Tucson Travel Forum

I will be in Tucson for the first time in late september with my traveling baseball team. We are there for a long weekend tournament and are from New England. Anyway, since I have never been im looking for a few recommendations as it relates to Tucson... What time do the bars close? Any good recs on bars/ night clubs and resturants (steak/ tex mex). Im also traveling with a group of guys, so I must also ask for strip club advice. Thanks a lot!

Bars close at 2am, but last call is actually closer to quarter 'til. Keep in mind also that AZ now has a no smoking law for all indoor establishments (started in May), but most places have a patio.
It depends on your scene, but I think you'd like Fourth Avenue better. Try O'Malley's, Maloney's (a little higher-end and more of a meat market), Plush (my fav) and Che's, but definitely just walk around and bar-hop, because that's what everyone else does. There are a couple of places on University right by campus you might like and the trolley between there and Fourth Avenue runs until at least 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. Congress Street Downtown also has a whole row of bars and clubs for you to check out.
I don't personally go to strip clubs at all, but know people that do. It's weird here in that the all-nude are 18+ with no drinking but topless only are 21+ with bars. The better ones are on Speedway: there's TD's, Ten's and the Bunny Ranch. Also, the newer one by the airport, Club Turbulence, is supposed to be decent, but it's kind of off the beaten path. If you need a recommendation, I can ask the friends, but I can't remember off-hand which one they liked best.
If you want Tex-Mex, you may want to actually stick to the chains, because that's not really what you'll get in Tucson. Tucsonans are very discerning about their Mexican food and demand that it be authentic. You can get mostly Sonoran food at the best places in town, but there's some variety like Oaxacan places and a Mexico City-style restaurant (La Parilla Suiza). Otherwise, it's On the Border or some other place for the Tex-Mex garbage.
hth

For some of the best Mexican food in Tucson, Sonoran style, you need to head to El Minuto, 354 S. Main St, which is in downtown area on the south side of the Tucson Community Center. It is a bright pink house, you really can't miss it. I love their Carne Asada Tacos, they are the tasty I have had.

Another great place for Mexican food is The Mosaic Cafe, 2456 N Silver Mosaic Dr, just behind the McDonald's, on the Northwest quad. The owners are from Oaxaca and the style of the restaurant is a reflection of that region in Mexico. They make their tortillas fresh in full view of the customers.

One of the better steak restaurants is the El Corral, 2201 E River Rd. They don't take reservations and it is a very popular restaurant. I have found that the best time to go is early evening on a Monday or Tuesday. However, you will still have a wait time. The Prime Rib is their speciality.

Adios,

Bit Devine

Bars close at 2am last call in the trendy sports is 1:05am to 1:30am Depending on your age there's a few places to choose from as far as bars. I like Envy, it's a little trendy and pricey but the environment is nice. If you want like a college party setting then go to DV8 on speedway. If you want to just hang out and drop your cigarettes on the floor go to some of the biker bars on speedway. They're nice. Good food is hard to find as most of the chain restaraunts have taken over the area. I like Oregano's personally, they have good signature drinks, the atmosphere is great, and the portions are generous. A good steak can be found almost anywhere as Tucson is kind of country in its roots. I have tried A Taste of Texas on Thornydale/Cortaro Rd. it is pretty good, I have also enjoyed Texas Roadhouse, on I-10 and Cortaro Rd. Mexican food can be had almost anywhere also, but I enjoy Juanito's Taco Shop on Grant Rd/near Fairview by Lim Bong's Liquor Store. As for the latter request I have no idea, but there are only a handful of Adult Live Entertainment places to choose from. Your only limited by what part of town your on.

Jennifer (Black Cab) Tucson, AZ