The Buffet Bar
538 E. Ninth Street, Tucson,
buffetbartucson.com
Founded in Tucson in 1934, The Buffet Bar is the oldest in the city, remained at its original location longer than any other establishment and is part of the Iron Horse neighborhood — one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods. The dive bar welcomes a crowd of college students, lawyers, industry workers, third shifters, locals, historians, business professionals, musicians and champion pool players — all enjoying a drink menu that includes Mexican and other beers, margaritas, hard seltzers and nonalcoholic beverages. Additionally, its iconic lineup of craft drinks includes Ace Perry Cider, Barrio Blonde, Dale’s Pale Ale, Dragoon IPA, Sierra Torpedo and Stella Artois.
Caruso’s Italian Restaurant
434 N. Fourth Avenue,
carusositalian.com
Caruso’s is an Italian restaurant that represents a family’s legacy. Established in the 1930s, the establishment is dedicated to procuring “the right ingredients for the right food.” While they have gained more efficient equipment over the years, the techniques for making its pasta and sauces have remained the same since the restaurant’s origin. Its menu features a robust lineup of classic Italian dishes from made-to-order pastas to customizable pizzas — topped with homemade tomato sauce. The various entrees offered, including Lasagne al Forno, Eggplant Parmigiana and Shrimp Scampi, are served with a basket of garlic toast. Additionally, the Italian, family-owned establishment offers traditional desserts, including Cannolis, Tiramisu and Affogato.
Cielo’s Restaurant at Lodge on the Desert
306 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson,
lodgeonthedesert.com
Cielo’s Restaurant at Lodge on the Desert offers an array of seasonal cuisine which pays tribute to Southwest Ingredients.
Each dish is complemented with various classic, crafted cocktails featuring local spirits, such as the Lodge Margarita, Desert Blast, Sonoran Martini, Mezcal Sour, Pomelo Sunrise, Grapefruit Cosmo and Cielos Fashioned — along with a slew of beers and a robust wine list. A recipient of Open Table’s 2025 Diner’s Choice Awards, the restaurant reflects a rich and authentic Southern Arizona Charm and ambiance. Its secluded Saltillo-tiled outdoor private patio features bistro string lighting and a four-sided, tiled fireplace for year-round al fresco dining.
The Century Room
311 E. Congress Street,
hotelcongress.com
In the literal heart of town, any Hotel Congress complex menu will impress. Our current favorite is The Century Room, “A Borderlands Jazz Club & Mezcal Lounge,” because it evokes that era when patrons wore tuxedos and slinky, bias-cut gold lamé.
La Chaiteria
1002 W. Congress Street, Tucson, lachaiteria.com
La Chaiteria serves Latin-inspired food with vegan and vegetarian options, located minutes away from downtown Tucson. The restaurant prides itself on offering generous portions across its daily menu, which includes Mahi Mahi Tacos, vegan Cuban tacos, Squash Blossom Mole Enchilladas, various lattes, juices and ice cream. The eatery also offers a breakfast menu, with Chilaquiles and Huevos Rancheros, and a robust collection of house salsas — Adobo, Cubana and Mole. La Chaiteria is also dedicated to practicing sustainability, offering plastic-free packaging and reusable tableware. Friends, families and their dogs are welcome to enjoy the space, adorned with work by local artists.
The Grill at Hacienda del Sol
5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road,
haciendadelsol.com
The Old Pueblo doesn’t get much more elegant than the Hacienda del Sol. Its gardens are models of artfully laid out, manicured desert flora, and its views almost rival The Graduate’s. The Grill hosts the most fabulous brunch in town, and its selection of 800 wines has earned Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” yearly since 1998.
Redbird Scratch Kitchen
6444 N. Oracle Road, Tucson,
redbirdrestaurants.com
Redbird is a restaurant that crafts all of its food items in-house with high quality ingredients. The scratch kitchen was born of four friends’ desires to open an establishment of their own, after years of countless shifts and late nights, working together in Tucson’s restaurant scene. Its menu features a collection of various starters, chicken, tacos and burgers, including Elote Nachos, Crispy Buffalo Chicken and Chiles Rajas tacos. The Redbird Classic Burger is topped with soft butter onions, American cheese, Redbird sauce, dill pickles, lettuce and tomato. Additionally, the restaurant partners with local businesses to procure its tortillas, coffee and teas, including Mendez Bakery & Tortillas, Linda Tortillas, Sonoran House Coffee and Maya Tea Company
Rollies Mexican Patio
4573 S. 12th Avenue, Tucson,
rolliestucson.com
Rollies Mexican Patio has been listed in Tucson Weekly’s “Best of Tucson” list for the Best Birria category for four years in a row. The restaurant’s chef, Mateo Otero, is an award winning culinarian with over 20 years of experience. His goal when opening the restaurant was to serve traditional Mexican cuisine, made with heritage foods and featuring a modern twist. Rollies’ menu features classic Mexican cuisine, such as rolled, street and birria tacos, but also a slew of contemporary creations — Birria Ramen, Birria Pizzadilla and ice cream conchas. Additionally, the eatery offers Big Ritas, intended to serve two people, and an array of special burger and fry options.
Pinnacle Peak
6541 E.Tanque Verde Road
pinnaclepeaktucson.com
Pinnacle Peak is a classic Western steakhouse with all the fun that implies. Be sure your out-of-town guests wear a tie to make a fond memory of having it cut off. Outside is an ideal spot for your family holiday pictures: the gazebo in Trail Dust town. The main attraction here, though, is your steak, prepared precisely as you like it.
Tap & Bottle
403 N. Sixth Avenue and
7254 N. Oracle Road,
thetapandbottle.com
We enjoy visiting Tap & Bottle in the same way we enjoy going to the zoo or the art museum. Beyond drinking and chatting in the welcoming room, there is something to do together: Walk around and marvel at walls and cases full of so many more beers and wines than you ever imagined existed.
Tumerico
2526 E. Sixth Street and
402 E. Fourth Avenue,
tumerico.com
Ranked number one in Yelp’s 2024 Top 100 places to eat in the United States, Tumerico serves Vegetarian and Vegan Latin-American cuisine to the city of Tucson. Additionally, Food Network Star Guy Fieri praised the eatery’s vegan tacos, calling his own mother to rave about them. Tumerico is a scratch kitchen that uses locally-sourced, heritage ingredients, with a menu that changes daily. The restaurant’s Chef Wendy was one of Tucson Foodie’s Best Chef Finalists in 2023 and 2024 and has also made tacos with renowned singer and songwriter, Kelly Clarkson. For Chef Wendy, food is home, family and an engine for healing the community.
Unicorn Zebra
82 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson
unicornzebratucson.com
The Unicorn Zebra is a family-owned, boutique craft mixology lounge that brings Cape Town to Tucson — featuring a selection of cocktails, craft beer and wine from its Cocktail Bar.The house cocktails include Death of a Unicorn, Zebra G and T, Wicked Tongue, Sin Palabras, Earn your Stripes City Slicker, Caffe di Cowboy, Whiskey Soaked at Sundown and Snake Oil Salesman. The wine list features a robust list of selections, nearly all of which are South African in origin.
The intimate space the establishment offers is well suited for various occasions and events, including date nights, friends nights, business and pleasure.
Whiskey Del Bac
2106 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 103, Tucson, whiskeydelbac.com
Whiskey Del Bac was born of an idea Elaine Paul had while spending time with her husband Stephen on their patio — “what if you made single malt whiskey with ‘mesquited’ malt instead of peated malt?” The distillery offers various whiskey options, including its Dorado Single Malt, Sentinel Bourbon Whiskey and Sentinel Rye Whiskey. Its Global Cask Collection consists of the Frontera, Normandie and Ode — with the latest Ode release scheduled for Dec. 6. Its lineup of cocktails are all mixed using the Dorado whiskey and include the Bittersweet, Sidewinder, Sabor del Desierto, Rosemary and Bright, South by Southwest, Old Western and Naked Sonoran.
Whiskey Roads
2290 W. Ina Road, Tucson
whiskeyroadstucson.com
Whiskey Roads is a restaurant and bar with a country music theme, offering various music, sports and other entertainment events alongside its cuisine. The menu is split into four categories, two of which being the Main Menu and Brunch Menu — featuring the Cowboy Breakfast and Cowgirl Breakfast Skillet. The main menu includes a collection of various starters, soups, salads, burgers and entrees — including the Whiskey Road Ribs, glazed in the house sauce. Among the several events it runs for the community are daily food specials — like Wing Wednesday — Beer of the Month, Whiskey Shooters Line Dance Lessons, Thursday Night Football, Karaoke, Ladies Night and various live music performances.