Stoner Phoenix
The vibe
Big trees. That's the first thing. Central Avenue north of Camelback is lined with old eucalyptus, pines and olive trees, and the lots behind them are huge, some still zoned for horses. It's the closest Phoenix comes to an old Southern avenue, with Piestewa Peak and North Mountain sitting at the end of the street.
Uptown is the busier southern piece around Central and Camelback, where the restaurants stack up and the light rail rolls through. North Central runs from there up toward Northern Avenue and beyond, mostly quiet, mostly residential, with the Murphy Bridle Path running right alongside Central Avenue North Central. It's a weird, lovely mix of urban and almost country.
Who lives there
Old-guard Phoenix families in mid-century ranch houses. Young couples who saved hard for a fixer-upper with a citrus tree. Doctors, teachers, artists, a guy with an actual horse. The apartments and condos near the light rail bring in a younger crowd who like that they can ride the train to downtown or Tempe without touching a steering wheel.
It's a neighborhood of serious dog walkers and serious backyard people. Big lots mean real privacy, and real privacy means a relaxed sesh on your own patio, which is exactly where the law wants you anyway.
Best munchies
The Central and Camelback cluster is one of the best restaurant strips in town and it's all walkable from the station.
The Central Avenue strip
Windsor, on Central just north of Camelback, is a neighborhood bar and restaurant with a patio that's packed when the weather cooperates. Comfort food, good drinks, the kind of place you go for one and stay three hours.
Across the street, Federal Pizza does wood-fired pies in a converted old bank building. Next to Windsor, Churn is the ice cream shop, with big scoops and a candy wall that will seem far more interesting after an edible. Postino Central is a block south with its famous bruschetta boards and a garage-door patio.
Uptown Plaza
The old shopping center at the corner of Central and Camelback was restored and refilled, and now holds a second The Henry plus a Shake Shack for when you want a burger and fries fast. There's always something in that plaza that works.
Fry bread down 7th Avenue
A short ride southwest, Fry Bread House on 7th Avenue is a long-running local legend. Savory or sweet, both win. More picks all over town in our Phoenix munchies guide, plus our late-night food guide for when the Central strip winds down.
Things to do baked
Walk the Murphy Bridle Path
The Murphy Bridle Path is a dirt path running along Central Avenue north from about Bethany Home Road. It's flat, soft underfoot, shaded by huge trees and named for the man who planted the original trees along the avenue. Stroll it at sunset and wave at the horse people. It's a public path, so this is a post-sesh walk, not a during-sesh walk. Our guide to where you can sesh in Phoenix covers the rules (general info, not legal advice).
Ride the light rail
The light rail runs north up Central to Camelback, turns west along Camelback, then heads north on 19th Avenue. If you're high and bored, hop on and ride it to Midtown and the Melrose District for more food and bars, or keep going south to the museums near Encanto Park. A day pass and air conditioning: underrated stoner activity.
Neighborhood wandering
The side streets off Central between Camelback and Northern are made for aimless walking. Check the giant old ranch houses, the cactus gardens and the occasional chicken coop. Look up our things to do high in Phoenix for more.
Best mountain or sunset spot nearby
You have two good options, both close. North Mountain and Shaw Butte rise at the north end of Central and 7th Street, with trails up both and a wide view south over the whole grid. Shaw Butte in particular gives you the city lights coming on at dusk.
Piestewa Peak sits to the east near the 51. It's steeper and more crowded, but the summit view is classic Phoenix. Both are preserves, smoke-free year-round, so keep it for your own backyard. Ride in with a sober friend or rideshare. More in our Phoenix mountains guide.
The good and the annoying
The good. Light rail at the front door. The Central and Camelback food cluster. Shade trees that make July survivable for at least half a block. The bridle path. Big lots and real privacy. Quick hops to the Biltmore and Camelback East and up to Sunnyslope.
The annoying. Home prices are rude. The good restaurants have waits on every nice evening, so October through April is basically one long line. Central Avenue traffic slows down for the train, and new apartment buildings keep popping up near the stations, which the old guard will discuss with you at length. And north of Northern things get very quiet very early. No snacks after 10 unless you planned ahead.
