First off Chris was an excellent bar tender. He guided us through the process of enjoying their unique cocktails. We tried out the HW pearls where they integrate molecular gastronomy into their cocktails. I am a huge mango chamoy fan so that was a plus. We tried the contortionist and the smoked rum old fashioned. The contortionist was a unique experience of pop rocks and cotton candy immersed in vodka. I am not a big cotton candy person so I didn't enjoy the flavor as much but I definitely recommend it. We also got the mimosa which was definitely my best drink of the night because it was accompanied by the side of vodka molecules. If you want to try out a different way of enjoying alcohol this is the place to go :) read more

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The long haired bartender (believe his name starts with a J) made us feel right at home. Best martini and conversation I've had at a bar in a long time!! read more

Highwire is such a welcoming bar. Edgar and Brittany and Hector were awesome . They showed showed us magic tricks and showed us how they make the cocktails. They made our experience amazing and I will definitely be back with my friends. Try the molecular shots. read more

Ridiculously loud late into the night. I was in the hotel across the way way from them and it was painfully loud, can't imagine what it would be like to be there. Good luck to anyone staying in the area. read more

Great spot in Tucson. It's somewhat hidden, the entrance is in the alley. We popped in after dinner and were served by a lovely young woman named Jordan. We had just popped in for a quick bev but she was so charming and attentive we ended up staying and running up a tab. Decent beer selection, small but good bourbon selection. Apparently they specialize in these bubble shots? Def popping in next time I'm in Tucson read more

Never have 3 bartenders gone completely out of their way to not serve me. New Years Eve, standing at the bar, right in the middle of the bar, for 15 minutes. I'm 6'5" and 32, have at least 10 years of experience getting served at bars. I left, very disappointed and will never return. They served so many people and literally had to force themselves not so much as to glance at me, the giant standing front and center at their bar who knew exactly what he was going to order ‍. Happy New Year, no champagne, no drink, stand in line at the bar for 15 minutes and watch all the other patrons celebrate. Great way to start the decade. read more

Amazing service from Gio and Jordan.They gave great service. Were very attentive and generous read more

Highwire Tucson - Mexican candy shots - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Ever since Independent closed, they took over the whole courtyard. It's a bit trashy and really caters to the young crowd. Drinks suck. There was a big fight last time we went. read more

Very innovative drinks. Nice staff. Decent happy hours. Every mixed drink I had was strong and tastefull. I would recommend. You will spend 8+ per drink. read more

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I went to this establishment for the first time after a long week at work with my coworkers Saturday September 18th 2022 late evening, and after socializing with a great group of girls, that I met while ordering drinks. We were talking about business and other random things. A Red Bearded security gaurd tapped my shoulder and said I had to leave. After trying to figure why, the security guards labeled me as being too tipsy and kicked me out. I had just bought a cold beer and they snatched it out of my hands as they kicked me out, that is where I got really pissed. I really wanted to like this place but the security guards we very rude. I will never be back. I'm 46 years old and been going to clubs since I was 15. I have never been walked out or kicked out of a club for socializing respectfully with a group of females. I guess times have changed. I don't recommend this place due the security guards kicking someone out that was there have a good time to give them business. That red beard security guard doesn't understand how socializing works or comprehend business. read more

Such a fun place with great food and creative cocktails! We had a group dinner here and I loved every bit of it! The service was incredible (thanks, Belle)! The cocktails were so creative and delicious - I never thought I would enjoy a martini with cotton candy and Pop Rocks! The food was delicious and paired well with the cocktails. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in Tucson! read more

Haven't been here in years until today. It did not disappoint, Jordan the bartender made my friend and I some of the best drinks we've had in Tucson! The place was very nice and just good vibes all around. Come drink here! read more

Highwire Tucson - Lady in Red - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Fun vibe, great drinks and prices. Bartender Geo and bouncer Jovani super cool down to earth. Love the vibe on Sunday for a girls brush/ Sunday funday. read more

Highwire Tucson - Fun vibe!! Bar tender and bouncer super cool. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This place is amazing Geo and Jordan are very helpful and have great food and drink suggestions. I would definitely recommend this place for a good time read more

Been here many times!!! Lex is the best server ever! Always prompt, happy & great smile!! read more

I went into Highwire on Friday and absolutely loved the food and service that was provided, our server Alexis made sure our drinks were filled and the environment was so welcoming. read more

Just stoped in for a few drinks but got caught in a great conversation with Jordan! Such an amazing girl with incredible dreams ( I hope you chance them Jordan!) thank you for the awesome conversation! -Morgan -Alyssa read more

So they take flash pictures of you before you walk in? Kind of strange. Apparently it's an effort to prevent fights and be able to know someone's identity if they do anything chaotic in the bar. The security doesn't even tell you the picture is coming and abruptly flashes a camera at your face after he asks for your ID at the entrance. It seems a bit invasive and was a shocking breach of privacy. We went last night and the DJs equipment was messed up so we stayed for 25 minutes waiting and left because there was no music, which is a giant draw to go out to a lounge. I'll pass next time. read more

WoW! AmAzing! bEsT downtown bar yet!!! We met some friends there on a Friday night. We had not heard of this place but so glad they found it and led us there! This is a small intimate bar with a speakeasy feel. Jacob the owner is so nice and we enjoyed Sasha as our bartender. We liked it so much that we went again the next night! It is located in an 'alley' called Arizona Ave and the new Johnny Gibson market will be next door. While the inside is small they have a large patio where they have music on certain nights. On to the drinks..... The Le' MASQUERADE is probably my favorite as I like vodka and sweet drinks. But I also tried THE CONTORTIONIST which was fun as they place this vodka martini in front of you, add pop rocks and cotton candy on a skewer is placed across the top of the glass. The cotton candy begins to spin and go into the drink - so fun and it tastes great too. They also had a peach vodka "sphere" in a peach puree shooter that was so darn good that I could have sat there all night shooting those! We also tried the ELBULLI BUBBLES PRICKLY PEAR MARGARITA and the "bubbles" are like tequila bobas - amazing! We also tried the BEARDED LADY which was cognac with coffee bean and orange rind infused in front of you! The drinks average $10-11 each which is a great price considering what you are getting - a well made drink! I cannot wait to go back - next Friday night most likely! read more

I am so sad to hear that highwire got ride of bingo and trivia. This was a fun social event I can go with friends and chill and have fun, all while enjoying great food. My chicken tenders and carne asada fries always hit the spot when playing games with my friends. Please bring it back. Where am I supposed to have fun , chill and enjoy great food ? read more

It's all about the patio for me. I love the ambiance of the back alley entrance away from Congress Street. Landing on the patio with comfortable chairs surrounded by industrial brick work, it is tremendously easy to have a nice quiet conversation something to drink and even a nibble. The staff is accommodating but not overbearing. read more

Highwire Tucson - Michael and Margaret Joplins glass piece great!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Our server Alexis is amazing and very attentive, and very sweet! Our bartender Jordan is awesome and served delicious drinks! The food is delicious and the atmosphere is so comfortable. You need to come here. read more

Highwire Tucson - Cotton candy mimosa tower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

ive been here a few times over the years, but I have always found the service to be extremely lacking. most recently, the servers were immature and the person I am assuming to be owner seemed like he might be on drugs. it's also not very clean, the courtyard is a mess and the bathrooms are gross. finally not really worth the price. I find the whole concept molecular cocktails to be a bit ridiculous and these were also just very overpriced. just give me some f---ing tequila next time yknow? anyways, i'll be taking my talents elsewhere. I much prefer R Bar. edit: just to be clear I've now confirmed I definitely saw this guy, the owner (medium height probably less than 6 feet, brown spikey hair, lean build, no tattoos that I could see). anyway , he was screaming on the phone to someone in a very erratic way. maybe not drugs maybe just unstable but either way it was erratic and disruptive. this was a few months ago. thanks for the response Nick read more

My husband and I were only in Tucson for a couple hours, but once I heard about a gastronomy-type bar, I had to visit! I only gave the place 3 stars because of flavor, but I do truly appreciate the artistic look of the items we got. The shots were pretty cool because they were in a little bubble - so it was fun to just have it burst with your preferred topping (pop rocks or mexican candy). I tried both and they were good but very sweet. I think the sweetness is what was off-putting about most of the really cool looking drinks. They're all pretty but felt like dessert. This may not be a bad thing if you're stopping here after dinner read more

This is a new favorite of mine, my husband and I stopped for a drink before a movie last night, and had the el bulli prickly pear margarita topped with tequila caviar drops. We liked the drink, but expected it to a bit sweeter and pinker like the color of prickly pear - still extremely enjoyable. The customer service is so fabulous - that because the drink wasn't exactly what we expected, we got them for free! Now that is top notch customer service! I plan make this a regular stop - I love the fact that you sit outside at the bar or in! Very urban look, and great , very cool drinks! Love the one with cotton and pop rocks, and the bearded lady! It just has a very relaxed and comfortable feel - highly recommend a stop here if you're in the downtown area! read more

Highwire Tucson - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Highwire and Independent are two great stops in Tucson for well-crafted cocktails. Visiting on the weekdays (Sunday-Thursday) it's less crowded and the bartenders are able to craft drinks to your liking. Friday and Saturday nights they have a limited menu to cater to the large crowds. It. Gets. Crowded. During the late summer nights it's so hot there. They try their hardest with the fans Love the molecular shots here!! The Mexican Candy one is the best!! read more

Fun night out on the town starting with Highwire. Loved the new take on drinks and the surprising combos they came up with. Every single drink we had was absolutely amazing. Tucson needed a new relaxed spot and I think they accomplished that! No loud music that muffled our conversation which is refreshing. I love the idea of the courtyard patio and will be interested to see the dynamics once the other places are open for business as well. Cheers to Highwire on a great start! read more

Highwire Tucson - Amazing drinks. Three of my favorites... the contortionist, fresh face and windy van hooten. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Go here for one of a kind drinks that you will most likely never see or even hear of anywhere else! Why is that? Bartenders create the most unique beverages with gastronomy. Definitely go here for their flavored pearl shots because that is something you will not find anywhere else. In my opinion, it is too sweet for my palette, however all of my friends loved them. My favorite drink here is The Contortionist, which is a martini that consists of pop rocks and cotton candy. How, you ask? I will let you find out for yourself. You're welcome! Other than drinks, the ambience is great. I suggest sitting at the bar to interact with the bartenders, especially if you are curious about gastronomic mixology. They were very happy to answer any questions we had. My only gripe are drink prices, which are on the higher end in Tucson. However, you pay for the special technique and effort behind each drink. There is also a nice area to hangout indoors or outdoors where the courtyard is. Some areas outside even have fire pits. It's a very cute little quaint area to hang out. You can also hop across the courtyard to checkout Independent, another great bar. A must visit! read more

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Came here with a friend to try the renowned pearl shots but was ultimately disappointed. The shots were overpowering and difficult to swallow for us and the table next to us. Nevertheless, the service was so friendly and the atmosphere made the night memorable. The P Diddy Magic was a very good drink - I would come back for it. read more

Trendy place, and it's a great location to hang out with friends. The price is not bad as well. I really like their pop rock shots - it's a very unique shot that you can't find anywhere else. When I go back to Tucson and party, this is definitely a place that I will go back to! read more

One of very few places in the country who does molecular mixology! With that they mix science and bartending to create an alcoholic master piece that you can eat or drink! For example the molecular shots.. Or oyster shots! Delectable deliciousness that they put in a little shooter with flavors that explode in your mouth, and bam, no dreadful shot of whatever's on well, that's forced on you by your friends. A tasty and delicious shot that is in an edible bubble, surrounded by a purée and topped with pop rocks. So fun! They also have margaritas that are amazing, with the same edible bubbles, OF TEQUILA! The contortionist where they put cotton candy in the drink, was my friends favorite. All in all, this hole in the wall is a must try, it's unique in its own and very eclectic, just what Tucson needs to spice things up. read more

Highwire Tucson - Molecular shots! Apple caramel and mango raspberry flavor! They change the flavor regularly and they are always delicious combinations. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

What is up with the bathrooms?! You let so much people in and only have 4 bathrooms for both women and men. This is ridiculous You can't even enjoy the drinks and the music without being so uncomfortable because you have to pee. read more

Love this bar! They have the friendliest staff and are always very accommodating to NA drinkers. Just tell them what you like and they'll mix up something delicious. Great music at night too. My girlfriend and I actually had our first date here on their cozy patio, so it will always be special to me. Can't recommend enough! read more

Had great service on a Sunday for a birthday brunch. Drinks and food were amazing.

This place is strange/interesting, since it's in a patio/courtyard thing and it's never quite clear who owns which part of the space (or does one business own all of it? how much of it is Johnny Gibson's versus HighWire itself? or what?), but it's overall nicely kept, so props to whoever is actually in charge here. But that's also what makes it kind of weird, because it feels like you're patronizing three businesses in the space of like 800 square feet. So as somebody with introversion and generalized anxiety, it kind of keeps me on edge that rules and boundaries and stuff are not clearly delineated. But I don't think that bothers 90% of the clientele, so you're probably good. I've been here maybe six times in the past couple of years, always on a weekend night as far as I can remember, so it's busy and crowded, but not uncomfortably so like, say, Congress. Like, I'm not forced to touch other people all the time. So I do like that it's solidly staying in business but not overrun by patrons. It also attracts a slightly older crowd, and I like that, because I am technically Young by literal age standards (30), but I also am not trying to potentially run into my own U of A students by going to super young, ultra hip joints. It also means that they play tolerable (ie actually good!) music. I really like whoever is DJing over there. They are doing just the right amount of thinking about things and not overthinking. I like a place that gets creative with its drinks, and as someone who used to give a lot of her precious free hours to Food Network and Bravo (Top Chef, not anything else on that channel), I've always been really curious about molecular gastronomy. So hooray! HighWire does that. But then I tried it and now I get why all the judges on food shows are like, ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE MOLECULAR STUFF; WE DON'T NEED YOU TO BE ON A ONE-CHEF MISSION TO USE UP ALL THE PLANET'S LIQUID NITROGEN; YOU ARE NOT AS COOL AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. It's really all for show and not for the actual product/taste/mouthfeel. "Vodka caviar" sure sounds fun; it also tastes exactly like it sounds, which is to say it's like boba balls of straight alcohol, to the point that it feels like it may be isopropyl alcohol than stuff that is actually comestible. Cool stuff, bro, but I don't actually want to consume it. I let my friend taste some of mine and she knocked a good half of it over and onto the floor and there were still too many for me to handle. What do you do with them? Snack on one in between sips? Break them open with your teeth and let them sink into your drink? I don't know, and I'm not convinced the bar staff knows either. tl;dr come for the atmosphere so long as you are not anxious about unclear structures/rules, but be prepared for a little pretentious a bar menu. read more

Highwire Tucson - I dare you to take that entire spoon into your mouth and do a shot of all of that "caviar" in one go. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

This spot was really cool. Just happened to come across it while hanging out downtown and I couldn't believe Johnny Gibsons grocery had a bar right behind it! Inside, the bar is very cozy, there are a few lounge seats in one side and high seats at the bar. The main "party" area is outside, and in the weekends they have a DJ and a dance floor. Most memorable with this spot though are the crazy poprocks shots served in soup spoons--they may not look or sound super appetizing but they're actually good. Overall, HighWire delivers a fun party experience especially if you're with a big group and like to be dancing or even chillin outside, weather-permitting. read more

The ambiance is very relaxing and inviting, I LOVE the courtyard and the fireplace out front, and the bar window is so fun! They've really made something of the limited space offered which is impressive. We had the contortionist shot which while I give a 5 for presentation, taste is a 2. I was glad it wasn't overly sweet but as I'm not a vodka drinker I would have liked something MORE as there wasn't much flavor at all but I did like the fizzles from the Pop Rocks.. Just fun! As well we had a pearl shot, forget the flavor, that was simply scrumptious. Again presentation was so great and this time the taste was also spot on. These guys are so fun and fresh! Great addition to the downtown night life read more

Highwire Tucson - Contortionist, the presentation is really special - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Security was acting over the top on me, accused me of being overly "Intoxicated" all because I called his co-worker by his name Travis,( white guy with a uofa shirt, working the entry on 3/30/2024) felt scared over me calling him by his name and accused me of being overly friendly, saying I would get punched in the face. Who then told Steven(light skin, man-bun) to kick me out, who then lied about me being over intoxicated so that his co-worker Travis would feel safe. They later denied my entry to the restroom after waiting in line, even after I asked for an escort to the restroom so that they wouldn't accuse me of anything. Steven than told me to use the restroom outside and to not care for what authority had to say about it, knowing it's illegal. Overall experience garbage, been there twice remembered security guys name, tried to be friendly and he accused me of getting in his face. Once inside an ambiance is fun, middle outside portion smells like sewage. read more

Six of us were staying Downtown Tucson, and walked into Highwire last Saturday afternoon for drinks. Jordan was our bartender. She was really pleasant, made us some great cocktails, and even gave us some tips on great restaurants to go for dinner later that evening. The place had a cool vibe, we will certainly head back to Highwire again next visit to Tucson. read more

Had a fun time at Highwire. Great service and fun drinks. Thank you Jordan for the great service!