What to do and the place to eat in Tucson

Sharing a few of my high suggestions for what to do and the place to go in Tucson, AZ!

Hello mates! Blissful Monday! How’s the week beginning off for you? I’m instructing my weekly aerobics class (such a blast!) and the Pilot is off work immediately. I’m excited to have a correct daytime dad or mum date with him. We’ll most likely go wild and head to Lowe’s for vegetation after which chill within the sizzling tub? I can’t wait. ?

For immediately’s submit, I’m sharing up to date Tucson recs! I wrote a submit with Tucson suggestions a few years in the past, however sadly, among the issues on the record are non longer our faves, or have closed down. Additionally, a number of new spots have opened up! I’m sharing some concepts on the place to eat, what to do, and the place to hike, if you end up within the Previous Pueblo in search of some concepts. Tucson is a foodie’s paradise and we now have SO many wonderful native eating places.

What to do and the place to eat in Tucson

The place to buy?

La Encantada (undoubtedly try Inventive Type for items, candles, and enjoyable stationary from native artisans)

The enormous outlet mall

4th Avenue for extra classic and thrift finds

St. Phillip’s plaza has some native boutiques

MSA Annex – one in all my favourite “tourist” retailers is Why I Love The place I Dwell, with AZ-themed shirts, hats, and stickers. It’s the place I acquired my beloved cactus baseball cat that I put on on a regular basis.

Greatest Tucson eating places

Breakfast/brunch:

– Weekend brunch: DEFINITELY go to the Blues and Brews buffets at Loew’s or the brunch buffet at Hacienda del Sol. They’re each completely beautiful with beautiful views and tons of choices — simply be sure that to get reservations.

– When you’re in search of one thing low-key, go all the way down to the Mercado San Augustin and seize the very best Mexican donut of your life from La Estrella bakery. Sit on the courtyard and luxuriate in it with a espresso from Presta subsequent door.

– Prep and Pastry has a tremendous brunch and so they have two areas

– Cup Cafe downtown

– Snooze (I’m so pumped we lastly acquired one!)

Lunch and dinner:

– Past Bread. This can be a Tucson treasure and I extremely advocate it for sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, and pastries. My go-to is the Kalid’s Curry (rooster curry salad) on the gluten-free wrap with vinegar slaw.

– Culinary Dropout. Assume elevated variations of American classics, and plenty of tasty cocktails and appetizers

– Saffron. My fave Indian spot in Tucson!

– Nook- a cute trendy spot downtown

– Zayna’s Mediterranean Meals. Every thing is at all times recent and scrumptious. The falafel plate is my fave.

– Eclectic Cafe. We’ve been going to Eclectic Cafe without end and can get takeout generally as a result of the women adore it, too. They really have one thing for everybody and the meals is constantly good.

– Cowboy Cookout at Tanque Verde Ranch (Saturday nights!) with dwell nation music, grilled meats, prickly pear margaritas, and a full buffet

Wholesome/vegan:

– CharroVida – it’s like Mediterranean meets Mexican meals, with a give attention to utilizing more healthy oil choices, recent, native produce, and sustainable meat and fish

– Goodness – bowls, sandwiches, breakfast, smoothies, kombucha on faucet

– Tumerico – one in all my high eating places in all of Tucson. The menu varies relying on the season and what’s recent on the market, and so they make every part in-house, together with the sauces, salsa, and tortillas.

– Nekter (for acai bowls and smoothies)

– Beaut Burger (vegan burgers — so so good)

– Alternative Greens – a build-your-own salad bar

– The Little One. They blast Mexican music, the proprietor will cease by and provide you with a hug, and the menu varies every day. The frescas additionally change every day – I extremely advocate getting one, or an horchata, to go together with the meal! It’s cash-only, so be sure to have some available. (Additionally value mentioning right here that they’re solely open for breakfast and lunch)

Greatest Mexican Meals in Tucson!

– El Charro. We looooove El Charro and it’s in our common rotation. They've my favourite chips in all of Tucson – that is vital haha – and whereas I by no means strive something new, I’m very proud of my staples. I at all times get the 2 rooster tacos with shredded rooster, charro beans, rice, and a large margarita.

– Calle Tepa. Calle Tepa can also be in our common rotation. It’s an informal Mexican spot and the service is at all times FAST, which makes it superior for teenagers. They've an enormous menu and I particularly love their salsa bar.

– Tumerico (vegan) – talked about this one above. DEFINITELY do this one if you end up in Tucson!

– Blanco. Blanco has unimaginable guacamole and drinks, and it’s additionally positioned at La Encantada, which makes it ideally suited to pair with a day of procuring, then observe up with gelato from Frost.

– Seis Kitchen. I like to recommend the Mercado location as a result of you'll be able to take pleasure in it on the patio!

– We do love Guadalara Grill, however the previous couple of occasions, the service has been very, very gradual, so I don’t advocate it as typically as I used to. El Charro and Calle Tepa have AMAZING meals and tremendous quick service.

We haven’t tried these however have heard wonderful issues about Rosa’s and Rollie’s, too

Date night time (I like to recommend having reservations for all of those!):

– BATA. We went to BATA when it first opened and might’t rave about it sufficient. The meals is extraordinarily distinctive, the cocktails have been the very best I’ve had in Tucson, and it’s an ideal date-night spot.

– Terraza Backyard Patio and Lounge at Hacienda del Sol. They typically have dwell music on the patio, twinkly lights, and fantastic meals.

– Tito and Pep

– Augustin Kitchen

– Vivace – an Italian spot with beautiful foothills views

– Postino – a wine bar with customizable toasts and toppings, charcuterie, big salads, and panini

– Maynard’s

Tucson mountain climbing spots

We’re lucky to have SO many trailheads right here in Tucson! Try All Trails for one which meets your private ranges and distance choice, however listed below are a few of my high hikes:

Sabino Canyon

Tumamoc Hill

Finger Rock

Catalina

Greatest ice cream, dessert, and chilly treats:

We love the Hub ice cream downtown (they at all times have a vegan taste that’s to die for!), Frost for gelato, and Bahama Bucks for shaved ice. When you’re in Tucson, you additionally HAVE to strive an eegee! There are areas with drive-thrus all over the place. The July taste of the month is my fave (watermelon) and I additionally love the iced Teegee, which is lemon eegee with iced tea. Positively get some fries and ranch to dip them; you gained’t remorse it.

Lovin’ Spoonfuls has my FAVORITE desserts in City — they’re all vegan, too!

Additionally Cafe a la Cart has insanely wonderful desserts and pastries

Monsoon Chocolate for native, handcrafted chocolate bars

Tucson native spots to discover with youngsters:

Botanical Gardens

Desert Museum

Kids’s Museum

Defy trampoline park 

Splash pad (we now have nice ones at Brandi Fenton and Udall park)

Take a horse lesson at Tanque Verde Ranch or TRAK 

Sabino Canyon (you'll be able to take the tram if it’s too sizzling to hike)

Pima Air and House Museum

Path Mud City 

Flandrau Science Middle and Planetarium

Rocks and Ropes

Mini Time Machine Museum

Have you ever been to Tucson? What are a few of your native favourite suggestions? We will share the love and assist one another out within the feedback!

xoxo

Gina