Guidebook for Tucson
Food Scene
Great Mexican food, salsa made to order at your table, and fantastic musicians. Walking distance.
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Guadalajara Original Grill
1220 E Prince RdGreat Mexican food, salsa made to order at your table, and fantastic musicians. Walking distance.
Wonderful little French cafe and bakery, for breakfast and lunch (dinners on Fridays, closed Mondays). For Sunday brunch, be sure to arrive close to 8am; it gets busy quick.
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Ghini's French Caffe
1803 E Prince RdWonderful little French cafe and bakery, for breakfast and lunch (dinners on Fridays, closed Mondays). For Sunday brunch, be sure to arrive close to 8am; it gets busy quick.
Awesome pizzas, and the other Italian-style menu items are also tasty.
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Scordato's Pizzeria
4911 N Stone AveAwesome pizzas, and the other Italian-style menu items are also tasty.
Local fresh veggies, salsas, coffees, teas, crafts, live music - all under a specially-built pavilion. Just off the bike Loop. Sundays, 9am-1pm. (map is off; it's on North 1st Ave, near the racetrack)
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Tucson Farmers' Market
Local fresh veggies, salsas, coffees, teas, crafts, live music - all under a specially-built pavilion. Just off the bike Loop. Sundays, 9am-1pm. (map is off; it's on North 1st Ave, near the racetrack)
Zinburger
1865 E River RdTheir Kobe burger is fantastic.
Great Indian food, friendly staff. You'll often see the kids hanging out in the dining area.
Gandhi Cuisine of India
150 W Fort Lowell RdGreat Indian food, friendly staff. You'll often see the kids hanging out in the dining area.
Fresh, wholesome food, homey atmosphere. Good vegan/gluten-free options. Popular spot for weekend brunch - but be prepared to wait on queue!
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Blue Willow Restaurant
2616 N Campbell AveFresh, wholesome food, homey atmosphere. Good vegan/gluten-free options. Popular spot for weekend brunch - but be prepared to wait on queue!
Yoshimatsu Japanese Eatery
2741 N Campbell AveTasty Japanese cuisine - good vegetarian options.
Great local roast - well worth the occasional wait on queue.
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Raging Sage Coffee Roasters
2458 N Campbell AveGreat local roast - well worth the occasional wait on queue.
Nice breakfast and lunch spot. Weekend brunches have a great selection - well worth the time to wait on queue.
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Prep & Pastry
2660 N Campbell AveNice breakfast and lunch spot. Weekend brunches have a great selection - well worth the time to wait on queue.
Lovin' Spoonful - Tasty vegan restaurant, with gluten-free options available. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (but not open very late). If you're in the mood for comfort food, try the Piccadilly Nut Loaf. Thai Vegetable Curry is another favorite.
2990 N Campbell Ave
2990 North Campbell AvenueLovin' Spoonful - Tasty vegan restaurant, with gluten-free options available. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (but not open very late). If you're in the mood for comfort food, try the Piccadilly Nut Loaf. Thai Vegetable Curry is another favorite.
Vegan buffet-style restaurant, limited hours. Nice setting.
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Govindas Natural Foods Buffet
711 E Blacklidge DrVegan buffet-style restaurant, limited hours. Nice setting.
Great food and great staff. Nice place to sit outside. Weekend brunches are super packed. They sometimes have live music.
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Cup Cafe
311 E Congress StGreat food and great staff. Nice place to sit outside. Weekend brunches are super packed. They sometimes have live music.
Great coffee, light food offerings, sometimes live music. Great place to hang out on 4th Ave.
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Epic Cafe
745 N 4th AveGreat coffee, light food offerings, sometimes live music. Great place to hang out on 4th Ave.
Not your usual grocery store - great selection of imports and items you won't find in chain stores. Also has a coffee shop and restaurant area.
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Time Market
444 E University BlvdNot your usual grocery store - great selection of imports and items you won't find in chain stores. Also has a coffee shop and restaurant area.
Starbucks
3100 E Speedway BlvdSuper close to home
Nice restaurant with tons of character and great views from rooftop - in the Mercado - surrounded by other little shops.
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Mercado San Augustin
100 South Avenida del ConventoNice restaurant with tons of character and great views from rooftop - in the Mercado - surrounded by other little shops.
Family Mexican restaurant - cozy and good food, casual atmosphere
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El Minuto Cafe
354 S Main AveFamily Mexican restaurant - cozy and good food, casual atmosphere
Popular Mexican restaurant - great atmosphere, staff, and food.
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El Charro Café
311 N Court AvePopular Mexican restaurant - great atmosphere, staff, and food.
Casual dining - great food, excellent desserts, in popular 4th Ave neighborhood
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The B Line
621 N 4th AveCasual dining - great food, excellent desserts, in popular 4th Ave neighborhood
My favorite pizza in Tucson. Buy by the slice or a pie. Restaurant itself is tiny - atmosphere can be loud and crowded - but the pizza is worth it. Added bonus - they're one of the first companies to go solar.
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Brooklyn Pizza Company
534 N 4th AveMy favorite pizza in Tucson. Buy by the slice or a pie. Restaurant itself is tiny - atmosphere can be loud and crowded - but the pizza is worth it. Added bonus - they're one of the first companies to go solar.
Creative Italian food - great views of the city below, and nice seating outside.
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North Italia
2995 E Skyline DrCreative Italian food - great views of the city below, and nice seating outside.
El Corral
2201 E River RdExcellent prime rib - and a early 1900s Western decor.
More a market than a restaurant. Choose food from many different stations: sandwiches, soups, salads, and so on - and then there's a little grocery store to the side, with lots of imports.
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Rincon Market
2513 E 6th StMore a market than a restaurant. Choose food from many different stations: sandwiches, soups, salads, and so on - and then there's a little grocery store to the side, with lots of imports.
Nice atmosphere, good quality food, great naan. A nice Indian grocery store is a couple of doors down. Easy parking.
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Sher-e-Punjab
853 E Grant RdNice atmosphere, good quality food, great naan. A nice Indian grocery store is a couple of doors down. Easy parking.
If you're more into gourmet pizza, this is the place. Lovely outdoor seating, sometimes featuring live music. Gluten-free crust is available.
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Magpies Gourmet Pizza 4th Ave.
605 North 4th AvenueIf you're more into gourmet pizza, this is the place. Lovely outdoor seating, sometimes featuring live music. Gluten-free crust is available.
Essentials
Great veggies, organics, and healthy foods, at reasonable prices.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
4645 E Speedway BlvdGreat veggies, organics, and healthy foods, at reasonable prices.
What's to say? Good food, good prices, friendly staff, close to home.
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Trader Joe's
4209 N Campbell AveWhat's to say? Good food, good prices, friendly staff, close to home.
Safeway
1940 E Broadway BlvdFry's Food And Drug
2480 N Swan RdClose to home, good selection. It's often busy.
Shopping
Lots of inexpensive high-quality items (especially clothes), and all to support a great cause.
Casa De Los Ninos Thrift Store
1302 E Prince RdLots of inexpensive high-quality items (especially clothes), and all to support a great cause.
Borderlands Trading Company
7090 North Oracle RoadGreat place for quality art, furniture, tile, and crafts from Mexico
Arizona Hatters
2790 N Campbell AveGreat selection of quality western hats
Antigone Books
411 N 4th AveTucson's best independent bookstore
India Dukaan
2754 N Campbell AveGreat little Indian market.
Casa Video
2905 E Speedway BlvdHuge selection of videos
Grant-Stone Supermarket
8 W Grant RdGreat Asian market - not your usual fruits and veggies.
Food Conspiracy Co-op
412 N 4th AveTucson's Co-op - great healthy food
Everything Else
Nice practice space - all my yogi friends make a point to stop in when they're in town
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Yoga Oasis
2631 N Campbell AveNice practice space - all my yogi friends make a point to stop in when they're in town
Woods Memorial Library
3455 N 1st AveShort walk from home
Parks & Nature
beautiful gardens of 14 different themes; free. Free guided tours, 9am Wednesdays & Saturdays
4210 N Campbell Ave
4210 North Campbell Avenuebeautiful gardens of 14 different themes; free. Free guided tours, 9am Wednesdays & Saturdays
Part park, part museum, part zoo—with trails, and plenty of exhibits of desert flora and fauna, inside and out. Also has cafes onsite.
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdPart park, part museum, part zoo—with trails, and plenty of exhibits of desert flora and fauna, inside and out. Also has cafes onsite.
Beautiful gardens, lovely to walk through. You'll forget you're in a desert city.
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Izindawo zokuhlangeneyela ze-Tucson
2150 N Alvernon WayBeautiful gardens, lovely to walk through. You'll forget you're in a desert city.
Great trails, close to home - both easy and more challenging. Hike up the canyon to see water and waterfalls!
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Sabino Canyon
Great trails, close to home - both easy and more challenging. Hike up the canyon to see water and waterfalls!
Reid Park Zoo
3400 E Zoo CtIt's a bit of a drive to the top, and then lots of trails - and views!
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Mount Lemmon
It's a bit of a drive to the top, and then lots of trails - and views!
Easily accessible from town - drive, bike, or hike to the top
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Iphakamisa yaseSentinel Peak (“A” Mountain)
1001 Sentinel Peak Rd SEasily accessible from town - drive, bike, or hike to the top
Truly lovely botanical garden with nice trails. Their cafe has very tasty food, with great ambiance. The gift shop is filled with local and native art.
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Tohono Chul
7366 N Paseo Del NorteTruly lovely botanical garden with nice trails. Their cafe has very tasty food, with great ambiance. The gift shop is filled with local and native art.
The observatory offers a 5-hour program, from learning about the stars, to watching the sunset, to eating a light meal, to star gazing.
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Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory
9800 E Ski Run RdThe observatory offers a 5-hour program, from learning about the stars, to watching the sunset, to eating a light meal, to star gazing.
Entertainment & Activities
The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway BlvdIndependent film house
Arts & Culture
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
4455 E Camp Lowell DrAnsel Adams-founded gallery with 80,000+ photography prints & a vast research facility & archives. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
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Center for Creative Photography
1030 N Olive RdAnsel Adams-founded gallery with 80,000+ photography prints & a vast research facility & archives. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
Revered by locals for over a hundred years, this public shrine placed on the National Historic Register in 1971, which saved it from repeated plans to tear it down or move it.
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El Tiradito Wishing Shrine
418 S Main AveRevered by locals for over a hundred years, this public shrine placed on the National Historic Register in 1971, which saved it from repeated plans to tear it down or move it.