Keep reading to learn about the cost of rent, walkability, schools, safety, and more in the vibrant Roosevelt Row district.
Located in downtown Phoenix, Roosevelt Row is one of the state’s most vibrant arts districts. Expect to find plenty of art galleries, bold murals (like the colorful “Welcome to Roosevelt Row”), restaurants, bars, and shops along or nearby Roosevelt Street, including one of my favorites. Named after the owner’s grandmother, locally owned Bunky Boutique is always packed with unique inventory. I purchased my absolute favorite magenta dress from this spot a few years ago. (Pro tip: Head here when searching for great, unique gifts.)
Roosevelt Row takes its name from Roosevelt Street, which runs from East to West in downtown. Unlike other Phoenix streets (e.g., Indian School Road, which cuts through the entire Valley) that appear throughout the Valley of the Sun, Roosevelt is restricted to just downtown.
When people say “Roosevelt,” they’re typically referring to the street itself and the area that surrounds it. Roosevelt is a vibrant, hip part of town whose nightlife attracts many young people.
Keep reading to discover more about this vibrant art-centric neighborhood.
Average cost of rent
According to Apartments.com, the average rent for Roosevelt Row apartments starts at about $1,438 for a studio; rates go up from there. One of downtown’s more expensive places to live, this is likely because many of the buildings are newer and would obviously cost more.
Here are a few rent prices we found:
Roosevelt Row Apartment Homes Rates start at $1,420
Linear Apartment Homes Rates start at $1,552
ECO PHX Rates start at $1,875
Keep in mind that those prices don’t include other taxes and fees.
Walkability
Roosevelt Row is very walkable. The neighborhood has its very own Valley Metro (or “light rail,” as we locals say) stop that makes it easy to reach spots along the light rail’s route. Keep in mind that the light rail only goes to a limited number of places. Residing here also puts you close to many top bars and restaurants, making a good meal always accessible in Roosevelt Row.
Safety
The Phoenix Police Department shows that downtown has a high number of “person offenses” or crimes against people like homicide, assault, and robbery. Check out this crime density map from the police with stats taken from July 2025. Property crimes are also at a higher density in downtown Phoenix than in other parts of the Valley.
Despite the fact that crime is concentrated in downtown Phoenix, it’s still a relatively safe area.
Schools
Parents residing in downtown Phoenix have plenty of options when it comes to schools. The area is served by both the Phoenix Elementary School District # 1 and the Phoenix Union High School District. A quick Google search shows four elementary schools located in downtown Phoenix. These include Whittier Elementary School, Kenilworth Elementary School, Edison Elementary School, and the Capitol Elementary School. Arizona State University also has a downtown campus. Charter schools are also an option. Check out this post from Downtown Phoenix for a more comprehensive list of educational institutions located throughout downtown Phoenix.
The Arizona Science Center and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix are both located nearby and are great places for families to visit.
Landmarks
Roosevelt is known for its numerous street murals. The one that reads “Welcome to Roosevelt Row” is a great way to kick off any visit to this area. The legendary Prince has his own mural. Located behind The Churchill—a sprawling food hall—is what is unofficially dubbed Mural Alley. Stroll through here to find a variety of colorful murals by 12 local artists.
The Churchill is also worth your time. I’ve taken fitness classes and listened to talks in the courtyard that’s surrounded by booths. Food-wise, Freak Brothers is a fantastic pizza joint. Sink your teeth into pies that are made with 100% organic ingredients, including flour from Utah-based Central Milling. Freak Brothers is also known for offering gluten-free crusts in addition to vegan, dairy and meat-free pizzas. I’ve never had a bad slice here.
Housed in the historic DeSoto Building, Track Club Fitness is a massive, state-of-the-art gym outfitted with a variety of top fitness equipment. Opened in 1928 as a car dealership, the brick building once housed a food hall before becoming a club and now a massive gym. The Jerome Gibson, P.C. building is a massive glass building that features offices for a law firm on the inside and an enormous rendering of Teddy Roosevelt on the exterior. It also features a Bunky Boutique on the ground floor. This shop stocks a variety of clothing, home goods, jewelry and other eclectic wares. The selection is always surprising and interesting.
Being an arts district, expect to find plenty of art galleries. Browse plenty of contemporary art in painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia art at Modified Arts. The gallery that’s housed in a signature brick building offers monthly rotating exhibits featuring work from established local artists that seeks to “provide a fresh perspective.” Eye Lounge is a contemporary gallery that’s run by artists and aims to showcase both new and established artists.
What else to know about living here
If you decide to live along Roosevelt Row, you’ll be mere blocks from Chase Field and the Mortgage Matchup Center—two primary entertainment hubs. The Van Buren, Arizona Financial Theatre, and Crescent Ballroom are smaller venues that are also just blocks away. The Nash Jazz Club is on Roosevelt and is dedicated to, you guessed it, jazz.
Roosevelt Row is also within walking distance to one of Phoenix’s top public parks, Hance Park. Named after the first female mayor of Phoenix, the 32-acre Margaret T. Hance Park features a volleyball court, a splash pad, a playground, a grill area and a dog park. I’ve enjoyed many events here. I’ve attended two free NCAA concerts featuring Keith Urban and Mumford & Sons. I also saw country star Lee Brice play here as part of a free Super Bowl show. Most recently, I attended the Arizona Fall Festival where I got to check out some local vendors. I took home a massive lemonade from Marlee’s Lemonade. The cylinder-shaped Chinese takeout size container featured so many real lemon wedges that I’ve been using them to season meals for over a week now.
One of the park’s most striking landmarks? The Burton Barr Central Library. The first time I stepped foot inside this place, I couldn’t believe that there was a public library that featured an actual creek inside of it. Beyond the impressive architecture, you can also find thousands of materials you can check out. Find books (of course), but also CDs, DVDs and magazines that you can borrow.
Two of Phoenix’s top art museums are also nearby. This includes the largest museum in the Southwest, the Phoenix Art Museum, which houses a variety of contemporary and international art. The Heard Museum, which is dedicated to showcasing art by Natives, is also downtown.
Another wonderful thing about Roosevelt Row? The street has a ton of fantastic restaurants. Here’s a small sampling of what to expect: Check out SoSoBa Phoenix for its great ramen. Lola Coffee is a specialty coffee shop and an ideal place for remote workers to convene. GenuWine Arizona is a trendy wine bar known for its wine flights with creative pairings like Oreos and red and white wines. The spot is also known for hosting book clubs. Craft beer powerhouse Arizona Wilderness also has an outpost here. Woman-owned Greenwood Brewing also has a contemporary taproom here. Sake Haus offers sushi, sake, and other classic Japanese dishes.
I once enjoyed an epic meal at Industry Standard. The lobster roll was easily one of the best I’ve ever had in town—so light, buttery and fresh. Huarachis Taqueria is a lively Mexican joint that I once frequented with a friend before a Phoenix Mercury game. I enjoyed the signature huaracha, essentially an open-faced taco served with a thick tortilla and topped with crispy fried fish, a colorful medley of tomatoes, red onion, and a white sauce. The music was loud, and the conversation was lively.
Downtown Phoenix also hosts plenty of festivals and events. You’ll never have to travel far to find something fun to do. Check out this calendar to get a taste of some of the area’s events. The first Friday of every month sees downtown transformed into a lively arts-centric festival. Expect free admission to some, but not all, of the major museums in the area, along with plenty of arts and food vendors on the streets. It’s a lively outdoor monthly party.
As far as the drawbacks of living in downtown Phoenix go, here are a few things you should be aware of. Downtown Phoenix really only has two major grocery stores: a Fry’s downtown and a Safeway on McDowell.
Homelessness is also an issue in the area. Although the infamous Zone was cleared away in 2023, homelessness is still an issue and is concentrated downtown. (If you’re struggling with homelessness, check out this resource from Downtown Phoenix.)
Downtown Phoenix doesn’t have quite as much housing as other areas of the Valley. Part of this is because downtown is a smaller geographical area, but it’s also due to a lack of housing and newer builds in the area. Roosevelt Row has newer, though more expensive, housing.
Anyone who says that “Phoenix has no culture” would be proven wrong if they spent any time on Roosevelt Row. Although there’s a lack of grocery stores and not as many other residents when compared to other areas of the Valley, Roosevelt Row is one of Phoenix’s most vibrant neighborhoods that has plenty of cultural and artistic offerings for its residents.
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Editor’s Note: The caption for the Revolución Tacos + Cantina photo has been updated.
