Best night Club in Phoenix

Shady's Fine Ales and Cocktails

Katie Johnson

Courting Disaster is Jackalope Ranch's weekly column of dating horror stories, observations, how-tos, and more by Katie Johnson. Names of ex-boyfriends, past hookups, and bad blind dates have been changed to protect the guilty.

When it comes finding love, it's all about being in the right place at the right time. And, while I hardly feel qualified to tell you the when and who particulars of your future soul mate (hell, I can't even do it for myself), I can certainly help you with the where. Because dating is a lot like real estate: It's all about location, location, location

And maybe your choice of hardwood or carpet.

When I first moved back to Phoenix I was desperately looking for a place to meet guys. I wasn't interested in joining a gym or the 20-30 club. Ideally, I wanted a Phoenix bar that lacked pretension as much as it did convicted felons. I found my answer in Shady's. This bar is as simple as it is social, offering a nice bar, pool table, and heavily populated smoking patio for a healthy does of average Joe's and Joe-drinking hipsters to talk over fine ales and cocktails.

Lux Central

I have met many men at Lux: the Neurologist, Pretentious Bigfoot, and a few who weren't even that bad. It's caused me to think long and hard about why Lux is such a vortex for lonely singles. Honestly, I think the answer is one part coffee, one part alcohol, and two parts communal seating. Like a bar, this Central Phoenix coffee shop obligates people to sit with strangers. But unlike your average drinking hole, it's more socially acceptable to sit by yourself for extended periods of time without looking like an addict on suicide watch.

Think of the yard as recess for adults. With plenty of outdoor activities like ping pong and corn hole, as well as an extensive bar and restaurant options, you and your potential date can choose just how far you want the night to go. And if for any reason you don't make a connection on the patio or at the bar, there's always the seemingly separate but secretly unified his-and-hers bathroom.

Little Woody

Katie Johnson

Little Woody offers a mix of wealthy Arcadians, hipsters, and the occasional trophy wife, as well as plenty of excuses to strike up a conversation, whether it's over skeeball, foosball, shuffle board, or a round of darts. It's cozy and not too overwhelming for the timid single, plus the drinks are top notch. Worst case scenario, if you strike out at Little Woody, you can easily walk down the street to try your luck at The Vig or Postino.

If you like things off the beaten path, chances are your future significant other does too. How else do you explain meeting at a warehouse south of downtown that features an airstream kitchen, indoor bar, boxing ring, ping pong, karaoke, and shopping? Much like The Yard, The Duce is a playground for adults with plenty of options for striking up a conversation with a stranger.

Hi-Fi Kitchen & Cocktails

Benjamin Leatherman

For those who favor the shiny and new, Hi-Fi Kitchen and Cocktails is one of Old Town's best spots to see, be seen, and be single. If you're not as concerned with finding Mr. Right as your are with Mr. Right Now, this glitzy going out spot is your sure ticket for either a sugar daddy, smooth operator, or a one-night stand.

When it comes to icebreakers, there is nothing simpler, nothing more adorable than the puppy. While you want to pick a park with Fido in mind, it doesn't hurt to pick a park that best fits your single agenda. Chaparral Dog Park is one of the nicer parks in town, attracting some of the nicer looking and better situated singles. It's free, friendly, and most importantly, gives you a chance to see what a potential match looks like in the daylight.

Vig Arcadia

There's always a good mix of people at The Vig, from bros and cougars to hispters and everything in between. Whether you're catching a game at the bar or playing some bocce ball on patio, you're bound see a few new faces while you're there. Best of all, The Vig has Phoenix locations in uptown, downtown, and Arcadia. So you don't have to travel too far to find true love or, at the very least, a free drink.

On paper, one would not think much of a place where you have to yell over live music to ask someone for their phone number. But Crescent Ballroom has established a reputation for not just being a great downtown music venue but also a hotspot for meeting singles. With close proximity to off-duty businessmen and an entertainment lineup that draws a healthy crowd of creative locals, Crescent's prime urban location makes it a mecca for mixed interests and mingling.

For the coffee enthusiast, beer drinker, ASU student, or satellite office user, Cartel in Tempe serves up quality beverages and quality hipsters, making it ideal for both people watching and number exchanging - that is if you have a thing for the bearded, the tattooed, and/or the skinny jean attired.