Phoenix Local Guide 2024

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.

Local Phoenix Coffee & Breakfast Stops

  • Cartel – Favorite with coffee lovers down near hotels and stadiums.
  • 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.
  • Songbird Coffee & Tea House – The quaintest coffee house in DTPHX! Their Cocoa Cold Brew is bomb.
  • Breakfast Club – walking distance from our venue and delicious!
  • 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 judgment here.
  • Lux Central – Rustic cafe & bakery serving an eclectic, ever-changing menu plus coffee, wine, beer & cocktails.

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.
  • Taco Boys – Featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles and the best carne asada tacos you’ve ever tasted.
  • Breakfast Bitch – The party’s at Breakfast Bitch where the staff is there to make sure you have fun and enjoy your experience. All meals are created to order with LOVE and POSITIVE VIBES ONLY! Woman-owned and a black-owned company.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

Lodging Near the Event

There is no official hotel location for WordCamp Phoenix, but here are some great spots we recommend for people coming in from out of town.