Tucson is located in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert right at the base of the Tucson Mountains. Agriculture has been ingrained in its history with Native Americans planting crops like maize and beans. The desert is also sprinkled with prickly pear cacti (may we personally say, these are GREAT for margaritas – yum!) and sagebrush.

Tucson takes their cuisine very seriously, which is why it’s the first city in the United States to receive the honored esteem as the UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With its esteem for its agricultural history, chefs around the city have used the fruits of the Sonoran desert and the Native American cultivation to create unique dishes and restaurants throughout the region. The city has a burgeoning food scene that you’ll have to fully taste to believe.

• Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails: Run by Janos Wilder, a James Beard Award winner, this bar and restaurant utilizes the fruits of the agricultural history with tepary beans, purslane, jalapeño’s, and Cholla bud.
• El Guero Canelo: This is the Sonoran twist on the great American hot dog. This amalgam of Mexican-American street food is a bacon-wrapped hot dog topped with pinto beans, grilled and fresh onions, mayo, mustard, tomatoes, and jalapeño sauce.
• Tohono O’odham Swap Meet: Arrive early and leave happy at this favorite foodie spot located around 20 minutes south of downtown Tucson. Open only on weekends, locals love Polo’s Taqueria, known for the “best spit-roasted tacos al pastor.”
• Buffet Bar & Crockpot: It wouldn’t be a visit to Tucson without tasting the treats at Tucson’s oldest bar. Built in 1934, this low-key dive bar is an institution in the region. Come here for laidback drinks like a Coors beer or the famous “Trash Can,” a pitcher of Blue Curacao and Red Bull.
• El Minuto Café: Known for its cheese crisps, El Minuto Café serves open-faced tortillas that are sprinkled with a healthy serving of cheese (mmmm) and fried in a pan (double mmmmmm).
•  St. Mary’s: With homemade prized tortillas, St. Mary’s is a must stop for Mexican food in Tucson. Located on the west side of Tucson, the tacos and burritos are absolutely phenomenal.
• Exo Roast Co: As coffee aficionados, we take our morning roast very seriously. The team at Exo Roast Co is known for the best coffee in Tucson – especially its cold brew made with smoky mesquite syrup.
• Raspados Rio Sonora: Take a break from the Tucson heat in the Sonoran Desert and head to Raspados Rio Sonora. These raspados are known as “Mexican snow cones,” delicious sugary treats that are sweetened with condensed milk and topped with freshly chopped fruit.