On a recent trip to Tucson, I drank my way through quite a few bars. Out of the bunch, Juniper was…read moreone of my favorites. Located downtown, I found free street parking and then walked over an hour before close on a Tuesday. Ambiance (4.5/5): Juniper gives off speakeasy vibes without being a speakeasy. Elegance and sophistication without being stuffy. There's a long bar and some small tables. I sat at a table. The bar is clean and there's a cool wheel in the middle of the bar that lists out all of the herbs, fruits, and other garnishes that are often used in cocktails. Service (4/5): The bartender started off well, greeting me promptly and then asking for my order after I had looked over the menu for a few minutes. Later on, she went outside and smoked a cigarette for a bit which you probably shouldn't do if you're the only bartender working. That delayed my second drink a bit. All good though, she let me stay after close to finish my drink. Food (N/A): To my knowledge, they don't have food. I had dinner prior. Drinks (5/5): Juniper is Tucson's only gin cocktail lounge. That means gin is what's for dinner. If you're not a gin drinker, probably not your spot. If you do like gin, as I do, you'll be impressed with the significant collection they have. There's an interesting list of creative craft cocktails. That's where I started my night. From there, I picked out a bottle of gin, and had the bartender fix me a simple cocktail with it. I don't think I've ever been to an exclusively gin bar prior to Juniper. Cool spot!

*So excited to find a gin cocktail lounge here in Tucson…read more*Cozy vibe- leather bound menus, antique and also modern feel *not a lot of seating and so if you are in a big group, I suggest coming in early. * Fabulous cocktail menu and the drinks are beautifully balanced and pretty.... And I liked their varied drink ware *The blue juniper is their signature cocktail and highly recommended... lovely for a Tucson 900 degree summer eve. *The Arsenic& Old Lace has a beautiful gently absinthe wash that brings out the botanical herby flavors. *Awesome service *Happy Hour menu available *This is located on one of the busiest streets downtown. Parking is a bear. Plan to use a nearby garage or even better, ride share since you will be drinking

Such a cool concept and so well executed! Tucked away downstairs and guarded with its own garage…read moredoor, prihibicion has a fun and modern speakeasy vibe. Our group had a blast with custom drinks that suit our tastes! Only disappointments were with slower service after our first round of drinks and music slightly too loud. Would have loved more of a sit and chat vibe vs the club atmosphere, but won't keep me from coming back!

Celebrated my birthday at this speakeasy and what a vibe! Authentic, vintage and really intimate…read more We were greeted with a citrusy welcome shot that was delicious. The cocktails take a little time because they're created based on your mood. I told our server I wanted warm winter vibes with earthy tones, and the drink they made was incredible, exotic and exactly what I described. Ordering with our server was honestly the highlight of the evening. Happy birthday to me! Perfect spot for a special night or date night if you want something unique. One note, the bathroom could use a little attention.

While I'm a planner, I recognize the joy of a good dose of spontaneity every now and then. I…read morestopped by Unicorn Zebra on a Tuesday evening. Located downtown, this unique bar is inside a boutique hotel. Since it's downtown, street parking is your best bet (free at night). Ambiance (4.5/5): This is part of where Unicorn Zebra shines. Definite animal theme going with some cool status and decor. It's modern, trendy, and a little out there. Which makes for a cool experience. The main bar is relatively small. 10 seats or so at the bar and a couple of tables. What you won't immediately realize is that if you go up the stairs in the lobby of the hotel, you'll get to a second level of the bar. This is more of a lounge with comfortable seating and board games. I got to enjoy both. Service (4/5): Two bartenders were working, even though it's a small bar, which is always appreciated. I ordered one cocktail. I was greeted promptly, my order was taken quickly, prepared, and she ended up closing me out without me asking since they were closing soon. Solid overall. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior to stopping by. I didn't notice whether they offer food or not. Drinks (5/5): I have a lot of cocktails in my day (typing this with my chest puffed out). After many years of visiting countless watering holes, I will say that Unicorn Zebra has one of the most unique cocktails I've tried in my life. It was so out there that I was unsure whether or not I should try it. I even asked the bartender about it. I'm happy I took the plunge. Let me paint a picture for you. Vodka infused with basil, buffalo mozzarella, and tomatoes. Served with two cherry tomatoes as garnishes... yup! If it sounds disgusting to you, just trust me. It tastes like a Margherita pizza in liquid form. So glad I tried it as it was hands down not only unique, but one of the best cocktails I've ever sipped on. Thank you Unicorn Zebra for a memorable experience!

The decor, overall vibe, and drink menu are really fun, but the bartender we had kind of killed the…read moreexperience. We'd heard good things about this place and have been trying to support local downtown bars this summer, so we stopped in around 11 on a Friday night before heading home. As we sat down, we watched the bartender be pretty dismissive toward another group at the bar, so we were already a little unsure. We started talking about the decor because we liked the eclectic vibe. We jokingly pointed out that one of the pictures had a joint instead of a cigarette because someone in our group hadn't noticed. One of the bartender's first comments back, completely seriously, was, "I'm from San Diego. Have you never seen art before?" Honestly... what? It was such a weird, unnecessarily condescending response. I brushed it off at first as awkward banter, but it was a really strange first impression. The drinks were decent. The Loverlist was really good, and the Unicorn Fluff and Old Fashioned were fine. The bartender was quick to talk up their whiskey selection, but when we asked for a recommendation, she mostly gave reasons why she couldn't recommend anything and just kept saying they had "over 90 different options." Without a whiskey menu to look through, that wasn't especially helpful. We also asked for a shooter and were offered half of a cocktail instead. That would've been totally fine on its own, but combined with everything else, the service just never felt welcoming. We ended up leaving pretty quickly. I'd give the place another shot because the atmosphere is fun and has a lot of potential, but hopefully with a different bartender behind the bar.

The Century Room is an absolute gem of Tucson. The ambiance is matched only by the expertly curated…read moremusic. This place is a must visit for locals and tourists alike.

Great jazz club. My favorite in Arizona. Have been there…read moretwice and the music is always great. The ambience is perfect. Service is good.

This used to be the Dillingers Taproom two years ago. It's a lovely location with a dogfriendly…read morepatio, a good selection of craft beer, and a passionate beertender. We sat outside because of the comfy outdoor wicker couch and our dogs. Pints are $7 or $8

Stopped here on a whim as we were walking around downtown and the business area on 4th. I'm really…read moreglad we stopped in. The bartender was Dean, and he was chatty, and friendly, and quick with the service. We talked beer while I enjoyed one of the great selections on the wall. He knows his beer. Really nice guy. I enjoy the ambiance quite a bit; it has a nostalgic feel for when times in the world were a little less chaotic. The other folks at the bar seemed to be enjoying themselves as well and were friendly and chatty. A top notch experience all the way around and I look forward to going back.

Had a Carne Asada Taco and a glass of Dos Equis (XX) Lager Especial at Sonora Moonshine on Broadway…read morehere in Tucson. XX is familiar, but the Carne Asada Taco was something else entirely. I've never had a soft taco feel this elevated. The flavor was beautifully balanced -- as if every ingredient had been measured with intention so they could come together and deliver the exact deliciousness they were aiming for. The carne and the other ingredients were cut into similarly small pieces, giving each bite a clean, even texture. And the zig‑zag of fresh guac across the top didn't just add richness; it made the whole thing look brighter, fresher, and more inviting. It's a testament to the idea that you don't have to complicate a simple dish like a carne asada taco to elevate its flavor. Simple, fresh, authentic Sonoran ingredients will do it.

I stopped by Sonora Moonshine for a late dinner on a Tuesday evening. This Mexican restaurant is…read morelocated downtown. Your best bet is finding street parking (which was free since I arrived pretty late). I sat at the bar. Ambiance (4/5): Sonora Moonshine is a good looking bar and restaurant. There's a pretty spacious patio out front. And a pretty small bar inside, along with some seating. The ambiance is trendy and comfortable. Service (4/5): The bartender did a decent job taking care of me. It wasn't busy at all. There was a group of two people outside, me, and that's it. She could have done a better job checking in and being more attentive, but given the number of people that were there, it wasn't tough to get a hold of her. A nice touch that Sonora does is they have postcards that you can fill out. They will send it out for you free of charge. Drinks (4/5): Sonora has an interesting list of craft cocktails, many of them with a focus on Mexican spirits including tequila, mezcal, and sotol. I tried two cocktails and they were both good. They even have a "basura" drink that's served in a plastic bag... pretty funny! Food (4/5): Sonora's menu isn't large, but it's an interesting one. I ended up going with the queso fundido which is a Mexican cheese blend with birria. The cheese is served on a hot platter and it's stretchy. You have tortilla chips that you use to scoop up some of the cheese. While not a huge portion, it was exactly what I wanted. Traditionally, it's served plain or with chorizo. Birria here is a nice touch. Pro tip: They have a speakeasy in the basement that's open several nights a week.

Cool speakeasy with reasonable cocktail prices!…read more The vibe is cool and easy to find a seat for groups. I definitely want to come back to try more of the drinks. The hours is very confusing for this place though. I've tried multiple times to come and found out they were closed. So maybe try calling to make sure they're open before coming?

The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it with another one. On a trip to Tucson, I…read morestopped by Tough Luck Club for a drink or two on a Tuesday evening. Located downtown, your best bet is finding some street parking (which is free after a certain hour). Ambiance (3.5/5): Hint hint: Tough Luck Club is located in the basement of Reilly's Craft Pizza. Since Reilly is so large, it's not easy to find. Go through the restaurant, get on the patio, and look for a stairwell. Once you get down there, you'll see several seats at the bar and some booths. I sat at one of the booths. Service (4/5): You order at the bar. Since it was a Tuesday, I was alone for part of my visit and there with a handful of people for the rest. I had to grab the bartender's attention several times, but when I was able to get ahold of him, he was friendly and efficient. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior and I don't believe they have food anyways. You can order food at Reilly's though and bring it down yourself. Drinks (4/5): When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for a creative list of craft cocktails that have interesting flavor profiles and ingredients. Tough Luck Club has a nice menu which gives a solid description of each one. The sophistication isn't quite there but they're fun. One is Game of Thrones-themed. One is kind of like a snow cone with flavored ice on top. Fun for sure. There are a good number of speakeasies in downtown Tucson. Glad I was able to cross this one off the list!

Always finding a great spot to enjoy a great cocktail that someone with the right mindset and…read morekindness make it worth paying the cost if the cocktail.Enjoy the chill of this establishment.

This is one of the best places I've been in a while here. The vibe is chill chic. This is a place…read morefor grown ups who just want to be out with some friends to have a cocktail or mocktail and be able to have conversations on a comfy couch or chair. There were too many cocktails that sounded delicious so I opted for wine. The bartender asked if I was going to have a cocktail what kind would I get. He then made a very good cocktail and was correct that I'd like it more than the wine.

My husband and I are in our 40s, and after Christmas party with colleagues, on a Friday night,…read morefound ourselves at Highwire Tucson bar and lounge. What a fun place and amazing atmosphere! We don't typically drink a lot, but Mexican candy shots and Margaritas were incredible, and before we knew it, each of us had like, 5. Next morning-no headache, no issues, no hangover, only fun memories of dancing and having a great time! HIGHLY recommend, seems like people at any age can still have fun at a place like this, it has indoor and outdoor areas, plenty of space, and upbeat music. Visit HIGHWIRE, you won't be disappointed!

HighWire's Christmas pop-up bar in downtown Tucson is pure holiday magic. We popped in just to…read moretake photos and ended up staying because the whole space is such a vibe -- twinkly lights, festive décor everywhere, and endless little corners perfect for Christmassy photo ops. It's fun, cute, and totally worth a stop if you're trying to soak up some holiday spirit in Tucson. Loved it!

Had a cocktail and it was superb…read more Friendly however slow service. Pleasant vibe. Would try it again. Maybe try a bite of food.

Went here for lunch and had the spaghetti Verdi with shrimp, it was delicious but I like thin…read morenoodles. The flavor was amazing and the woman waiting on me was very nice. This is a huge space and was coming empty. I have heard good things about the burger so maybe drop in for lunch or dinner to show them some love.