El Charro Cafe
- ★ 4.6
- Mexican
- $$
- El Presidio
El Charro Cafe on Court Avenue in Tucson is the United States' oldest family-run Mexican restaurant (1922), and the claimed birthplace of the chimichanga.
The restaurants worth the trip in Tucson: bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Tucson
18 places
Penca
- ★ 4.5
- Modern Mexican
- $$$
- Downtown Tucson
Penca on East Broadway in downtown Tucson serves Patricia Schwabe's Mexico City menu, with mole poblano, cochinita pibil and a mezcal-led bar.
BOCA Tacos y Tequila
- ★ 4.7
- Modern Mexican
- $$
- Fourth Avenue
BOCA Tacos y Tequila on North 4th Avenue is chef Maria Mazon's modern Mexican room, a Top Chef finalist, with 26 tacos and 40-plus tequilas in Tucson.
Eat your way around Downtown Tucson
6 of the restaurants on this list are in Downtown Tucson. So are these tours and tastings.
Charro Steak Del Rey
- ★ 4.5
- Steakhouse
- $$$
- Downtown Tucson
Charro Steak Del Rey on East Broadway in Tucson is the El Charro family's downtown steakhouse, with mesquite-grilled steaks and a deep tequila list.
Tito and Pep
- ★ 4.6
- New American
- $$$
- Midtown Speedway
Tito and Pep on East Speedway in midtown Tucson is the chef-driven seasonal kitchen with mesquite-fired vegetables and a tight cocktail program.
Mi Nidito
- ★ 4.5
- Mexican
- $$
- South Tucson
Mi Nidito on South 4th Avenue in Tucson runs the same family kitchen since 1952; the President's Platter recalls Bill Clinton's 1999 dinner stop.
Cup Cafe
- ★ 4.4
- New American
- $$
- Downtown Tucson
Cup Cafe inside Hotel Congress on East Congress Street in Tucson is the downtown all-day diner-bistro since 1990, in the historic 1919 hotel lobby.
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
- ★ 4.5
- Italian
- $$
- Downtown Tucson
Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink on East Pennington in Tucson runs wood-fired pies, house pasta and an underground cocktail club in a historic mortuary.
The Coronet
- ★ 4.4
- Modern European
- $$
- Barrio Viejo
The Coronet on West Cushing in Tucson's Barrio Viejo serves Sally Kane's European small plates in the historic Cushing Street building, with weekend brunch.
5 Points Market and Restaurant
- ★ 4.5
- New American
- $$
- South Tucson
5 Points Market and Restaurant on South Stone in Tucson runs scratch-made brunch, lunch and dinner from a historic brick warehouse since 2014.
Where to stay in Tucson
A sample of Tucson hotels from our booking partner, who list 186 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Travel Inn
Located in Tucson, Travel Inn is in a national park, a 5-minute drive from Pima Air and Space Museum and 8 ...
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Riviera Motor Lodge
Located in Tucson (Miracle Manor), Riviera Motor Lodge is within a 10-minute drive of Tucson Museum of Art ...
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Amazon Motel
With a stay at Amazon Motel in Tucson, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Berger Performing Arts Center a...
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GLH Hotel
A stay at GLH Hotel places you in the heart of Tucson, within a 5-minute drive of Berger Performing Arts Ce...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Tucson from USD 74/night · Expedia in Tucson
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Maynards Market and Kitchen
- ★ 4.4
- New American
- $$$
- Downtown Tucson
Maynards Market and Kitchen on North Toole in Tucson runs a market-plus-bistro inside Tucson's restored 1907 train depot, with seasonal dinners.
La Cocina
- ★ 4.2
- New Mexican
- $$
- El Presidio
La Cocina on Court Avenue in Tucson runs Southwestern lunch and dinner inside the Old Town Artisans courtyard, with shaded patio and nightly live music.
El Minuto Cafe
- ★ 4.3
- Mexican
- $$
- Barrio Viejo
El Minuto Cafe on South Main in Tucson's Barrio Viejo has run the Mexican-American menu since 1936, famous for oversized cheese crisps and topopo salads.
La Indita
- ★ 4.3
- Mexican
- $$
- Fourth Avenue
La Indita on North Stone in Tucson serves Maria Garcia's Tarascan menu, a family staple since 1983, blending Mexican and Native American kitchen traditions.
El Charro Cafe Ventana
- ★ 4.3
- Mexican
- $$
- Catalina Foothills
El Charro Cafe Ventana on East Broadway in Tucson is the eastside outpost of the 1922 downtown original, serving the same carne seca and chimichanga.
Feast
- ★ 4.6
- New American
- $$$
- Midtown Speedway
Feast on East Speedway in Tucson runs chef Doug Levy's seasonal new American menu, with a rotating tasting menu and a long-standing wine reputation.
Ursa
- ★ 4.5
- New American
- $$$$
- Downtown Tucson
Ursa on East Congress in downtown Tucson is chef Aaron Lopez's desert tasting-menu room, built on indigenous Sonoran, Mojave and Chihuahuan ingredients.
El Guero Canelo
- ★ 4.8
- Mexican
- $
- South Tucson
El Guero Canelo on South 12th Avenue in Tucson is the James Beard 2018 Sonoran hot dog flagship from Daniel Contreras, the founding Tucson dogo.
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