About the List

Dining In Tucson is our list of the best Tucson restaurants. By the Best Tucson restaurants, we must include Southern Arizona, including Bisbee, Tombstone, and Tubac.

There are well over 1,000 restaurants in Southern Arizona, and we have not come close to dining at all of them. We will surely add others to this list over time. Feel free to send us your suggestions here.

Of those we have reviewed since Fall 2011, all on this list received a 4-Saguaro rating or higher. Meaning, if you go, you are likely to have a very good dining experience. So far, there are only 9 that we rated 5-Saguaro, the best of the best.

 Fleming's Prime Steakhouse in Tucson Arizona

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Best of the Best Restaurants
You can find the 5-Saguaro list by clicking here. Not surprisingly, they’re not the cheapest. With very few exceptions, exceptional quality is exceptionally expensive. Such is life.
We have enjoyed dining at many on this list more than once. And we have included just a few that we want to visit and review because they are so highly recommended by friends we know to have discriminating tastes.

If you go to one of these establishments, we have every reason to believe that you will have the same delightful experience that we, along with our friends and family, enjoyed. But your experience could be different based on many factors we cannot control.

Expect A Delightful Dining Experience
Over the years, we have recommended most of these establishments to our friends & family and, with the rarest exception, they have come back and told us that our appraisal was accurate.

The list is by category in alphabetical order. It will be updated periodically.
Most recent update: December 2021.

American

Asian Fare

Bistro/Café
Cafe’ a la C’Art: Tucson at the Tucson Museum of Art
Shelby’s Bistro: Tubac
Gourmet Girls Gluten-Free Bakery & Bistro: Tucson on Oracle south of Rudisill

Arizona Inn

Arizona Inn

Breakfast
Arizona Inn: An experience.
Blue Willow: Tucson on Campbell. Arguably the best in Tucson.
Grill at Hacienda del Sol: Tucson on Hacienda del Sol Rd. in the Catalina Foothills
Gourmet Girls Gluten-Free Bakery & Bistro: Tucson on Oracle south of Rudisill. If you think gluten-free means bland, go introduce yourself to the Gourmet Girls. You can thank us later.
Cup Café in the Hotel Congress. Eat on the patio if it is warm.
Tanque Verde Ranch Breakfast Ride. An experience in the desert.
Prep & Pastry is a new favorite of ours and everyone else for that matter. Reservations. Outdoor Seating.

Burgers
Cayton’s Burger Bistro: Dove Mountain
Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar: Tucson on E. River Road and also on E. Grant Road

Cantinas
La Cocina Cantina: Tucson Downtown Historic Block across from El Presidio de Tucson and adjacent to Old Town Artisans. This is a cross between a Mexican cantina and an Arizona roadhouse. Decades ago, what is now a bar was a downtown Tucson gas station. Live music. Good food. Great fun!
La Gitana Cantina: Arivaca. According to Esquire Magazine, one of the 100 Best Bars In America. So there!

Tanque Verde Campfire Dining

Outdoor Dining At Tanque Verde Ranch

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