Entry No. 19 — the Phoenix file — filed under: speakeasy
36 Below
A Walipini-inspired (underground-greenhouse) speakeasy buried beneath Sip Coffee & Beer Garage — the bar leans into the idea of a subterranean realm where 'mystery and magic unite,' and it requires a credit card just to hold your reservation.
The story
Pull up to Sip Coffee & Beer Garage on Indian School Road and you'd swear you're just stopping by an Arcadia auto-shop-turned-taproom for an espresso or a local pint. What isn't visible from the street patio is the vault buried directly beneath the coffee machines: a subterranean cocktail cavern known as 36 Below.
The space draws its concept from a walipini—an underground greenhouse designed to cultivate plants by trapping subterranean thermal energy. In the middle of the Phoenix desert, the owners flipped that logic on its head, sinking a cool, dark refuge twelve feet beneath the Indian School Road pavement. Inside, floor-to-ceiling artificial flora, ambient lighting, and shifting digital projections transform a basement footprint into a botanical terrarium, where hyper-dramatic, seasonal cocktail concepts take center stage.
What it's like
You'll head inside Sip Coffee, present your reservation to the host, and be escorted down a narrow staircase into the cool underground air. The room is intimate, dark, and heavy on terrarium aesthetics, with lush greenery framing backlit tables and digital screen backdrops. Because seat count below deck is tightly controlled, walk-ins are virtually nonexistent—you'll need to secure your spot online in advance, and keep in mind they hold reservations with a credit card that gets charged if you no-show.
The move: Reserve ahead, descend below Sip Coffee & Beer Garage, and order off the dramatic seasonal cocktail menu (past runs have included a holiday pop-up series) in a room designed to feel like you've dropped into another world.
- 📍 Arcadia, Phoenix
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3620 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- UnderTow (at Century Grand) — Keep the high-concept Arcadia bar crawl going by moving from an underground greenhouse into a simulated 19th-century ship's hull.
- The Hermosa Inn (Lon's at the Hermosa) — Contrast the synthetic subterranean greenhouse with authentic 1930s adobe hacienda architecture and open desert patio dining less than two miles away.
- El Molino Mexican Cafe at the Scottsdale Elks Lodge (former POW Officers' Club) — Trade the dramatic fantasy of 36 Below for real local underground history at this former WWII POW camp officers' club.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance?
Go directly into Sip Coffee & Beer Garage at 3620 E Indian School Rd and check in with the host stand to be taken downstairs.
Are reservations mandatory?
Yes. Seats are extremely limited, and reservations require a credit card on file to secure your time slot.
What kind of drinks and food do they serve?
They offer a rotating menu of theatrical, highly styled craft cocktails paired with a limited selection of light food and small plates.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · phoenixnewtimes.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-19