Shopping in Southern Arizona is a very popular activity among both visitors & locals. Our Southern Arizona Shopping Guide is designed to help you find the unique, the authentic, and the extraordinary.
RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant at La Encantada
There are a lot of retailers here whose merchandise fits our criteria. Here are a few of our favorites.
La Encantada
La Encantada Mall
La Encantada at Campbell & Skyline is Tucson’s most upscale mall. Unlike the other major shopping malls in Tucson, La Encantada is an open air architecture with many pleasant courtyards and scenic views. Some noteworthy retailers here are AJ’s Fine Foods; Tiffany & Co.; The Apple Store; Tommy Bahamas, and Spirit of Santa Fe.
AJ’s foods are hard to find anywhere else in the City, including fresh fish and prime meats. Spirit of Santa Fe is our go-to place for authentic Native American jewelry, sculptures, and other Southwestern art.
As for unique ladies apparel, accessories, and shoes, La Encantada has an excellent selection, including White House/Black Market; J. Jill; J. Crew; Victoria’s Secret; Louis Vuitton; and Ann Taylor.
Here too are Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn/Williams-Sonoma home furnishings and houseware; as well as several eclectic & imaginative shops, such as Anthropologie and Seasons.
To assist their retailers’ elite clientele, La Encantada has a concierge service to enhance their customers’ luxury shopping experience.
La Encantada also has several very good restaurants. Three of our favorites are Blanco Tocos + Tequila; RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant; and North Fattoria Italiana. Blanco’s patio has a fine view overlooking the City.
Lost Barrio
Lost Barrio, Tucson. Photo courtesy of Tucson Citizen.
If La Encantada is upscale, the Lost Barrio is definitely downscale. Located on Park Avenue just south of Broadway, this is a warehouse shopping district with about a dozen unique shops. Here you will find antiques, arts, crafts, and furnishings from around the world.
One of the shops is La Casa Mexicana. Marina, the owner, offers custom furniture and accessories handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. If you click HERE, you will see a photo of our front door, which Ms. Karen designed and the artisans of La Casa Mexican carved.
Tubac
Mexican Pottery at Tubac
Our living room rug, some of our framed art, and almost all of our patio furniture came from Tubac.
The Village of Tubac, located between Missions San Xavier and Tumacacori on I-19 south of Tucson, was the site of the first Spanish presidio or fort in this area (est. 1752).
Village of Tubac
Today, Tubac is not only Arizona’s first Historic State Park, it is also where you will find over 100 art galleries, restaurants, and other shops that reflect Southern Arizona’s unique history and heritage.
Our two favorite Tubac restaurants are Elvira’s and Shelby’s Bistro. The Tubac Deli is also very good.
