Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
A general store market, great coffee shop and some of the best pizza outside New York City! They have a small, but lovely outdoor patio, great beer and wine selection and wonderful, fresh salads and sandwiches as well.
http://www.timemarket.xyz/
148 locals recommend
Time Market
444 E University BlvdA general store market, great coffee shop and some of the best pizza outside New York City! They have a small, but lovely outdoor patio, great beer and wine selection and wonderful, fresh salads and sandwiches as well.
http://www.timemarket.xyz/
Any one visiting downtown Tucson should make a date to get breakfast or dinner at this amazing Mexican cafe. It's a Tucson favorite with locals: they only take cash, the music is loud, and one of the sisters who run this place will probably give you a hug. The molé is amazing, but anything you get here will be delicious!
https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-The-Little-One-1561032997497188/
49 locals recommend
The Little One
151 North Stone AvenueAny one visiting downtown Tucson should make a date to get breakfast or dinner at this amazing Mexican cafe. It's a Tucson favorite with locals: they only take cash, the music is loud, and one of the sisters who run this place will probably give you a hug. The molé is amazing, but anything you get here will be delicious!
https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-The-Little-One-1561032997497188/
Happy Hour here is wonderful! The bar started out as a "Speakeasy" style warm and romantic place and was one of the original purveyors of Cocktail Culture that has helped elevate Tucson to world-class status.
http://www.47scott.com/
32 locals recommend
47 Scott
47 N Scott AveHappy Hour here is wonderful! The bar started out as a "Speakeasy" style warm and romantic place and was one of the original purveyors of Cocktail Culture that has helped elevate Tucson to world-class status.
http://www.47scott.com/
Chef Maria makes just about the best street tacos around and her salsas are amazing! It's a lively spot on historic and funky 4th Ave.
https://bocatacos.com/
70 locals recommend
BOCA Tacos Y Tequila
533 N 4th AveChef Maria makes just about the best street tacos around and her salsas are amazing! It's a lively spot on historic and funky 4th Ave.
https://bocatacos.com/
You might not expect it in the desert, but Kingfisher offers wonderful sea food and a deep whiskey menu. They have several late night specials as well.
https://kingfishertucson.com/
78 locals recommend
Kingfisher
2564 E Grant RdYou might not expect it in the desert, but Kingfisher offers wonderful sea food and a deep whiskey menu. They have several late night specials as well.
https://kingfishertucson.com/
Penca offers outstanding fresh cuisine, a seasonal selection of traditional dishes from Central Mexico, and an international bar featuring over 30 mezcals, premium tequilas, award-winning craft cocktails, an Old World wine list, and more.
A beautifully renovated building from the 1920s, the interior of Penca is a charming blend of Old World and urban chic, that would be at home in Tribeca, NYC.
http://www.pencarestaurante.com/
51 locals recommend
Penca
50 E Broadway BlvdPenca offers outstanding fresh cuisine, a seasonal selection of traditional dishes from Central Mexico, and an international bar featuring over 30 mezcals, premium tequilas, award-winning craft cocktails, an Old World wine list, and more.
A beautifully renovated building from the 1920s, the interior of Penca is a charming blend of Old World and urban chic, that would be at home in Tribeca, NYC.
http://www.pencarestaurante.com/
Located in the Mercado, you'll imagine you're in Mexico or Europe. You order your food before taking a table in the open-air courtyard and the wait staff brings you your delicious food representing the six gustatory regions of Mexico (hence its name, Seis). Along with the great food, they make what is perhaps the best horchata in town.
On Thursday and Saturday evenings, you may also be treated to live music!
140 locals recommend
Seis Kitchen
1765 E River RdLocated in the Mercado, you'll imagine you're in Mexico or Europe. You order your food before taking a table in the open-air courtyard and the wait staff brings you your delicious food representing the six gustatory regions of Mexico (hence its name, Seis). Along with the great food, they make what is perhaps the best horchata in town.
On Thursday and Saturday evenings, you may also be treated to live music!
My favorite go-to for Italian food! A spacious place with several rooms indoors and a large outdoor space (with two Boci Courts). The food is wonderful (try the little pizzas as a table share before entrees), as are the cocktails and wine and beer selection.
They also have a lovely bakery/cafe for delicious breakfasts and lunch.
32 locals recommend
Locale Neighborhood Italian Restaurant
60 N Alvernon WayMy favorite go-to for Italian food! A spacious place with several rooms indoors and a large outdoor space (with two Boci Courts). The food is wonderful (try the little pizzas as a table share before entrees), as are the cocktails and wine and beer selection.
They also have a lovely bakery/cafe for delicious breakfasts and lunch.
Drinks & Nightlife
A great gathering place for beer, wine and quite good food! Their "Taco Tuesdays" offer$2.00 tacos (always one meat and one veggie option). You could easily have a great lunch of three tacos and a beer for under $12.00! And on Thursdays, their Barbecue Special is absolutely amazing!
https://www.ermanosbrew.com/
54 locals recommend
Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar
220 N 4th AveA great gathering place for beer, wine and quite good food! Their "Taco Tuesdays" offer$2.00 tacos (always one meat and one veggie option). You could easily have a great lunch of three tacos and a beer for under $12.00! And on Thursdays, their Barbecue Special is absolutely amazing!
https://www.ermanosbrew.com/
Tap and Bottle offers a wonderful array of beer and wine and many nights there's live music!
https://www.thetapandbottle.com/
87 locals recommend
Tap & Bottle - Downtown
403 N 6th AveTap and Bottle offers a wonderful array of beer and wine and many nights there's live music!
https://www.thetapandbottle.com/
Simply a lovely Coffee House for sipping coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, having a light snack and either enjoying conversation with friend or getting some work done.
Their second location on Simpson St is Crisol where you will find an amazing selection of agave spirits and live music out in their little patio.
104 locals recommend
Exo Roast Co
403 N 6th AveSimply a lovely Coffee House for sipping coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, having a light snack and either enjoying conversation with friend or getting some work done.
Their second location on Simpson St is Crisol where you will find an amazing selection of agave spirits and live music out in their little patio.
Tucson's got some pretty cool 'dive bars' some of which may even feel a bit "dangerous." The Shelter feels like something out of a 1950s Black & White film. If you enjoy such places, pay it a visit; it will feel like you've stepped back in time!
30 locals recommend
The Shelter Cocktail Lounge
4155 E Grant RdTucson's got some pretty cool 'dive bars' some of which may even feel a bit "dangerous." The Shelter feels like something out of a 1950s Black & White film. If you enjoy such places, pay it a visit; it will feel like you've stepped back in time!
Parks & Nature
A visit to this immersive outdoor "museum" will have you falling in love with the Sonoran Desert. You'll see native animals like the javelina as well as raptors putting on a show!
670 locals recommend
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdA visit to this immersive outdoor "museum" will have you falling in love with the Sonoran Desert. You'll see native animals like the javelina as well as raptors putting on a show!
Within an hour of downtown Tucson, you can ride up a breath-taking mountain highway through 8 bioregions till you arrive a Ponderosa Pine forests. Great for hiking and for a picnic, Mt Lemmon offers a nice respite from the summer heat in Tucson.
You can download an app, called The Mount Lemmon Science Tour with music from Calexico and narrated by Calexico front person, Joey Burns. It explains the geology as well as the bio-diversity as you ascend the mountain.
485 locals recommend
Mount Lemmon
Within an hour of downtown Tucson, you can ride up a breath-taking mountain highway through 8 bioregions till you arrive a Ponderosa Pine forests. Great for hiking and for a picnic, Mt Lemmon offers a nice respite from the summer heat in Tucson.
You can download an app, called The Mount Lemmon Science Tour with music from Calexico and narrated by Calexico front person, Joey Burns. It explains the geology as well as the bio-diversity as you ascend the mountain.
A great paved urban hiking trail up to the home of the University of Arizona Desert Laboratory . There's an app you can download (The Tumamoc Tour) that narrates the history and what you're seeing. It offers an amazing view of Tucson and the surroundings.
108 locals recommend
Tumamoc Hill
A great paved urban hiking trail up to the home of the University of Arizona Desert Laboratory . There's an app you can download (The Tumamoc Tour) that narrates the history and what you're seeing. It offers an amazing view of Tucson and the surroundings.
Entertainment & Activities
The Loft is more than a movie theater; it's a hub for community as well. They offer free movies in local parks during the summer, free "Essential Movies" and films for the kids every month. An art house cinema with a very neighborly vibe.
If you're a fan of great bad b-movies, check out Mondo Monday or if you like Cult films, every weekend there's something showing here!
140 locals recommend
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway BlvdThe Loft is more than a movie theater; it's a hub for community as well. They offer free movies in local parks during the summer, free "Essential Movies" and films for the kids every month. An art house cinema with a very neighborly vibe.
If you're a fan of great bad b-movies, check out Mondo Monday or if you like Cult films, every weekend there's something showing here!
Arts & Culture
A great place to visit for any history buffs looking to learn about the history of Arizona and Tucson in particular.
24 locals recommend
Arizona History Museum
949 E 2nd StA great place to visit for any history buffs looking to learn about the history of Arizona and Tucson in particular.
I come from NYC, so I've had to learn to lower my expectations a bit when it comes to museums, but the Tucson Museum of Art offers some pretty cool shows and events. If you're here in the hotter times of the year, it's a good place to give yourself a break from the sun. Lunch or Dinner at Café a la C'art would be a great spot for a meal afterward.
181 locals recommend
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
140 N Main AveI come from NYC, so I've had to learn to lower my expectations a bit when it comes to museums, but the Tucson Museum of Art offers some pretty cool shows and events. If you're here in the hotter times of the year, it's a good place to give yourself a break from the sun. Lunch or Dinner at Café a la C'art would be a great spot for a meal afterward.
The first floor is a cavernous space and the museum offers an opportunity to catch up on some of the hottest contemporary artists currently creating.
66 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art
265 S Church AveThe first floor is a cavernous space and the museum offers an opportunity to catch up on some of the hottest contemporary artists currently creating.