Lost Leaf is the kind of neighborhood beer and wine and sake tavern you'd have if you lived in a cool city with an artistic culture. Funny enough, this occurs practically on only one street in Phoenix; 5th Street between Roosevelt and Garfield. The huge swaths of vacant land that once held old houses similar to Lost Leaf, but not saved as it was, gives testament to PHX's short-sightedness and the Lost Leaf's ingenuity.
It feels like a nice clubby brick kinda place you wouldn't ever think to find in Phoenix. I do like The Roosevelt Tavern's Nimbus beer on tap, but for a place to converse and socialize, the Lost Leaf has it beat hand's down.
And a special bonus feature? The don't serve food, so BRING YOUR OWN! The times I've met with friends, buying a bottle of wine and making our own fruit/nut/cheese plates are some of my best downtown memories. Bring what you like to eat but don't expect napkins or a clean-up. Pack it in, pack it out.
And though I rarely get to stay up late enough, there's music there practically every night and no cover.
Best every night but First Friday when it's quite packed, otherwise do it!