PHOENIX (AZFamily)—Step into the spirit of Halloween at 36 Below. The spooky pop-up lies below Sip Coffee and Beer near Indian School Road and 36th Street, at the former site of UnderTow.
There, you can find all things spooky, from the drinks, decor and atmosphere.
Owner Josh Katz says the hidden bar started as a greenhouse, which inspires many of the themes throughout the year.
“It’s based on the 36th verse in the book of Genesis where it talks about the creation of man and how no trees or shrubs could sprout because there were two key elements missing: water and someone to nurture the garden. So, as people come down the lush stairwell, they see our crew kind of working and nurturing the garden,” Katz said.
Each theme lasts for about three months, but they also redecorate for different holidays, including all of October for Halloween.
In addition to new decorations, each new theme is also represented through new food, cocktails, lighting, and graphics.
Katz emphasizes that this bar is completely different from what it used to be. After UnderTow moved locations in 2021, they redesigned the whole space, including the addition of commercial-grade virtual reality screens.
“We work with a creative technologist who custom builds what you see on the virtual windows using video game engine technology, so it’s very much the same technology and platforms that people play video games on, [like] Unity,” he said.
You can plan to see plenty of zombies and other ghouls lurking around the bar during the Halloween theme.
36 Below offers a collection of cocktails, with three signature drinks for October.
“The most popular cocktail is the Wicked Watcher, which is our version of a gin and tonic with pomegranate and orgeat, which is almond syrup. It comes with the garnish of lychee and the blueberry inside which makes a presentation of an eyeball,” said Gevond Grigoryan, general manager of 36 Below.
The other creepy cocktails include The Wildfire, which is a smoked, melon martini served inside a round-bottom flask. The Skull Crusher is a blood orange margarita served in a skull glass and garnished with fresh mint leaves.
The bar also offers a handful of dishes that are encouraged to be shared. The homemade salmon dip has an excellent balance of herbs and is served with pickled red onions and bagel chips.
Also consider the prosciutto burrata plate that comes with a smokey tomato-habanero jam and crackers.
For the non-drinkers, the bar offers mocktails and seasonal desserts. Right now you can enjoy a creamy coconut sorbet topped with chocolate shavings.
36 Below does offer limited walk-in seats but recommends making a reservation online. Thirty seats are available in the bar, and an additional 12 in the private room are available for rent.
Reservations can be made here.
36 Below
Location: 3620 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 4 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Sunday: 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.
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