Downtown Phoenix

The economic, cultural, and commercial heart of Arizona. For such a vast metropolis, the downtown is surprisingly compact with relatively few and modest skyscrapers -- yet eight of the state's ten tallest buildings stand here. The intersection of Washington Street and Central Avenue marks the origin point of the entire metro area's street grid, dating back to 1870.

After decades of postwar decline -- busy with office workers by day, deserted by night -- the core has undergone a genuine renaissance since the 2008 recession, with new shops, restaurants, and cultural venues opening steadily.

The walkable core splits into three informal zones:

• Economic Core -- the skyscraper cluster around Central Avenue, including Chase Tower (147 m, the tallest building in Arizona) and historic gems like the 1928 Hotel San Carlos
• Cultural Core -- Symphony Hall, Convention Center, St. Mary's Basilica, and Heritage & Science Park
• Commercial Core -- the CityScape mixed-use complex, the Art Deco Luhrs Tower, and Chase Field