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.

North Italia

North Italia Interior. Flowers on each table is a nice touch.

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 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 the 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 housewares; 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 Tacos + Tequila; RA Sushi Bar & Restaurant; and North Italia. Blanco’s patio has a fine view overlooking the city.

The Lost Barrio

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.

Front Door

Our Front Door

One of the shops is La Casa Mexicana, LCM Interiors. They offer custom furniture and accessories handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. Here is a photo of our front door, which Ms. Karen designed and the artisans of La Casa Mexican, LCM, carved.

Tubac

Mexican Pottery at 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. Jack’s Saloon is a staple.

Tubac has a thriving Arts Community. Be sure to visit the Tubac Center of the Arts.

Old Town Artisans, Tucson AZ

Old Town Artisans

Old Town Artisans is literally a block of shops in the downtown Presidio District. Much of this block of unique gallery-like shops is over 100 years old and dates back to the Presidio, whose property once encompassed it. In the courtyard is the iconic La Cocina, now known as LaCo, a popular downtown hangout with good food and entertainment.

Mercado and Mercado Annex

Throughout the years of Southern Arizona Guide, we have watched shops come and go with great regularity, very few of them sticking it out more than a year. Food yes, specialty shops, not so much. When Petroglyphs in the Lost Barrio burned down, though, they found a new home in the Mercado. It is a favorite of mine. The Annex shops are small and in shipping containers, except for the shops with coffee, beer and outdoor seating. I took a walk about a few weeks ago window shopping. Perhaps you might find something special.
They also provide outdoor entertainment from time to time.

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