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'80s
Alternative Rock
Top 40 |
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CC: Casual
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DOWNTOWN. You're probably wondering where the name comes from. Well, if you run the phrase "buy sandwiches" together, it might sound a bit like "Bison Witches." OK, maybe that's not so creative, but the food at this neighborhood college hangout is. They serve sandwiches, soups, salads and beer – but what a selection. Soups and salads are served in big bread bowls, making them a complete meal in and of themselves. But the sandwiches truly are noteworthy, due to their variety, massive size and general tastiness. Try the Hawaiian chicken, brie and roast beef, or the Wildcat (roast beef, smoked turkey, smoked gouda, lettuce and spicy honey-mustard). If you're feeling homesick, there's grilled cheese or PB&J – now that's comfort food! The beverage list is impressive too – 8 domestics and imports on tap, plus more than 30 microbrews and over 20 imports in bottles. Great drink specials (this is a college bar, after all!).
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Frog & Firkin
874 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719 · 520-623-7507
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DOWNTOWN. An English-style pub may seem a tad out of place in the middle of the desert, but the Frog and Firkin definitely fills a niche. Live music is the draw three or four nights a week, but there's also a great jukebox with a wide variety of tunes; pool and darts occupy folks at other times. Food could be called upscale pub grub – inventive salads, non-standard sandwiches (the Chimney Sweep combines turkey, aioli, apple, red onion and cheddar), fantastic pizza and tasty fish and chips. As for beverages, well, the Frog serves 75 domestic and imported beers, which should please just about any palate.
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Grill
100 E Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701 · 520-623-7621
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DOWNTOWN. A funky little Tucson institution! Combination diner and bar, the place is a regular haunt for everyone from college students to senators, so you never know who you might run into. Part of the appeal is the food. You can order up a bowl a Cap'n Crunch, a burger, or even smoked salmon pasta with shallot-dill sauce. And whenever people talk about the place, they always seem to end up rhapsodizing about the tater tots and the impressive beer selection. The cozy Red Room, otherwise known as the smoking room, hosts live music on Friday and Saturday (free if you order food, but given the varied menu, that shouldn't be a problem for most folks). The Grill stays open all night, so expect a crowd when the bars close!
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O'Malleys
247 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705 · 520-623-8600
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DOWNTOWN. The Irish-themed O'Malleys occupies a former warehouse, and has taken full advantage of the building's soaring ceilings and wood beams, creating separate spaces for various activities. Live music is on tap in one space, including a traditional Irish session every second and fourth Thursday. Big screen TVs dominate another area, drawing in a crowd of sports fans on game days. The bar area dominates, though, with a large bar, several tables and four pool tables. Food and beverage-wise, O'Malley's offers a full bar with sixteen draft beers and more in bottles, and serves a full menu of satisfying pub grub until midnight.
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Pockets
1062 S Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85711 · 520-571-9421
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| Music: |
Blues
Jazz
Rock
Top 40 |
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CC: Casual
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EAST TUCSON. Can you guess what kind of place this is? Yep, you got it – it's a pool hall. But it's a bit more upscale than you may have experienced before, and actually welcomes families. There's a lot to do here: eleven full size pool tables, two billiards tables and a snooker table, pinball machines, a golf arcade game, and a checkers table, plus an array of board and card games available from the bar. Not to mention seven TVs, a jukebox with everything from 40s torch songs to 90s pop tunes, and a pro shop. Food comes in the form of filling sandwiches and fried appetizers, and drink specials are offered every night.
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The Shanty
401 E 9th St, Tucson, AZ 85705 · 520-623-2664
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DOWNTOWN. For 30 years, the Shanty has maintained its reputation as an excellent place to meet for a drink or to mix and mingle. The spacious patio and relaxed vibe are inviting on warm nights. Though the bar is near the University of Arizona, a diverse crowd comes here for the laid-back ambiance and the excellent selection of beers, drinks and tasty food.
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The Shelter
4155 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712 · 520-326-1345
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NORTHEAST. A lot of folks will tell you that this bar used to be a fallout shelter, but the truth is it was actually built as a bar back in 1961. The round, windowless structure is packed to the rafters with 60s era kitsch, from JFK memorabilia to black velvet paintings and groovy lamps. The retro vibe is augmented with a continual showing of 60s B movies and plenty of period music, occasionally provided by DJs fond of deep cuts and rare grooves. Bartenders mix up all the retro cocktails you can handle, but don't fret if your personal favorite is something invented last year – they can make those too. And if you're in the market for some new bad jokes to share with your friends, a visit to the restrooms here should be high on your list of things to do.
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NORTH TUCSON. Occasionally you find a restroom with walls that are just begging to be written on, usually in a high school or a bar. The World Famous Golden Nugget is one of the latter. In this case, the scrawls of former and current patrons run the gamut from platitudes and words of wisdom to social and political commentary, and warnings about which people not to date. At its heart, this is an amazingly friendly neighborhood hangout, with a bevy of loyal regulars. The crowd is comprised of an eclectic mix of ages and backgrounds, but you'll find that everyone is welcoming. Conversation, pool and shuffleboard are the main distractions, and classic rock is the music of choice.
About 10Best's recommendations for Tucson's Best Bars:
10Best searched far and wide before ranking these bars as the best in Tucson. How'd they earn their way on the list? Beer selection, specialty cocktails, cool aesthetics, great jukeboxes, hip crowds – we consider it all before deciding which ones belong on a list of Tucson's Best Bars.
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