College Times

Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Nightlife

Media Credit: Ryan Ruiz

The Sail Inn is located just off Tempe’s infamous college bar catch-all Mill Avenue, but don’t be mistaken. The Sail Inn is not a college bar.

It’s a bar as you traditionally think about it. It smells a bit like cigarettes being blown away by brisk air conditioning. The bartenders are friendly and personable. There’s live music involving string instruments – most notably a banjo. It’s dark.

The Sail Inn caters to a slightly more mature, rougher crowd than you’d see on any given night strolling down Mill Avenue. But it’s honestly a welcome change.

After all, as a woman, I know sometimes you just want to sit and have a beer without some creep with a bad goatee and Ed Hardy t-shirt coming up to you to ask for your digits. You won’t find that type here.

The bar is reminiscent of what you’d see in a low-budget horror movie that takes place in a small town, right before the main character gets stabbed in the hotel across the street. Except I don’t think you’d get stabbed here.

Known for its incredible acoustics made for live music, the bar caters to a multitude of genres. Local acts that frequently made appearances at The Sail Inn include soul-style Black Carl, bluegrass band The Breadwinners, Beatles cover group Ringo McLennonSon and Psychedelic Mooj, among others.

Local musicians can also test the stage at The Sail Inn with Tuesday’s open mic night. Monday is ladies night with no cover for all women. Thursday, the bar has a weekly reggae party with $2 Red Stripe Jamaican lagers.

If you’re looking for a night of no frills, The Sail Inn is the bar for you. They have booze. They have live music. Really, what else would you want?



The Sail Inn, 26 S. Farmer Avenue, Tempe, 480.839.6637

 

 

OTHER BARS:

PLAIN & SIMPLE

 



Time Out Lounge

Talk about no frills. The Time Out Lounge offers $1.50 Pabst Blue Ribbon cans and only accepts cash. 3129 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.968.6491

Yucca Tap Room

Live rock music, a karaoke night and DJs mix to make Yucca Tap Room a must-stop on the Tempe bar scene. 29 W. Southern Avenue, Tempe, 480.967.4777

Pecos Lounge

It has the feel of an old-time cowboy bar, but it’s right smack dab in the middle of Chandler. 851 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, 480.963.9804

The Sets

Believe it or not, The Sets isn’t just a rockin’ music venue. They also have a full bar complete with several pool tables and even ping-pong. 93 E. Southern Avenue, Tempe, 480.829.1822

Sneakers Sports Grill

It has a similar atmosphere to The Sail Inn, except instead of banjos there are televisions. 1470 E. Southern Avenue, Tempe, 480.763.2537

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