My boyfriend loves this place as long as a certain guy is working (I don't know his name) but apparently he makes THE BEST old fashioned or Manhattans or most likely both. They play stuff off of netflix on the TVs usually pretty old movies. Â Their jukebox selection is way old school which is nice sometimes when you want to just relax and take it easy.
This is a great place for people who don't want lots of comotion as it usually tends to be quite slow during the week but enough people to obviously keep them in business. I have heard there is a lot more people on fridays and saturdays which would make sense.
I might be in love. Â This place may have just blown my last crush away! Â I had driven by this rather nondescript place a million times thinking, "I really need to stop in there and check it out". Â I also had a fellow, respected cocktail-connoisseur tell me I had to go here for the amazing cocktails and ambiance...that was over a year ago. Â So I finally mosied in on a Thursday night and was IMPRESSED. Â Shady's has great tunes coming out of the jukebox, great bartenders that made fantastic beverages, and quite a friendly cool crowd. Â For all the beer people they also have a good variety of beers. Â Oh and did I mention it is INEXPENSIVE! Â I thought they screwed something up when the bill arrived because it was so FREAKING cheap. Â I went back Friday and Saturday just to confirm: Â Shady's is indeed AWESOME.
Review Source:I'm not a bar person -- i'd honestly rather sit at home and drink a beer with dinner (maybe two if I'm feeling luxurious). It's not only cheaper, but I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get home when I'm feeling even the slightest buzz.
Shady's has shown me a new path. I get it now. The beer selection is incredible, the atmosphere is only moderately hipster, and there's always something interesting playing on the TV. (While we were there, we managed to catch most of Hellevator and the beginning of Gingerdead Man 3. Awesome.)
Shady's knows that people who aren't bros need a place to grab a brew. The owners understand that neighborhood pubs should attract the kind of people you can spend more than a few minutes around without wanting to run into traffic.
Do two beers cost about the same as a six-pack, which usually takes me about a week to finish? Sure. But the place is cool enough to make me ignore that fact.
You can not beat the prices of Shady's. Â They're so low I'm sure the it somehow correlates to their name.
I think I need to readjust my definition of a dive bar. Â I had heard this was little bit of a dive bar but I didn't see it. Â It's very cozy and a great lounge bar. Â I'll be going back again for sure.
I always forget about Shady's because it's a little far from my house, but every time I go I'm reminded how much I like it!
Drink prices are amazing... You're definitely not in Scottsdale anymore! I got a martini on the rocks and a shot for $11. Can't beat it.
This isn't your typical Bud Light, vodka/soda type bar. I'm not a big beer drinker but I noticed they have a good selection of unique beers on tap. And the bartender made me my version of a French 75 (standard recipe + a float of Chamboard, it's delicious, try it) without any huff and puff.
Shady's also has a pool table, juke box with nice eclectic selection, and smoking patio. Wee!
A quality drink should take a bit longer than 10 seconds to create. Â
The humble bar staff take their art seriously and their talents become fully evident upon the first sip of your perfectly executed libation. Â These are real-deal bartenders capable of both perfectly executing the classics and experimentation.
A sampling of the jukebox: Siouxsie and the Banshees, LCD Soundsystem, Otis Redding, Bowie.
Quality drinks, great music, non-pretentious non-brodawg crowd. Â What other bars in Phoenix can you say this about?
Oh Shady's, I've never had a bad time inside your funky sugar walls...
Parking? What's that? You shouldn't be drinking and driving.
However, as I am not a fan of getting DUI's, and I have driven here, I have parked my truck on the street a couple of times and left it there. I came back the next day around noon, and other than the inside of my truck was like molten hell (which might have been exacerbated by my hangover) my truck was unharmed from the abandonment necessitated by my over consumption of several cocktails within Shadys.
We've always had good times here. Sometimes its hipster, other times its not. Not so much that I have ever had my standard reaction of "let's beat up some kids in their sister's pants" that I normally do to an overly hipster rich environment. Even with the hipster kid with OCD taking up too much space at the bar, and then leering at you when you go in for a drink because you entered his "special person space" I still like this place. That says something. Ask my friends.
Drink prices are really spot on. Even when my friend Scott comes with us who just drinks brandy, and I buy a couple rounds, my wallet doesn't feel like it just "ran backwards through a corn field without pants on."
Of course we'll be back. Its got spinning tires for fans, the strangest and most wonderful selection of gory Japanese and strange indy films on the TV's, and a jukebox that was programmed by someone with a sense of humor and musical irony.
Its strange, its kinda swanky, and it smells decent inside. Go have a drink and STFU.
I wear my sunglasses at night!
Think that's what I'll do next time I show up! Â Minus the lenses so I can actually see haha! I totally dig Shady's! Â The name is not literal. Â A lot of hip and friendly young people around, and not that pretentious Jersey Shore - yo bro I'm like totally awesome and I'll get that girls number across that "baa". Â You go do that --- In any case Shady's doesn't have any windows. Â There's a pool table, fireplace, jukebox, and several comfortable couches; what can you ask for in a bar?
If you don't know I'm part of an AA group (Affordable Alcohol) - Shady's definitely has affordable alcohol! Â 8 drinks = $50 total, that's cheap in my opinion. Â Usually, I've paid at least $10 a glass for the stuff we were drinking. - Enjoy!
About to go run amuck in the city, just didn't know where to go, a friend and I wanted good times, cheap drinks and to flirt with boys!
Got out my Yelp app and put in dive bars in current location and it pulled up Shady's, oh with a name like that you know I wanted to check it out! So off we went!
When we pulled up to Shady's we noticed right off the bat, no parking, had to park on Side Street but that was ok.
Got into Shady's and I have to say, it's a nice swanky bar, not really a dive bar by my definition, more artsy then dive-y if that makes since to ya, but a nice little find, Â I would call it more of a jazz bar, if only they had jazz/blues playing and I dig that too!
Bartenders & customers were friendly and upbeat, the booths are killer, loved the high back leather booths, great looking jukebox too! Â Drinks were awesome as well! Â Yep I'll be back!
Easily my favorite place to sling back some late night cocktails in the entire Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale Metropolitan Statistical Area.
I like the staff, and they seem to tolerate me at just about all Defcon levels of toxicity and still welcome me the next time without grudges -- yet.
While I don't usually get very adventurous with my drink, I have to say, they make an excellent Old Fashioned -- and I seem to remember enjoying a really good Hot Tottie during the holidays.
If frozen margaritas are what you are looking for, don't even bother showing up -- I don't think they have a blender.
It's never empty, usually filled with interesting looking and sounding people, and thankfully, they usually pick out good tunes on the jukebox for me.
Shady's is one of my favorite bars to just go have some Miller High Life or a Bailey's OTR. Â Ha ha. Â I'm so not kidding.
I love the vibe there and it is definitely NOT a dive bar, no matter what you've heard.
It is clean from the bar to the bathroom. Â They play rad music, show awesome old movies and have a pretty nice set up.
I can't say how I found Shady's since I don't talk much about that portion of my life, but THANK YOU to the person who first suggested we go here.
Whenever I need a getaway where I don't have to worry about getting the day/Mom/whatever off me, I can count on Shady's to provide a respite.
I'm a Portlander, and of every single place in Phoenix, nowhere feels more like Portland than Shady's.
This is good and bad. Come in on a weeknight, and it's like the PDX dives we used to hit in the early '00s, except everyone just kept aging and drinking. As I was texting this to my friend the other day, I followed it up with, "I mean, 'Amelie' is playing on the TVs right now. 'Amelie'." Another downside: the beer selection, while it's gotten better in my four years here, still kind of sucks. Then again, if they had 12 taps and a bunch of imperial IPAs and stouts, it wouldn't be Shady's, would it?
And yet, as I said before, it feels like home. It's only a few blocks away, and I love it.
So NOT a dive bar. More like, a swanky basement bar from the 60s. Big black pleather booths, pool table, low ceilings, and a hefty wooden bar with a formica top.
I can't comment on the nightlife. I tend to wander in during the late afternoon, especially on Sundays. That's the way I like it chill, quiet, uncrowded, I get the bartender's full attention, and can rule the jukebox.
Also, word to the wise, if you are a bit of a vintage cocktail geek, such as myself, make your way to Shady's - NOW. They have all the necessary ingredients, and -- depending on who's behind the bar -- expertise needed to craft the obscure old cocktail of your choice.
Seriously, housemade grenadine and simple syrup, Aperol, Lillet Blanc, Maraschino; you name it, they have it. Cheers!
"I don't always go to neighborhood bars, but when I do, I go to Shady's."
I don't go here very often but I like it when I do.
It's not a dive bar, I don't know what everyone's on about. This isn't the PV.
It's definitely cool, good jukebox, and good beers! Chimay bomber or Stiegel, you'll find something you like. I remember when you were still allowed to smoke in there.
Very neighborhood pub, not glitzy. Nice and cozy and dim for a date drink before a movie or after. I wish I had this bar in MY neighborhood.
***********************************
UPDATE Sept. 2012: They have absinthe, but it's Grüne Fee which is ABSOLUTE CRAP. I mean I don't think you could buy any worse stateside. It's green Windex. It's worse than Fée Verte by miles!! Plus I was told they have cases of it, which means it will take a while to get rid of all that swill. I winced when the bartender showed me the bottle. It was like offering me Natural Light when I was hoping for a craft beer or at least Sam Adams or Pete's Wicked.
Ask the bartender to carry Kubler (true Swiss available stateside) in the future. Could we get that taken care of please? Then Shady's could have a neat sign saying "Now serving true Swiss absinthe."
Quick n dirty bar method: Â 1 shot, 3 shots water, sugar cube or half teaspoon, a little ice, SHAKE 10 seconds (so the sugar dissolves), pour with the ice on top.
A footed highball glass is best for this.
Shady's is awesome at one thing: getting me drunk and home cheaply. Okay, two things.
Not looking to go far or try hard? Try Shady's.
Don't want to drink at home alone because that makes you feel like an alcoholic? Try Shady's.
Want to hear The Pixies all night long? Try Shady's. (P.S. I have no idea who The Pixies are, but everyone here LOVES them... so they must be good.)
Want to have a one-night-stand? Don't try Shady's. (Try Scottsadle.)
Basically, it's like getting drunk with friends in your grandparent's basement... only you don't have to clean up the mess the next morning.
I'm sorry, is this supposed to be a dive bar? Shady's fails at being a dive for multiple reasons, but that shouldn't dissuade anyone from coming here.
A dive bar needs to have an element of desperation and danger about it. At Shady's the only danger I discerned was in maybe parking in the wrong place and risking getting towed. Oh, and the Xavier grad sitting next to me was wearing sharp-looking jewelry on her wrists that I was afraid might have chafed me if I had gotten around to making out with her. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I didn't have a chance to find out.
A dive bar needs to have at least a few maintenance problems, especially in the bathrooms. There needs to be things scrawled on the walls, phone numbers in the grout, tinges of excrement on the floor, doors off their hinges, etc. This men's room looked like it had been prepped for a photo shoot for the bathroom of the year issue of "Janitorial and Infrastructure Weekly".
At a dive bar the bartenders aren't just sarcastic (and by the way, I didn't discern any biting wit behind Shady's bar) they are borderline defensive, making sure that you get a view of the billyclub beside the cash register. At Shady's the bartender snarkily asked "What can I get you?" after acerbically stating "Hi."
And the crowd: Dive bars need to have at least half their customers on public relief of some kind. The remainder need to be either hookers, dealers, undercover cops, or depressed schoolteachers. Admittedly the Saturday-night crowd at Shady's looked like they might have recently faced a major life decision that left them at a serious crossroads, not quite knowing where to go from here. I had a feeling for most of them it was "Audi A4 or A6?" or "Circulon or All-Clad?". Perhaps some of them also are still haunted by having missed the big sale at Banana Republic last week.
So what do you get at Shady's if not the genuine dive-bar experience? A safe-feeling, clean, comfortable place where the Guinesses are poured right, the jukebox is full of punk, ska, early alternative, and reggae (but is never too loud), a welcome absence of sports (only two small TV's and both were showing John Hughes movies), and a relaxed and upscale-looking crowd, all of whom probably think they are slumming.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
As far as Dive Bars go, this place is really only a Three Star Joint. According to Yelp, 3 stars is A-OK and that is Shady's. Â In my humble opinion, it's too nice and well-lit to be a true 5 star dive-bar, but it has potential and here's why....
Parking:
I've never had a problem finding a spot, as long as you can parallel park and read signs (WHERE NOT TO PARK), you'll be stellar.
Dive Bar Essence:
Check. Â As soon as you enter the from the back-door (like every great dive bar/restaurant/etc.), you get smacked in your olfactory senses by the scent of beer, whiskey, a hint of puke and stale cigarette smoke. Â The smell does vanish once you're halfway through the first beer.
Smoking Section:
Out front ( Don't enter from there and you will not have to fight through the wall of smoke.) Â The door is opening so often that the aroma will waft in throughout the evening. Â There are great fans & odor-eaters though.
Beer Selection:
Eclectic enough to be good for a few months/visits. Â
Wine Selection:
Moderate. Â No Joke, actual conversation with my friend Sara G. when we went here earlier this week: Â " ___ ____ is the sauvignon blanc? Â Really? Â We had that at Sushi Roku on our last visit." Â
A dive bar that serves the same wine that a pretentious sushi joint in Scottsdale serves? Â Priceless.
Customer Service:
This is a Dive Bar. Â Don't expect people to be nice and cheery.
Pool Table:
Check.
Music Selection:
Pièce de résistance - This jukebox is the shit.  Old School Punk, R&B, Grunge, POP, hell, they even have some Country.
Go once, go back, go often.
I have been to Shady's on a handful of occasions and always seems to be the last stop. It also seems to leave a bad taste in my mouth. You ever have a place th people like to go and they drag you along and you just know you are not going to have a good time? That's Shady's for me.
It always feels crowded. The smoking area is right outside and it just wafts in. There are these gray chairs that don't leave any room for legs because they are so close together. I always feel I get a hairy eyeball from the staff and other patrons. Maybe it's because I'm a douche and they hate me. Like the cantina scene in Star Wars. "We don't serve their kind here."
The drinks are on the cheap side and the Stella is ice cold. Maybe it's just a case of "It's not you, it's me Shady's."
Here's what I remember about last night's UYE afterparty at Shady's.
Disappointment. Â I don't remember much but I do know that I set a timer on my calendar to go off at 10am today and the entry was mysteriously succinct: "Blast the fuck outta shady's."
So on the strength of that little memory jog I will attempt to reconstruct what it was that upset me.
Ah--I remember! it was the annoyed bartender whose name rhymes with patchouli. Â I must be a really annoying motherfucker (don't comment on that. Â it'd be common of you to do so.) because this chick was so snooty at me and all I was doing was harmlessly drinking a beer. Â Many beers. Â I don't know what it is about bars on indian school and their employees who dislike drunk people but shit.
Anyway, there was a pool table and the water didn't taste so offensive. Â And Georgeann G was there. Â Otherwise this place might well have gotten fewer stars.
Oh sure, I'd go back.
UPDATE: Shady's has some serious doorperson issues for a small lounge.
I was a regular here for a while since I am a big fan of the jukebox, cheap strong pours, super clean bathroom, lounge seating and some of the bar set up. I have had some good times here.
Over the past year and a half, I have to say I have witnessed some serious attitude at the door, more than any club in Scottsdale. One friend, a 5'4 red haired guy wearing a new kids on the block sleeveless shirt was denied admission, I finally hassled w/the bartender and gave me an extra shirt for him to wear since he was visiting out of town. It really soured everyones mood, I am sure the no sleeveless rule is intended for the wifebeaters the "locals" who may want a beer in hipster enclave may disturb. Â I couldnt' convince anyone with me that night to go back, i was convinced it was a fluke.
But each time I went back, I felt a distinct bad feeling from the rude and dismissing door douches, the bartenders in general felt less friendly, the crowd more douchey and not fun to start casual conversations with at all, and all those annoying chairs just stitting in the middle of the bar starting to get on my nerves.
I went there recently with a co-worker, parents are from the Caribbean, and were immediately met with hostility at the door. I was embarrassed at that point. We were ignored for a drink for a while, managed to find a seat and everyone pretty much stared at us. I felt terrible bringing my friend to what I realise is an exclusive, asshole drenched place and realized all my friends had been right before.
I really can't feel good about promoting this place anymore, the magic is definitely gone on how I feel about Shady's-I still love the space, but that is it.
Cool bar. Â Killer tunes.
Some people say it is weird. Â Thankfully, that is true.
It is basically a dive bar, but is freshly remodeled. Â Doesn't smell like smoke and has a hipster crowd.
The bathrooms are AMAZING. Â Spotless, comfortable and clean as could be. Â A nice touch these days.
Everyone at Shady's is mean...... and I mean EVERYONE.
They can all suck a fat one though because I'll  keep coming back. (as if to rub my sugar and spice in their bitter angry faces)
I did come across one very cool bartender gal (the one with the Bettie bangs)....but fuck it, I'm not there for the company, I brought my own. The drinks are strong and cheap and I will agree with everyone on the music selection being pretty rad. It's pretty close to my place, it has an interesting smell, it has no windows... all good things for getting plowed mid afternoon on a Tuesday. It's just those damn patrons.
The last few times I've been I've had "near altercation" experiences with some ridiculously intoxicated people (boys and girls). I was making fun of how cool they think they are in my head....it was like they could read my mind or something. Creepy....
I have never seen so many people in one building try so hard to be "weird". Stop trying so hard. You are prematurely aging me with your presence.
Blah.... whatever... I'll be back. One HUGE plus.... Stella on tap yo
UPDATE::
Okay, I was at Shady's last Sat night and last night.... and I might go back tonight. THAT is how good of a time I had. Granted, I was with one of my fav peeps....
That said,  there is no shortage of attention (and pretty young tattooed things)  and for this I am thankful.... I WUV you Shady's  *blush*
UP-UPDATE: Â okay... the dood at the door carded my gf and didn't card me...I'm like "WTF??" Â he said (and I quote) "you're in here all the time" Â nuff said! Â oh ya!
I wandered into Shady's with a group of my friends on my birthday. Â It wasn't very busy when we got there but seemed to fill up quickly on this Saturday evening. Â The drinks were strong and creative- I got to order a Detroit! Â I am a Michigan girl so this made my birthday seem complete. Â
We enjoyed the seating choices and found a cool non-booth on the back wall to hang out in. Â Everyone seemed to be having fun, and I was totally glad to say that Shady's was a stop on my birthday! Â The juke box was quite intense for me, but we managed to find some good stuff that non music snobs would like. Â Wish it was closer to where I live!
Shady's is my absolute favorite bar. Completely unpretentious, a great mix of people and reasonably priced drinks. If you really want to experience Shady's at it's finest be sure to go on a weekday as the weekends are always crowded.
Everyone here is friendly, including the bartenders.
My one and only gripe about Shady's would be the ammount of people that just HAVE to play "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by Bauhaus over and over and over. Sure, it's the only Bauhaus song you've ever heard but it's the worst song to play at a bar. So please, stay away from the Bauhaus album in the jukebox, the regulars will thank you.
Based on the number of reviews, I'm surprised how many people have been here and formed enough of an opinion on it to register their delight or disgust around the world wide tubes.
In any event, this place is IT. Â It suffices for any mood that you happen to be in -- chill, raucous, moody, bouncy, happy hour, just-passing-through, Â here-all-night, or last-call.
Day drinking is excellent here, as you have no awareness of the time or the brutal Arizona heat. Â So is last call ... strong drinks and better-than-reasonable prices to send you on your way out to drunkenly find a nearby Dunkin Donuts. Â
They have an interesting selection of beer, and supposedly a great bloody mary, though the time i WANTED to order one, the bartender told me not to order it. Â I appreciated his capriciousness about the subject. Â It was late night on Christmas Eve's Eve, so he was right after all. Â
The pool table is a nice fit without being insistent, and its pretty easy to get on despite some other reviewers objections. Â
The only thing i would change is the jukebox, and not even necessarily CHANGE it, but add some more shit, cos i can really only hear The Smiths "Half A Person" one time a night and I'm tired of that jackass who insists on "Psycho Killer" for the millionth time.
Shady's is that perfect mix of all the comfort of a dive bar, but still a great crowd, good music and high energy. Â I usually prefer to go early, before it's too crowded, because once it does fill up you can hardly move. Â And if you were lucky enough to score a barstool, apologize to your bladder in advance and kiss smoking goodbye, because you'd be crazy to give up your seat.
I officially fell in love the first time I ordered a mixed drink and got it handed to me in a pint glass, and for the same price that you'd pay for a regular size anywhere else. Â
Be sure to try this amazing coffee drink they make. Â I think they call it "a drink to forget", but I'm sure if you just ask for the coffee drink they'll know. Â It's some absurd concoction of frangelico, chocolate vodka, a couple other things all mixed with a can of starbuck's coffee. Â Few things beat getting sloppy drunk and wide awake in one shot. Â Justin the bartender asked me if I wanted regular coffee or low-calorie coffee, and seemed a little nonplussed when I asked him, "why, do you think I'm getting fat?" but still, service is typically attentive and polite.
"What's in a name? Â That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Shady's with any other name would be just as shady.
I met up with friends here at 10:30 on a Thursday which I didn't think was very late. Â I couldn't believe the collective drunkenness of the crowd. Â Immediately after parking and getting out of my car, a group of way-too-drunk guys leaving Shady's TRIED TO GET INTO MY CAR. Â They had to have seen my husband and I get out of it! Â We had to shoo them away from our car, and then stay outside to make sure that they were able to pull out their car (adjacent to ours) without doing any damage. Â (BTW, the two cars were nowhere near similar looking).
On entering, I was immediately greeted by a skeevey looking guy who was so drunk he proceeded to babble jibberish at me. Â I was alarmed, since my husband had lingered outside for an extra second to watch the drunk guys drive off. Â When he came in, he had to chase away Mr Jibberish.
Our friends had a booth in the corner by the pool table. Â See Stephy's review for their experience with that. Â I sat down with my friends directly next to a guy in the booth next to ours who looked a little too much like Hitler. Â The mustache, army-fatigue-style hat and jacket and boots. Â Scary. Â
The jukebox left a little to be desired - a little too much 80's music.  Combined with the Christian Slater/Winona Ryder movie  (Heathers maybe?)  playing and the clientele, I felt stuck in a time warp.
Since I had just come from a fashion show prior to meeting my friends here, I was not in the right state of mind for a good experience here. Â So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Â It looked like a cozy place to chill and they mixed a tall strong cheap drink. Â I'd be willing to give it another try, after mentally preparing myself for this kind of a place.
Ahhh, the politics of dive bar pool....
Hi, we're locals and we rule the school. Oh and in case you were wondering, we have permanent dibs on the pool table, so don't you dare come over and try to play on our table even though we aren't even playing and yapping up chicks instead. Oh, so you already put money in huh? Well, fine we will play doubles with you....I guess, but as soon as it's our turn to play, we are gonna make you and your "outsider" friends sit there while we continue to yap it up and pretend we are unaware of who's turn it is and just for shits n giggles one of us is gonna go outside and take a phone call for 10 minutes and make you and your friends sit there and look dumb. Yeah, we rule the school y'all, so don't mess with us.
Idiots.
Shady's would be better if it weren't so awfully uncomfortable. You can't really people watch when every possible seating combination automatically puts your back to passers-by, unless you're sitting at a coveted booth in the pool room... but if you're sitting at a booth and they only seat 4-8 people, why the hell would you people-watch? And sitting in a booth when it's not crowded is somewhat polarizing, as the rest of the crowd is at the bar.
The smoking patio has the same affliction - honestly, it's a rather bizarre coincidence. I'm one of those raised-by-a-crazy-military-man types, so I hate to have my back towards the door. So, basically, I don't like chilling here. It's virtually un-chillable.
On the plus side, they have some good beers. And, back in the day when I was always on the prowl for scrawny punk rock types, this would be a safe place to meet them without having to listen to their music at deafening decibel levels.
I also agree with previous reviewers about the bartender smarminess factor, but it's a friggin' punk rock bar. Nice bartenders would just be insulting. Because we yelpers are so hardcore.
I heart Shady's!! You are always sure to meet someone interesting here. And not in a one-night-stand kinda way. In a "Let's have an interesting conversation" kinda way. Plus, the bartenders are always a lot of fun. By your fifth visit, they'll know your name, I promise. They show great movies all the time, always on mute so as not to interfere with conversations, and have the best jukebox in town! The infamous photographer Aaron Abbott frequents this little gem. Give it a visit, you'll be hooked.
Oh, and for you smokers, they have a nice little tiny patio.
Yes, folks. Â This place pretty much rocks. Â The best way to describe it is that it's like a really hip study lounge (from the Clue board game) without the books or the geeks, but with a bar, pool table and jukebox instead. Â
It attracts a Central & East Phoenix 20-30 something crowd who want a cool low-key place to go, but without the Scottsdale scene. Â The layout of the place is little odd - but not too big, not too small. Â Decent servers, generous mixed drinks, Stella on tap, movies in the background (Weird Science when I went last), killer jukebox and fun crowd really make this place. Â Don't all run now, don't want it to get too crowded now...
Like a lot of you, i too, was upset when i finally got to shady's after hearing about it for so long - upset that i waited that long to go, that is.
i always refer to it as a 'dive' but it's really not. but it's not quite a pub or tavern, but it's small and intimate and has a killer jukebox- with tons of the Cure - and not the hits album, if you know what i mean.
Julie is my all time favorite afternoon bartender, she super sweet and will always chat you up - so don't hesitate to stop in by yourself after work for a drink if you're eager to check it out.
on the weekends it gets crowded fast since it's on the small side, but it's a hip crowd that i agree with everyone again that is not the least bit pretentious, so you're not mad about the tight squeeze.
Tonight I ventured into Shady's for the first time. And tonight I felt self-anger for a long time. Why? Because I've lived blocks away from this place for almost 10 months and haven't been there till now. Oh, I knew it was there the entire time. But I thought the crowd would be the general lower Arcadia biker posse with some loud CCR on the jukebox and PBR as the sole prized elixir on tap. Â Talk about having my head up where the sun don't shine (and not to dog on bikers, CCR, or PBR - all deserve their due respect). Â Â
But thanks to this here website, I learned something new about this place. As other Yelpers have mentioned before me, a really unpretentious yet cool little joint just nestled there on the corner of Indian School & 27th St. After 6 days home in the SF Bay Area, I was back in town, running errands when, well, Shady's just happened to be there. And I happened to pull into the back lot. And I happened to walk in.
"Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas" was the movie for the evening (with subtitles). "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "The Big Payback" on the jukebox. A few folks hanging out and having a good time on a Wednesday night. Scene: late-20's/early 30's. Hipster-ish but not pretentious-ish. Friendly bartender. Dark interior, but not divey (not that every great bar has to be divey). Shady's is definitely a place to come back to with some more folks to hang out at.
As for myself, either I go here before I go to Sprouts or the gym or afterwards. There lies the dilemma. Hmm..drunk exercising and/or organic enzyme buying may not be smart after all. I think just answered my own question.
So. Shady's is the place to hit once you're done with the rest of your shit for the day and you happen to be cruising with the homies on Indian School.
And there you have it.
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