"Unpretentious" is the word that comes to mind when I think of Yucca Tap Room. There's almost a refreshing quality to this stripped down dive bar--it's the polar opposite of places you'll find in Scottsdale [sigh of relief].
The bartenders are genuine and there's always live music to keep things interesting. I love it because there's no cover. Ever. Plus, diverse musical talents bring equally unique people.
The setup of the place is simple yet deliberate, with two separate "environments" to choose from (for lack of any other way to describe it). There's a conventional 360-degree bar with stools lining the perimeter--the stage is on this side, making this the louder side of the place. Thank goodness for the hooks lining the underside of the bar; this is the kind of place where you don't want your purse sitting on the ground. There's a shuffle board on this side, and the door to the "patio." By "patio", I mean a fenced-in strip of sidewalk along Southern Avenue where smokers can socialize.
On the other side of the place there's another bar, backed with an expansive selection of bottled brews. Yes, variety is what Yucca does best. This side has a couple pool tables and some more seating. Ladies, I highly recommend using the restroom on this side of the place.
Don't be turned off by the first band that plays; the less talented musicians tend to play first. Like any bar, it always gets more interesting as the night progresses.