7 Most Charming Town Squares In Arizona

Arizona may be known for its cacti, red rocks, and heat, but spend a little time in its small towns and you’ll discover something equally enduring: community. These town squares are where farmers markets meet saloons, historic facades meet modern-day galleries, and locals still know your name. From Prescott’s tree-lined plaza to Jerome’s mountain-clinging charm, these squares are less about passing through and more about pulling up a chair. These are seven of the most charming town squares that Arizona has to offer in 2025.

Prescott

Prescott's Courthouse Plaza is the kind of spot where people actually linger. Elms tower above park benches and a gazebo in the center, while the vintage Yavapai County Courthouse anchors the view with its forbidding granite. Around it is Whiskey Row, a line of saloons that have traded gunfighters for craft beer and Saturday night cover bands. The Palace Restaurant and Saloon still maintains its 1800s-old original bar—request to be seated in one of the original booths. Close by, the Raven Café features live music and rooftop seating, and the 'Tis Art Center and Gallery features rotating exhibits of Arizona artists. On Saturdays, the Prescott Farmers Market relocates with everything from prickly pear jam to Navajo tacos. It's history, nightlife, and hometown charm—all layered on top of each other.

Cottonwood

Old Town Cottonwood is Arizona's version of a European village square, but with significantly improved wine. The historic strip is along Main Street and has a certain hum to it, particularly in the evening. Start your visit with homemade pasta and local drafts at the Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria and then walk to Arizona Stronghold Vineyards Old Town Cottonwood Tasting Room, which boasts welcoming patios and delicious wine. Across the street, the Old Town Center for the Arts presents everything from flamenco to blues and is small enough that every seat is a front-row seat. Breakfast the next morning is at Crema Craft Kitchen. And if you catch it just right, the town hosts "Walkin' on Main" in November, a street festival that's bursting at the seams with art booths, live music, and food vendors in the square.

Bisbee

Bisbee doesn't really have a square in the classical sense—it has stairways, corners, and patios that feel like one. The action concentrates on Howell Avenue and Main Street. Where you go for a relaxed dinner with white tablecloths and four courses is Cafe Roka, and where you find vintage Arizona postcards and wacky souvenirs is Bisbee Hot and Spicy. Sam Poe Gallery is filled with works as colorful as the man himself, who can generally be found chatting with visitors about his method. Don't miss the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum—it's a Smithsonian affiliate and housed in the old mining company building. Live music and open studios stroll the streets on the second Saturday of each month during the Bisbee After 5 Art Walk. Bisbee's square is crooked, but it's worth recalling.

Jerome

Jerome dangles over a cliff, and through some sort of magic, its square persists. In its center is the Jerome Mining Museum, small but packed with old mining equipment, maps, and the kind of wacky stories that make Arizona history so compelling. From there, you can walk up to the Haunted Hamburger for lunch with a view and stories of flying forks. Down the stairs, pop into Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes—yes, a whole gallery dedicated to artful kaleidoscopes made by artists from all over the nation. If you're a metal and stonework buff, then Raku Gallery is a must-see, particularly for copper items that local artisans forge. Jerome has a dynamic Art Walk & Wine Walk on the first Saturday of every month, when the entire town—steep stairs and all—becomes one enormous, throbbing community space.

Wickenburg

Wickenburg's town square holds a version of the West that persists—weathered, welcoming, and lived in. Start with the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, which houses a strong Western and Native American art collection and women artists' rotating exhibitions. Walk across the street to Ben's Saddlery & Shoe Repair, where handmade leatherwork still gets stitched together by hand. The Flying E Ranch, just outside of town, offers trail rides that book up quickly for good reason. Inside the square, Nana’s Sandwich Shoppe is where locals go for homemade soup and pie. And if you’re lucky enough to visit during Gold Rush Days in February, the entire downtown becomes a parade route with rodeo events, vendors, and line dancing in the street. Wickenburg doesn't attempt—it simply shows up for what it is.

Tubac

Tubac is one of those places where the town plaza blends into the landscape—blooming trees, Spanish colonial stone, and scenic adobe courtyards. Start at Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Arizona's first state park, and walk through exhibits on the Spanish colonial period. Then there's the art: Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Art Gallery H, and K Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden. Each gallery brings a distinct atmosphere, from regional oils to yard sculptures. La Entrada de Tubac is a collection of boutiques and eateries like Shelby's Bistro, a favorite for its prickly pear lemonade and patio dining. Twice a year, Tubac appropriates its square with the Tubac Festival of the Arts, which includes more than 200 artists and merchants. It's not flashy or loud—merely profoundly, quietly lovely.

Williams

Williams can be designated as the last town bypassed by I-40 on Route 66, but its downtown square is still a place to gather with brawn. The Grand Canyon Railway Depot takes stage center, and it's where trains still leave every day for the South Rim. Surrounding the square, shop for art by locals at The Gallery in Williams or browse antique signs at Addicted to Route 66. Every night at 7 p.m., the Cataract Creek Gang stages an Old West gunfight—complete with awful jokes and blanks—right in front of the Sultana Bar. Williams does not take itself too seriously, and that's just what makes it so much fun.

Arizona's most beautiful town squares are anything but a relic of the past—they're living centers where art, community, and flavor come together. Cottonwood's sidewalk vineyards and Bisbee's layered streets showcase the unique character and rhythm of each town. These aren't towns you "swing by"—these are where you park, take a walk, and chat with the man who's serving your coffee or painting your coffee mug. Arizona has flash, but these squares show that there is beauty in its quieter, lesser-known corners.