historic Downtown Scottsdale is covered in historical landmarks and shops. There are many museums to explore as well. But if you’d like to take an untraditional exploration of the city’s history, the area has a few must-see locations to check out. Hidden speakeasy bars in Phoenix are hard to come across, but we’ve taken the time to seek out and explore a few of the best.

Honor Amongst Thieves

Even a peek at this hidden bar’s website is sure to excite those hunting for a Phoenix mystery. The logo has an interesting compass, embellished with the longitude and latitude coordinates of the establishment. That’s because unless you know where to look, it’s not an easy spot to find.

Honor Amongst Thieves is tucked above a popular restaurant in Phoenix, Stock & Stable. It’s a fairly new establishment – it opened in 2016. Since then, the old-school craft cocktails and speakeasy-like atmosphere make costumers feel as though they’ve taken a step back in time. While the bar is fairly new, the renovated building dates back to the 1950’s, providing history and freshness to the ambiance.

How to find it: There are a few ways to find this establishment now that you know it exists. Simply plug in the address, 5538 N 7th St #100, Phoenix, AZ 85014, to your GPS or feel like a treasure hunter and use the latitude and longitude coordinates instead. Enter through a stairway at the rear of the building or through a false freezer door in the kitchen that reveals another stairway! It’s a great place to enjoy a dinner downstairs at Stock & Stable and move the party to the second floor once the bar opens at 6 p.m.

Kazimierz World Wine Bar

This speakeasy bar is definitely a place one might call a hidden gem in Scottsdale. It’s located on a fairly prominent street in Old Town, but that doesn’t make it any easier to find. Guests enter through the hidden backdoor and are welcomed into the edgy space. The walls are covered with brick and plush couches and wine barrels decorate the space.

Kazimierz menu boasts fine foods, spirits, and Dr. Seuss themed cocktails. Of course, it’s not a self-respecting wine bar without over 2000 wine options as well. That particular wine list isn’t available online though, so you’ll have to take the journey to find this particular hidden speakeasy bar in Phoenix. Also, there’s no need to save a weekend evening to search for this spot. They host nightly live music every night of the week except for Mondays.

How to find it: Most Phoenix residents are very familiar with the Old Town Scottsdale corridor, but this bar can still be a little tricky to spot. The address is, 7137 E Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, but that will only take you to the front of the building, and there isn’t any signage. From the front, you can spot large windows with the backside of the interior’s stonewalls. Just take a walk around the side, down the alley and enter through the back door to be greeted by an ambiance unlike any other.

UnderTow

UnderTow is another of the hidden speakeasy bars in Phoenix and its name fits the theme quite well. In fact, customers quite literally take a trip “down under,” to enjoy craft cocktails in an interesting atmosphere. The bar is tucked under a popular Phoenix restaurant called Sip Coffee & Beer Garage, unsurprisingly known for its delicious coffee and craft beer.

UnderTow is inspired by an old-world ship, which takes guests back in time as well as under the sea. The theme doesn’t just stop with décor either. The drinks are all tiki themed and they have a variety of rums to beckon your inner pirate.

 How to find it: Similarly to Kazimierz, UnderTow has no outdoor signage to indicate its existence. In fact, many Sip costumers don’t realize it’s there until someone in the know spreads the secret. The address is, 5127, 3620 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018, and the bar can only be accessed via the staircase inside of Sip.

Melinda’s Alley

An illuminated red bulb outside an unmarked door in a dark Phoenix alley would cause most people to briskly walk passed. Locals in “the know” though, understand this means Melinda’s Alley is open for business. Of the hidden speakeasy bars in Phoenix, this one is located in what was once the area’s red light district. The addition of the bar has given new life to the Van Buren area.

The bar is only open on late, weekend nights and the space downstairs is small. That said, the location’s history and atmosphere make Melinda’s Alley a must visit for those who can find it. Not to mention, the design of the drink menu will have customers surprised each visit. Rumor has it, the bar never offers the same drink twice. On most nights, there are only five specific cocktails on the menu. These facts just add to the Prohibition-era vibe. Take note; they only accept cash, not any of this futuristic credit card nonsense.

How to find it: The establishment doesn’t even have a website, but updates can occasionally be found on their Twitter page. The specific address won’t do much good either, as it will likely take you to the Renaissance Hotel. The entrance is located on Central Avenue, between Monroe and Adams Streets. If you can find it, the double doors will lead you down two flights of stairs and into a different decade.

While this likely isn’t your traditional take on a historic city tour, it will definitely spark some excitement into a weekend adventure. You might have to walk through some seemingly eerie places, down junk-ridden alleyways or even through a refrigerator, but ultimately, you’ll find a unique experience. Whether you’re on the lookout for a history lesson or just a craft cocktail, it’s definitely worth your while to check out one of these hidden speakeasy bars in Phoenix.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. – Buddha