Looking to uncover all that Central City Village has to offer? Get to know the downtown core of Phoenix by browsing its most popular local businesses, from Mexican-inspired treats to crafty diner cuisine.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Central City, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood restaurants. Read on for the results.
1. Novel Ice Cream
Topping the list is Novel Ice Cream, an ice cream and desserts parlor. Located at 1028 Grand Ave., Suite 6, it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting five stars out of 432 reviews on Yelp.
Its menu offers gourmet donut buns stuffed with flavors of ice cream like butterbeer, bourbon caramel toffee crunch and honey lavender. Other treats include scoops of ice cream sandwiched between European waffles.
2. Cibo
Next up is Italian spot Cibo, which offers pizza and sandwiches from its space at 603 N. Fifth Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 1,989 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
This pizzeria serves lunch, dinner and dessert within a restored bungalow in the downtown area. Yelpers recommend its salsiccia sandwich for lunch and its Genova pizza, which comes with mozzarella, basil pesto, onions, roasted potatoes and grated parmigiano. You can view the full menu here.
3. Tres Leches Cafe
Tres Leches Cafe, a spot to score coffee, tea and pastries, is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1714 W. Van Buren St., five stars out of 309 reviews.
This quaint shop offers a variety of unique latte flavors: Try the cafe horchata, cafe churro or Azteca latte with its pumpkin empanadas and pan dulce. The winter menu lists specialties like Coco Blanco, which features the flavors of coconut atole and white espresso.
4. Harumi Sushi
Harumi Sushi, a modernist sushi bar and Japanese restaurant, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,136 Yelp reviews. Head over to 114 W. Adams St., Suite C101 to see for yourself.
Look for the Crazy roll (fresh tuna, salmon, avocado, spicy mayo, topped with masago wrapped in soy paper), the Ahi Tower (spicy tuna with avocado, tobiko and masago on a bed of crab salad and purple sushi rice) and the green tea ice cream. Reviewers note that servings are generous.
5. Vovomeena
Next, check out Vovomeena, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 928 reviews on Yelp. You can find the breakfast and brunch-only joint at 1515 N. Seventh Ave., Suite 170.
The breakfast joint's Blackstone scramble combines pork shoulder, tomato, peppers and garlic with eggs and a tortilla, while its savory crepes feature scrambled eggs, chicken and romanesco sauce. Hot coffee, Japanese cold brew and cappuccinos are also available. (See the full menu here.)
6. Welcome Diner
And then there's Welcome Diner, a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 920 reviews. Stop by 929 E. Pierce St. to hit it up the next time you're in the neighborhood.
The diner offers a spin on classic comfort foods: Options like its fried green tomato "sando" (with corn relish, chipotle ranch and arugula), its jackfruit po'boy (with braised jackfruit, Carolina barbecue, and slaw on a baguette), poutine (with french fries, sausage country gravy and cheddar cheese) and more fill the menu.
