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Tabu Bar

4.0 (81 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

By appointment only

Updated 2 months ago

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TABU BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Tabu Bar

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Chile relleno in white sauce is outstanding
Taric W.

A welcome addition to a thriving Mexican food scene. Tabu features Sinaloan-Style southwestern classics, a simple and accessible cocktail menu, and certainly a ton of style. What I love: Large, luxurious booth seating. Posh exposed brick interior with tasteful modern lighting. The menu isn't doing anything off the wall, but it's extensive and the flavors are tantalizing. You can't go wrong with some birria mini chimis to start off with. And for your main course, there's an assortment of tacos, chile rellenos (with various sauces to choose from!), burritos, and a few American dishes. The flavors are bold and absolutely out of this world--their recipes could compete with any spot around downtown. What I like: These cocktails are not avant garde, but they are simple, tasty, and a great value. I can't get enough of the Tabuena, which is just a Mescal Moscow Mule. It hits the spot every time. The dessert is also top notch--it's the first time I had flan and actually really loved it! What needs work: Service is wildly inconsistent every time. Will you get any chips and salsa after you're seated? It's 50/50. Will your food arrive in 15 minutes, or 45? Will your server forget you exist? You never know. But you know what? It tastes so good that I kind of let them get away with it. Shortcomings aside, I want to keep coming back!

805 beer
Alex K.

Came in for a quick drink on a slow post-holiday day. Beautiful bar that feels spacious and luxurious with big couches for sitting and smaller tables. Our bartender/waitress was good checking up on us a few times. Used the bathroom but it was not properly stocked. They also gave a decent happy hour menu. The men's bathroom stall has no lock on it so anyone can accidentally walk in while you are doing your business. Very little TP too. No additional rolls to be found. Thank goodness there was just enough. No soap in the soap dispenser. That's about it. Honestly just a small issue I would have never known about if I didn't have to use the restroom. Despite the bathroom issue, I would come back and recommend this place to others.

Angel Azul and strawberry basil gin cocktails
Lorena G.

What a great addition to the downtown area! We had just experienced the wonderfulness that Forbes was for lunch and was really craving a cool and refreshing cocktail, upon a trusty Yelp search, hubs came up with Tabu! And to our delight, it was open!!! (It was only 1230 pm) We found parking across the street and hurried in. We were the only ones there and I can only assume because they had just opened. We were quickly greeted and handed menus. We told him that we were there for cocktails and he was happy to explain anything that we might have questions on. I went for and Angel Azul and the hubs went for the strawberry basil gin. Whew! Not only were they gorgeous to look at but they were also tasty and refreshing! It was too bad we only had time to have one because I wanted to have a few more!!! We shall return! Overall two new places on a Saturday and couldn't be happier! Yay!!!

Plastic in the food.

1" piece of plastic in my take-out order, which I chewed on for a few seconds before checking to see what it was. Pretty sure I said, "hold the plastic", when I ordered. I'm skeptical about the ratio of food being cooked vs what's trucked in from U.S. foods or the like.

Nina M.

The female bartenders that worked tonight at 8pm should be retrained on customer service. Sat for what felt like 20 mins after she gave us water. It was not busy. Then I see her taking care of two women who were seated well after us. I immediately wanted to leave but we were seated at the bar. She took our orders. Spoke in Spanish to the guys at the bar working and went back to making more drinks. They were super pleasant and one gentleman was training another on properly making drinks at the bar and cleanliness. I asked the woman for the bill when she came back around and declined. She assumed I was paying card and handed me a handheld machine with the full total. No bill. I paid and she never came back. Again I had to ask for help with the machine and getting a bill. The young gentleman was prompt and helpful. He also thanked us for coming. That young lady working tonight was disappointing, showed a favoritism to other patrons and a fail for service. Overall vibe was nice with the music. Drinks were good from the cocktail menu. Seats were visibly filthy because they are light I assume. Aesthetically pleasing overall. Disappointing outing that I'd not recommend unless the young man at the bar was working. The woman gives a bad name to bartenders everywhere.

The "After Dinner Espresso Martini"
Michelle M.

Tabu has a lot of potential! It has a diverse selection of cocktails, wine, and beer. I got their espresso martini. It is my mission to try all espresso martinis in Tucson and although this wasn't my favorite the tequila base was unique and fun tasting! We came after the kitchen was closed so I didn't try the food menu. Ultimately, this is a new downtown bar that's still trying to figure out what type of place it wants to be. The decor is gorgeous and sophisticated but the music was being blasted as club-level loud. It made for a contradictory experience -- I thought it would be a great place to catch up with the gals but it was hard to hear each other over the trap music being played!

Specials
Mandy T.

I came here for drinks on a Saturday night and was surprised by the DJ. I liked the music but it was a bit loud. I ended up moving from the bar to one of the tables because of the noise. I really liked the Bloody Sour as the bourbon was not overpowering in it like most bourbon drinks are. I loved the Angel Azul. It was light and refreshing and a little sweet. I had 2 of these. I wasn't a fan of the blood moon. It was very beet forward and a little sweet. I really liked the chips with guacamole as well and would get this again.

The menu
Di C.

We revisited Tabu on a Thursday and it was really quiet. The server was attentive and new to the restaurant. I had a bowl of Tortilla soup and it was fabulous. I tried to order a cup of soup but even though the menu listed it, we were told there were no cup sizes...confusing. My husband wanted Pozole but they were out. He got a burger that was ordered medium and came out well. It wasn't bad but it wasn't really very good either. He said it tasted (and looked) like a frozen burger. It was supposed to have Jalapeño and other yummy stuff on it but it was disappointing. There was a big whole Jalapeño on top with undercooked bacon wrapped around it. Not going to reduce the rating because this is not a burger place.

Erick D.

Cool spot. The sound could be better, you can hear parts of the building rattle when the music is loud. The food and drink were pretty good. I got the Mexican Chocolate Old Fashioned and this twist on a classic cocktail was great. The chocolate wasn't too sweet and everything else went well together. The elote had good flavor, but was over cooked. Some of the parts were mushy. This could have been due to being a slow night or still working out their kitchen.

Buffalo wings

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7 months ago

Made reservations months ago for Easter dinner. We showed up and they were closed. Never notified us.

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8 months ago

Love this bar! Classy, CLEAN, and excellent music during their night hours. I enjoy this place out of all the Latin clubs on congress.

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4.4(89 reviews)
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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

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Juniper - Gray Whale - good but toasted seaweed kind of takes over.

Gray Whale - good but toasted seaweed kind of takes over.

Juniper - Coconut ginquiri and Pandan cream soda

Coconut ginquiri and Pandan cream soda

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Unicorn Zebra - Black Cathedral (L) and Girl Dinner (R) each $16 (from the new May 2026 menu)

Unicorn Zebra

4.4(32 reviews)
0.2 mi

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.

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Unicorn Zebra - Inside seating

Inside seating

Unicorn Zebra - The interior of the bar

The interior of the bar

Unicorn Zebra

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Sonora Moonshine - Queso Fundido $14 (2/2026) - comes with birria under the queso

Sonora Moonshine

4.4(74 reviews)
0.1 mi

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.

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Sonora Moonshine - The small intimate stage.

The small intimate stage.

Sonora Moonshine - Queso Fundido ($14) with birria underneath!

Queso Fundido ($14) with birria underneath!

Sonora Moonshine - Main Restaurant Entrance and Outdoor Patio Area

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Main Restaurant Entrance and Outdoor Patio Area

Tough Luck Club

Tough Luck Club

4.2(125 reviews)
0.1 mi
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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!

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Tough Luck Club
Tough Luck Club - Keys of Knowledge

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Tough Luck Club - "Free Palestine" behind the bar

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"Free Palestine" behind the bar

Tabu Bar - lounges - Updated November 2026

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