Scottsdale Dive Bar Oozes Holiday Spirit

On the fringe of Old Town Scottsdale near Scottsdale Road and Indian School sits an ordinary brick building with clapboard siding and an out-of-date bar sign from the 1960’s.  The Coach House who recently celebrated their 50^th anniversary reminds me of Martini’s bar from It’s a Wonderful Life - a small intimate neighborhood bar where people know each other and strangers are friendly.

The Coach House comes alive during the holidays attracting many patrons due to the saturation of icicle lights, signs and blinking snowmen decorating the interior and exterior of the bar.  Every square inch is covered with wrapping paper, ornaments, lights and tinsel.

Not a big place, you could possibly stuff 40 people inside as long as they were standing on top of each other.  But, by the happy demeanor of everyone inside, I don’t think that they would care.

When I visited the Coach House on Christmas Eve, their extended parking lot was full at 1:30pm in the afternoon.  That’s always a good sign.  As I approached the entrance, many people were sitting outdoors enjoying a drink.  You may think that it sounds unusual to sit outdoors in December and you’d be right.  The temperatures that day were a crisp 55 degrees and for Phoenicians that’s cold!  The patrons seemed too merry with holiday spirits to care and that’s what made the whole atmosphere fun. 

I’m quite sure that the outdoor seating area was not designed by a local interior designer, as is the norm in this part of town, based on the haphazardly aligned fake bamboo shoots that outlined the patio. But again, no one seemed bothered by this.  As I entered the bar, I was greeted by an animated snowman and immediately overwhelmed by all the blinking colorful lights that were everywhere.  All I could clearly see was the bartender in the distance behind the bar which was glowing with blue lights.

Because of the nature of my visit, I snapped pictures of every decorative item in the joint.  This took some explaining to the other patrons and I quickly made fast friends.  They all gave me their impressions of the bar; most of them first-timers that were instantly smitten.  It struck me that all the patrons were very friendly and open to conversation.  What a pleasant change from other restaurant/bars in the area where the crowd is more reserved.

Outdoor patio at The Coach House

The Coach House will be decorated for the holidays through New Year’s Day and is open till 2:00 a.m. 365 days a year.  They also have specials during college and pro-sports games throughout the year. 

The Coach House is a great dive bar with a laid-back, unpretentious atmosphere, gregarious patrons and a great vibe.  It’s a refreshing change from the typical Scottsdale bar.

The Coach House
7011 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale (map)
480.990.3433

Photos from personal collection.