More Tucson Neighborhoods
Explore Tucson
Find the Best Things to Do in University/Central
By Travis Seward
GM, 10Best.com
About University/Central
See & Do
The University of Arizona is the heart of central Tucson. Spread across 380 acres, the University provides a pleasant destination for visitors. Old Main, at the center of the campus, preserves the university's historic first building, while the walk up University Avenue past the school's main gates offers a scenic stroll, especially in the springtime.
Eat
Don't be fooled by the silly Lucha Libre murals splashed across the walls of this Fourth Avenue gem: the food here is anything but silly. Fresh, off-the-grill carrnitas tacos, veggie tacos stuffed with savory calabacitas, and other delights await inside this colorful Mexican food cafe. Martin himself will probably be manning the grill on your visit.
Party
As its name implies, Plush offers a soft landing after a night of carousing around downtown Tucson and Fourth Avenue. The bar is both stylish yet unpretentious, manned by mixologists with PhDs in cocktails and highballs. In the other room, live acts play nightly to a room full of attentive college students, music aficionados, and local hipsters.
Stay
This boutique bed and breakfast inn, located just down the street from the University of Arizona on University Avenue, is the anti-cookie cutter hotel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house was built of solid maple and redwood in the summer of 1899 by the Ronstadt family. Each of the seven B&B suites offers unique decor and comfortable, serene place to lay your head and unwind.
Shop
Funky Fourth Avenue is the place to see and be seen around the University district. This colorful, fun shopping district has been a gathering spot for hippies, college students, tourists, and just about everyone else for decades now. Stop by the Tucson Thrift Shop to hunt for vintage goods, or grab lunch at Caruso's, a pasta-lovers dream.
