Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
Quick, Easy, and Inexpensive. Great Breakfast joint with midwestern greasy spoon type diner fare. Friendly and fast service, very popular among working class. $
Bread & Butter Cafe
4231 E 22nd StQuick, Easy, and Inexpensive. Great Breakfast joint with midwestern greasy spoon type diner fare. Friendly and fast service, very popular among working class. $
Best authentic, inexpensive Mexican food like someone's nana would make. Highly recommend the $5.99 fajita plate--best fajitas in town. Great margaritas. Solid choice that's a bit of a secret even among locals. $
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El Sur
5602 E 22nd StBest authentic, inexpensive Mexican food like someone's nana would make. Highly recommend the $5.99 fajita plate--best fajitas in town. Great margaritas. Solid choice that's a bit of a secret even among locals. $
Creative and delicious Cocktails. Food is fantastic as well in their scratch kitchen. Delicious seafood. Highly recommend the Cucumber Martini! Kitchen open until 2 AM. $$
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Dante's Fire
2526 E Grant RdCreative and delicious Cocktails. Food is fantastic as well in their scratch kitchen. Delicious seafood. Highly recommend the Cucumber Martini! Kitchen open until 2 AM. $$
Great custom burritos and extensive vegetarian/vegan fare. Quite possibly the best breakfast burritos in town. Definitely the best chilaquiles. $$
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Tanias 33
614 N Grande AveGreat custom burritos and extensive vegetarian/vegan fare. Quite possibly the best breakfast burritos in town. Definitely the best chilaquiles. $$
Elegant breakfast and lunch food, done tastefully--and deliciously--at a fair price. Often quite busy on weekends. $$
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Prep & Pastry
2660 N Campbell AveElegant breakfast and lunch food, done tastefully--and deliciously--at a fair price. Often quite busy on weekends. $$
Classic American standards elevated to elegant masterpieces. Prices are not exorbitant, but the flavor is. Great spot for a semi-casual date night. $$
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Commoner & Co.-Tmp. Closed for Remodel
6960 E Sunrise DrClassic American standards elevated to elegant masterpieces. Prices are not exorbitant, but the flavor is. Great spot for a semi-casual date night. $$
Widely regarded as the home of the Sonoran Hot Dog, this spot is one of the best and is truly authentic Tucson fare. $
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El Güero Canelo Restaurant
2480 N Oracle RdWidely regarded as the home of the Sonoran Hot Dog, this spot is one of the best and is truly authentic Tucson fare. $
Mexican Street food and Raspados. Raspados are fruit flavored ices that are traditional Mexican fare. This place has my personal favorites in town. For an authentic taste of Mexico, try the Mangoyada with riellitos (ray-yee-toes)! $
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Sonoran Delights Raspados
921 W Congress StMexican Street food and Raspados. Raspados are fruit flavored ices that are traditional Mexican fare. This place has my personal favorites in town. For an authentic taste of Mexico, try the Mangoyada with riellitos (ray-yee-toes)! $
Best Bagels in town. Great for breakfast or lunch with an excellent selection of both bagels and sandwiches. $
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Bruegger's Bagels
1064 N Campbell AveBest Bagels in town. Great for breakfast or lunch with an excellent selection of both bagels and sandwiches. $
It's where Bill Clinton ate when he came to Tucson during his presidency, and you can sit in the presidential booth and order the presidential plate! Arrive early, because there is almost always a wait. $$
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Mi Nidito
1813 S 4th AveIt's where Bill Clinton ate when he came to Tucson during his presidency, and you can sit in the presidential booth and order the presidential plate! Arrive early, because there is almost always a wait. $$
Most creative burgers in town. Want Mac n Cheese or peanut butter on your burger, this is the place to go. They do regular cheeseburgers too, so don't be afraid. Greasy and delicious, its how a burger should be sometimes. Man vs. Food did their OMFG burger challenge here. $$
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Lindy's on 4th
500 N 4th AveMost creative burgers in town. Want Mac n Cheese or peanut butter on your burger, this is the place to go. They do regular cheeseburgers too, so don't be afraid. Greasy and delicious, its how a burger should be sometimes. Man vs. Food did their OMFG burger challenge here. $$
Bosnian food? In Tucson?! Yeah, actually. REALLY, really good Bosnian food. What IS Bosnian food, you may ask? Think Mediterranean with sausages and such: grilled marinated veggies, simple but delicious meat options. Chef Alisah is an extremely nice guy whose greatest pleasure in the world is feeding you and making you happy. I highly recommend giving him the opportunity. $$
Chef Alisah's Restaurant
5931 N Oracle RdBosnian food? In Tucson?! Yeah, actually. REALLY, really good Bosnian food. What IS Bosnian food, you may ask? Think Mediterranean with sausages and such: grilled marinated veggies, simple but delicious meat options. Chef Alisah is an extremely nice guy whose greatest pleasure in the world is feeding you and making you happy. I highly recommend giving him the opportunity. $$
Best 24/7 food in town. Its inside the Triple T Truck stop, but don't let that dissuade you. Quality diner food with a few Mexican options that are all quite decent. Best biscuits and gravy in town. Best bacon in town (weird, but true). Best chili in town. $$
Omar's Hiway Chef Restaurant
5451 East Benson HighwayBest 24/7 food in town. Its inside the Triple T Truck stop, but don't let that dissuade you. Quality diner food with a few Mexican options that are all quite decent. Best biscuits and gravy in town. Best bacon in town (weird, but true). Best chili in town. $$
A bit of a drive, but well worth it. Definitively the best Thai food in Tucson. All the Thai food enthusiasts know about this place and come from very far to eat here specifically. I highly recommend any of the curry dishes. $$
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Sa-Ing Thai Cuisine
9136 E Valencia RdA bit of a drive, but well worth it. Definitively the best Thai food in Tucson. All the Thai food enthusiasts know about this place and come from very far to eat here specifically. I highly recommend any of the curry dishes. $$
The 1950's is alive at Pat's, a true drive-in relic and Tucson staple. Choose between regular or hot chili (I prefer the hot, its not as spicy as you might think). $
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Pat's Chili Dogs
1202 W Niagara StThe 1950's is alive at Pat's, a true drive-in relic and Tucson staple. Choose between regular or hot chili (I prefer the hot, its not as spicy as you might think). $
Medium-upscale Mexico city street food. Really delicious, interesting food that's done a little bit better than most everywhere else. Perfect for a classy lunch or a romantic dinner. Pro-tip: Tres Leches Cake. I will say no more... $$
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Reforma Modern Mexican
4340 N Campbell AveMedium-upscale Mexico city street food. Really delicious, interesting food that's done a little bit better than most everywhere else. Perfect for a classy lunch or a romantic dinner. Pro-tip: Tres Leches Cake. I will say no more... $$
This is the real Tucson in food form. I can not recommend this place more highly. This steak house is over 100 years old, provides exceptional service, yet remains no-frills. Prices are very reasonable, and your steak will be cooked impeccably on their open pit mesquite grill. $$
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El Corral
2201 E River RdThis is the real Tucson in food form. I can not recommend this place more highly. This steak house is over 100 years old, provides exceptional service, yet remains no-frills. Prices are very reasonable, and your steak will be cooked impeccably on their open pit mesquite grill. $$
Some of the best most innovative breakfasts in Tucson. A full page of the menu devoted to benedicts. They corn their own beef for the corn beef hash, and it is incredible. $$
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Baja Cafe on Campbell
2970 N Campbell AveSome of the best most innovative breakfasts in Tucson. A full page of the menu devoted to benedicts. They corn their own beef for the corn beef hash, and it is incredible. $$
Breakfast and brunch done with style and innovation. Locally sourced produce and meats means only the highest quality ingredients make it onto the plate but at a reasonable cost. Place fills up quickly, and you may have to wait for a table. $$
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Five Points Market & Restaurant
756 S Stone AveBreakfast and brunch done with style and innovation. Locally sourced produce and meats means only the highest quality ingredients make it onto the plate but at a reasonable cost. Place fills up quickly, and you may have to wait for a table. $$
Really a good choice for any meal of the day, and located inside the historic Hotel Congress, which is interesting and fun in its own right. I typically prefer to go for breakfast and get the skillet baked eggs. You can not go wrong here. Waits are common, but you can wonder around the hotel a bit while you wait. $$
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Cup Cafe
311 E Congress StReally a good choice for any meal of the day, and located inside the historic Hotel Congress, which is interesting and fun in its own right. I typically prefer to go for breakfast and get the skillet baked eggs. You can not go wrong here. Waits are common, but you can wonder around the hotel a bit while you wait. $$
There's a cafe for breakfast and brunch with all kinds of delicious things. There's also an incredibly nice restaurant for dinner with old world charm and top notch food and service. Perfect for a romantic evening for 2. $$$
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Maynards Market & Kitchen
400 N Toole AveThere's a cafe for breakfast and brunch with all kinds of delicious things. There's also an incredibly nice restaurant for dinner with old world charm and top notch food and service. Perfect for a romantic evening for 2. $$$
Really good, authentic Mexican food, but elevated slightly. Not too heavy on the budget, but really great place to get some fresh Mexican flavors. $$
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Blanco Tacos + Tequila
2905 E Skyline DrReally good, authentic Mexican food, but elevated slightly. Not too heavy on the budget, but really great place to get some fresh Mexican flavors. $$
It's a fast food sub shop that's probably a bit better than subway, but its a Tucson thing that you should probably do while here. The main draw is their Eegee drinks which are kinda like somewhere between an italian ice and a slush (you CAN use a straw, but I prefer a spoon) with real fruit pieces in it. Pro-tip: you can get more than one flavor at a time. Also, french fries with your sub? Yes, please! Get yours with extra ranch (or buffalo ranch) on the side! $
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Eegee's
2510 E Speedway BlvdIt's a fast food sub shop that's probably a bit better than subway, but its a Tucson thing that you should probably do while here. The main draw is their Eegee drinks which are kinda like somewhere between an italian ice and a slush (you CAN use a straw, but I prefer a spoon) with real fruit pieces in it. Pro-tip: you can get more than one flavor at a time. Also, french fries with your sub? Yes, please! Get yours with extra ranch (or buffalo ranch) on the side! $
This is old world Italian done incredibly right. Been around for about 100 years--no joke--and their food is to die for. Best lasagna I've ever had. Period. But everything is just like an Italian grandmother would make. You can smell the garlic bread from blocks away. Get a house salad and marvel in their house dressing. After dinner, have some home-made spumoni. If it's nice out, sit outside on their extensive back patio. You wont regret it. $$
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Caruso's
434 N 4th AveThis is old world Italian done incredibly right. Been around for about 100 years--no joke--and their food is to die for. Best lasagna I've ever had. Period. But everything is just like an Italian grandmother would make. You can smell the garlic bread from blocks away. Get a house salad and marvel in their house dressing. After dinner, have some home-made spumoni. If it's nice out, sit outside on their extensive back patio. You wont regret it. $$
New Mexican food done well. They are famous for their green hatch chili sauce, which is just about the spiciest and most delicious thing ever. Seriously, its REALLY good, but not for the faint of heart. Those who want less spice should go for the white sauce instead. Or order any meal "mexican flag style" with a mix of red, green, and white sauces. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Nice patio. Call ahead to check for a wait. $$
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Poco & Moms Cantina
7000 E Tanque Verde RdNew Mexican food done well. They are famous for their green hatch chili sauce, which is just about the spiciest and most delicious thing ever. Seriously, its REALLY good, but not for the faint of heart. Those who want less spice should go for the white sauce instead. Or order any meal "mexican flag style" with a mix of red, green, and white sauces. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Nice patio. Call ahead to check for a wait. $$
Parks & Nature
Gorgeous views of Tucson, especially at night. Skiing during winter months. Camping and hiking good options. University of Arizona Sky Center lets you use the largest telescope on earth accessible to general public to see the universe.
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Mount Lemmon
Gorgeous views of Tucson, especially at night. Skiing during winter months. Camping and hiking good options. University of Arizona Sky Center lets you use the largest telescope on earth accessible to general public to see the universe.
Beautiful landscape with lots of Saguaro cacti! Great driving trail take about 30-45 minutes to drive all the way around without stopping, but plenty of hikes and picnic areas exist throughout.
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Saguaro National Park East
Beautiful landscape with lots of Saguaro cacti! Great driving trail take about 30-45 minutes to drive all the way around without stopping, but plenty of hikes and picnic areas exist throughout.
Biosphere 2 serves as a unique large-scale experimental apparatus housing seven model ecosystems with active research by teams of multidisciplinary scientists. Previously, outsiders were not allowed into the ecosystems, but now tours occur daily. See the world ecosystems all in one location. Fun, interesting, and unique.
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Biosfære 2
32540 S Biosphere RdBiosphere 2 serves as a unique large-scale experimental apparatus housing seven model ecosystems with active research by teams of multidisciplinary scientists. Previously, outsiders were not allowed into the ecosystems, but now tours occur daily. See the world ecosystems all in one location. Fun, interesting, and unique.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best all-around burger joint in Tucson. They're not pricey, they're not gourmet-style, but when you really just crave a good burger, this is the place to go.
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Red Garter Bar and Grill
3143 E Speedway BlvdBest all-around burger joint in Tucson. They're not pricey, they're not gourmet-style, but when you really just crave a good burger, this is the place to go.
Very good bar, very good food. A little dark inside, and a little divey, but overall a solid choice for a drink or for late-night eats. Huge sandwiches on extra thick made-daily bread, best soup in town, served in a bread bowl. Reasonably priced.
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Bison Witches Bar & Deli
326 N 4th AveVery good bar, very good food. A little dark inside, and a little divey, but overall a solid choice for a drink or for late-night eats. Huge sandwiches on extra thick made-daily bread, best soup in town, served in a bread bowl. Reasonably priced.
Entertainment & Activities
A must-see in Tucson. More akin to a zoo than anything else, they feature many local species of exotic animals.
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdA must-see in Tucson. More akin to a zoo than anything else, they feature many local species of exotic animals.
Great selection of animals in a smaller, more intimate Zoo that lets you get really up close to the animals. Great elephant exhibit and feed the giraffes!
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Reid Park Zoo
3400 E Zoo CtGreat selection of animals in a smaller, more intimate Zoo that lets you get really up close to the animals. Great elephant exhibit and feed the giraffes!
Conveniently located and not overcrowded. Excellent driving range, full course, putting greens, and pro shop.
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Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course
602 S Alvernon WayConveniently located and not overcrowded. Excellent driving range, full course, putting greens, and pro shop.
Hotel and Horse Ranch that offers riding lessons and horseback tours. One of Tucson's oldest attractions remains a popular favorite.
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Tanque Verde Ranch
14301 E Speedway BlvdHotel and Horse Ranch that offers riding lessons and horseback tours. One of Tucson's oldest attractions remains a popular favorite.
One of the best experiences you might have in Tucson. Look through the largest telescope on earth that is open to public viewing and view the planets of our solar system, star clusters with hundreds of thousands of stars in them, and entire galaxies. Not cheap, but worth every penny. Reservations typically must be made at least one month in advance.
University of Arizona Observatory
One of the best experiences you might have in Tucson. Look through the largest telescope on earth that is open to public viewing and view the planets of our solar system, star clusters with hundreds of thousands of stars in them, and entire galaxies. Not cheap, but worth every penny. Reservations typically must be made at least one month in advance.
A crazy good time if you have an evening to spare and want a good laugh with some goofy live theater. Typically the seasonal shows are spoofs of some sort of other cultural phenomenon, but done with hilarity and fun. You can have dinner served to you at your table at the show. Great fun for the family, a couple, or even solo. Highly recommended!
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Gaslight Theatre
7010 E Broadway BlvdA crazy good time if you have an evening to spare and want a good laugh with some goofy live theater. Typically the seasonal shows are spoofs of some sort of other cultural phenomenon, but done with hilarity and fun. You can have dinner served to you at your table at the show. Great fun for the family, a couple, or even solo. Highly recommended!
Essentials
Best place to get health and beauty needs as well as some basic food staples and snacks. Some kids toys and pharmacy as well.
Walgreens Pharmacy
18600 S Nogales HwyBest place to get health and beauty needs as well as some basic food staples and snacks. Some kids toys and pharmacy as well.
Fry's Pharmacy
3920 East Grant RoadStandard grocery supermarket in the Kroger family.
Arts & Culture
Excellent exhibits and never crowded. Located on the west end of the University of Arizona Campus, so take a taxi or Uber to University Main Gate.
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Arizona State Museum
1013 E University BlvdExcellent exhibits and never crowded. Located on the west end of the University of Arizona Campus, so take a taxi or Uber to University Main Gate.
Great museum for kids of all ages. Located in historic Tucson.
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Barne Museum Tucson
200 S 6th AveGreat museum for kids of all ages. Located in historic Tucson.
Sightseeing
Site of the famous gunfight at the OK corral. A true old-west town, but a bit touristy nowadays. Fun ghost tours, the Birdcage Theater, and a saloon on every corner!
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Tombstone
300 N Sumner StSite of the famous gunfight at the OK corral. A true old-west town, but a bit touristy nowadays. Fun ghost tours, the Birdcage Theater, and a saloon on every corner!