This bar is in a central location and is known as a Phoenix and Scottsdale (\"The West's Most Western Town\") landmark. Not only does it provide some of the best live country music every night of the week, but the staff will even give you free dance lessons four of the evenings early on before the dance parties start so you're prepared. Handle Bar J's is a sprawling wooden ranch-style bar that opened in 1966. This saloon offers mouth-watering steaks, fresh chopped salads, barbecue ribs, grilled sweet corn and homemade biscuits for you to dine on while enjoying the expansive outdoor patio with fire pits or the tall bar tables inside. Look up at the ceiling to see cowboy hats with handwritten notes donated by visitors and regulars and dating back to the '60s. Be prepared to do some dancing, eating and boozing at this country bar; it is definitely for the genuine cowboys and country-lovers.
Handlebar J
7116 E. Becker Lane
Scottsdale, AZ 85254-5210
480-948-0110
handlebarj.com
This franchise country bar is known as a rock n' roll Western chop house, with a young staff that are there for your every need. Bullriding is offered every day and night in a padded corner, and cowboy hats are available for sale for those wanting to fit in. The Western-inspired extensive menu provides huge portions (just like any cowboy chop house--everything in Texas is bigger!) of breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with a specialty of steaks, pork chops and grilled chicken. There is even an outdoor fire pit for roasting marshmallows for s'mores. Happy hour here is well-known for the great drink specials. The outdoor patio or upstairs balcony is a place for those who love to watch people, and heaters keep you warm during the winter. Say hello to a manager, and you will most likely get the house specialty dessert free of charge; a two-foot-high fluffy pink cotton candy. The staff at this restaurant hosts events such as country line dancing, and the music styles vary from night to night, such as rock, live country, hip-hop or classic rock.
Saddle Ranch Chop House
4321 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-874-1093
srrestaurants.com/locations/scottsdale-az
For those looking for a more alternative lifestyle or unique crowd country bar in Phoenix, this is the place to go. Every night, events or activities are keeping the energy level high at this place, such as line dancing or two-stepping, karaoke, poker or darts and billiards. Cash Inn Country is also known as one of the top lesbian/gay country clubs in Phoenix. During the day, this establishment doubles as a coffee bar with free Internet access, and it has a huge patio with comfortable lounge chairs and tables to sit out in the sunshine.
Cash Inn Country
2140 E. McDowell Road
Phoenix, AZ
602-244-9943?
cashinncountry.net