McKenzie's Midtown Tavern sits on 7th Street in Midtown Phoenix, set near the canal and bike path that runs through the neighborhood. It has worked as a neighborhood sports bar and grill since 2018, and it leans into that job with more than 20 TVs.
Who would love it: anyone who wants a reliable spot to watch the Suns, the Cardinals or the Diamondbacks with good food and a real bar crowd. Who would hate it: anyone after a quiet cocktail lounge, since this is a TVs-and-darts room built around the game.
The setup is straightforward and well executed. Phoenix New Times named it Best Neighborhood Bar in its 2021 Best of Phoenix awards, and the formula has not drifted: a wall of screens, two dart boards, a pool table and a friendly bar staff. It is the kind of place that fills on a game day and stays mellow on a slow Tuesday.
The food does more work than most sports bars bother with. The kitchen runs scratch-made sauces and Midwest touches, and regulars point to the Harvey's wine burger and the honey hot wings as the orders to lock in. The hand-battered pork tenderloin sandwich is the sleeper pick if you want something off the usual sports-bar script.
The crowd tracks the schedule. Game days pack the bar and the high-tops; off nights pull in a calmer neighborhood mix. The kitchen and bar run late on Friday and Saturday until 2am, while weeknights wind down earlier. Get there early before a marquee game to claim a screen-facing seat.
McKenzie's is one of the steadier sports bars in Phoenix for a full game day with food worth eating. Line up the rest of the night with our Phoenix bar guide, or browse more sports bars near you.
