Bars in Tucson

Tuesday, 24 March 2009 00:00

Here is a list of some of the most flavorful and cultured restaurants and bars that feature a Latin flair in Tucson.

Chuy's Mesquite Broiler:
Chuy's is a restaurant chain in Tucson that offers tasty food and delicious margaritas. The three locations around the city make it convenient to stop in and try one of their many different frozen drinks. The food is a tasty blend of mesquite broiled meats and a full range of salsas found in their salsa bar. The Frozen Strawberry Margarita is a personal favorite. Frozen or on the rocks; salt or no salt; Texas, peach, gold, or lime - let the Chuy's margaritas help you wash down some chips and salsa.
Chuy's Mesquite Broiler
7101 E. 22nd St,
Tucson, AZ 85710
(520) 722-5117
Price: $

El Parador:
El Parador is a great mezcla of dance floor, bar, and lounge. If you are looking for a fun night filled with salsa and meringue dancing, then this is your spot. Live bands play on both Friday and Saturday nights. While their margaritas are muy delicioso, they're infamous for their mojito. The drink itself is worth a trip to El Parador.
El Parador
2744 E. Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 881-2744
Price: $$
Popular Night: Fridays

Guadalajara Grill:
Guadalajara Grill is one of Tucson's Mexican restaurant gems. It not only boasts a great atmosphere with famous drinks and salsa, but ensures that every customer has a great time. How do they do all of that? Guadalajara Grill makes their famous and fresh margaritas at the bar but if you want to stay at your table, no worries because someone will come to you to make fresh salsa catered to your tastes. One of the best parts of this restaurant is the live music they provide every night of the week. The Guadalarita Margarita is one of their best tasting drinks.
Guadalajara Grill
1220 E. Prince Rd
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 323-1022
Price: $$

La Fuente:
La Fuente is a great restaurant in Tucson to find a great local flavor with specialty drinks and mariachi entertainment. Even more impressive than their lunch buffet is the fact that this restaurant has been around and serving since 1959. On Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evenings patrons can expect to hear music from their solo guitarist, Ruben Allard. But the real fun is on Thursday through Sunday when Mariachi La Fuente plays live music on stage and tableside. The food is flavorful and the drinks are very delicious.
La Fuente
1749 N. Oracle Rd
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 623-8659
Price: $-$$

Mi Nidito:
Mi Nidito, or My Little Nest, has been serving the people of Tucson since 1952. All of that history has made it one of the best places to stop and grab a chile relleno and an ice cold and refreshing margarita. Mi Nidito features authentic sonoran cooking and is a staple in South Tucson. With clientele like President Bill Clinton, Enrique Iglesias, and William Shatner you know that the food and drink is worth the wait.
Mi Nidito
1813 S. 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 622-5081
Price: $


And if you want a little flavor away from the border and in the Tucson scene here is a list of the most popular bars, clubs, and lounges in Tucson.

Bison Witches Bar:
Bison Witches is a collegiate bar. With an inside and outside bar, there is usually always someone you know at this place. They have some happy hour specials and eight beers on tap. The music is a typical mix of top 40 mixed with some 80s tracks and classic rock jams every now and then. Also known as Bisons, this bar is a great place to start a night of fun.
Bison Witches
326 N. 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 740-1541
Price: $
Popular Night: Thursdays

Cactus Moon Cafe:
Cactus Moon is a staple in the Tucson nightlife. Known amongst the college students as a more “Western” bar, Cactus Moon prides itself on having a popular Wednesday night ladies' night. For ladies, they can expect to pay only 25¢ for drinks and can enter a dance contest to win $100. Guys can expect to pay more for everything else to offset the price of the specials for the women. Cactus Moon is a great spot for some drinking and dancing on a Wednesday night.
Cactus Moon
5470 E. Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 748-0049
Price: $
Popular Night: Wednesdays

Centro Lounge:
Centro Lounge is a bar/lounge trying to revive a fancier atmosphere in the heart of downtown Tucson. By day it is Chiliverde, a restaurant serving Mexican food. By night it becomes Centro, a more urban bar with a nice outdoor lounge/dance floor with live DJs on some nights. The drinks were not terribly expensive but the line for drinks is LONG. There is a cover on most nights and then to wait at the bar for fifteen minutes is a bit ridiculous for Tucson. While they model themselves after bars in Manhattan and Las Vegas, Centro is fun for what it is.
Centro
1 E. Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 445-2937
Price: $$
Popular Night: Fridays and Saturdays

Championship Dining at Sam Hughes Place:
Championship, better known as Champs, is located in the Sam Hughes' Place on the corner of 6th Street and Campbell Avenue. It is a popular bar for college-aged students wanting to fraternize…literally, a majority of their crowd is of the greek life persuasion but all different types of people come to enjoy great drinks and great service. Great atmosphere for the hip hop and top 40 music played to accompany the clientele.
Champs
446 N. Campbell Ave # 150
Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 747-5223
Price: $$
Popular Night: Tuesdays and Saturdays

Club Congress:
Club Congress is located in the heart of downtown Tucson and reflects the artistic community that thrives in the city. Congress showcases many independent artists while supplying great drink specials. There is a drink special everyday and either live bands or a DJ to entertain. A very popular scene for hipsters and independent minds of Tucson. Thursday night features $1 vodka drinks and admission is free if you are a member of the optimist club.
Congress
311 E. Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 622-8848
Price: $
Popular Night: Thursdays and Saturdays

IBT's:
IBT's is one of the few gay bars in Tucson. It is heralded as the most popular gay men's dance bar in town. There are two dance floors where the music ranges from techno and house inside to top 40 and R&B hits outside. The drinks are tasty, but people come to this bar to dance. On Saturday nights there are drag shows earlier in the evening which supposedly is a funny time. Be warned, the crowd is primarily gay men and straight-but-not-narrow women.
IBT's
616 N. 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 882-3053
Price: $
Popular Night: Fridays and Saturdays

Kon Tiki:
Kon Tiki is a bar in Tucson that chose a theme for their bar and plays into that theme incredibly. Kon Tiki is an island/tropical theme that is reflected in their drink selection and décor. The crowd is usually the same every night but if you are just visiting then you (and a friend) have to order a “scorpion.” This very alcoholic drink is labeled as the largest drink in Tucson (so far it hasn't been disproven) and is a mix of rums, gins, brandy, liqueurs, and tropical juices. It is worth the novelty of sharing this tasty concoction.
Kon Tiki
4625 E. Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 323-7193
Price: $$

Level Lounge:
Level Lounge is one of the bars/clubs/lounges trying to make Tucson a classy city. They promote themselves as a “sophisticated and elegant entertainment destination in the foothills of Tucson.” There is usually a dress code for any of their nights but in recent months a general lack in enforcement has occurred. Level has a good mix of private lounge area, popular dance floor, and spacious patio to accommodate anyone's needs. The drinks and cover are a little steep for Tucson, but they try to set themselves apart. Sunday and Wednesday nights are popular for the college crowd.
Level
4280 N. Campbell Ave # 37
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 615-3835
Price: $$-$$$
Popular Nights: Sundays and Wednesdays

Meet Rack:
The Meet Rack is one of Tucson's many dive bars. There are not many bars where people go to find God, but it just so happens that the owner of the bar prefers to be called by this deity. One of the craziest experiences you'll ever encounter will be going on the 10 minute tour of the bar. The place is lined with photos of crazy shenanigans, newspaper clippings, and girls' panties. There are only two beers on tap, and all of their mixed drinks come with lewd names that would make a sailor blush. As a warning: Ladies, do not buy condoms from the bathroom unless you want everyone to know about it because lights and bells go off informing everyone in the bar about your naughty purchase.
Meet Rack
210 W. Drachman St
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 798-1235
Price: $

O'Malleys:
O'Malleys bar is an Irish pub that dominates the college scene on Tucson's eclectic Fourth Avenue. Large televisions surround the bar, so this place is great for game days. The west side of the bar houses another bar and stage for live performances. On Thursday nights, this is the place to see someone you know. With a fantastic 80s cover band and decent drink specials on Thursdays, you are guaranteed to wait in line but the atmosphere is worth a few minutes of your time.
247 N. 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 623-8600
Price: $-$$
Popular night: Thursdays

Plush:
Plush is a bar that is the exemplar of never judge a book by its cover. To those less experienced with this place, most think it is a gay bar because of the multicolored sign. It however is not a gay bar, but instead is a great mix of live music and comfortability. In their Gold Room patrons can expect to enjoy a classic cocktail while listening to local or touring rock and lounge acts. If bands aren't what you're looking for then relax on one of their velvet couches and still enjoy a classic cocktail. Live music is usually playing any night of the week.
Plush
340 E. 6th St
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 798-1298
Price: $

Written by Alex Garday You are reading Bars in Tucson articles