Fun and Games at the Whining Pig

The Place: The Whining Pig
The Location: Multiple locations Valleywide
By: Shoshana Leon

Since opening its first location in 2013 in a cozy 450-square-foot space on 16th Street and Bethany Home Road, the Whining Pig has expanded to Gilbert, Arcadia, downtown Phoenix, Ahwatukee and most recently, Desert Ridge.

The owners created the Whining Pig with the inspiration of a bar that they would want to go to. “We wanted the vibe of just hanging out with friends while enjoying an adult beverage,” said Daniel Caprario, one of the owners. “All of bars are small in size. Much of the seating is located around a U-shaped bar which encourages interaction among customers and allows the bartender to be part of the social atmosphere.”

When you walk into any of the Whining Pig locations, you will see extensive beer and wine lists on chalkboards. “At its conception, the main focus revolved around wine tasting and bottle purchases with the idea of craft beer being secondary,” said Caprario. “Throughout the first year the concept continued to evolve. With the addition of 125 craft beer options, the focus shifted from solely wine and now includes the ever-growing market of the craft beer world. We are well known for unique and rare beers from breweries across the country.”

There are many things that make the Whining Pig unique and keep customers coming back, from the intimate space and friendly service to the rotating selection of craft beer and wines. There are chalkboard walls and old school games, from Trivial Pursuit to Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, laid out around the bar to encourage customer interaction.

The Whining Pig offers happy hour until 8:00 p.m. daily which includes discounts on beer, wine and food. The Whining Pig’s food offerings consist of meat and cheese boards, and a variety of grilled cheese options, including the Heart with fig spread, prosciutto and goat cheese, and the Peace Sign with pesto, sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella. 

The Desert Ridge location of the Whining Pig opened in late 2018. In February 2019, the owners opened Pigtails Cocktail Bar at the Desert Ridge location. Hidden behind the bar, the speakeasy’s craft cocktail offerings complement the Whining Pig’s beer and wine selection. Another Pigtails location is planned at the downtown Whining Pig location.

This year, new Whining Pig locations will open in McDowell Mountain Ranch and Tempe.

The continued expansion of the Whining Pig is a testament to its popularity. Guests love the friendly and fun atmosphere, and rotating beer and wine selection. Just as the owners envisioned, it’s a fun place to hang with friends and possibly make new ones.