Rips Bar in Phoenix

"I will ride my bike to Rips Bar for a drink and live music. Great dive bar if you need to decompress."
– Kevin Binkley, chef/owner of Binkley's Restaurant (Phoenix)

The Place: Rips Bar

A retro street sign points to the entrance of this Central Phoenix dive bar where the drinks are cheap and the dance floor beckons, especially if you're a fan of punk rock or rockabilly. Live music, karaoke and themed events like '80s Night keep the place hopping, but you can also play pool, foosball and arcade games or just hang out on the patio. Make a point to check out the original artwork on the family-owned establishment's walls.

Says Who? Kevin Binkley

Chef Kevin Binkley's impressive resume includes a stint at The French Laundry in Napa Valley and time spent as executive sous chef at the Inn at Little Washington, all before opening a critically acclaimed restaurant, Binkley's, in Cave Creek. After it launched in 2004, that restaurant (and Chef Binkley) won every award imaginable.

The James Beard Award finalist has since closed the Cave Creek location and opened Binkley's Restaurant in Phoenix, where he offers one seating per night of a multi-course tasting adventure.

Images of Kevin Binkley by David Zickl.