Rachel S.

Tracy D.

Michael C.

Heidi E.

Boyd C.

Kevin J.

Andrew V.

Tia M.

J G.

Lillie H.

Fred M.

Paulina R.

Strong drinks and great music. I will definitely be coming back every second and third Saturday of the month to get my drunk dance on. The people who attend are super friendly too, I showed up by myself and ended up befriending a group of funny girls. Would go by myself again if I had to.

Tyger L.

Okay...so I've read thru some of the reviews. I remember when it used to be Paco Paco (also a fun-spot), but that was in my past-life experience, and it bears not-a-lot of resemblance to the place it used to be. And I'm not complaining. Yes, the music is pretty frickin badass (we went on Saturday but I don't believe it was an Obscura night). I'm a punk rock girl (don't let the current wave of office-inspired playwear fool you) and I enjoyed their ecclectic music mix of 80's subversive occasionally poppy songs...the drinks are good and well-(well meaning decent, not well meaning bottom-shelf bar)-priced. It's nicely dark and murky...unless you sit by the door, which is what we did at first...hey! we were trying to pace ourselves (that didn't really work, I think I sucked back 4 Jack and Cokes in 30 minutes, don't judge me, I had a rough day!) 4 drinks...under $25. You have won my loyalty. (So what, I'm easy) So during that first 30 minutes, I was my counter-characteristically (read: sober) delightfully demure and polite self...by minute 45 I was back to normal and having a grand old time, making friends, making enemies, trying to make friends out of aforementioned enemies...you know, whatever. Anyone who said that alcohol isn't the answer was not asking the same questions I asked that night. And I absolutely love the conglomeration of off-beat characters that came through the door. This dive bar kicks patooty. I like it. I like it alot.

Satine C.

great bar. there is always something fun going on and everyone is really friendly. I love the music too, it's very new wave 80s style.

Lance L.

Excellent dive bar. Really great karaoke song selection on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Cheap drinks, and a good indie/rock kind of place.

Melissa M.

Stopped in since this place is on the Crafty Bastards card list (you can sign up for one on the Phx Newtimes website). The bartender Renee was awesome and they have some great deals on craft beers! It seems like everyone is super friendly as another one of the bartenders introduced himself to us. Definitely would recommend checking this place out!

Maria B.

This is a fun place, if you want to get your ass grabbed by strangers, and sometimes you need to keep your hands to yourself. Awww the weird 80s punk classical music being pumped into your brain makes you want to grind up onto anyone around you, but I like my personal space. So give me three feet brotha! Trying to get away from the sound and grabby hands for a minute out on the covered patio didn't work with all that smoke in your face. Let's just say, anything covered outside still holds in the smoke. I don't think I'm ever going to venture out to this spot ever again. If you end up here, bring cash or order more than $6 with your card or else the bartenders will get snooty.

Michael W.

This place was interesting. It was small and very divey. There were tons of people crammed into this place. It seemed like it was like hipster heaven apparently, heh. I don't know but the bro and I were super amused. Being Asian, I'm terrible at driving related things so I couldn't find the parking so I parked at the AutoZone next door. I should've just parked on the side walk. It would've been a easier walk. They have an outdoor smoking and drinking patio. There was a local no-name band playing. There was quite a number of people that were dancing there. They also had a pool table. The felt was in pretty decent condition. The drinks were relatively inexpensive. The bartenders were alright but couldn't make a Blue Hawaiian or a Liquid Cocaine but that's alright since people rarely ask for those drinks anywhere. The smoking patio was just as filled as the inside. There seemed to be people from somewhat different walks of life trying to have conversation outside. After finishing our drinks, we left. I wouldn't mind coming back here but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Strangely, it reminds me of the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe but much smaller.

Regina L.

Party with Sedated!!!! Rita its a blast, great drink specials, live bands... Cool crowd!!! Come on down!!!

Mamma W.

Excellent dirty dive bar. Grungy and dark with good service and stiff drinks. Kind of an older alternative crowd mixed with a hip hop vibe. I loved it.

Ashley N.

Gritty, dirty, grungey ol dive bar, what more can you expect? Cheap drinks. 3 stars because the bartenders aren't friendly. But whatever.

Lorri M.

Very cool dive bar! Went with a friend and we played pool while we had a cocktail. Prices were average for a decent drink. Go have fun listen to the jukebox!

Meschelle H.

So, some friends texted for me to get my keester down to Rips, because they were doing their super rad 80's-style dance party (a.k.a. Obscura). I had just had my fill of two stepping and line dancing at the Cash Inn, so I figured I could use something a little more my style. It cost five smackers to get in, which included a raffle ticket (for what, I don't know...obvs I didn't win...stop rubbing it in). They were totally spinning the sweet stylings of 80's bands of yore. This was my kind of party. I spotted my friends on the dance floor somehow (it was pretty packed) and jumped right in. The dance area was darker, with lots of little lights bouncing off from every which way and movies were playing behind the DJ. I can't comment on the drinks or prices of said beverages, as I was being a responsible driver. The vibe of this place was great, although I heard that Obscura only happens once a month, so it may very well be different on other nights. I will definitely be back to get my 80's fix again next month! Like, gag me with a spoon I must be really freaking out, cause no other Val dude can touch these guys! (anyone?) :)

Manny G.

I spent 1.5 hours at the live jam. Open mic. Played the drums and had a blast jamming for about 1.25 hours. These guys were fun! I sang and played everything from voodoo child to journey to eagles. Great group of guys & gals.

Taric W.

I don't have a mohawk, or a shirt that says "The Smiths" or "The Clash", so I can only fit in Rips' social scene with my awkward attempts at charming wit. When I heard the band jamming inside, and saw the dance floor packed, I was delighted to cough up the $5 cover. I saw the great selection at the bar, and guzzled some woodchuck winter cider while my pal grabbed some well-made cocktails. The wait wasn't long, and the staff was personable. The bottled beer selection also rocks. I got the Red Hook IPA, and before I knew it I had a mighty buzz, with many strangers striking up conversations. The atmosphere here is friendly, and this is coming from a Yelper who usually sits in a corner surrounded by empty PBR cans. I just can't get the hang of that stupid game they have on the patio! If you try it and win, tell me your secret! Oh, and one more thing: I kept hearing about "Obscura", which sounds like something so awesome that it's too cool for me to understand without checking it out. I'll be back.

cassandra s.

I've been to Rips a few times. It's right down the street from my house- stumbling distance. The time we went with our rockabilly friends was a lot of fun. We danced all night to the bands, and I was too plastered to realize how many people were smooshed in to that little bar. There was a near-fight between my friend's husband and a big guy who was not leaving my friend alone. So of course, there's that... On other occasions, I've gone and it was just way too crowded. It was like this "EXCUSE ME!!! EXCUSE MEEEE!! CAN I GET A JACK AND COKE PLEASE?? NO, JACK!! YEAH!! AND COKE!! A JACK AND COKE!!" I'm not a huge fan of screaming, really. Well, usually. ;) Anywho, this place is good for a rowdy rockabilly/punk sorta crowd. A little too intense for my innocent looking self and low key husband. I'd like to check it out on a Thursday some time. And I'm always seeing something advertised for Wednesdays, although we've never checked it out. Maybe some day.

Laura I.

I just went to this place this weekend per an invite from a fellow Yelper. I had never heard of this place so when she asked if I wanted to come here, I had to ask her what it was. This is very much a Dive bar. When I walked in, it was exactly what I expected. It is very small with a stage in the corner and a patio out back for the smokers. There is really only one reason I gave it the 2 stars and not 1. It had Magic Hat #9 on tap. There was also a great selection of spirits. I tried a Jack Honey and coke and it was so good. The night we went, there were live bands performing. Usually I love going on those nights but this one was just too loud. I couldn't even talk to someone unless my mouth was in their ear. As far as the clientele goes, it was definitely goth night. That is not usually my crowd. Eventually, we decided to visit the patio and I thought it was nice. It was definitely not as loud so you could have a conversation but you have to be ok with cigarette smoke. I never mind trying out new places but unfortunately, I was not impressed. Maybe it will be different the next time.

Simone L.

If you like dive bars this place is a lot of fun. They have an area for dancing and patio for hanging out. Sometimes there's even a food truck!

Mateo C.

Rips is in my hood, so I give it one extra star. It's not worth much of a drive unless you're going to see a specific band/show etc. Shows are pretty cool and diverse. It is a nice dark grungy dive where you can hide from the heat -- if you're into that $2 pints during happy hour keep your liver at bay and pocketbook happy.

Mala H.

Go here for your 80s cover bands - Motley Crue, Metallica, etc. Place is an extremely interesting time warp.

Bill B.

Still a fan of the music and overall vibe. One of the few bars in this part of town doing special events (i.e. Zombie-walk wrap party, themed music nights, that sort of thing) I've noted that the later it gets, the gayer it gets. It starts off as predominately hipster and as Midnight approaches seems predominately gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that, mind you . . .

Tegan L.

I used to come here every weekend when Philthy Phil's was open, but after they closed I never had a reason to be over there. Though I did venture there a few weekends ago again... Things that are Great: -The music. Always great mixes and totally perfect for the crowd. -The drinks. Made right and made strong. -The space. The back patio and inside and bar are the perfect sizes for a large crowd without being too packed in. Things that are Okay: -The dance floor. I don't know when they put a stage in, the dance floor was great before that though. -The cover. It sucks to pay cover but it's only $5 and it usually doesn't start till late (10 or 11pm). -The prices. Nothing special, but nothing worth going out of your for. Things that are Crappy: -The SERVICE oh my god could these bartenders be any more rude? I've had drinks forgotten about, told I need to update my ID (wtf?), had eyes rolled at me (for having a Yelp discount, no less), and been blatantly told "we'll take your drink order later". The bartenders are so unhappy and angry to be there, it's miserable just watching someone be so unhappy. Overall, a great place to dance and drink with friends for a suitable price. If the location was better and the bartenders had any semblance of emotion outside of anger, it'd be a 5 star.

Selina C.

My girl friends and I finally made it to Obscura last night and we had an amazing time! The night started with some indie tunes here and some electro songs there, which was a nice change from the usual, booty-poppin, bumpin n' grindin songs you'd hear at other bars or clubs. As the night progressed, they started playing a lot of old songs from the 80's and 90's, and I was seriously in HEAVEN! (Anybody that knows me well knows that I am in love with 80's music...) Every song that was played kept me out on the dancefloor! If it hadn't been for the plans we made with other friends later in the night, we would have stayed until closing time. In addition to awesome music, they have wallet-friendly prices on drinks all night. And from my experience last night, the people here were cool. And didn't have to deal with the unpleasant surprise of a creeper sneaking up from behind and dancing with their crotch on me, which is probably why I don't go out to bars or clubs so much anymore. I wish this place was closer to my house! But of course, being in the West Valley, there isn't anything too cool and exciting until you've reached Phoenix and east... I definitely will be coming back next month for Obscura!

Dena B.

I usually love this place. Monday night karaoke is a must. Obscure is also a blast with amazing music. But recently I went by with some friends for last call around 130 am and the bartender was just so rude about it. Her name was Monique. She gave my friend such a hard time about having a passport instead of a state ID (really?) and just started telling us about another employee getting fired. Next time I feel like getting a last minute drink, I won't.

Adrian F.

OK... I went to Rip's for my very frist time just two weeks ago. I had very high expectations... the place looks SO RAD from the outside with its old school sign and oddly shaped building! Biggest. Letdown. Ever. It was a Monday night, so as you can probably guess we walked into a pretty empty bar. To make the experience even more awkward, we were greeted by karaoke. Bad karaoke. I mean really bad. I immediately began to draft this Yelp review in my head... But then my wife suggested we come back for Obscura that following Saturday. So I held off. I wanted to give Rip's a second chance, because deep down I really wanted to like it. Fast forward to Saturday night: Obscura. Upon walking in, we were greeted with a much different scene... Loud (but good) music, lights, dancing, and PEOPLE... lots and lots of people! We hung out at a table on the smoking patio, crushing $3 Dale's Pale Ale (also a huge draw for me), and after a few drinks decided to go back inside and get our dance on!! The music was great, the drinks were cheap, and everyone was just there to have a great time! Will I ever be back on a Monday? No way in hell. But I'm at least open to coming back on a weekend, and I'll definitely check out Obscura again in the near future!

Eric R.

Great dive bar that serves up stiff drinks that won't hurt your wallet. The inside is dark, ghetto and retro. They have local art on the walls which I think is awesome. The front entrance is where you'll find a pool table, behind which is a long bar which leads to a dance floor/staging area when they have live entertainment. You'll usually find a friendly crowd and no attitude or pretense from either them or you bartender. As with any dive bar, you will of course have to contend with the requisite weirdo who wants to tell you about his days working the railroad. At this point though you can excuse yourself to the patio for a smoke. This is more of a place where you would probably wind up to end the night......or after brunch after drank all the mimosas.

Jamie S.

Central Phoenix wouldn't be the same without Obsecura at Rips!

Robert O.

Birds chirped in the sunshine, suv's full of well dressed brats in patent leather shoes and sunday finery were carted off to church, old folks sat on their porches with coffee and the Az republic, others gathered for brunch, more still awoke to Sunday morning broad casts and weekend chores- yet not Scott and I. We rode down sixteenth street like mongols, drunk on pillage and homemade mimosas, the wind whipping our unkempt hair as we shouted curses at cars that sped by. The destination was uncertain, yet our buzz weened and the midtown lands loomed unfamiliar. The canned wine we toted along on our trusty metal steeds had ran out and like a mirage, Rips Bar shimmered in the distance. We reared up and walked the mounts to the front door in attempts to find a sturdy rail to chain them to, a painter told us to check around the back entrance. Stepping inside the dimly lit interior, there was only one crusty ancient drunk patronizing the bar, I scanned the digs of the place and grinned cuffing Scott on the shoulder. "first round's on me" I croaked in a dry voice. "word" Scott said deep and solemn. We walked up to the bar and bellied up on stools, as the voluptuous bartender sauntered over. She gave us both a look up and down and in a sultry husky voice inquired "what'll it be?". Scott asked her if they had any seasonal specials, and she rattled off a few and declared that bloody mary's would be the special of note. I ordered one and Scott opted for a domestic draft. I traded a dollar for some quarters and headed over greedily to the galaga machine, I planned to out do the best score. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as the rockabilly bartender made my bloody, aghast I stiffled a gasp. In revulsion I watched in horror as she took several jars of some pickled substance or other and sloughed some of the brine into my glass, I shuddered. If there is one form of food that I despise and almost pathologically fear it is pickled anything. Since the days of my childhood when my younger brother would chase me around the house with a half eaten pickle in his outstretched hand and giggle as he tormented me, I have always hated them. I resigned myself to the fate that awaited me. I told myself 'how gross could it be? I've had hundreds of bloody mary's before, surely someone has made one akin to this and I probably didnt even realize.' Man up! I thought. Even still I felt condemned. Soon she would place it before me, and I'd gingerly sip and make a face and she'd know how big of a wuss I am and I'd never be able to come to this awesome biglebowski-esque bar ever again. My hands trembled and grew damp as I lost round after round on Galaga, attempting to forstall the inevitable, finally my quarters were spent and I turned to face my trial. I closed my eyes, and held my breath, as I took a long pull from the glass and swallowed quickly. What hit me first wasnt the putrid taste I had thought would overwhelm me, in fact there wasnt anything putrid about it, what hit me was the amount of vodka in my glass, like someone shattered that glass on the crown of my skull. It was salty, and viscous, and strong like bull. It was spicy and tart and peppery. It was tangy and sweet and sour all at once. It was probably the best dive bar bloody mary I had ever had, and I was pleasantly surprised. Sitting out on the porch with a smoke and my half full glass for company as Scott tittered on with the one grizzly patron inside, I felt warm and content, and I vowed never to let appearances deceive me again, lest I miss out on some salty new experience.

Roxanne G.

Dive bar, good for people watching. Some bar food , sometimes free food. Sometimes grilled good! Had part of my birthday here and had Hard Fall Hearts play. Freaking awesome! Thanks to Casper for setting that up. They have different themed nights and raffle give a ways for cool stuff like concert tickets sometimes. Family owned and partially operated? Any who... Good place to stop in from time to time.

Dave B.

I love Dive Bars. I love Rock Clubs. So I had high hopes for Rips, but sadly this place fails at both. This venue has the distinct feel of an owner who's patrons have moved on (or died) and this whole "Rock Bar" thing is just a desperate and finial grasp at survival. The staff are all middle aged and clearly could give two shits about the local music scene. Therefore there's absolutely nothing organically cool about this place. And with The Crescent Ballroom, The Valley Bar and Rebel Lounge all in the nearby vicinity, I see no reason for this place's existance. Granted, those venues are significantly more Rock than Dive Bar, so if you're looking for a good combo of both, The Rogue would be a significantly better choice IMHO.

Monica O.

Met up with some friends on a Friday night for a UYE of Cards against Humanity down at Rips, and I have to say is a pretty cool dive bar. Nothing fancy but cool none the less They have a live band playing, but it wasn't too loud, you could sit by the pool table and really not be bothered by the band, no need to yell to talk with your friends. As the group grew we had to move it to the patio area, which is pretty sweet too, lots of people talking and enjoying the night. Also when you check in on Yelp, you will get a $1 off your beer or cocktail, that's pretty sweet! Bartenders are nice, the band was good. Friday night was a good night! Rips is great dive bar in the valley! Yep I'll be back again.

Amy Q.

Decided to hop in the Lincoln and take a drive and we decided to stop at Rips! So glad we did. It is a great little dive bar. We didn't stay long as we were not planning on staying for more than one or two drinks. We each ordered a basic vodka/tonic (simple) and then I decided to get a shot and not sure what I wanted the bartender made me a very tasty pineapple upside down cake shot and it was great! The bartenders were friendly and always were attentive to your empty glass. They also had a live band the night we stopped in as well. Can't wait to head back in one night!

Rebecca H.

Oh Rips. It's one of those bars where you feel like you can go by yourself, but not feel awkward, harassed or snubbed, as well as actually have a good time. Pauly is a great bartender and he'll treat you right, and the rest of the staff is friendly too. Thumbs up!

Rick N.

Came here to Jeff E. and Monica O.'s CAH UYE. Rip's is a dive bar and everything that entails. It is small and dimly lit. They had a stage with a band playing. It would be loud closer to here but we sat at a table near the pool table. To echo Monica O., yes you could sit here and socialize. Great idea since we were playing CAH and you pretty much have to hear what the hell is going on. I also think that if you are going to go out with a bunch of people in general and want to socialize, then it should be somewhere where you actually CAN socialize. Yes you could come, sit and chat as some of us did before CAH came online. I am not sure why we left this area, but we ended up outside on their patio and continued playing. Small patio but it got the job done. I like patios and being outside in general so this worked for me. The bar was small but this is expected at a place like this. They had decent selection and I would imagine prices are comparable to like places. I thought it took me a long time however to close my tab. They could have used another person or two. Solid place and would come back.

Arana W.

One of my favorite dives! I've been here when it's quiet, I've been here for live music, and I've been here for DJs and dancing. Day drinking, night drinking - and now they open at 6am, so I may even start occasional morning drinking here! It's small, it's dark, it's a dive. A dive with a solid beer selection and a surprising stock of alcohol for the size. Hipsters, punks, old vets. White, Black, Hispanic, Native, Asian - everyone is here! Staff is competent - and since I grade with a different set of standards when looking at dives - in the ladies room, both stall doors close and lock - there is always toilet paper, soap and paper towel. Given how some dives are, this place is a major treat! I celebrated my last birthday here, have met new friends here and have had a blast dancing and imbibing and chatting with my friends for hours on end. What more could I ask from a neighborhood haunt?

Susane S.

Cool dive bar. We were in town and read all the reviews and decided to come. I guess we came on rockabilly/biker night but the band was pretty good. I don't understand the video they were playing on the projector, old school videos of girls dancing around topless. But we had a good time.

Erik S.

Rips is a dump but it's my kinda dump. There was live music when we visited who were questionably good but improved the atmosphere either way. We'll be back next time we're on that side of town.

Andrea S.

I looove this barrrr, it's my kinda place... Seriously tho, I love this bar. The bartenders are wonderful. I've spent many a night in a dive bar and these bartenders are just the best. By your second visit they'll remember your drink, by your third or fourth your name, by visit five your best friends. It is a dive however, so don't walk in expecting 5 star accommodations. Bathrooms are old and a little gross, some of the regulars are a bit sketchy but if you enjoy a good jukebox, friendly faces, cheap drinks, karaoke and live music this place is sure to impress.

Shannon E.

Fabulously strong (and well priced) margaritas, served in a no-nonsense, working class, punk/alt rock bar with occasional theme events and live bands, AND it's close enough for me to walk to/stumble home from?? Yes please!

Mr K.

Man, what a wasted opportunity to discover Obscura right before I shoved off to work thousands of miles away on another continent. I randomly ventured into Rips on my way home after a full night out in Tempe, given that it was practically spitting distance from me. What I encountered once inside was a full-on modern rock dance party going on in the back, folks all chill playing pool up front, and a collection of randoms enjoy their cheap drinks at the bar. The music that played while I was there? I documented a selection: * "Crash" by the Primitives * "Cars" by Gary Numan * "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie & The Banshees * "Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop * "Close to Me" by the Cure * "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division * "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo * "I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You A Rose Garden)" by Kon Kan Groups of friends, many in black, dancing up a storm (reminiscent of the Goth kids whenever "Bizarre Love Triange" played during high school dances). I was a little taken aback since so many of the folks on the floor looked no older than their early 20s - about the age of a lot of the songs they were dancing to. Rest assured, there were older folks at Rips enjoying the tunes as well, with memories of their teen selves in their bedrooms recording these songs from the radio on their Sony dual cassette boombox, futilely trying to avoid the DJ's voice from chiming in too early and ruining everything. Besides the crowd enjoying the dance floor, there were other patrons enjoying the atmosphere by the bar. This included two hipster guys trying to recreate moves by Kid N Play, one girl lying on her chest on top of a bar stool and another guy spinning her around by her legs (amazingly, she didn't fly off), and yet another guy planking between two stools and his friends doing the limbo under him. Did I mention this place has cheap drinks? I was enjoying mine while observing everything happening around me, when an old guy with very few teeth came up to me, angry. "Everyone else here is too drunk to play pool! What are these fools doing? Did you see that? Hey, you know what gangsters in Sicily do with anyone who crosses them? They first hit their knees with..." "Sorry, my English bad. Only here for Kon Kan!" I replied in a thick accent. He walked away, confused and cursing. All in all, if I'm ever back in town on the weekend that Obscura is happening (and for some reason I've magically conquered jet lag), I'll be here. To me, it's like listening to Live 105 in San Francisco back in high school all over again. Except this time it's combined with a live genetic hybrid of Club MTV, 120 Minutes, Jackass, and just plain old WTF? 4 Stars.

Jen M.

Used the deal offered on yelp last night. The $5 cover was worth listening to awesome music, dancing and people watching! Definitely coming back here again!

Brenda L.

James F.

Terri S.

Rebecca B.

David D.

Shannon B.

SuckerPunch X.

Paige S.

Jon K.