I'm happy to have finally gotten a chance to visit Unicorn Zebra since it's been on my list from…read morethe time they opened. It's a fun and also elegant atmosphere with the zebra theme clearly exemplified across the space. I would have to say this is one of the coziest bars I've been to, the furniture and seating is really supportive of a long-term visit. There are other levels, lower and an upper level besides the main space, but be aware that if there are parties, they can typically take up different areas. Our bartender, Sarah was fantastic! The way that she handled all of the guests and the busy field was incredible, so calm and collected, and furthermore making some really incredible drinks. Heads up that the online drink menu is not the current drink menu, I couldn't remember all the names of our drinks and put those in the photo captions, so when I checked on the website, the menu was showing something different other than what I saw at the bar. Out of several places I've been to, I'd say the mixture of flavors and details in the drinks are quite unique. I'll be back for more one day

One fateful night in Tucson, we stumbled upon the Unicorn Zebra. We had never heard of this place…read morebut were curious so we went in. We were greeted by a giant statue of a unicorn zebra and of course took a selfie. We then went to the bar area and absolutely loved the dark speakeasy vibes. Burk, the handsome man with a shiny head, was at the bar. He handed us a drink menu that contained fun drink names like Death of a Unicorn. The drinks tasted good and had a lovely presentation. Mine even came in a zebra mug. We also learned that this bar has both an upstairs and downstairs area. We enjoyed a couple of drinks and headed home. This place left such an impression that we have been back two times since. On another occasion we had Nate the bartender. He had a lovely personality and accommodated all of the guests that came in near closing. We enjoyed Santa's Banana Hammock and Unicorn Ski Accident. I would definitely recommend this hidden gem. I look forward to seeing where this place goes. It has a ton of potential for special events with the basement area. P.s. It's also a boutique hotel. You could always book a room and enjoy dreams downstairs without having to drive

Such a cool place! Probably just us but we had a little difficulty in finding The Owls Club but…read moreonce we did, it felt transformative to some degree. Old pews as "booth" seating and several rooms throughout the establishment. It's dark, it gives off old vibes but not in a creepy, musty way despite the place being a former mortuary. But the cocktails, oh the cocktails. These are the kind of cocktails I dream of. And the bartender completely looked like he belonged to a bygone era - cool cat vibes for sure. And he is an expert as mixology.

This is the kind of place that understands atmosphere…read more The lighting inside is intentionally dark -- deep red tones, warm amber fixtures, candlelight on the tables. It feels intimate, almost cinematic. You're not walking into a bright sports bar; you're stepping into a moody, low-lit cocktail lounge built for conversation and slow evenings. The space has character: exposed wood beams, a long bar lined with bottles, soft pools of light over booths, and a relaxed, unhurried energy. It feels tucked away, which adds to the appeal. And while the lighting sets the mood, the drinks are what make it worth staying. Well-crafted, balanced, and clearly made by bartenders who take pride in their work. Strong without being sloppy. Creative without trying too hard. If you appreciate a dim, intimate setting and serious cocktails, The Owl Club delivers. It's the kind of place you settle into -- and don't rush out of.

As my second true fine dining experience, I must say I wasn't disappointed. Perhaps a bad financial…read moredecision on my part ($150 per person!), but regardless, it was a night I'll (mostly) remember, haha. I've always been a foodie, and now that I live on my own, I've recently had the opportunity to teach myself how to cook. As somebody new to cooking, and somebody who loves food, I was delighted to find a restaurant that combines food and art into cuisine inspired by the chef's home. A concept too lovely to miss out on! And so, not heeding my better judgment, I decided to book a reservation for myself and my partner for an evening. Based on pure observation, the creativity taking place in that kitchen was worth the value alone. It could be my lack of experience, but so many techniques and flavors were incorporated into each dish that made it difficult for me to trace the methods used. Each morsel was filled with unique, local flavors that I feel very few people would ever have the opportunity to taste. Of course, these were extremely elevated dishes using local ingredients (such as elk, venison, and squash), but regardless, I believe the desert's beauty is often disregarded. Ursa took these unexplored local items and turned them into delicious culinary experiences. I definitely shouldn't have added on the alcohol tasting (additional $80 per person) with the 8-course meal, buuuut when else would I be eating at Ursa, y'know? Each pairing helped to bring out the hidden flavors of the dishes presented, perfectly curated to accompany Ursa's unique menu. There is a non-alcoholic pairing option, which I am curious about, as one of the pairings was a tea made with brittlebush. I was amazed at how concentrated the flavor was! It was so deep, slightly sweet, and paired perfectly with its partner. (I kind of wish my partner didn't finish his!) Was this experience worth it? I'll admit, I do have a little bit of buyers remorse, but I also understand the work involved with creating something like this as a service for others. The food felt very intimate (although pretentious), allowing the chef to speak without saying a word. The service was lovely and attentive. Each person on the staff communicated without me even noticing, and food and drinks found themselves on our table at just the right time. I was beyond impressed with the service, and each dish, that I feel I have to say it was certainly worth the value of the *experience.* If you are looking for a nice place to eat a meal, however, there are other places for that. That said, I probably can't revisit Ursa, haha.

We really wanted to love Ursa. Service was excellent, super warm and attentive. The space, plating,…read moreand locally sourced concept are all really strong. The issue for us was the food. Most of the dishes were either over salted or just didn't come together flavor wise. Some ideas were interesting, but the execution wasn't there, especially for a tasting menu at this price point. We were honestly rooting for this place because the foundation is there. With better seasoning and a bit more balance, it could be really good, but based on this visit we probably wouldn't come back.

Good music, great drinks, and a cute atmosphere with inside and outside dance floors!read more

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!

Came for queer fem karaoke night! So much fun. Packed. Well organized event…read more The event space is cool. Dark. Red. Patio area. The one downfall was only having one bar tender. She worked so so hard and the drinks were great but she could have used the help. The lines were long. All the drinks were good. Beers on tap. LGBTQ welcoming!

While attending a concert at the Rialto, we had a couple of beers here. Our bartender was very…read morefriendly. The backdrop on the inside wall is amazing! The solar eclipse scene is something and worth coming to take a look. My camera did not do it justice. Although at the time of this writing, it looks like they are open on limited hours and days, if you are in the area, I recommend checking this place out.

She wanted a crafty drink to pregame before a concert at the Fox so we popped in here around 7p…read moreSaturday. There was only one other couple and they left about 15 min later leaving us as their lone patrons until 7:45p - just like I scripted ;) We got their Select Old Fashioned ($15) and it was terrific - smooth and not too sweet (Maple syrup is the source). The ambiance of this narrow wood/brick venue is dark, warm, cozy. And with super high ceilings, doesn't feel tight - or perhaps that was facilitated by the absence of patrons? The minor negatives: The two staff were unengaging and there aren't a lot of appetizers or cocktails to choose from, but as a whisky bar, that may be deliberate.

I came here recently for their weekly taco popup. There were only two kinds of taco to choose from,…read moremeat and veggie, so I had one of each. Plus a donut. The tacos were quite small but good. The donut was nothing special. Prices were reasonable for both ($3-4 per item). It took a long time to get my tacos; apparently, they were just setting up when I ordered.

Dining here was a great experience for a first time in downtown Tuscon…read more The food, cocktails, atmosphere, and service were fantastic. The Prime Rib fries were piled high and tasted great. The Buffalo wings were cooked just like I like them...extra crispy. I asked for the Buffalo sauce to be on the side. The wings aren't seasoned so the flavor is all in the sauce. Seated by the window made a fun time people watching as we enjoyed the downtown view. This place is more spacious than I anticipated. The bar area is sectioned off from the main dining area so there is plenty of seating. My waiter Robert was really awesome. Took great care of me and my sister's dining needs. He suggested dessert but we were too full to try any. So he suggested to sample some of their ice cream before leaving I went over to the ice cream shop which is right at the entry/exit door. I waited but no one came over to sample. After a few mins of waiting, I left and will have to try the ice cream next time.

We decided to try this spot during a visit to Tucson since we were craving something sweet after…read morelunch. The server was friendly and the ice cream wasn't bad but it wasn't something that blew me away. Also we had initially wanted an affogato but the espresso machine was down. This review is solely based on the ice cream though I do think the interior looked fun/elegant to dine in and try food. I would be interested in giving this spot a try for the food and drinks.

I came here yesterday for their final wine tasting of the summer. They will restart them after the…read moresummer ends. It was a free wine tasting provided by A. Torano (who has a tasting room in town) and free charcuterie items provided by Maynard's. Both were great. I love that they have a cured beef option. This is rare. Most charcuterie boards only have pork. I also ordered about aperol spritz and really like it.

You can never go wrong coming to a cup cafe for brunch. Such an iconic local place. The food never…read moredisappoints. The staff is always so nice and helpful and right on it. We came here for our anniversary and had the SHAKSHUKA and my husband and had fish tacos and Bloody Mary. I also had a cold brew and whatever coffee they use is soooo good! Don't forget the cute photo booth in the lobby if you go!

My favorite meal during our most recent trip to Tucson! And very dog friendly!!!…read more Big dog approved: We came with our large dog, and were able to sit with him on the patio. We came during May, when it starts to get warm, but he did well since there is a good amount of shade out on their patio and they provided a nice big water bowl for our special boy. The staff also were kind enough to move one of our chairs out of the way so our dog had lots of room to lay down. Staff were all very kind and never seemed annoyed with the dog (you can always tell at a restaurant if they are, and they were very happy to accommodate him). Very dog friendly!! The food: We gotta talk about their French onion soup. It was pretty dang delicious! The broth itself is quite nice, a nice cheese portion, and the baguette was divine. I also had their French Connection sandwich (with a side of fries), and it had a great combo of ooey, gooey cheese, firm and flavorful ham, and served on a really delicious loaf. Really solid fries, too. We didn't end up getting any drinks but saw several people ordering yummy looking bites. If (but likely when) we come back to Tucson, I'm making a point to return to Cup Cafe!

The food was good not the best but good . The service was great and the ambiance was lovely. It's…read morethe reason why we go.

I smell the food cooking , frequently , and have been eager to sample some , for myself …read more Mother's Day and my wife's birthday happened to be on the same day , so I took the opportunity to take my wife there . We were greeted pleasantly at the door , and escorted to a nice table , and offered a beverage , right away . We perused the menu , and ordered the spring rolls for an appetizer . They arrived quickly , with a nice sauce for dipping , though , they were SO good , it wasn't necessary . My wife got a prosecco with pear juice , which came with a nice garnish , and she said it was delicious. I ordered the sizzling Mekong beef and steamed vegetables , and my wife had the pho tai . She says it is the best pho you can get , and I believe her , as she's had it in New York , Kansas City , New Orleans and any place else we go . I tried it , and I agree , as she's made sure I tasted it . She says it's even better than when she used to get it at the other , now closed location off of Ina Road . We were given a complimentary slice of cheesecake , as it was Mother's Day and her birthday , and it TOO was a generous portion , and VERY good !! We ended up taking quite a bit home , as the portions were generous , and we enjoy having leftovers the next day . The prices seem VERY REASONABLE, for what you get , where you are , and the quality of food and the quality of service . I highly recommend this restaurant , and am looking forward to returning , and trying some of the other menu items .