The most popular streets in Phoenix are scattered throughout its fast-growing urban area. Greater Phoenix comprises over 20 cities and towns that have various spots for arts, culture, shopping and entertainment – it has a lot of ground to cover.

To make it easier for you, we’ve included in this handy guide some of the best streets and neighbourhoods in Greater Phoenix, as well as each of their highlights and features. Read on to learn more about what you can expect to see and do when you get to this sunny city in Arizona.

  • 1

    Roosevelt Row

    Colourful street murals in Downtown Phoenix

    Roosevelt Row
    • Budget
    • Nightlife
    • Photo
    • Shoppers

    Roosevelt Row is home to a vibrant arts district in Downtown Phoenix, where you can wander to see walls adorned with large murals. You can also find a range of art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants and bars. Behind The Churchill food court is the 1½ Street Mural Project, an alleyway that's almost entirely lined with huge murals by 12 local artists, including Tato Caraveo and JJ Horner.

    Another work of art in Roosevelt Row is the 9-storey-high installation of the late writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin by local artist Antoinette Cauley. The best time to visit Roosevelt Row is during the area’s First Fridays Art Walk when there’s a festive open-air market, food trucks and live music to enjoy along with all the artworks and galleries.

    Map

    photo by Chris English (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 2

    Grand Avenue

    Industrial area turned eclectic arts and dining scene

    Grand Avenue
    • Food
    • Nightlife
    • Shoppers

    Grand Avenue was once Phoenix’s main gateway to Los Angeles. But since the Interstate took over that role, this diagonal downtown thoroughfare has become a haven for the city’s artists and creative entrepreneurs. Here, you’ll find a mix of art studios, trendy cafes, restaurants and yoga studios, as well as several eye-catching murals and art installations.

    There are plenty of new places and works of art popping up all the time along Grand Avenue, so you’ll see something different each time you visit. One Grand Avenue spot that after-dark adventurers in the city count on is the famous Bikini Lounge, a tiki-themed dive bar that’s been around since 1947. Visit in November to catch the Grand Avenue Festival, an annual eco-conscious event that celebrates local artists and merchants.  

    Map

    photo by Chris English (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 3

    North Scottsdale Road

    Historic sights and art galleries

    North Scottsdale Road
    • History
    • Nightlife
    • Photo
    • Shoppers

    North Scottsdale Road runs right through the centre of Old Town Scottsdale, with some of the most walkable streets in Greater Phoenix branching off it, each also worth exploring. In the general area, you'll see plenty of historical and cultural sights, along with dozens of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and over 50 public art installations across 9 neighbourhoods. Must-sees include The Doors by Donald Lipski and the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana.

    There’s good shopping around Old Town Scottsdale, with small shops selling art, souvenirs and Native American jewellery, plus the large Scottsdale Fashion Square. Visit on a Thursday evening to enjoy the Scottsdale ArtWalk, when galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way stay open late. There are artist demonstrations, wine tastings and live entertainment to enjoy, too.

    Map
  • 4

    Mill Avenue

    A lively strip for the party crowd in Tempe

    Mill Avenue
    • Food
    • Nightlife

    Mill Avenue extends for several miles through Phoenix’s neighbouring city of Tempe, best-known for its over-half-mile stretch downtown along the western edge of the Arizona State University. This student-friendly strip is chock-a-block with bars, restaurants and shops. It's a particularly lively place during local festivals, such as the Fantasy of Lights, or when the university’s football team is playing a home game. 

    Many restaurants along the avenue have open-air patios, usually well shaded and cooled with mist to keep things comfortable on those hot Arizona days. Mill Avenue is lined with plenty of taco shops and happy-hour beer bars to suit a student-budget crowd, but there are more upscale options like the Caffe Boa wine bar if you’re in search of a special night out. 

    Map

    photo by Chris Yunker (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 5

    Melrose District

    Retro shops and rainbow flags

    Melrose District
    • Nightlife
    • Photo

    Melrose District is a funky and LGBTQ+-friendly part of Phoenix, set along 7th Avenue between Indian School and Camelback roads. Here, you’ll find a colourful variety of boutique shops, cool cafes and some fantastic street murals. Melrose is perhaps even more colourful after dark, with local bars like the popular Charlie's Phoenix hosting drag shows, karaoke, and DJ dance parties.

    Melrose is also the go-to destination for those in search of antiques and vintage goods. Look for furniture, home decor items, clothing and art at Retro RanchTime Bomb VintageSweet Salvage and other shops along 7th Avenue.

    Map

    photo by Ixnayonthetimmay (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

  • 6

    North Central Avenue

    Cultural sights in the heart of the city

    North Central Avenue
    • Couples
    • Nightlife

    North Central Avenue is a wide thoroughfare that connects the Phoenix Downtown core to Midtown and Uptown, with many of the city’s top cultural attractions lining the road. You could spend the day exploring the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum, the latter highlighting Native American art and culture. In the evening you could catch a show at Arizona Opera or Phoenix Theatre Company, both of which feature Broadway revivals and the works of local playwrights.

    Those looking for a more scenic walk could venture over to Murphy's Bridle Path, a former horse trail that runs about 2.5 miles parallel to North Central Avenue. The city’s light rail runs the length of North Central Avenue, offering easy access to the airport and Greater Phoenix communities like Tempe.

    Map

    photo by Chris English (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 7

    North 7th Street

    Trendy restaurant row in Uptown Phoenix

    North 7th Street
    • Food
    • Nightlife

    A section of North 7th Street between Missouri Avenue and Rose Land is one of Phoenix's culinary hotspots. The street runs through an older residential community, and several of the mid-century buildings along it have been converted into stylish cafes and bars. 

    Culinary Dropout is a trendy restaurant and cocktail lounge set in brick buildings that once housed a motorbike dealership. Other popular dining spots include Otro Café with modern Mexican fare and live flamenco music and Mora Italian, opened by celebrity chef Scott Conant from Top Chef and other culinary TV shows. For a more retro spot on North 7th, check out MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain, one of the oldest soda fountain shops in America – it’s been serving up milkshakes and pies in the same spot since 1929. 

    Map

    photo by Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0) modified

  • 8

    East Camelback Road

    Upmarket shopping and spa treatments in Biltmore District

    East Camelback Road
    • Luxury
    • Shoppers

    The Biltmore is an upscale neighbourhood found along East Camelback Road in the northeastern area of Phoenix. After the ritzy Arizona Biltmore Hotel opened in 1929, the area developed in a decidedly upmarket way with more luxury resorts and spas, golf courses, shopping centres, and fine-dining restaurants opening around it. The wide road is lined with palm trees and gleaming financial company offices that rise like a desert mirage.

    Visitors to the area usually find their way to Biltmore Fashion Park, a high-end shopping centre with retailers like Ralph Lauren and Saks Fifth Avenue, plus several restaurants.

    Map
  • 9

    West Glendale Avenue

    For a scenic stroll into the past

    West Glendale Avenue
    • Photo
    • Shoppers

    Historic Downtown Glendale is about 8.7 miles northwest of Downtown Phoenix in a 10-block area that includes the 2 neighbourhoods of Historic Catlin Court and Old Towne. This photogenic community is best explored on foot, with several antique stores, restaurants and art installations celebrating its ranching and farming heritage found along its streets.

    Some of the most eclectic shops in West Glendale Avenue include the Astrology Store (metaphysical books and gifts) and Auntie Em’s Miniatures (vintage dollhouses and miniature collectables). Those looking for a place to rest could stop by one of many charming little cafes and dessert shops set in restored mid-century bungalows.

    Map

    photo by Marine 69-71 (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 10

    Downtown Chandler

    Art under the desert sun

    Downtown Chandler
    • Budget
    • Photo

    The streets of Downtown Chandler offer plenty to see and do, with a host of colourful murals, boutique shops, breweries and dining spots to discover. You could wander the streets and square to find local art galleries, such as Vision Gallery and the Eddie Basha Collection of Western American and American Indian Art, all free to enter.

    Walking the streets of Downtown Chandler, you’ll easily spot some of its impressive murals by local artists. Standouts include the huge water-inspired mural spanning 230 ft along the Commonwealth Canal and the colourful cactus scene on the wall of SanTan Brewing Company.

    Map
Lana Willocks | Contributing Writer