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$ | Downtown | Café
Tucked inside the Stevens Home, part of the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, this gem of a café serves breakfast frittatas, burritos, and pancakes as well as delightful salads, soups, and sandwiches daily from 8 to 4, and is open for happy hour and dinner Wednesday through Saturday until 9.
150 N. Main Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Delectable desserts
- Lovely garden patio
- Popular breakfast and lunch spot for locals
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues.
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This colorful and deservedly popular restaurant serves delicious Sonoran classics in Tubac village. Try one of the five chicken moles, ranging from sweet to nutty to spicy, and you'll know why chef Ruben has such a devoted following. Chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and heartier steak and fish selections don't disappoint either. Save room for the divine flan, a creamier version of traditional Mexican custard with caramel sauce. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights adds festivity to this gem of an eatery in a quiet little town.
2221 E. Frontage Rd., Tubac, Arizona, 85646, USA
Known For
- Delicious Sonoran classics with a contemporary twist
- Weekend nightlife
- Striking dining room
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun
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$$$ | Downtown |
An anchor in the downtown district, this French-inspired bistro, bar, and gourmet market takes up part of Tucson's historic train depot. Clever thematic touches—a dining room fashioned long and narrow like a train car, with wheel-like divider walls and lamps made from rail spikes—and the attentive yet relaxed service evoke the romance of a largely bygone era. Choose a table by the window and watch the trains go by. Or, if you prefer, sit outside on the vast patio overlooking the tracks. Menu choices range from starters like fresh oysters and steak tartare to bouillabaisse, coq au vin, and burgers served with pommes frites. The market, open from 7 am to 8 pm daily, sells pastries, sandwiches, and lighter fare to take out or dine in, as well as regional wines, tamales, and ice cream.
400 N. Toole Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Romantic dining
- Great patio (especially for train-watching)
- One of the city's best restaurants
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat. in restaurant (only at The Market)
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$$ | South |
A perennial favorite among locals (the wait is worth it), Mi Nidito ("my little nest") has also hosted its share of visiting celebrities: following President Clinton's lunch here, the rather hefty Presidential Plate (bean tostada, taco with barbecued meat, chiles rellenos, chicken enchilada, and beef tamale with rice and beans) was added to the menu. Top that off with the mango chimichangas for dessert, and you're talkin' executive privilege.
1813 S. 4th Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Reliably delicious Mexican food
- Festive atmosphere
- Great margaritas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Downtown |
Hip in an understated way, this classy bistro
and bar is firmly ensconced at the top of local "best of
Tucson" lists, and its cocktails have garnered national
attention. The minimalist setting—walnut banquettes, exposed
pipes, and bare-bulb lighting—contrasts with the great care
taken in preparing entrées like phyllo-wrapped chicken
stuffed with spinach and goat cheese or steamed mussels with
andouille sausage and pommes frites. Try a bold,
herb-infused cocktail such as the Brick House old fashioned
with bacon-washed rye.
47 N. Scott Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Top-rated food and drink
- Creative cocktails
- Excellent happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | Foothills | American
One of Tucson's premier chefs, Albert Hall, relocated his fine-dining restaurant to high in the Catalina Foothills, so now patrons can enjoy stunning city views from both the restaurant and the expansive, more casual bar. Roasted plum tomato and basil soup, a recipe from Hall's mom, is a favorite starter. Creative dishes like wild salmon with a pecan honey-mustard glaze and wood-roasted quail filled with pancetta, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and Oaxacan risotto are among the many tempting, organically grown (or raised) entrées. Vegetarians have choices here, too, including a sweet corn–and–green chile custard with roasted vegetables, fettuccine, and wild mushrooms, and an Asian noodle salad.
3001 E. Skyline Drive, Gallery Row, Tucson, Arizona, 85718, USA
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$$$$ | University |
At one of Tucson's oldest and most elegant
restaurants, dine on the patio overlooking the lush grounds
or enjoy the view from the dining room, which has
Southwestern details from the 1930s. The culinary range here
is broad, from roasted duck in a tart cherry demi-glace to a
vegetarian tomato and mushroom cannelloni. Locals mostly
come for weekday power breakfasts, business or special
occasion lunches, and Sunday brunch.
2200 E. Elm St., Tucson, Arizona, 85710, USA
Known For
- Special-occasion meals, including Sunday Brunch
- Beautiful setting
- Classy piano bar for late-night dining
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$$ | Central |
Easily the best Thai food in town, this bright, spacious café serves favorite Thai dishes and has pleasant service. The Thoong Tong appetizer of fried veggie-filled pouches is blissfully good, as are the curries and soups. The spice-heat level of any dish can be adjusted at your request (from 1 through 5—just keep in mind that a 5 might cause steam to blow out the top of your head).
2511 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85716, USA
Known For
- Top-notch Thai
- Weekend crowds
- Lunch specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun., Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$ | Central |
Twenty-seven varieties of bread are made at this bustling bakery with Central, Eastside, and Northwest locations, and highlights from the menu of generous sandwiches include Annie's Addiction (hummus, tomato, sprouts, red onion, and cucumber) and Brad's Beef (roast beef, provolone, onion, green chiles, and Russian dressing); soups, salads, and desserts are equally scrumptious. Eat inside or on the patio, or order takeout, but either way, splurge on one of the incredible desserts. The other locations—larger and just as busy—are at 6260 East Speedway Boulevard and 421 West Ina Road.
3026 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85716, USA
Known For
- Stellar breads and pastries
- Large portions
- Friendliness
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Credit cards accepted
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$ | Downtown |
Tucked inside the Stevens Home, part of
the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, this gem of
a café serves breakfast frittatas, burritos, and
pancakes as well as delightful salads, soups, and
sandwiches daily from 8 to 4, and is open for happy hour
and dinner Wednesday through Saturday until 9.
150 N. Main Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Delectable desserts
- Lovely garden patio
- Popular breakfast and lunch spot for locals
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Tues.
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$$ | Downtown |
This charming spot off the lobby of Hotel
Congress is at the epicenter of Tucson's hippest scene,
but it also serves up excellent food from breakfast through
late night. Try the cast-iron baked eggs or huevos rancheros
for breakfast, and the ahi poke bowl or "Queer Steer"
(veggie burger) later in the day. It's open late—until
10 pm weeknights and 11 pm on weekends—and becomes crowded
in the evening with patrons from Club Congress, the
hotel's nightclub.
311 E. Congress St., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Weekend brunch
- Late-night dining
- Cool vibe to match the great food
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$$$ | Downtown |
Ever-evolving maverick and master chef Janos
Wilder draws inspiration from warm-weather regions around
the world as he fuses French technique and Southwestern
flavors. His emphasis on locally grown, organic foods
informs the seasonally changing menu, but you can always get
his signature J Dawg, a Sonoran hot dog with black beans,
bacon, and smoked–poblano chile crema. The interior,
decorated in soft blues and greens and exposed-brick walls,
encourages relaxation and quiet conversation.
135 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Award-winning chef
- Inventive dishes
- Locally sourced foods
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Downtown |
Started by Monica Flin in 1922, the oldest
Mexican restaurant in town still serves splendid versions of
the Mexican-American staples Flin claims to have originated,
most notably chimichangas and cheese crisps. Located in an
old stone house in El Presidio Historic District, the
colorful restaurant and bar exude a festive, if slightly
touristy, vibe.
311 N. Court Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Carne seca (beef air-dried on the roof)
- Crowd-pleasing menu
- Fun ambience
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$$ | Downtown |
Popular with local families and the business crowd at lunch, this bustling restaurant in Tucson's Barrio Historico neighborhood has been serving topopo salads (a crispy tortilla shell heaped with beans, guacamole, and many other ingredients), huge burritos, and green-corn tamales (in season) made just right for over 50 years. The spicy menudo (tripe soup) is reputed to be a great hangover remedy.
354 S. Main Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85701, USA
Known For
- Consistent, tasty Sonoran food
- Good value
- Cheese crisps (cheese and veggies melted on tortillas)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | Central |
One of Tucson's most popular upscale
bistros, Feast has a contemporary setting that is bright,
cheerful, and conducive to conversation. The eclectic menu,
which changes monthly, is filled with interesting
combinations of flavors such as rosemary–goat cheese risotto
with artichoke hearts and tomatoes, and orange-glazed
chicken breast with roasted beets on sesame-cream noodles.
Many of the herbs and veggies are grown in the
restaurant's garden. A similarly eclectic array of
wines is available for both dining and retail. Though the
cuisine may be hard to categorize, it is always
yummy—including the homemade desserts.
3719 E. Speedway, Tucson, Arizona, 85712, USA
Known For
- Eclectic, locally sourced menu
- Extensive wine list
- Sophisticated dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | University |
Beer lovers should head to Gentle
Ben's, a friendly, laid-back burger-and-brew pub
that also makes a scrumptious veggie burger. The deck
upstairs offers a good view of the sunset.
865 E. University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA
Known For
- Craft beers
- Laid-back, college vibe
- Crowd-pleasing menu
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$ | University | Burger
Beer lovers should head to Gentle Ben's, a friendly, laid-back burger-and-brew pub that also makes a scrumptious veggie burger. The deck upstairs offers a good view of the sunset.
865 E. University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA
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$ | University | Indian
From curry to kebab, the tasty and plentiful dishes at Kababeque satisfy for a quick bite Indian-style.
845 E. University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA
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$ | University |
From curry to kebab, the tasty and
plentiful dishes at Kababeque satisfy for a quick bite
Indian-style.
845 E. University Blvd., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA
Known For
- Tasty Indian food
- Proximity to campus
- Fast service and affordable prices
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$$$ | Central |
A standout for classic American cuisine,
Kingfisher has an emphasis on fresh seafood, especially
oysters and mussels, but the kitchen does baby back ribs and
steak with equal success. Try the delicately battered
fish-and-chips or the clam chowder on the late-night menu,
served from 10 pm to midnight nightly. Bright panels of
turquoise and terra-cotta, black banquettes, and neon
lighting make for a chic space in the main dining room, or
sit in the cozy bar area with locals who appreciate a good
meal with their cocktails.
2564 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, Arizona, 85716, USA
Known For
- Fabulous seafood
- Late-night dining
- Dynamic vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends