Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene - Tucson is a UNESCO City of gastronomy!
Here are just a few suggestions.
Great food and live music. Located in an old hacienda that has been converted into local artist shops. There is a lot to see in this plaza.
101 locals recommend
LaCo Tucson | Outdoor Downtown Tucson Restaurant
76 N Court AveGreat food and live music. Located in an old hacienda that has been converted into local artist shops. There is a lot to see in this plaza.
Cafe Desta
758 S Stone AveThe best in authentic Ethiopian cuisine. All hand-made daily.
Catalina Barbeque Co. & Sports Bar
3645 W Starr Pass BlvdFantastic BBQ with home made sauce.
Amazing Italian fusion cuisine. They use local ingredients when possible. Perfect for a special occasion. Reservations recommended.
6 locals recommend
Primo
3800 W Starr Pass BlvdAmazing Italian fusion cuisine. They use local ingredients when possible. Perfect for a special occasion. Reservations recommended.
Homemade Italian food with a very casual atmosphere. Perfect for take-out.
15 locals recommend
Bianchi's Italian
1110 North Silverbell RoadHomemade Italian food with a very casual atmosphere. Perfect for take-out.
Take your taste buds on a journey thousands of years in the making. This resultant features heirloom ingredients grown using traditional practices of the Tohono O'odham peoples.
San Xavier Co-Op Farm
8100 Oidak WogTake your taste buds on a journey thousands of years in the making. This resultant features heirloom ingredients grown using traditional practices of the Tohono O'odham peoples.
Absolutely delicious restaurant/bar/ice cream! Located in the heart of downtown on restaurant row. Very funky decor. The homemade ice cream is so good they had to open up an ice cream shop across the street!
Reservations recommended.
74 locals recommend
HUB Restaurant & Ice Creamery
266 E Congress StAbsolutely delicious restaurant/bar/ice cream! Located in the heart of downtown on restaurant row. Very funky decor. The homemade ice cream is so good they had to open up an ice cream shop across the street!
Reservations recommended.
Home to a few restaurants including Sies. Try the "Barbacoa Tacos". Veggie lovers, try the "Crispy Avocado" tacos. Quench your thirst with the "agua fresca" of the day.
Also great morning coffee spot with featuring Estrella bakery, a Tucson staple for traditional Mexican baked treats and tortillas.
160 locals recommend
Mercado San Augustin
100 South Avenida del ConventoHome to a few restaurants including Sies. Try the "Barbacoa Tacos". Veggie lovers, try the "Crispy Avocado" tacos. Quench your thirst with the "agua fresca" of the day.
Also great morning coffee spot with featuring Estrella bakery, a Tucson staple for traditional Mexican baked treats and tortillas.
Best breakfast and brunch spot around. The wait can be over one hour and they do not accept reservations. Use Yelp to reserve your spot in line to avoid the wait.
There is additional parking behind the restaurant.
170 locals recommend
Prep & Pastry
2660 N Campbell AveBest breakfast and brunch spot around. The wait can be over one hour and they do not accept reservations. Use Yelp to reserve your spot in line to avoid the wait.
There is additional parking behind the restaurant.
Fun and delicious place for traditional teppan and sushi.
8 locals recommend
Sakura Teppan Steak & Sushi
6534 E Tanque Verde RdFun and delicious place for traditional teppan and sushi.
The oldest, longest running restaurant in Tucson. They are known for the machaca (dried beef) dishes.
151 locals recommend
El Charro Café
311 N Court AveThe oldest, longest running restaurant in Tucson. They are known for the machaca (dried beef) dishes.
A Tucson MUST!
Nationally recognized, award wining BK is located on "La Doce" or Mexican food row, in Tucson's south side.
Must try: Sonoran hot dog, carne asada caramelo, flame grilled onions and a michelada prepared with Corona.
8 locals recommend
BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs 12th Ave
5118 S 12th AveA Tucson MUST!
Nationally recognized, award wining BK is located on "La Doce" or Mexican food row, in Tucson's south side.
Must try: Sonoran hot dog, carne asada caramelo, flame grilled onions and a michelada prepared with Corona.
El Corral
2201 E River RdOne of the best and oldest steak houses in Tucson.
Sightseeing
Spectacular place to watch the magnificent Arizona sunsets. Also a great place for hiking. Is located in a federal preserve.
127 locals recommend
Gates Pass Trail
6400 W Gates Pass RdSpectacular place to watch the magnificent Arizona sunsets. Also a great place for hiking. Is located in a federal preserve.
Take in a little history by visiting one of the earliest missions established by Father Kino on behalf of the Spanish Crown.
329 locals recommend
Mission San Xavier del Bac
1950 W San Xavier RdTake in a little history by visiting one of the earliest missions established by Father Kino on behalf of the Spanish Crown.
Take a stroll through one of the largest geological collections or take in a show about our night sky. Take in the cosmos with evening telescope viewings that are sometimes offered.
39 locals recommend
Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium
1601 E University BlvdTake a stroll through one of the largest geological collections or take in a show about our night sky. Take in the cosmos with evening telescope viewings that are sometimes offered.
A well worth drive to take a tour of live caves. Be sure to buy tickets in advance, they sell out most days.
216 locals recommend
Kartchner Caverns State Park
2980 AZ-90A well worth drive to take a tour of live caves. Be sure to buy tickets in advance, they sell out most days.
Take a day trip to Kitt Peak, a national park with an observatory at the top. Check their website for evening viewing tours and see the universe though a different lens.
95 locals recommend
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Take a day trip to Kitt Peak, a national park with an observatory at the top. Check their website for evening viewing tours and see the universe though a different lens.
Located within a national forest, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the perfect place to learn about desert animals and plant life while enjoying the splendor of the Sonoran Desert.
670 locals recommend
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdLocated within a national forest, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the perfect place to learn about desert animals and plant life while enjoying the splendor of the Sonoran Desert.
Arts & Culture
Something for everyone. A little contemporary, some regional and historical works.
181 locals recommend
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
140 N Main AveSomething for everyone. A little contemporary, some regional and historical works.
Arizona History Museum
949 E 2nd StWalks you through the history of the Sonoran Desert.
Drinks & Nightlife
Enjoy fantastic local restaurants and night-life along East Congress Street. Playground is an evening hot-spot featuring a bar downstairs and open air dancing upstairs.
46 locals recommend
Playground Bar & Lounge
278 E Congress StEnjoy fantastic local restaurants and night-life along East Congress Street. Playground is an evening hot-spot featuring a bar downstairs and open air dancing upstairs.
Find live music here on a regular basis and one of the best bars in town.
Also home of the Cup Cafe. An excellent choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
232 locals recommend
Hotel Congress
311 E Congress StFind live music here on a regular basis and one of the best bars in town.
Also home of the Cup Cafe. An excellent choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Parks & Nature
This steep hike, on a popular paved path ends with a spectacular view of the city. Path is open Monday - Friday after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends.
108 locals recommend
Tumamoc Hill
This steep hike, on a popular paved path ends with a spectacular view of the city. Path is open Monday - Friday after 5 p.m. and all day on weekends.
Escape the heat or play in the snow! Mt. Lemmon is a 45 min drive up into a forest. It is typically 20 degrees cooler. Great hiking, camping and picnic spots. There are a few restaurants and shops.
27 locals recommend
Mt Lemmon Ski Valley
10300 E Ski Run RdEscape the heat or play in the snow! Mt. Lemmon is a 45 min drive up into a forest. It is typically 20 degrees cooler. Great hiking, camping and picnic spots. There are a few restaurants and shops.
Great hiking at the base of the Santa Catalina mountain range. Who said there is no water in the desert? Bring your swimsuit! There are great watering holes created by the melting snow caped mountains or from the summer monsoons.
212 locals recommend
Sabino Canyon
Great hiking at the base of the Santa Catalina mountain range. Who said there is no water in the desert? Bring your swimsuit! There are great watering holes created by the melting snow caped mountains or from the summer monsoons.
Largest park in Tucson. Part of a huge complex in the city's center which includes a; zoo, golf course, driving range, tennis court, UA Baseball field, duck pond, dog park, rose garden and walking path.
43 locals recommend
Reid Park
Largest park in Tucson. Part of a huge complex in the city's center which includes a; zoo, golf course, driving range, tennis court, UA Baseball field, duck pond, dog park, rose garden and walking path.
Essentials
Located on Tucson west side, this grocery store has everything to make your stay comfortable, including a Starbucks.
130 locals recommend
Safeway
1940 E Broadway BlvdLocated on Tucson west side, this grocery store has everything to make your stay comfortable, including a Starbucks.
Local, fresh and organic produce along with everything else you made need from grocery store. Best of all it's member owned in the iconic 4th Avenue district.
82 locals recommend
Food Conspiracy Co-op
412 N 4th AveLocal, fresh and organic produce along with everything else you made need from grocery store. Best of all it's member owned in the iconic 4th Avenue district.
West side grocery store located in a shopping plaza with Wells Fargo, casual restaurants, Dairy Queen and Sally Beauty Supply.
62 locals recommend
Albertsons
2854 N Campbell AveWest side grocery store located in a shopping plaza with Wells Fargo, casual restaurants, Dairy Queen and Sally Beauty Supply.
Walgreens
3200 E Speedway BlvdPharmacy, photo and more.
Northeast grocery store that offers a wide variety of everyday and some specialty foods.
There is a bar inside that serves hamburgers and sushi along with your favorite cocktails.
The bakery has ready-to-eat pizza, Mexican food, juice bar and much more. You can eat inside or when the weather is nice in the al fresco patio.
This shopping center also has a pharmacy, restaurants, gym and even a library!
186 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3360 E Speedway BlvdNortheast grocery store that offers a wide variety of everyday and some specialty foods.
There is a bar inside that serves hamburgers and sushi along with your favorite cocktails.
The bakery has ready-to-eat pizza, Mexican food, juice bar and much more. You can eat inside or when the weather is nice in the al fresco patio.
This shopping center also has a pharmacy, restaurants, gym and even a library!
Shopping
4th Avenue is lined with eclectic locally owned shops, thrift stores and restaurants.
45 locals recommend
North 4th Avenue
North 4th Avenue4th Avenue is lined with eclectic locally owned shops, thrift stores and restaurants.