DOWNTOWN PHOENIX
Billions of dollars of development—including a dining-andentertainment district, two new hotels and a beautiful downtown
campus for Arizona State University—has lured hot chefs, young
artists and independent retailers to Phoenix’s city center.
Even with all of the growth, downtown Phoenix is still compact
and walkable—the absolute opposite of sprawl—and it’s packed
with more stuff to do than ever.
It’s where you’ll find nightlife, theaters, museums, pro sports
venues, a public market, and neighborhoods-within
neighborhoods such as Roosevelt Row.
Downtown Dining
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More than 60 new restaurants have opened in the city’s
core since the completion of the Phoenix Convention
Center.
More than 50 restaurants are within a short stroll of the
convention center, including Arrogant Butcher, Blue
Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, Breakfast Club and Tilted Kilt.
Nearly 150 eateries now hug the light-rail line.
Food Network has featured downtown favorites such as
Pizzeria Bianco, as well as Matt’s Big Breakfast.
Downtown Nightlife
CityScape, a mixed-use development that occupies two city blocks within walking distance of the convention center, is
home to a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Dance, game and dine at Gypsy Bar. Laugh it up with
the country’s best standup comedians at Stand Up Live. Bowl like a rock star at Lucky Strikes Lanes & Lounge. Soak in
views of the city skyline while sipping a cocktail at the Hotel Palomar’s Lustre Rooftop Garden. Listen to live music and
choose from among more than 60 beers on tap at Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen. And, if you’re a true music fan,
catch nationally renowned independent artists and up-and-coming local bands at Crescent Ballroom.
Arts & Culture
• Downtown is home to the Herberger Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, and Symphony Hall.
• Metro Light Rail takes you to the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum, both just a couple stops north of
downtown.
• For family fun, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and
Facts
the Arizona Science Center can’t be beat.
• Phoenix is the United States’ sixth-largest city with a
You can catch Artlink’s First Fridays every Friday in
population of over 1.4 million
Roosevelt Row, where art galleries, shops, bars and
restaurants stay open late and vendors and street
• Greater Phoenix’s average annual temperature is 72
performers entertain crowds of pedestrians.
degrees, and the average annual high is 85 degrees.
Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert, which is the
Sports
wettest and greenest desert in North America, thanks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) call Chase Field
to 3-15 inches of annual rainfall.
home, while the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix
Mercury (WNBA) play at US Airways Center. Both venues
are within walking distance of downtown hotels and are served by light rail.
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX
Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors
These orange-shirt-wearing, information-wielding walking concierges know
everything about downtown. No matter what you’re looking for—a place to
eat, a happy-hour beverage, information about performances or sporting
events—Downtown Ambassadors can help.
This list just scratches the surface of all they can do for you:
• Recommend restaurants, events and entertainment
• Make your dinner reservations
• Suggest the best parking and transportation options
• Give you a guided walking tour
• Provide a Pal Around walking escort to your destination
Downtown Ambassadors are on duty 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.,seven days a week,
365 days a year. Here’s how you can get in touch with one of them:
• Look for them walking the sidewalks of downtown Phoenix. (You can’t miss their bright orange shirts, which
say “Ambassador – Ask Me” on the back.
• Pop into the Information Center on Adams Street between Central and First avenues in the US Bank Building.
• Call the Ambassador Hotline at (602) 495-1500.
DOWNTOWN PHOENIX
CITYSCAPE
The latest addition to downtown Phoenix is
CityScape, a two-block concentration of
restaurants, bars, retailers and live-music
venues, as well as a comedy club, bowling
alley and day spa.
CityScape is within walking distance of every
major downtown hotel and bordered on three
sides by METRO Light rail
Nightlife pulses into the wee hours at
CityScape. Copper Blues is known for live
music, weekly swing dancing and live-band
karaoke. There’s also an affordable American
Tavern menu and 60-plus beers on tap. Next
door is Stand Up Live, a comedy theater and
supper club that attracts the best acts in the
country. And the stylish Hotel Palomar is home to a pair of bars: one at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails and another
that adjoins the rooftop pool and features sunset views of the city.
Shoppers at CityScape can choose from fashion retailers such as Urban Outfitters and Charming Charlie, kids can kick
off their shoes and cool off in dancing fountains, and spouses can relax and rejuvenate (or get gussied up) at Par
Exsalonce Salon.