Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
If you want wood-fired pizza, amazing appetizers, excellent desserts and drinks at a SUPER AFFORDABLE price, this is your place. Well, this is actually 3 places in one. Enjoy your nice dinner inside the restaurant, then play some cornhole and have a beer in the biergarden out back, and head downstairs to the Tough Luck Club for a creative cocktail in an intimate setting. (Did I mention this is a former funeral home? But don't worry, it looks NOTHING like that anymore. :) )
79 personas locales recomiendan
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
101 E Pennington StIf you want wood-fired pizza, amazing appetizers, excellent desserts and drinks at a SUPER AFFORDABLE price, this is your place. Well, this is actually 3 places in one. Enjoy your nice dinner inside the restaurant, then play some cornhole and have a beer in the biergarden out back, and head downstairs to the Tough Luck Club for a creative cocktail in an intimate setting. (Did I mention this is a former funeral home? But don't worry, it looks NOTHING like that anymore. :) )
AMAZING coffee roaster-
for a Tucson staple beverage try the Chiltepin Cold Brew (pronounced CHILL-TEH-PEEN).
104 personas locales recomiendan
Exo Roast Co
403 N 6th AveAMAZING coffee roaster-
for a Tucson staple beverage try the Chiltepin Cold Brew (pronounced CHILL-TEH-PEEN).
One of Tucson's best coffee roasters: the shop is beautifully minimal and the coffee is wonderful. They have nitro cold brew on tap and their beans are a great treat to bring home with you and brew in your own coffee maker.
60 personas locales recomiendan
Presta Coffee Roasters
100 South Avenida del ConventoOne of Tucson's best coffee roasters: the shop is beautifully minimal and the coffee is wonderful. They have nitro cold brew on tap and their beans are a great treat to bring home with you and brew in your own coffee maker.
This is the locally-famous spot to the get THE BEST Sonoran hot dogs. There are a lot of places around to get them, but this is the place the locals go.
18 personas locales recomiendan
Taqueria Aqui Con El Nene
4415 N Flowing Wells RdThis is the locally-famous spot to the get THE BEST Sonoran hot dogs. There are a lot of places around to get them, but this is the place the locals go.
The real reason to stop here?
The frozen hot chocolate on a hot day. (Or their Mexican-style hot chocolate on a cold, rainy day.)
This place is definitely a treat, but there is nothing else like it.
Their chocolate bars are made "bean to bar", meaning they make them from raw cacao beans in-house! Their bon bons are also filled with locally inspired treats such as Tucson's own Whiskey del Bac. They also have white chocolate mesquite bars.
As for food, they serve light brunchy- type sandwiches. They also have a small assortment of (incredible) baked goods. They have made from scratch marshmallows (free!) and choco-tacos, stroopwaffles, and more.
26 personas locales recomiendan
Monsoon Chocolate
234 E 22nd StThe real reason to stop here?
The frozen hot chocolate on a hot day. (Or their Mexican-style hot chocolate on a cold, rainy day.)
This place is definitely a treat, but there is nothing else like it.
Their chocolate bars are made "bean to bar", meaning they make them from raw cacao beans in-house! Their bon bons are also filled with locally inspired treats such as Tucson's own Whiskey del Bac. They also have white chocolate mesquite bars.
As for food, they serve light brunchy- type sandwiches. They also have a small assortment of (incredible) baked goods. They have made from scratch marshmallows (free!) and choco-tacos, stroopwaffles, and more.
A totally insta-worthy ice cream shop with tons of flavors, including vegan ice creams, sorbets, popsicles, choco-tacos, and more.
12 personas locales recomiendan
Hub Ice Cream Factory
266 E Congress StA totally insta-worthy ice cream shop with tons of flavors, including vegan ice creams, sorbets, popsicles, choco-tacos, and more.
The ice cream here is made dairy-free from CASHEWS. And it's actually amazing. Truly. I say that as a Wisconsin girl who knows her dairy...
Cashew Cow
16 S Eastbourne AveThe ice cream here is made dairy-free from CASHEWS. And it's actually amazing. Truly. I say that as a Wisconsin girl who knows her dairy...
Parks & Nature
This was just recently voted #3 Best Zoo in America by USA Today. Although it's not totally a zoo. It's more like a complete experience: a museum, a zoo, a botanical garden, and a total desert immersion all rolled into one. The Raptor Free Flight (October-April) is a MUST SEE. The flowers and aviaries (one is just for hummingbirds) are also highlights.
I spend a ton of time here, although in the summer months it does get very hot as it is mostly exposed and there isn't a ton of shady area. They do have a Cool Summer Nights program in the evenings on Saturdays through the summer.
670 personas locales recomiendan
Museo del Desierto de Arizona-Sonora
2021 N Kinney RdThis was just recently voted #3 Best Zoo in America by USA Today. Although it's not totally a zoo. It's more like a complete experience: a museum, a zoo, a botanical garden, and a total desert immersion all rolled into one. The Raptor Free Flight (October-April) is a MUST SEE. The flowers and aviaries (one is just for hummingbirds) are also highlights.
I spend a ton of time here, although in the summer months it does get very hot as it is mostly exposed and there isn't a ton of shady area. They do have a Cool Summer Nights program in the evenings on Saturdays through the summer.
A desert botanical garden that is set along a beautiful, paved walking path. You will not be disappointed! They have an excellent gift shop as well. The restaurant here is very popular for brunch, and for good reason: it's DELICIOUS.
168 personas locales recomiendan
Tohono Chul
7366 N Paseo Del NorteA desert botanical garden that is set along a beautiful, paved walking path. You will not be disappointed! They have an excellent gift shop as well. The restaurant here is very popular for brunch, and for good reason: it's DELICIOUS.
This garden is beautiful, even when the weather gets hot because it has a ton of shade. There is a cute little cafe/restaurant on site as well, and they serve a good breakfast/brunch.
260 personas locales recomiendan
Tucson Botanical Gardens
2150 N Alvernon WayThis garden is beautiful, even when the weather gets hot because it has a ton of shade. There is a cute little cafe/restaurant on site as well, and they serve a good breakfast/brunch.
The summit of this mountain is at 9,151 feet and the Catalina Highway will take you right to the top. There is a town at the top of the mountain called Summerhaven which has a couple of nice restaurants, a place called The Cookie Cabin (plate-sized cookies!), and the southernmost ski slope in the United States.
The drive up is completely amazing: scenic stops all along the way, and stunning viewpoints, pine forests, and picnic areas. The University of Arizona also made an app that serves as a tour guide for your drive up, with signage on the road about where to start the app and lots of fun facts the whole drive.
485 personas locales recomiendan
Mount Lemmon
The summit of this mountain is at 9,151 feet and the Catalina Highway will take you right to the top. There is a town at the top of the mountain called Summerhaven which has a couple of nice restaurants, a place called The Cookie Cabin (plate-sized cookies!), and the southernmost ski slope in the United States.
The drive up is completely amazing: scenic stops all along the way, and stunning viewpoints, pine forests, and picnic areas. The University of Arizona also made an app that serves as a tour guide for your drive up, with signage on the road about where to start the app and lots of fun facts the whole drive.
Saguaro National Park has two locations: East & West.
The West park is very close to our home and offers a lot of cool hikes with ancient petroglyphs and beautiful views.
320 personas locales recomiendan
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park has two locations: East & West.
The West park is very close to our home and offers a lot of cool hikes with ancient petroglyphs and beautiful views.
If you're looking to get a good workout in, Tumamoc Hill gains 1200 ft of elevation in ~1 mile hike up a paved path and is an 8 minute walk from our home (ask me to tell you how to walk there). There are portapotties and a water fountain half way up, and this hike can be done anytime of day (including at night with a flashlight). The views of Tucson are incredible, and the history here is some of the oldest inhabited space in the USA. (There are petroglyphs all over the mountain but purposely hidden from passersby on the path.)
108 personas locales recomiendan
Tumamoc Hill
If you're looking to get a good workout in, Tumamoc Hill gains 1200 ft of elevation in ~1 mile hike up a paved path and is an 8 minute walk from our home (ask me to tell you how to walk there). There are portapotties and a water fountain half way up, and this hike can be done anytime of day (including at night with a flashlight). The views of Tucson are incredible, and the history here is some of the oldest inhabited space in the USA. (There are petroglyphs all over the mountain but purposely hidden from passersby on the path.)
Shopping
This store features work from many local artists. They have a really unique selection of handmade items. A lot of items are upcycled, but there is also unique jewelry, signs, postcards, t-shirts, decor, and so much more. I really feel Pop Cycle is a great (but not all-encompassing!) representation of some of Tucson's most unique creative work.
33 personas locales recomiendan
Pop Cycle
422 N 4th AveThis store features work from many local artists. They have a really unique selection of handmade items. A lot of items are upcycled, but there is also unique jewelry, signs, postcards, t-shirts, decor, and so much more. I really feel Pop Cycle is a great (but not all-encompassing!) representation of some of Tucson's most unique creative work.
Essentials
Sprouts has a vast, totally affordable selection of organic produce and great brands. This is like an affordable Whole Foods and will satisfy your entire shopping list needs. I highly recommend Sprouts if you want to take a few extra minutes to drive there and get some good groceries.
149 personas locales recomiendan
Sprouts Farmers Market
4645 E Speedway BlvdSprouts has a vast, totally affordable selection of organic produce and great brands. This is like an affordable Whole Foods and will satisfy your entire shopping list needs. I highly recommend Sprouts if you want to take a few extra minutes to drive there and get some good groceries.
Entertainment & Activities
This independent movie theater plays the best selection of films in Tucson. They have special events almost every night (Mondo Mondays, First Friday Shorts, etc.) and they have THE BEST MOVIE THEATER POPCORN and concession selection of any theater ever. They serve local tamales, local pizza slices, beer, wine, and much more. They show new movies in digital format, as well as a great selection of older films in their original formats (35mm, 70mm). Each month they celebrate a certain director, writer, or actor and show weekly films they have made (my favorite month was the Cohen Brothers). If you have time to catch a flick, this is the place to go!
140 personas locales recomiendan
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway BlvdThis independent movie theater plays the best selection of films in Tucson. They have special events almost every night (Mondo Mondays, First Friday Shorts, etc.) and they have THE BEST MOVIE THEATER POPCORN and concession selection of any theater ever. They serve local tamales, local pizza slices, beer, wine, and much more. They show new movies in digital format, as well as a great selection of older films in their original formats (35mm, 70mm). Each month they celebrate a certain director, writer, or actor and show weekly films they have made (my favorite month was the Cohen Brothers). If you have time to catch a flick, this is the place to go!
This improv comedy club hosts several shows per week and each show is only $5/ticket! A lot of their shows are family-friendly, but they also have Uncensored Shows. (https://www.unscrewedtheater.org/)
They are very funny and well worth the five bucks.
Unscrewed Theater
4500 E Speedway BlvdThis improv comedy club hosts several shows per week and each show is only $5/ticket! A lot of their shows are family-friendly, but they also have Uncensored Shows. (https://www.unscrewedtheater.org/)
They are very funny and well worth the five bucks.
This place is stuffed full of arcade games, has a full bar, and on the weekend there is a DJ. Tokens are relatively inexpensive (if you check in on the Yelp mobile app you can get 10 free tokens).
15 personas locales recomiendan
Cobra Arcade Bar Tucson
63 E Congress StThis place is stuffed full of arcade games, has a full bar, and on the weekend there is a DJ. Tokens are relatively inexpensive (if you check in on the Yelp mobile app you can get 10 free tokens).
Bookmans is a new/used bookstore, but it's also so much more than that: they have vinyl/CDs/tapes, DVDs, board games, magazines, tchotchkes, and reading areas to hang out. I love grabbing a smoothie next door at Whole Foods and then browsing here for new books/games.
27 personas locales recomiendan
Bookmans Midtown Entertainment Exchange
4841 E Speedway BlvdBookmans is a new/used bookstore, but it's also so much more than that: they have vinyl/CDs/tapes, DVDs, board games, magazines, tchotchkes, and reading areas to hang out. I love grabbing a smoothie next door at Whole Foods and then browsing here for new books/games.