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Grand Avenue, the weird side of downtown

A diagonal street of old auto shops turned galleries, a tiki dive from 1947 and some of the best Mexican food in the city. Bring cash.

Grand Avenue is the one street in Phoenix that refuses to follow the grid. It cuts northwest at an angle out of downtown, starting around 7th Avenue and Van Buren, past old brick storefronts, body shops, tattoo parlors and galleries. It's scrappier than Roosevelt Row and a little stranger. That's the appeal.

This is a slow-roll neighborhood. Go after a sesh at home, get dropped off, eat, walk a few blocks, have a drink in a dark bar, get a ride back. Don't try to cram it into a busy day.

Historic Grand Avenue: the vibe and the backstory

Grand was laid out in the late 1880s to connect settlements to the Arizona Canal. By the 1920s it was the road out of town toward Los Angeles, so it filled up with the stuff travelers needed: gas stations, auto repair, diners, barbers, hardware stores and secondhand shops.

Then the wars came and the interstate came, and the traffic left. The buildings stayed. Over time artists moved into the empty storefronts, collaborated, showed work out of their own spaces, and slowly turned it into the arts strip it is now.

You can still feel the car-town bones everywhere. Hot rod shops sit next to galleries. Neon sign folks work down the block from tattoo artists. It's the least polished, most Phoenix stretch of the central city.

Things to do on Grand Avenue

Most of the good stuff is between 7th Avenue and 15th Avenue. Wear real shoes. Some sidewalks are rough.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    First Friday on Grand

    Grand is part of the monthly First Friday art walk along with Roosevelt Row. Studios and galleries open up at night and the street gets a block-party feel.

    It's mellower than the Roosevelt side. Fewer crowds, more artists hanging out in their own doorways.

    TipStart on Grand early, then rideshare over to Roosevelt for the late part of the night.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    The afghan trees at Grand and McKinley

    At Grand and McKinley there's a stretch of multicolored sidewalk shaded by trees wrapped in knitted afghans, with puffballs hanging off the branches. It is exactly as delightful as it sounds when you're baked.

    Free, quick, extremely photogenic.

    TipGo late afternoon in the cooler months when the shade and colors are best.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    The Prince mural

    A big Prince mural sits near 15th Avenue and Grand. It's one of several large painted walls along the street, and the one everyone stops for.

    TipMake it the far end of your walk, then turn back toward the restaurants.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Grand Avenue Records

    A vinyl shop on the strip. Flipping through crates after a sesh is one of life's quieter pleasures, and this is the place to do it on Grand.

    TipBudget more time than you think. You will lose an hour.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Five15Arts and the Grand galleries

    Five15Arts is one of the galleries anchoring the street, and there's a cluster of others plus working studios along Grand. Shows rotate, so it's different every time.

    Down the block you'll find oddball shops too, like HawkSalvage, an antiques and oddities spot run by a retired Phoenix Fire captain, and Haifley Brothers, which does 1930s Ford hot rods.

    TipStudios are most likely to be open on First Friday.

Where to eat and drink on Grand Avenue

Grand has a small food scene that punches way above its size. If you only do one thing here, eat. For more spots around the Valley, see where to eat.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Bacanora

    1301 NW Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ

    Chef Rene Andrade's Sonoran restaurant, cooking over a mesquite fire in the old Bragg's Pie Factory building. Andrade won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2024, and this tiny room is why.

    Go for whatever comes off the grill. Pollo asado and the grilled octopus are the dishes people talk about, and the agave cocktails are the right pairing. Tables turn back to back, so expect a short wait even with a booking.

    TipBook ahead. Walk-in luck here is rare.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Novel Ice Cream

    1028 Grand Ave #6, Phoenix, AZ

    The ice cream stop on Grand, known for its doughnut ice cream sandwich. Yes, it's an ice cream sandwich where the bread is a doughnut. This is what munchies were invented for.

    In a Phoenix summer, this is also basically a public service.

    TipGet the doughnut sandwich. Don't argue.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Bikini Lounge

    1502 Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ

    A tiki dive bar that's been pouring since 1947. Dark, cash only, decorated like a time capsule. One of the oldest bars in Phoenix and probably the most fun one to walk into for the first time.

    No frills, real locals. Come for the room and the history, not a fancy cocktail list.

    TipCash only. Hit an ATM before you get there.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    Grand Avenue Brewing Company

    1205 W Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ

    A brewery and taproom just off Grand on Pierce Street, known for craft beer and sour ales. Good for a laid-back pint between galleries.

    TipTry a sour if you never have. This is the place to start.

  • Historic Grand Avenue

    The Wayward Taphouse

    1028 NW Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ

    A taphouse in the same complex as Novel, pouring craft beer, wine and seltzers, with weekly events. Easy to pair: beer, then ice cream, then more beer.

    TipIt shares the building with Novel Ice Cream. Plan accordingly.

Questions about Grand Avenue

What is Historic Grand Avenue in Phoenix?

A diagonal street running northwest out of downtown, starting around 7th Avenue and Van Buren. It was the old road toward Los Angeles before the interstate, and its old auto shops and storefronts are now galleries, studios, bars and restaurants.

Is Grand Avenue part of First Friday?

Yes. Galleries and studios on Grand open up for the monthly First Friday art walk, alongside Roosevelt Row. It's usually less crowded on the Grand side.

What's the best restaurant on Grand Avenue Phoenix?

Bacanora. Chef Rene Andrade's mesquite-fired Sonoran spot won him the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2024. Book ahead.

Can you smoke weed on Grand Avenue?

Not in public. Grand is a public street, and smoking on sidewalks, in lots or in cars is a petty offense under Arizona law. Sesh on private property where it's allowed, then visit.

Is Grand Avenue on the light rail?

No. The nearest light rail stops are downtown on Central and 1st Avenue, about a half mile from the start of Grand. A rideshare from downtown is quick and cheap.

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