Discover Arizona’s best dive bars serving up cheap drinks, classic entertainment, and local character.
New craft cocktail bars and breweries keep popping up across Arizona, but the Grand Canyon State’s dive bar scene isn’t going anywhere.
Some of Arizona’s best dives have been slinging beer since before Scottsdale had resorts on every corner, while others lean into quirky themes, with goldfish races or pirate decor. Whether you’re chasing a $2 mystery shot, a late-night game of pool, or just a bar stool and a cold beer, these eight dive bars across Arizona are worth checking out. Keep reading to learn more about each one.
1. Coach House
Coach House has been pouring cheap drinks in Scottsdale since 1959, which makes it the oldest dive bar in town. There is wood paneling, TVs playing whatever game’s on, and a patio if you want to step outside and cool off. Like at any good dive bar, the drinks are cheap, nobody’s dressed up, and that’s all part of the appeal.
“Coach House is the perfect dive bar. The patio is lively, the crowd is fun, and the drinks are the cheapest in Scottsdale,” one visitor wrote on Yelp.
Address: 7011 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale
2. Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge
Well-worn vinyl booths sit against wood-paneled walls at Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge, an old-school dive that’s been open since the 1970s. The local haunt has a desert-Western feel, with cowboy-themed wallpaper, mounted skulls with antlers, saddles, and ropes adorning the walls.
Danny’s has five pool tables, plenty of TVs, a smoking patio, and a unique feature for a dive bar: a lending library. On Sundays, the back patio turns into an open-air movie theater for “Drink-in, Drive-in” night.
“I absolutely love this place. I’m a sucker for a good dive bar, and Danny’s is probably my favorite in Tucson. The service is always great, the jukebox is excellent, and the atmosphere is exactly what I want in a neighborhood bar,” a guest wrote on Yelp.
Address: 2910 E. Fort Lowell Rd., Tucson
3. Pattie’s
Pattie’s has been Old Town’s go-to dive bar since 1992. The interior of this family-owned spot is a low-lit maze of rooms with walls covered with dollar bills. Plenty of classic entertainment is on offer, including pool, shuffleboard, ping pong, darts, and a jukebox, plus an open-air courtyard.
Pattie’s has its fair share of regulars, but it’s also popular with travelers who are in town for events like baseball spring training and bachelorette parties.
“There is just a very cool, laid-back feel with multiple rooms for all to enjoy. I could see anyone having a pretty good time there,” a visitor wrote on Yelp.
Address: 7220 E. 1st Ave., Scottsdale
4. RIPs Bar
RIPs Bar is a dive bar at its core—with cheap drinks and a come-as-you-are attitude—but it’s got more going on than your average hole-in-the-wall. Inside, there is nothing fancy: concrete floors, a simple stage setup, and walls plastered with flyers and stickers from years of shows.
A band is on stage most nights, usually leaning punk or rock, plus weekly karaoke nights and local artists who rotate through during a monthly pop-up to show off their work. You’ll also find pinball machines, darts, and TVs.
“Drinks are good. The vibes are great with events and cool people. The bartenders and staff are cool as well,” one guest wrote on Yelp.
Address: 3045 N. 16th St., Phoenix
5. Rum Runner’s Bar
With a pirate theme and bi-weekly goldfish races, Rum Runner’s Bar might be the most distinctive dive bar in this roundup. Don’t expect a full-on theme bar, though: The pirate touches are more of an accent, with the wood-paneled walls and worn-in feel of a classic dive still very much intact. You’ll also find shuffleboard and pool tables, and randomly, colorful Christmas lights that stay up all year.
The neighborhood bar opens at 6 a.m. and rewards early bird patrons with a complimentary dish of biscuits and gravy with their drink purchase. To support the pirate theme, Rum Runner’s offers a special shot and discounted drinks to guests who show up in “pirate swag” on Tuesdays.
“A true neighborhood dive bar where all friendly people are welcome! Great bartenders who pour a strong (and cheap) drink,” one guest wrote on Yelp.
Address: 8355 N. 7th St., Phoenix
6. Swizzle Inn Phoenix
Swizzle Inn Phoenix looks pretty nondescript from the outside—just a windowless facade tucked away in a strip mall. But step inside, and you’ll find a classic dive bar with a Christmas-at-the-beach twist. Tinsel and string lights cover the ceiling year-round, alongside pirate-and-beach-inspired decor, but these touches don’t outshine the wood paneling and lived-in dive bar bones underneath.
You can catch a game on one of many TVs, play a round of pool or your favorite tunes on the jukebox, test your knowledge at trivia night, and if you’re feeling adventurous, order a $2 brown bag mystery shot.
“Swizzle is the kind of dive bar you hope to stumble into—and never want to leave. The place has that perfect dive-bar charm: cool lighting, fun decor, and just the right amount of energy without feeling overcrowded,” one visitor wrote on Yelp.
Address: 5835 N. 16th St., Ste. A, Phoenix
7. TT Roadhouse
Named after the Isle of Man TT, an annual motorcycle race, TT Roadhouse is a biker-friendly hangout that’s been around since 1995. The neighborhood favorite regularly hosts events, like bike night and industry night, and occasionally features performances by local bands.
The dive also has a pool table, darts, old-school video games, a solid lineup of shows and movies playing on the TVs, and a proper jukebox (no Internet streaming here, just the classics).
“Perfect rustic dive bar in Scottsdale. Not many of them left. I’m glad this place is here,” a guest wrote on Google.
Address: 2915 N. 68th St., Scottsdale
8. The Buffet Bar
Graffiti and scrawled signatures cover nearly every surface of The Buffet Bar, from the walls to the ceiling to the bathroom doors, turning the place into a living scrapbook of everyone who’s passed through.
The longstanding dive opened in 1934, making it one of Tucson’s oldest watering holes. The horseshoe-shaped bar is the main focal point of the space, complemented by a regulation-size shuffleboard table and a pool table.
“This isn’t the type of spot I usually like, but the drinks are cheap, the staff is great, and I keep running into some real characters. If you’re a dive bar enthusiast, this is one spot in Arizona you have to visit,” a visitor wrote on Yelp.
Address: 538 E. 9th St., Tucson
