Tucson Guide (The Host's Favorites)
Food scene
Technically New Mexican cuisine, get ready for hatch green chilies and spice! We recommend enchiladas, Chile rellenos, or huevos rancheros.
33 locals recommend
Poco & Moms Cantina
7000 E Tanque Verde RdTechnically New Mexican cuisine, get ready for hatch green chilies and spice! We recommend enchiladas, Chile rellenos, or huevos rancheros.
Guadalajara Original Grill
1220 E Prince RdGreat Mexican food, just around the corner.
Excellent American- Italian, be sure to try a pozookie (pizza cookie!)
20 locals recommend
Oregano's Pizza Bistro
4900 E Speedway BlvdExcellent American- Italian, be sure to try a pozookie (pizza cookie!)
Excellent pizza, several locatins around town. Check out 4th Avenue for a real Tucson experience.
10 locals recommend
Magpies Gourmet Pizza 4th Ave.
605 North 4th AvenueExcellent pizza, several locatins around town. Check out 4th Avenue for a real Tucson experience.
Part pub with tons of bottled beers, part sandwhich and soup stop, you can get half sandwhich and half soup for a meal and a half. Another 4th Avenue favorite.
28 locals recommend
Bison Witches Bar & Deli
326 N 4th AvePart pub with tons of bottled beers, part sandwhich and soup stop, you can get half sandwhich and half soup for a meal and a half. Another 4th Avenue favorite.
Downtown experience with tons of craft beer on tap and excellent pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating.
79 locals recommend
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
101 E Pennington StDowntown experience with tons of craft beer on tap and excellent pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating.
South side experience with authentic Southern Arizona cuisine. For something unique, try the Nopales enchiladas, the slightly tangy fruit of the prickly pear cactus. If you're feeling extra hungry, try the Presidential special, served to Bill Clinton when he visited Tucson.
79 locals recommend
Mi Nidito
1813 S 4th AveSouth side experience with authentic Southern Arizona cuisine. For something unique, try the Nopales enchiladas, the slightly tangy fruit of the prickly pear cactus. If you're feeling extra hungry, try the Presidential special, served to Bill Clinton when he visited Tucson.
Zinburger
1865 E River RdEthiopian food, of course! Highlight's Tucson's wonderful intercultural perks.
18 locals recommend
Zemam's
2731 E Broadway BlvdEthiopian food, of course! Highlight's Tucson's wonderful intercultural perks.
Miss Saigon
1072 N Campbell AveUniversity favorite, excellent Vietnamese.
We know Tucson is not known for its seafood, but this is a top (and a bit pricey) spot if you have to meet your craving.
78 locals recommend
Kingfisher
2564 E Grant RdWe know Tucson is not known for its seafood, but this is a top (and a bit pricey) spot if you have to meet your craving.
Breakfast
Beloved, Tucson breakfast diner, themed for our own Arizona Wildcats. Go early, the place is small and there's often a wait on the weekends.
38 locals recommend
Bobo's Restaurant
2938 E Grant RdBeloved, Tucson breakfast diner, themed for our own Arizona Wildcats. Go early, the place is small and there's often a wait on the weekends.
Blue Willow Restaurant
2616 N Campbell AveGreat breakfast, lovely patio.
Grab-n-go Eats
Native Tucson sandwich chain but everyone goes for the slushies (better known as "eegee's") made with fresh fruit - try lemon, strawberry, Pina colada, and the flavor of the month. Many locations around town.
70 locals recommend
Eegee's
2510 E Speedway BlvdNative Tucson sandwich chain but everyone goes for the slushies (better known as "eegee's") made with fresh fruit - try lemon, strawberry, Pina colada, and the flavor of the month. Many locations around town.
Sonoran hot dogs truck on the southwest corner of Ft. Lowell and Country club. If you don't know what a Sonoran dog is then go find out!
Fort Lowell/Country Club station
Sonoran hot dogs truck on the southwest corner of Ft. Lowell and Country club. If you don't know what a Sonoran dog is then go find out!
"Fast food" Mexican, order by the taco. Try carne asada beef tacos and caramelos. Remember to get some horchata to wash it down!
40 locals recommend
BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs
2680 N 1st Ave"Fast food" Mexican, order by the taco. Try carne asada beef tacos and caramelos. Remember to get some horchata to wash it down!
Another 4th Avenue favorite - grab by the slice, get a whole pie, dine in at the bar, or take it home - you can't go wrong.
34 locals recommend
Brooklyn Pizza Company
534 N 4th AveAnother 4th Avenue favorite - grab by the slice, get a whole pie, dine in at the bar, or take it home - you can't go wrong.
South-of-the-border version of Eegee's. They have some traditional slushie flavors like strawberry, but we recommend trying flavors like tamarindo (tamarind, recommended "con leche" with condensed milk) and chamoy (spicy and icy!).
6 locals recommend
Sonoran Delights Raspados
921 W Congress StSouth-of-the-border version of Eegee's. They have some traditional slushie flavors like strawberry, but we recommend trying flavors like tamarindo (tamarind, recommended "con leche" with condensed milk) and chamoy (spicy and icy!).
Nightlife
Indoor and outdoor 4th Avenue favorite with a few pool tables and foosball. Great for going with friends or enjoying the weather on the balcony.
10 locals recommend
The Shanty
401 E 9th StIndoor and outdoor 4th Avenue favorite with a few pool tables and foosball. Great for going with friends or enjoying the weather on the balcony.
Small, downtown bar serving wine, beer, and liquor primarily made in Arizona. Give the fried pickles a try too!
20 locals recommend
Good Oak Bar
316 E Congress StSmall, downtown bar serving wine, beer, and liquor primarily made in Arizona. Give the fried pickles a try too!
Unversity area bar serving Barrio Brewery goodies. Great place to check out a Wildcat or other game.
11 locals recommend
Gentle Ben's Brewing Company
865 E University BlvdUnversity area bar serving Barrio Brewery goodies. Great place to check out a Wildcat or other game.
Grocery
Sunday farmer's market, just across the river. We recommend walking or riding your bicycle.
20 locals recommend
Heirloom Farmers Market - Rillito Park
4502 N 1st AveSunday farmer's market, just across the river. We recommend walking or riding your bicycle.
Want to give cooking Mexican a try? This is a must-go shopping stop for all Mexican goods.
22 locals recommend
Food City
2950 S 6th AveWant to give cooking Mexican a try? This is a must-go shopping stop for all Mexican goods.
Sprouts Farmers Market
4645 E Speedway BlvdBest, affordible organic goods.
Other shopping
If you love shopping second hand, definitely check out this treasure!
6 locals recommend
Speedway Antique Mall
5045 E Speedway BlvdIf you love shopping second hand, definitely check out this treasure!
Artemesia - Soaps, Salts and Scrubs
6538 E Tanque Verde RdLocally made and owned, take the desert scents home with you!
Outdoor activities
Diamond Street Loop
Diamond Street LoopBicycle and hiking path along the Rillito River.
Do you know what a javalina is? What about a Gila monster? Come here to find out! An open-air, natural desert habitat zoo with all the native animals.
670 locals recommend
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdDo you know what a javalina is? What about a Gila monster? Come here to find out! An open-air, natural desert habitat zoo with all the native animals.
Get away from the heat, drive to the pine forests, visit Summerhaven, go for a hike, or visit the cookie cabin!
485 locals recommend
Mount Lemmon
Get away from the heat, drive to the pine forests, visit Summerhaven, go for a hike, or visit the cookie cabin!
Iconic cacti found only in the Sonoran desert, saguaros (sah-hua-ros) can grow to 60 feet and don't get their first arm until their 50 tears old!
320 locals recommend
Saguaro National Park
Iconic cacti found only in the Sonoran desert, saguaros (sah-hua-ros) can grow to 60 feet and don't get their first arm until their 50 tears old!
Tumamoc Hill
Small easy hike, great views of the city.
Features desert habitats, but especially great to visit January to March when they have indoor butterfly exhibits.
260 locals recommend
Tucson Botanical Gardens
2150 N Alvernon WayFeatures desert habitats, but especially great to visit January to March when they have indoor butterfly exhibits.
Drive to the top for a great sunset and view of the city.
135 locals recommend
Sentinel Peak Park (“A” Mountain)
1001 Sentinel Peak Rd SDrive to the top for a great sunset and view of the city.