Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
Seis has tasty tacos, tortas, and quesadillas inspired by six regions in Mexico. This is the place we always take guests when they come to visit us. (in the Mercado just west of I-10, 2.5 miles west)
140 locals recommend
Seis Kitchen
1765 E River RdSeis has tasty tacos, tortas, and quesadillas inspired by six regions in Mexico. This is the place we always take guests when they come to visit us. (in the Mercado just west of I-10, 2.5 miles west)
The Little One (formerly Little Cafe Poca Cosa) has breakfast or lunch in downtown Tucson (not opened on the weekends and cash only). Run by two sisters from Sonora who won’t let you leave without a hug. (downtown, 1.7 miles west)
49 locals recommend
The Little One
151 North Stone AvenueThe Little One (formerly Little Cafe Poca Cosa) has breakfast or lunch in downtown Tucson (not opened on the weekends and cash only). Run by two sisters from Sonora who won’t let you leave without a hug. (downtown, 1.7 miles west)
Café Poca Cosa hosts fancy Mexican dinner and is owned by the same people as the The Little One, but it's more expensive (but worth it) and open later. Reservations are generally necessary. (downtown, 1.7 miles west)
106 locals recommend
Cafe Poca Cosa
110 E Pennington StCafé Poca Cosa hosts fancy Mexican dinner and is owned by the same people as the The Little One, but it's more expensive (but worth it) and open later. Reservations are generally necessary. (downtown, 1.7 miles west)
Penca has fancy Mexico City cuisine. The elote, tacos, and cocktails are amazing. (downtown, 1.5 miles west)
51 locals recommend
Penca
50 E Broadway BlvdPenca has fancy Mexico City cuisine. The elote, tacos, and cocktails are amazing. (downtown, 1.5 miles west)
Tania's has giant burritos and Mexican soups; the extra-large burrito is good for three meals. (Just west of I-10, 3 miles west)
23 locals recommend
Tanias 33
614 N Grande AveTania's has giant burritos and Mexican soups; the extra-large burrito is good for three meals. (Just west of I-10, 3 miles west)
Café Marcel has amazing crepes, both sweet and savory (on Oracle, 3.6 miles northwest)
6 locals recommend
Cafe Marcel Creperie & Espresso Bar
2281 N Oracle RdCafé Marcel has amazing crepes, both sweet and savory (on Oracle, 3.6 miles northwest)
Laverna's Coffee Shop
220 S Plumer AveCheap and delicious diner food (on Plumer, 0.6 miles east)
good diner food with giant biscuits (on Broadway, 1.2 miles east)
32 locals recommend
Bisbee Breakfast Club Broadway
2936 E Broadway Blvdgood diner food with giant biscuits (on Broadway, 1.2 miles east)
Amazing breakfast, but often a wait on the weekends, so get there early (on Campbell, 3 miles north)
170 locals recommend
Prep & Pastry
2660 N Campbell AveAmazing breakfast, but often a wait on the weekends, so get there early (on Campbell, 3 miles north)
They have 12 types of Benedicts! Need we say more? (on Campbell, 2.8 miles north)
42 locals recommend
Baja Cafe on Campbell
2970 N Campbell AveThey have 12 types of Benedicts! Need we say more? (on Campbell, 2.8 miles north)
Great Ethiopian food for vegetarians and meat-eaters (gluten-free is easy too).
53 locals recommend
Cafe Desta
758 S Stone AveGreat Ethiopian food for vegetarians and meat-eaters (gluten-free is easy too).
Great Ethiopian food for vegetarians and meat-eaters (gluten-free is easy too).
18 locals recommend
Zemam's
2731 E Broadway BlvdGreat Ethiopian food for vegetarians and meat-eaters (gluten-free is easy too).
Saigon Phở
943 E University BlvdTasty Vietnamese sandwiches near the university (1.2 miles northwest)
spicy and amazingly delicious Chinese options (on Grant, a 10-minute drive)
14 locals recommend
Jun Dynasty Chinese Restaurant
2933 E Grant Rdspicy and amazingly delicious Chinese options (on Grant, a 10-minute drive)
China Pasta House
430 N Park Avetasty dumplings (on Park, 0.9 miles northwest)
fancy pizza in a historic downtown building (downtown, 1.6 miles west)
79 locals recommend
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
101 E Pennington Stfancy pizza in a historic downtown building (downtown, 1.6 miles west)
a wide variety of tasty pizzas on lively Fourth Ave. (1.6 miles west)
10 locals recommend
Magpies Gourmet Pizza 4th Ave.
605 North 4th Avenuea wide variety of tasty pizzas on lively Fourth Ave. (1.6 miles west)
tasty pizzas and a great beer selection (on Speedway, 1.1 miles north)
7 locals recommend
1702 Craft Beer and Pizza
1702 E Speedway Blvdtasty pizzas and a great beer selection (on Speedway, 1.1 miles north)
pizza by the slice and great cookies (on University, 1.7 miles northwest)
148 locals recommend
Time Market
444 E University Blvdpizza by the slice and great cookies (on University, 1.7 miles northwest)
tasty American food with a modern twist (on Broadway, 0.7 miles west)
29 locals recommend
Welcome Diner
902 E Broadway Blvdtasty American food with a modern twist (on Broadway, 0.7 miles west)
amazing brunch and tasty dinner in historic Hotel Congress downtown (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
111 locals recommend
Cup Cafe
311 E Congress Stamazing brunch and tasty dinner in historic Hotel Congress downtown (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
expensive but delicious, and the chef is an iron chef winner (in the Mercado just west of I-10, 2.5 miles west)
70 locals recommend
Agustin Kitchen
100 South Avenida del Conventoexpensive but delicious, and the chef is an iron chef winner (in the Mercado just west of I-10, 2.5 miles west)
locally sourced meat and good veggie burgers and fries (downtown, 1.3 miles west)
20 locals recommend
Diablo Burger
312 E Congress Stlocally sourced meat and good veggie burgers and fries (downtown, 1.3 miles west)
Tucson Tamale Company – an amazing variety of tamales for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. They’re also great to take home frozen and warm up in the microwave. (north side: 7286 N Oracle Rd, east side: 7159 E Tanque Verde)
35 locals recommend
Tucson Tamale Company
2545 E Broadway BlvdTucson Tamale Company – an amazing variety of tamales for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. They’re also great to take home frozen and warm up in the microwave. (north side: 7286 N Oracle Rd, east side: 7159 E Tanque Verde)
Tucson Tamale Company – an amazing variety of tamales for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. They’re also great to take home frozen and warm up in the microwave. (north side: 7286 N Oracle Rd, east side: 7159 E Tanque Verde)
35 locals recommend
Tucson Tamale Company
2545 E Broadway BlvdTucson Tamale Company – an amazing variety of tamales for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. They’re also great to take home frozen and warm up in the microwave. (north side: 7286 N Oracle Rd, east side: 7159 E Tanque Verde)
The Panda House
1118 E 6th Stdelicious Chinese food near the university (on 6th St., 0.9 miles northwest)
Napoli pizzas and salads with a great bar next door (Sidecar) (on Broadway, 1.1 miles west)
32 locals recommend
Falora Pizza
3000 E Broadway BlvdNapoli pizzas and salads with a great bar next door (Sidecar) (on Broadway, 1.1 miles west)
good NY pizza with a good bar next door (Sky Bar) and delivery to our area (on 4th Ave., 1.7 miles northwest)
34 locals recommend
Brooklyn Pizza Company
534 N 4th Avegood NY pizza with a good bar next door (Sky Bar) and delivery to our area (on 4th Ave., 1.7 miles northwest)
Drinks & Nightlife
downtown bar with an amazing metal sculpture/mural and tasty cocktails (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
12 locals recommend
R Bar
350 E Congress Stdowntown bar with an amazing metal sculpture/mural and tasty cocktails (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
historic hotel and bar (with the Cup Café) where John Dillinger was caught. some nights have live music (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
232 locals recommend
Hotel Congress
311 E Congress Sthistoric hotel and bar (with the Cup Café) where John Dillinger was caught. some nights have live music (on Congress, 1.3 miles west)
arguably the best local brewery, with food trucks for snacks some nights (on Grant, 4.8 miles northwest)
28 locals recommend
Dragoon Brewing Company
1859 W Grant Rdarguably the best local brewery, with food trucks for snacks some nights (on Grant, 4.8 miles northwest)
standard pub food, but tasty brews downtown (on Broadway, 1.4 miles west)
11 locals recommend
Thunder Canyon Brewery
220 E Broadway Blvdstandard pub food, but tasty brews downtown (on Broadway, 1.4 miles west)
Tough Luck Club – the basement bar at Reilly’s Craft Pizza (see above) that has great mixologists (downtown, 1.6 miles west)
79 locals recommend
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
101 E Pennington StTough Luck Club – the basement bar at Reilly’s Craft Pizza (see above) that has great mixologists (downtown, 1.6 miles west)
Sidecar – bar next to Falora (see above) that also has great mixologists (on Broadway, 1.1 miles west)
34 locals recommend
Sidecar
139 S Eastbourne AveSidecar – bar next to Falora (see above) that also has great mixologists (on Broadway, 1.1 miles west)
Parks & Nature
A mix between a museum and a native animal zoo, the Desert Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting Tucson! Exhibits include a sting ray touch pool, a hummingbird aviary, and lots of iconic desert views (even on the drive there). Give yourself several hours to visit, and bring a water bottle (it's almost all outside but they do have several water fountains and sunscreen stations throughout).
670 locals recommend
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdA mix between a museum and a native animal zoo, the Desert Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting Tucson! Exhibits include a sting ray touch pool, a hummingbird aviary, and lots of iconic desert views (even on the drive there). Give yourself several hours to visit, and bring a water bottle (it's almost all outside but they do have several water fountains and sunscreen stations throughout).
If you're looking to see some nature and escape the heat, head up to Mount Lemmon, where the temperatures stay cool in the mountain town of Summerhaven even in the middle of a sweltering Tucson summer. The drive up illustrates the transition of vegetation types due to elevation and precipitation changes.
485 locals recommend
Mount Lemmon
If you're looking to see some nature and escape the heat, head up to Mount Lemmon, where the temperatures stay cool in the mountain town of Summerhaven even in the middle of a sweltering Tucson summer. The drive up illustrates the transition of vegetation types due to elevation and precipitation changes.
A great state park - Sabino Canyon, 7 Falls, or Romero Pools are all worth a visit.
192 locals recommend
Catalina State Park
11570 North Oracle RoadA great state park - Sabino Canyon, 7 Falls, or Romero Pools are all worth a visit.
A great place to see a very high density of our iconic saguaro cacti.
320 locals recommend
Saguaro National Park
A great place to see a very high density of our iconic saguaro cacti.
Arts & Culture
Interesting rotating exhibits, and a permanent display of western art. The area around the museum has neat souvenir and crafts shops in historic adobe row houses.
181 locals recommend
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
140 N Main AveInteresting rotating exhibits, and a permanent display of western art. The area around the museum has neat souvenir and crafts shops in historic adobe row houses.