Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
Fine Ethiopian food. Great vegetarian options - or not.
Exit the house and go right to Stone Ave. Turn right on Stone and walk four blocks to 18th St.
53 locals recommend
Cafe Desta
758 S Stone AveFine Ethiopian food. Great vegetarian options - or not.
Exit the house and go right to Stone Ave. Turn right on Stone and walk four blocks to 18th St.
Penca
50 E Broadway BlvdNuevo Mexican - Great Happy Hour.
Standard Mexican fare in kitschy but quaint old house.
Exit the house and turn left and go three blocks to Main St. Take a right and go to the corner of Cushing and Main.
40 locals recommend
El Minuto Cafe
354 S Main AveStandard Mexican fare in kitschy but quaint old house.
Exit the house and turn left and go three blocks to Main St. Take a right and go to the corner of Cushing and Main.
Good tapas and Spanish food. Weekends and on some weekday nights there is live flamenco and music, very lively and fun...and literally across the street.
21 locals recommend
Casa Vicente
375 S Stone AveGood tapas and Spanish food. Weekends and on some weekday nights there is live flamenco and music, very lively and fun...and literally across the street.
Diablo Burger
312 E Congress StLocal, free range deliciousness.
Veg options. Share the fries!
Nice patio in back. Food a bit spotty.
The coolio bar next store serves fine cocktails late at night. Lots of beards, vests and high priced ice.
57 N Scott Ave
57 North Scott AvenueNice patio in back. Food a bit spotty.
The coolio bar next store serves fine cocktails late at night. Lots of beards, vests and high priced ice.
Best Patio downtown. Nice range of vegetarian options and tacos al fresco. Turns into hipster club scene on weekends - go for a late dinner and segue into some trancedance or disco till 3.
101 locals recommend
LaCo Tucson | Outdoor Downtown Tucson Restaurant
76 N Court AveBest Patio downtown. Nice range of vegetarian options and tacos al fresco. Turns into hipster club scene on weekends - go for a late dinner and segue into some trancedance or disco till 3.
James Beard award winning Janos serves up fine fare.
Good Happy Hour...
43 locals recommend
DOWNTOWN Kitchen + Cocktails
135 S 6th AveJames Beard award winning Janos serves up fine fare.
Good Happy Hour...
HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery
266 E Congress StEat somewhere else then go here for ice cream....
Blu Bottle coffee and best gluten free breakfast options.
Chill with your laptop....
44 locals recommend
Caffe Luce
245 E Congress StBlu Bottle coffee and best gluten free breakfast options.
Chill with your laptop....
High end regional Sonoran food.
Dinner only - reservations recommended.
Baby Poca Cosa is on Stone - superb Breakfast and lunch.
106 locals recommend
Cafe Poca Cosa
110 E Pennington StHigh end regional Sonoran food.
Dinner only - reservations recommended.
Baby Poca Cosa is on Stone - superb Breakfast and lunch.
Go to see the historic train station. The Market has pricey tourist tchotchkes - with over priced and inconsistent food to match.
83 locals recommend
Maynards Market & Kitchen
400 N Toole AveGo to see the historic train station. The Market has pricey tourist tchotchkes - with over priced and inconsistent food to match.
Off the beaten path but worth it.
Where else can you get real Peruvian food?
Don Pedro's Peruvian Bistro
Off the beaten path but worth it.
Where else can you get real Peruvian food?
This is the best neighborhood option for breakfast and lunch. Just 3 blocks from the house this place is highly recommended for its fresh, local vibe and food that is made with care. Some groceries.
92 locals recommend
Five Points Market & Restaurant
756 S Stone AveThis is the best neighborhood option for breakfast and lunch. Just 3 blocks from the house this place is highly recommended for its fresh, local vibe and food that is made with care. Some groceries.
A short drive north on Stone and located in a trashy strip mall, this place has all the foodies in town twiitering like pigeons on a discarded hot dog.
Billed as "Native American Comfort Food"...WOW!
7 locals recommend
Mother Hubbard's Restaurant
14 W Grant RdA short drive north on Stone and located in a trashy strip mall, this place has all the foodies in town twiitering like pigeons on a discarded hot dog.
Billed as "Native American Comfort Food"...WOW!
A short drive down South 6th Ave. With a write up in the NYT's, the best taqueria in town with handmade corn tortillas...try the fish or shrimp. Be sure to get the Pico de Gallo with chili and lime.
30 locals recommend
Taqueria Pico De Gallo
2618 S 6th AveA short drive down South 6th Ave. With a write up in the NYT's, the best taqueria in town with handmade corn tortillas...try the fish or shrimp. Be sure to get the Pico de Gallo with chili and lime.
If you want to get to a lush desert setting and blow a big pile of cash on great food, Starr Pass is fits the bill. There is also a poolside bar and some great hiking near the hotel.
6 locals recommend
Primo
3800 W Starr Pass BlvdIf you want to get to a lush desert setting and blow a big pile of cash on great food, Starr Pass is fits the bill. There is also a poolside bar and some great hiking near the hotel.
Trying its best with local fare, the food is good and trendy. But enough with the exposed brick, raw wood and rusted steel already! If you want high energy use Edison bulbs, this is the place.
8 locals recommend
Proper
300 E Congress StTrying its best with local fare, the food is good and trendy. But enough with the exposed brick, raw wood and rusted steel already! If you want high energy use Edison bulbs, this is the place.
Drinks & Nightlife
Full bar with high end bar food in nice historic building with lovely patios. Live music some nights.
11 locals recommend
Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant
198 W Cushing StFull bar with high end bar food in nice historic building with lovely patios. Live music some nights.
Fun bar and hang out. More beers to to choose from than the ugly and corporate World of Beer. Usually a food truck or two out front.
87 locals recommend
Tap & Bottle - Downtown
403 N 6th AveFun bar and hang out. More beers to to choose from than the ugly and corporate World of Beer. Usually a food truck or two out front.
Too many fake plants and flat screens but fun upper deck with fantastic views of Congress St & the Catalina Mts.
Good place to watch a game....
46 locals recommend
Playground Bar & Lounge
278 E Congress StToo many fake plants and flat screens but fun upper deck with fantastic views of Congress St & the Catalina Mts.
Good place to watch a game....
Best dive bar if you really want to dive deep.
The fact that they open at 6AM gives you a clue...that and the pickled pigs feet.
13 locals recommend
Buffet Bar & Crockpot
538 E 9th StBest dive bar if you really want to dive deep.
The fact that they open at 6AM gives you a clue...that and the pickled pigs feet.
Original as it gets for a local bar. Check it out but beware of corporate minded price gauging.
16 locals recommend
Congress Tap Room
311 E Congress StOriginal as it gets for a local bar. Check it out but beware of corporate minded price gauging.
Sightseeing
Go see the Hotel Congress for the building and its history. Maybe have a coffee on the patio. The kind of place that once had an edge but now you take your parents there. Bohemian gone bourgeois...
111 locals recommend
Cup Cafe
311 E Congress StGo see the Hotel Congress for the building and its history. Maybe have a coffee on the patio. The kind of place that once had an edge but now you take your parents there. Bohemian gone bourgeois...
The best sunset viewpoint in the city. Miles of uninterrupted desert with views into Mexico and Kitt Peak. Hike out onto the rocks and be amazed...and only 20 minutes away!
West Gates Pass Road
West Gates Pass RoadThe best sunset viewpoint in the city. Miles of uninterrupted desert with views into Mexico and Kitt Peak. Hike out onto the rocks and be amazed...and only 20 minutes away!
Essentials
Food Conspiracy Co-op
412 N 4th AveWalkable. Great local organic foods - at a cost, of course.
Our Favorite grocery store.
Go and battle the abuelas for the freshest produce in town. Speaking Spanish comes in handy!
El Super
3372 S 6th AveOur Favorite grocery store.
Go and battle the abuelas for the freshest produce in town. Speaking Spanish comes in handy!
Whole Foods Market
3360 E Speedway BlvdYou know the classist drill...
Trader Joe's
4209 N Campbell AveGo to buy 2 things, leave with 16.
Arts & Culture
Our local arts museum. Again, shows vary so call to see what is up.There is also a small cafe with a great, underused patio and a gift shop with lots of wind chimes and 80's pottery.
181 locals recommend
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
140 N Main AveOur local arts museum. Again, shows vary so call to see what is up.There is also a small cafe with a great, underused patio and a gift shop with lots of wind chimes and 80's pottery.
Catch up on the modern scene. Shows vary from brilliant to boring...like any good museum.
66 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art
265 S Church AveCatch up on the modern scene. Shows vary from brilliant to boring...like any good museum.
This is one, if not the ONE, of the best photo collections in the US, if not the world. You can spend hours in their archives where they will white glove and amaze you with world class art.
41 locals recommend
Center for Creative Photography
1030 N Olive RdThis is one, if not the ONE, of the best photo collections in the US, if not the world. You can spend hours in their archives where they will white glove and amaze you with world class art.
Check out the Rialto's live music venue. Stellar international shows in an intimate setting and crossing all musical genres, this is the place to people watch or get down and dirty on the dance floor.
92 locals recommend
Rialto Theatre
318 E Congress StCheck out the Rialto's live music venue. Stellar international shows in an intimate setting and crossing all musical genres, this is the place to people watch or get down and dirty on the dance floor.
Good music venue for the sit down and listen crowd. In a newly restored art deco setting.
55 locals recommend
Fox Tucson Theatre
17 W Congress StGood music venue for the sit down and listen crowd. In a newly restored art deco setting.