Entry No. 6 — the Phoenix file — filed under: speakeasy
Pigtails (Downtown)
The address says Washington Street, but the actual unmarked door is around the corner on Central Avenue, immediately south of Doghaus Biergarten — no sign, no password, and you walk straight through the kitchen before you hit the host stand and the copper-and-living-wall bar beyond it.
The story
CityScape is mostly glass towers, outdoor plaza concrete, and corporate chain energy, which makes Pigtails feel like a system glitch. The official mailing address claims Washington Street, but if you go there, you will just end up staring at sterile commercial storefronts. The real access point sits on Central Avenue, right south of Doghaus Biergarten, disguised as an unmarked, ordinary door that looks like a service entrance you aren't supposed to touch.
Push through it anyway. You won't find a doorman asking for a password or a dramatic velvet rope—instead, you step directly into the heat and noise of a working back kitchen area. Walk straight through the stainless-steel corridor before the space suddenly opens up into a low-lit cocktail lounge built around a copper-topped bar framed by an overgrown living plant wall.
The menu balances high-end mixology with unapologetic bar food. You can sit beneath hanging flora sipping custom cocktail creations or sharing a rotating mystery punch bowl served alongside raw bar oysters and loaded cheesy nachos.
What it's like
Head down Central Avenue and look for the blank door immediately south of Doghaus Biergarten. Step inside, push past the kitchen staff at work, and navigate to the host stand tucked at the end of the passage. The space inside fills up fast on weekends, so go early or on a weeknight if you want a stool right under the living wall without a wait.
The move: Skip the obvious Cityscape entrances and try to find the real door on Central first — then settle in for raw bar oysters, cheesy nachos, and a rotating mystery punch for two.
- 📍 Downtown Phoenix / Cityscape
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1 E Washington St, Ste 128, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Melinda's Alley — A single block away, you can keep the hidden-door theme going by slipping down an alley behind the Renaissance Hotel.
- Rough Rider — Head north on Central to swap the kitchen-corridor entrance for a basement elevator drop into a dark, Victorian-style cocktail lounge.
- Cobra Arcade Bar — Balance out the dim cocktail-lounge atmosphere with a short walk to a loud room packed with classic 1980s and '90s arcade cabinets.
Good to know
How do I find the hidden door?
Ignore the Washington Street mailing address. Walk down Central Avenue to the spot right south of Doghaus Biergarten and look for the unmarked door.
Is there a password or secret knock required?
No password or code is needed. Just open the door and walk straight through the kitchen corridor until you hit the host stand.
What kind of food and drinks do they serve?
They specialize in craft cocktails—including shared mystery punch bowls—paired with raw bar oysters, cheesy nachos, and small plates.
Where is Pigtails located within downtown Phoenix?
It is located inside the CityScape complex in downtown Phoenix, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Washington Street.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · phxrailfood.com · phoenixmag.com
last checked: 2026-07-19