Local Guide

We’re proud of the vibrant local food scene in Downtown Phoenix and whether you’re visiting from out-of-town or you don’t make it Downtown often, we want to highlight some of the local hangouts, haunts and hideaways that make our urban desert oasis unique and memorable.

Silhouettes of popular buildings in Downtown Phoenix with palm trees mixed in.

Local Phoenix Coffee & Breakfast Stops

  • Cartel – Favorite with coffee lovers down near hotels and stadiums.
  • Kaleidoscope Juice – Juice and light breakfast bar.
  • Serafina Coffee Bar – In historic Luhrs Tower, this urban coffeeshop is local-owned, roasted and brewed with sustainable practices and in partnership with small producers.
  • Lola Coffee Bar – Favorite with coffee lovers and locals on Roosevelt Row on the north side of Downtown.
  • Palabra – Snow-white modern spaceship that landed in the desert. Part art gallery, part coffee bar, part hair salon.
  • Matts Big Breakfast – Made famous on Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives, Matt’s always has a well-worthwhile wait for their epic breakfast and lunch dishes with ingredients sourced from local farms.
  • Phoenix Public Market Café – Home to the Downtown Phoenix Farmer’s Market, the Café features amazing farm-to-table meals and was the location of three WordCamp Phoenix afterparties.
  • Daily Jam Roosevelt (formerly branded as Ncounter) – Local brunch chain with scratch pastries, Food Network-lauded waffles and a build-your-own breakfast sandwich.
  • The Grand (24hr + bar) – Study, cowork and late-night spot for caffeinated and adult beverages next to the ASU Downtown campus.
  • Cookie Brokers – Open at 7 AM this local cookie shop serving divine cookies and local milk may not be traditional breakfast, but no judgement here.

Local Phoenix Restaurants & Bars

  • Valley Bar – Neat, underground bar with board games, music venue and Arizona politics theme.
  • Hannys – Eclectic, late-night bar in renovated men’s warehouse.
  • Trapp Haus BBQ – Championship BBQ with delectable smoked meats, soul food and a fire Instagram.
  • The Larder + The Delta – Elevated Southern-style classics mixed with local Arizona ingredients in delightful and unexpected ways.
  • PAZ Cantina – A modern taqueria started first as a food truck, locals rejoiced when PAZ re-opened on Roosevelt Row serving their talk-of-the-town tacos, enchiladas and chimichangas.
  • Little Miss BBQ – Astonishing, life-changing BBQ. The line wraps around the building every day and when they sell out of everything, they close early.
  • Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles – Expect to wait, there’s always a line at this beloved soul food joint. It’s a meal you’ll talk about for years. Minority-owned business.
  • Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. – A mecca for craft beer fans and great bites at one of the most awarded breweries in Arizona.
  • Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour – High-class cocktails served in the former Arizona Prohibition Headquarters.
  • Taco Chelo – Handmade tortillas, exquisite murals, dishes and a small menu of perfected tacos at this new Roosevelt Row staple from local Mexican artist Gennaro Garcia and chefs Suny Santana and Aaron Chamberlin. Minority-owned business.
  • Cobra Arcade Bar – The retro arcade of your youth — with a bar (total gamer heaven).
  • Cornish Pasty Co – Good luck finding a seat in this popular English restaurant and bar serving hearty meals wrapped in flaky, buttery pastry.
  • Angels Trumpet Ale House – A local lawyers office converted to a tap house, Angels keeps over two dozen local and regional beers, sours and ciders on tap.
  • Welcome Diner – Favorite in the Garfield neighborhood serving late-night cocktails and the food of dreams.
  • The Vig Fillmore – Equal parts indoor and outdoor bar, Vig Fillmore makes an artful drink and features a kitchen of rivaling interest and variety.
  • The Churchill – Multiple concepts share this 9,000 sq. ft. (shaded, A/C’d) outdoor food hall including a pizza concept, smoothie bar, Mexican food, sandwiches and a cocktail bar.
  • FEZ – Modern mediterranean restaurant with fabulous sandwiches, salads, burgers, platters and drinks. 🏳️‍🌈-friendly.
  • Pizzaria Bianco – World-renowned upscale pizza parlor popular with locals, celebrities, food critics and visitors.
  • Little Rituals – Not a bar you’d accidentally stumble into, this fabulous cocktail lounge tucked away on the 4th floor of the Courtyard Marriott Downtown has quickly become a coveted spot. Show up with your complete party because seating is limited and first-come-first-served.
  • Crescent Ballroom – Midsize music venue with live music 7 days / week, bonkers burritos, terrific appetizers and burgers.
  • Monroe’s Hot Chicken – This new Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant from the creator of Lo-Lo’s fries up crispy, face-melting antibiotic-free poultry, including popcorn hot chicken served in a made-to-order waffle cone.
  • The Dressing Room – Pint-sized restaurant on Roosevelt Row with outsized flavor and a delightful patio.
  • Barrio Café GRAN RESERVA – Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza’s Mexican Cuisine is near unrivaled. Tasty plates and beautiful ambiance in Grand. Minority-owned business.

Phoenix Local Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants

  • Green New American Vegetarian – Favorites like wings, burritos, burgers, cheesesteaks and po-boys from this 100% vegetarian restaurant using vegan cheeses.
  • Vegan House – This Asian restaurant in the heart of DTPHX serves up craveable staples like potstickers, lettuce wraps, kung pao soy chicken and pad thai.
  • Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine – A mix of Asian & American comfort food in Central Phoenix.
  • Vedura – A new plant-based eatery in North Phoenix, Vedura isn’t your typical vegan restaurant, with unique plates, salads and sandwiches, as well as Japanese-style bubble waffles with activated charcol.
  • Udupi Indian Vegetarian & Vegan Cuisine – Twenty minutes outside Downtown, this is the only South Indian cafe in Greater Phoenix serving a fully vegetarian menu with spectacular samosas and dosa.