Greenwood Brewing

Greenwood Brewing, with its cheery, modern interior and cozy patios, has been a staple of Roosevelt Row since it opened in July 2020. Featuring globe pendant lights, brass and marble accents and an airy feel, it’s the antithesis of the dark, brooding, bro-centric brewery – with good reason: It’s woman-owned. Megan Greenwood, a home brewer […]

Hanny’s

A chic restaurant, Hanny’s is also a popular downtown drinking destination for after-work drinks and post-game or theater cocktails. Housed in a former department store, the bar nods to the building’s midcentury roots – designer names such as Dior are still displayed on the walls, and you may encounter a classic mannequin – and its […]

Huarachis Taqueria

Huarachis Taqueria is, in some ways, a classic younger sibling. It’s always mentioned alongside James Beard Award-winning chef Rene Andrade’s first, hot-ticket Grand Avenue eatery, Bacanora. That’s in part because there is some overlap with the menu and the two downtown restaurants are a stone’s throw from each other. But, Huarachis shines on its own, […]

Kaizen PHX

Kaizen PHX serves Instagram-worthy sushi and sashimi from inside the modern red-brick Lawrence Building in the warehouse district of downtown Phoenix. The restaurant, complete with concrete floors, modern art, and windowed garage doors that open to a patio, is adjacent to Galvanize, a coworking space for tech entrepreneurs. But don’t let the seemingly corporate atmosphere […]

Killer Whale Sex Club

With a name like Killer Whale Sex Club, you could be forgiven for assuming this place is just another blink-and-you-miss-it addition to Roosevelt Row’s high-turnover drinking scene. And, honestly, the place takes a little warming up to. For one, reservations are “highly recommended,” per its Instagram. The music inside is incredibly loud. It’s super dark […]

LeDu Thai

From the outside, LeDu Thai is unassuming. The white stucco building sits back from the sidewalk, with an Edison-bulb-strewn patio lighting the way. Inside, this new downtown Phoenix eatery pops, from its vibrant decor to its bold dishes. The name LeDu comes from a Thai word that means “season.” The owners aim to celebrate family […]

Legends Never Die

Next door to Pretty Penny, a new restaurant from master mixology team Sam Olguin and Brenon Stuart, lives Legends Never Die. The speakeasy-style bar is the latest cocktail concept from the duo behind Killer Whale Sex Club, F.Y.P.M. and Disco Dragon. Upon entering, your eyes adjust to the blue and orange neon glow as you […]

The Liar’s Club

After navigating through a bumpy path to opening, Liar’s Club welcomed its first customers into its funky digs in downtown Phoenix in late 2022. The long, narrow space features a bar on one wall and high tables and booth seating on the other. Dim, warm lights illuminate the tables, highlighting the artful drinks and drool-worthy […]

Lom Wong

Regional Thai restaurant Lom Wong, set in a black bungalow at Second and Portland streets in downtown Phoenix, packs a piquant punch. Owners Yotaka and Alex Martin have firsthand experience with the robust flavors. Yotaka grew up in San Maket, Chiang Rai, a village in northern Thailand. She spent her childhood cooking traditional dishes alongside […]

Matt’s Big Breakfast

Never again will we see the days of the old Matt’s Big Breakfast, with the wraparound line of hungry breakfasters at the original 800-square-foot red brick building at First and McKinley streets. The breakfast was simply too good, and the deserved accolades sent Matt’s to a bigger location a block north, then on to additional […]

Melinda’s Alley

Yes, Melinda’s Alley is hard to find, and it’s only open three nights a week, but this hidden spot is worth seeking out. Enter on the side of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel under the colorful mural, and head downstairs into a red-hued space. Seriously, it’s super red as the lights make any other color […]

Moira Sushi

Moira’s the first sushi bar to crop up in downtown Phoenix in many years. And as Japanese restaurants go, it’s not going to put this area on the map for destination-worthy sushi. But it is an inviting place to hang out, grab a light bite, and meet with friends over a cucumber-infused cocktail or some […]