Tempe Tavern

Description

Tempe Tavern oozes Arizona history. The historic building, built in 1918, used to be known as the White Dairy Barn and preserves the many of its original features, including exposed-concrete columns, door framing, and cobblestone surfaces. The bar used to house Tempe favorite Murphy's Pub and the New Oxbow Tavern, and those aren't the only ties to clubs of the past: the (non-working, unfortunately) phone booth used to belong in Valley favorite Buzz Funbar.

The bar doesn't solely lean on fond memories, though. The kitschy, bottle-cap-covered walls by the bathroom, vintage beer signs, and full stage all point to a bar that has an identity all its own, with an old-school, relaxed feel. Located just off the Apache/McClintock light-rail stop and across the street from the luxury housing of the Grigio Metro apartment complex, the bar points to a bright future for a section of Tempe that is rife with old memories and ripe for new ones.