George Martin's Tucson Recommendations
eats in barrio viejo
these are all within easy walking distance from george's.
one of our favorite places for breakfast (and it got a mention in the ny times). we—and half of downtown tucson, it seems—are here practically every weekend for our fix of breakfast salad or huevos rancheros. cuisine could be described as hipster-new american—feel free to wear your flip flops and cut off shorts. if you go before 9am on the weekend, you will likely get immediate seating—anytime after that and you’ll be waiting, though it’s usually not too bad.
note: they also have a small market with essentials such as fresh fruit, milk, butter, etc. good if you need a little something.
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Five Points Market & Restaurant
756 S Stone Aveone of our favorite places for breakfast (and it got a mention in the ny times). we—and half of downtown tucson, it seems—are here practically every weekend for our fix of breakfast salad or huevos rancheros. cuisine could be described as hipster-new american—feel free to wear your flip flops and cut off shorts. if you go before 9am on the weekend, you will likely get immediate seating—anytime after that and you’ll be waiting, though it’s usually not too bad.
note: they also have a small market with essentials such as fresh fruit, milk, butter, etc. good if you need a little something.
next door to 5-points—in the same building. we’re not huge fans of ethiopian cuisine, but we ate here once years ago and it was good. lots of people love it, so if you like Ethiopian (and are looking for vegan), it’s definitely worth a go.
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Cafe Desta
758 S Stone Avenext door to 5-points—in the same building. we’re not huge fans of ethiopian cuisine, but we ate here once years ago and it was good. lots of people love it, so if you like Ethiopian (and are looking for vegan), it’s definitely worth a go.
this is our little neighborhood mexican place. it’s not amazing, but it’s good—especially the cheese crisps. décor is, well, what you remember from your neighborhood mexican place (floral tablecloths and strings of hot chile lights, etc.). but if you’re looking for a casual burrito or enchiladas, it’s a nice, close option.
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El Minuto Cafe
354 S Main Avethis is our little neighborhood mexican place. it’s not amazing, but it’s good—especially the cheese crisps. décor is, well, what you remember from your neighborhood mexican place (floral tablecloths and strings of hot chile lights, etc.). but if you’re looking for a casual burrito or enchiladas, it’s a nice, close option.
we are THRILLED that The Coronet (which used to be on 4th ave.) has moved into what used to be the Cushing Street Bar & Grill. excellent new American/French inspired cuisine and great cocktails now all in great, old adobe on the edge of the barrio. the bar area is terrific, and they have a lovely outdoor patio. don't miss this one, though be sure to check that they're open ahead of time (in grand euro tradition, they have a tendency to be rather eccentric about hours).
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The Coronet
198 W Cushing Stwe are THRILLED that The Coronet (which used to be on 4th ave.) has moved into what used to be the Cushing Street Bar & Grill. excellent new American/French inspired cuisine and great cocktails now all in great, old adobe on the edge of the barrio. the bar area is terrific, and they have a lovely outdoor patio. don't miss this one, though be sure to check that they're open ahead of time (in grand euro tradition, they have a tendency to be rather eccentric about hours).
this little sister cafe to The Coronet is at the back of the complex, and serves Mexican-inspired dishes for breakfast and lunch. lovely patio seating, and the food is delicious!
Fonda La Hermanita
198 W Cushing Stthis little sister cafe to The Coronet is at the back of the complex, and serves Mexican-inspired dishes for breakfast and lunch. lovely patio seating, and the food is delicious!
groceries
so you can load up on your usual staples.
small-ish, but within walking distance and they have pretty much anything you need—they do a good job of covering all the bases. there’s also a deli where you can get both breakfast as well as sandwiches for lunch. and a huge salad bar.
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Johnny Gibson's Downtown Market
11 S 6th Avesmall-ish, but within walking distance and they have pretty much anything you need—they do a good job of covering all the bases. there’s also a deli where you can get both breakfast as well as sandwiches for lunch. and a huge salad bar.
it's a safeway. ;-) closest, best large standard-issue grocery store to our house. you'll need a car to get there.
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Safeway
1940 E Broadway Blvdit's a safeway. ;-) closest, best large standard-issue grocery store to our house. you'll need a car to get there.
a somewhat abbreviated whole foods, but a whole foods nonetheless. closest one to our house.
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Whole Foods Market
3360 E Speedway Blvda somewhat abbreviated whole foods, but a whole foods nonetheless. closest one to our house.
nature
this is THE place to go to start experiencing the sonoran desert. great exhibits, a small hiking trail (you can see javelinas), a humming bird aviary, and more. a 30-40 minute drive west of town, well worth the trip.
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애리조나-소노라사막박물관
2021 N Kinney Rdthis is THE place to go to start experiencing the sonoran desert. great exhibits, a small hiking trail (you can see javelinas), a humming bird aviary, and more. a 30-40 minute drive west of town, well worth the trip.
tucson is bookended by saguaro national park on the east and west (i do believe it may be the only national park split in two this way). both are well worth a visit, though saguaro west is much closer to our house--only about 30 minutes away. you'll see stunning vistas of saguaros, and there are hikes galore. spring, in particular, can mean bursts of desert wildflowers.
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사과로 국립공원 투손 마운틴 지구 (서쪽) 방문자 센터
2700 N Kinney Rdtucson is bookended by saguaro national park on the east and west (i do believe it may be the only national park split in two this way). both are well worth a visit, though saguaro west is much closer to our house--only about 30 minutes away. you'll see stunning vistas of saguaros, and there are hikes galore. spring, in particular, can mean bursts of desert wildflowers.
sabino canyon is a perennial favorite. you can either just ride the tram in and out and see the sights, or hop off and do some hiking on your own.
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Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
5700 North Sabino Canyon Roadsabino canyon is a perennial favorite. you can either just ride the tram in and out and see the sights, or hop off and do some hiking on your own.
this is the classic tucson spot to go and see the sun set over the saguaro-studded mountains. there's also a well-marked nature trail off the parking area if you fancy a short hike.
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Gates Pass Trail
6400 W Gates Pass Rdthis is the classic tucson spot to go and see the sun set over the saguaro-studded mountains. there's also a well-marked nature trail off the parking area if you fancy a short hike.
bars and clubs
all within walking distance. though the owl's club is listed towards the end, i highly recommend it for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. it's on your way downtown.
hipster cool, with a row of cosy booths across from the bar. they have a nice, rotating selection of craft wines and beers, and tasty menu of light snacks.
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Good Oak Bar
316 E Congress Sthipster cool, with a row of cosy booths across from the bar. they have a nice, rotating selection of craft wines and beers, and tasty menu of light snacks.
great for the under-40 set. one of the more happening lounges downtown, and they have a second, rooftop bar upstairs that has a great view of congress.
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Playground Bar & Lounge
278 E Congress Stgreat for the under-40 set. one of the more happening lounges downtown, and they have a second, rooftop bar upstairs that has a great view of congress.
owned by the rialto theater, and located across the alley from the theater’s side entrance. the entire place was done in blood red by a design team that lives in the barrio, and it has a too cool laser-cut metal silhouette of downtown tucson/barrio scenes. it’s become a popular spot, and you may even catch some of the musicians hanging there after shows.
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R Bar
350 E Congress Stowned by the rialto theater, and located across the alley from the theater’s side entrance. the entire place was done in blood red by a design team that lives in the barrio, and it has a too cool laser-cut metal silhouette of downtown tucson/barrio scenes. it’s become a popular spot, and you may even catch some of the musicians hanging there after shows.
the heart of tucson’s indie music scene. check their website for upcoming artists coming in—or just check out the frequently changing murals on the side of the building. you won’t be disappointed.
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Rialto Theatre
318 E Congress Stthe heart of tucson’s indie music scene. check their website for upcoming artists coming in—or just check out the frequently changing murals on the side of the building. you won’t be disappointed.
funky, hip bar with craft cocktails and bartenders with just enough attitude who know their stuff. in a former funeral home to give it just the right about of weird-tucson-vibe.
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Owls Club
236 S Scott Avefunky, hip bar with craft cocktails and bartenders with just enough attitude who know their stuff. in a former funeral home to give it just the right about of weird-tucson-vibe.
so this is a pizza and pasta place (see mention in downtown eats). but there's also a HUGE beer garden in the back. and in the basement: The Tough Luck Club, one of Tucson's hidden bars. seriously, i've met people who live in this town who've never heard of it (that said, quite a few have since it's often packed). it's in the former morgue, so you can lift one to mortality. ;-)
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Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink
101 E Pennington Stso this is a pizza and pasta place (see mention in downtown eats). but there's also a HUGE beer garden in the back. and in the basement: The Tough Luck Club, one of Tucson's hidden bars. seriously, i've met people who live in this town who've never heard of it (that said, quite a few have since it's often packed). it's in the former morgue, so you can lift one to mortality. ;-)
art
tucson's art scene is smallish, but not without its charms. basically it consists of the museums (and etherton gallery) downtown, the UA campus art museum and the CCP, and the warehouse arts district at 6th and 6th.
the design is post-modern (alas), and it's relatively small. that said, they do a good job of curating the current exhibits--well worth seeing what might be there--and the permanent collections are also worth a gander.
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투손미술관
140 N Main Avethe design is post-modern (alas), and it's relatively small. that said, they do a good job of curating the current exhibits--well worth seeing what might be there--and the permanent collections are also worth a gander.
who could talk about the arts/museum scene in tucson and not talk about the CCP? ansel adams was a founder, and this is one of the premiere photography institutions in the u.s. while much of their activities take place behind the scenes, they have a small, rotating exhibit space. on the university of arizona campus.
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크리에이티브사진센터
1030 N Olive Rdwho could talk about the arts/museum scene in tucson and not talk about the CCP? ansel adams was a founder, and this is one of the premiere photography institutions in the u.s. while much of their activities take place behind the scenes, they have a small, rotating exhibit space. on the university of arizona campus.
across from the center for creative photography. so while you're on campus checking out the ccp, don't forget to also go to the art museum. they bring in excellent exhibitions, and the permanent collections are also good.
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아리조나대학교미술관
1031 N Olive Rdacross from the center for creative photography. so while you're on campus checking out the ccp, don't forget to also go to the art museum. they bring in excellent exhibitions, and the permanent collections are also good.
this is about four blocks away from us, in a former fire-station. the building has been nicely done, though the exhibit space is TINY. there are no permanent collections (or at least very few pieces)--instead they house rotating exhibits.
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Museum of Contemporary Art
265 S Church Avethis is about four blocks away from us, in a former fire-station. the building has been nicely done, though the exhibit space is TINY. there are no permanent collections (or at least very few pieces)--instead they house rotating exhibits.
에테르톤 갤러리
340 S Convent Avetucon's best art gallery. the focus is on fine art photography.
shopping
these are a few of my favorites, but there's plenty more places to pop into, especially on 4th ave.
tucson's iconic second-hand clothing store. you'll need a car to get there, but if you're into vintage, it's sort of an obligatory trip.
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Buffalo Exchange
2001 E Speedway Blvdtucson's iconic second-hand clothing store. you'll need a car to get there, but if you're into vintage, it's sort of an obligatory trip.
a wee boutique of frenchy (one of the owners is married to a parisian) décor items and clothing. great for post-prandial browsing after a meal at 5-Points (see restaurants).
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Bon Boutique
760 S Stone Avea wee boutique of frenchy (one of the owners is married to a parisian) décor items and clothing. great for post-prandial browsing after a meal at 5-Points (see restaurants).
located in the mercado san augustin complex, a great little eclectic boutique with lots of handmade jewelry.
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Mast
100 South Avenida del Conventolocated in the mercado san augustin complex, a great little eclectic boutique with lots of handmade jewelry.
a fun and funky little shop on 4th ave. with tons of unique items made by local artists. great for browsing.
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Pop Cycle
422 N 4th Avea fun and funky little shop on 4th ave. with tons of unique items made by local artists. great for browsing.
a lovely little collection of shops selling various local, vintage and fine art items.
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MSA Annex
267 South Avenida del Conventoa lovely little collection of shops selling various local, vintage and fine art items.
getting around
walking is one of our favorite modes of transportation in the neighborhood and downtown. but there's also a very convenient street car system. city bikes are also a great option, and you can, of course, always catch an uber if you tire of walking/street car-ing/biking.
the closest TUGO, or Tucson Bike Share station. you can pay on site with a kiosk or download the app.
TUGO Station
the closest TUGO, or Tucson Bike Share station. you can pay on site with a kiosk or download the app.
tucson has light rail that runs from the university of arizona, through the main gate area, along 4th avenue, to downtown and then out to the mercado district. the stop nearest our house is 10 minutes away. it's inexpensive, easy to use, and the best way to get around as parking in all of those locations with the exception of the beginning and ending of the lines is a bear. you can buy tickets from machines at each stop.
DOWNLOADING the GOTucson Transit app is the easiest way to buy tickets, though there are kiosks at each stop as well.
Sun Tran Tucson Special Services Transit
35 W Alameda Sttucson has light rail that runs from the university of arizona, through the main gate area, along 4th avenue, to downtown and then out to the mercado district. the stop nearest our house is 10 minutes away. it's inexpensive, easy to use, and the best way to get around as parking in all of those locations with the exception of the beginning and ending of the lines is a bear. you can buy tickets from machines at each stop.
DOWNLOADING the GOTucson Transit app is the easiest way to buy tickets, though there are kiosks at each stop as well.
i admittedly don't know where all of the stops are, but no doubt there's an app for that. :-) just know that it's an option.
Zipcar
East 1st Streeti admittedly don't know where all of the stops are, but no doubt there's an app for that. :-) just know that it's an option.