Phoenix, by the rail.

Museum · Family · $$

Kid-favorite science museum with a planetarium and giant-screen theater. Heritage Square area.

Mexican · $$$

Silvana Salcido Esparza's James Beard-recognized Mexico City-style cooking. Cochinita pibil, chiles en nogada, and an iconic mural outside.

Mexican · Tortillas · $

Legendary tortillas and $3 machacas — a South Phoenix institution since 1968.

Coffee · Roaster · $$

Original Cartel location. Serious single-origin pour-overs, on-site roaster, and the soundtrack of ASU finals week.

Seafood · Pub · $$

Haunted 1910 Craftsman turned rowdy patio pub. Cheap oysters, cold beer, and a hundred ASU stories.

Bookstore · $$

Independent bookstore with a café (First Draft Book Bar), author events, and a curated selection that rivals any in the Southwest.

Ice Cream · Candy · $

Old-school candy shop and ice cream parlor on Central. Rotating seasonal flavors and unapologetic nostalgia.

Music Venue · Bar · $$

Cornerstone downtown live music venue with a food-forward bar. 500-cap room that books national indie acts and local legends alike.

Garden · Nature · $$$

140-acre desert garden in Papago Park — 50,000+ plants and an unmissable Luminaria walk in winter.

Mezcaleria · Mexican · $$$

Rooftop mezcaleria and regional Mexican kitchen that made national best-of lists in 2024.

Coffee · Café · $

Community-minded café on the edge of Roosevelt Row. Strong espresso, dead-quiet back room, and a rotating art wall.

Brewery · Pub · $$

Arizona's most famous craft brewery housed in a 1892 brick creamery. Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale is the state unofficial beer.

Mexican · $$

Modern Mexico City café inside The Garfield. All-day tortas and a green-filled patio.

Coffee · Café · $$

Iconic Central Ave café/bar with espresso, all-day food, and a work-friendly patio. The definition of a Phoenix 'third place.'

Breakfast · American · $$

Longtime downtown favorite for griddled hash browns, thick-cut bacon, and the ‘chop & chick’.

Rooftop · Steakhouse · $$$$

Top-floor steakhouse with an unbeatable downtown skyline view. Special-occasion territory.

Museum · Culture · $$

The Southwest's largest art museum — permanent collection plus marquee rotating exhibits. Yayoi Kusama Fireflies room is a signature.

Pizza · Italian · $$$

James Beard Award-winning wood-fired pizza in a converted 1929 brick building at Heritage Square.

Wine Bar · Small Plates · $$$

Airy wine bar built in a mid-century bank building. Bruschetta boards, happy hour, and a cultish following.

Garden Shop · Event Space · $$

Plant shop + event venue on Roosevelt Row. Weekend popups and a shaded garden patio.

Breakfast · Brunch · $$

Sunny brunch spot on Mill Ave known for pancake flights and bloody marys. Expect a weekend wait.

Southern · New American · $$$

Upscale Southern comfort food inside the Newton complex with Changing Hands. Shrimp & grits, bourbon, patio.

Mexican · Tacos · $

Bright Chihuahua-style tacos, gorditas, and discadas. A local top-five taco pick.

Cocktail Bar · Music · $$

Subterranean cocktail bar + music venue tucked under Monroe St. Dark, bookish, and a Phoenix treasure.

American · Diner · $$

Beloved 1945 diner on Roosevelt Row, famous for biscuits, Nashville hot chicken, and craft cocktails.