Nightlife

words by > Jeremy Dillahunt

Over the past 10 years, few places have embraced nightlife culture like the Southwest. From secret parties under the moonlight in the middle of the desert to ultra exclusive, South Beach-styled nightclubs boasting celebrity guests and extensive wine cellars, the arid portion of the country is blossoming—and the Phoenix metropolitan area is no exception. In fact, it could be considered a dance-fueled gold rush the way lounges and mega clubs are opening at a frontier town’s pace.

Heavily influenced by the look and sounds of not-too-distant Los Angeles (the dominant nightlife scene in the West), Phoenix’s clubs nonetheless manage to offer a unique, down-home charm. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to see that behind the glamorous exteriors, you can find a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. Phoenix and its close siblings, Scottsdale and Tempe, make up a Bermuda Triangle of nightlife options—the danger being that once you enter any one of these clubs, you may not want to ever leave.

Six Lounge

7316 E Stetson Dr 480-663-6620
www.6az.com Six
Lounge may be the country’s biggest club outside of LA, New York or Miami. Featured in In Style magazine’s “Must See” list and boasting design and food awards, the multi-level modern art lounge offers a chic atmosphere with live jazz, a big room with enough floor space for several hundred people and a champagne list that boasts more than 40 varieties. The music tends mostly toward house and hip-hop with the occasional electro mix thrown in.

Myst

7340 E Shoeman Ln 602-561-0260
www.mystaz.com
With 18,000 square feet of floor space, Myst can claim the undisputed title of megaclub king of Scottsdale. There are swanky rooms such as the Milk Bar and Eden Lounge, cozy nooks, luxury skyboxes and a circa 1800s smoking club room complete with pool tables and outdoor spaces. All this is in addition to the massive dance floor where guests can meet and mingle. International DJ luminaries Paul Van Dyk, Deep Dish and DJ AM have all provided a beat for celebrities—including Shaq, Carmen Electra and Missy Elliot— who are frequently hosted in the club’s VIP.

The Loft

420 S Mill Ave 480-967-8188
www.theloftaz.com
Located in downtown Tempe, The Loft features multi-levels of bars, dance floors and lounge spaces and is locally infamous for its wild parties. The nights generally start off with live music and are closed out with resident DJs spinning hip-hop, mash ups and Top 40 hits. Nightly $3 drink specials make The Loft especially popular with the university crowd. There is very little pretense at The Loft, with a friendly crowd there to blow off steam from the work- or school week—either by cutting up the dance floor or seeing who can down the most “Jager bombers” in one night.