We’re right smack dab in the middle of Sonoran Restaurant Week, when around 100 (!) restaurants in Tucson and surrounding cities offer special prix fixe menus for $25, $35, or $45 (plus tax and tip). The price often includes several courses that would regularly cost more.
The idea is to encourage diners to try restaurants they haven’t been to, as well as revisiting old favorites. You many need to ask for the Sonoran Restaurant Week menu if you’re at a participating place and don’t see one. Find participating restaurants and menus on TucsonFoodie.com.
I’ve paired 7 of these Tucson restaurants with something fun to do (relatively) nearby that complements them.
Tucson Tamale (on Oracle) + Catalina State park
Pick up Tucson Tamale’s picnic-ready Sonoran Week Fiesta Box from their Oracle Road location and head to Catalina State Park – only 10-15 minutes away! Throw in some water bottles and you’re ready to go!
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $35 (feeds 4)
Park Fee: $7 per vehicle
On the Menu
Tucson Tamale:
Sonoran Week Fiesta Box includes…
- 8 tamales (they have meat, vegetarian, and vegan options)
- 2 sides (choose from salads, rice dishes, beans, Mexican slaw, etc.)
- salsa and chips
- 4 cookies
- serving ware
Catalina:
- Trails
- Wildlife watching
- Sep. 15, 7pm: Guided night hike
Hours
Tucson Tamale: Monday – Saturday 10am-7pm / Sunday 11am-5pm
Catalina: 5am- 10pm daily / Visitor center and park store 8am-5pm
Locations
Tucson Tamale: 7286 N. Oracle Rd.
Catalina: 11570 N. Oracle Rd.
Coronet Restaurant + Museum Of Contemporary Art Tucson (MOCA)
After perusing contemporary art in the former fire station turned airy art gallery that is Tucson’s MOCA, you can stroll on over to the Coronet for dinner. While the Coronet’s decor is classic and the building itself was built in the 1860s, the menu features contemporary faire.
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $45
Museum Admission: $7
On the menu
Coronet: Southwest greens with roasted root vegetables, wild boar bucatini, chocolate truffle.
MOCA: Sonoran Quipu, an assortment of locally-found materials tied together in a site-specific installation, is on exhibit in the Great Hall until October 1.
Hours
Coronet: Thursday – Monday 5–9pm
MOCA: Thursday – Saturday 11am-6pm / Sunday: 11am-4pm
Locations
Coronet: 198 W. Cushing St.
MOCA: 265 S. Church Ave.
Feast + Tucson Botanical Gardens
Feast is located just south of the Garden District. Full of vegetables, fruit, and herbs, their restaurant week menu should pair perfectly with a day in the garden!
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $45
Garden Admission: $15, advance purchase recommended (or free with a Culture Pass)
On the menu
Feast: Choose from several options for each of 3 courses.
- 1st course choices (abbreviated): cauliflower en mole, chestnut risotto, or truffled meatballs.
- 2nd: heirloom tomatoes, roast chicken, hanger steak, or udon noodles with pork.
- 3rd: orange-anise cake, plum parfait, or pandan sweet rice cake.
Tucson Botanical: Art exhibitions at the Gardens this week include All at Once, Enchanted Garden, La Calavera Catrina, and Power to the Flower.
Hours
Feast: Tuesday – Saturday 11am-8pm
Tucson Botanical: daily 8:30am–4:30pm
Locations
Feast: 3719 E. Speedway Blvd.
Tucson Botanical: 2150 N. Alvernon Way
Playground Bar and Lounge + Proper Shops
Just across the street from each other at Congress and 5th Avenue, Playground Bar + Lounge is also a restaurant and Proper Shops is a collective of local merchants and artists that also has a bar inside!
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $25 per person
On the menu
Playground: Choose from 3 starters and 3 entrees.
Proper:
- Current merchants include Reap + Sow eco-boutique, Willows Bazaar clothing, Tucson Gallery, and several others!
- Sept. 15, 6-8pm: Meet local artist Andrea Rodriguez in the Tucson Gallery.
Hours
Playground (restaurant hours): Fri 4-10pm / Sat 12-10pm / Sun 10am-8pm
Proper: Thr 3-8pm / Fri 3-9pm / Sat 11am-9pm / Sun 11am-5pm
Locations
Playground: 278 E. Congress St.
Proper: 300 E. Congress St.
Tuxon Hotel Pool Bar + Tuxon Hotel Pool
You don’t have to be staying at the Tuxon to relax poolside there. Anyone can enjoy food and drinks at the Tuxon’s poolside bar. You can even purchase a pool pass and jump in!
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $25
Pool Passes:
- Day Pass $45
- Cabana Rental (4 day passes, shaded cabana with daybed seating, complimentary bottled water) $75 Mon-Thr / $150 Fri-Sun
On the Menu
Sonoran cheese crisp, enchiladas, barrio beans, mezcal mule.
Hours
Bar: Lunch 11am-3pm / Happy Hour 3-6pm daily
Pool: daily 1-10pm
Location
960 S. Freeway
Flora’s Market Run + The Loft Cinema
Flora’s restaurant week menu might be the best deal I’ve seen so far! Once you finish dessert, it’s just a 4-minute drive to The Loft. Sounds like an ideal dinner-and-a-movie date to me!
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $45 (for two people to share)
Cinema Tickets: $10.50 (regular adult admission)
On the Menu
Flora’s: Southwest salad, elote pizza, chai choco taco sundae
Loft: Special screenings this week include…
- Sep. 13, 7:30pm: The French Dispatch (The Films of Wes Anderson: Part Two) – regular admission
- Sep. 14, 11am: Rebel Without a Cause (Hollywood Classics Series) – regular admission
- Sep. 14, 7:30pm: The Big Lebowski 25th Anniversary Movie Party! – $12
- Sep. 16, 2pm: ¡Agua es Vida! A Celebration of Water in the Desert (Short Film Showcase) – regular admission
Hours
Flora’s: Mon-Thr 7am-8pm / Fri-Sat 7am-9pm / Sun 7am-6pm
Loft: See screening times.
Location
Flora’s: 2513 E. 6th St.
Loft: 3233 E. Speedway Blvd.
Wildflower American Cuisine + Tohono Chul
How you can check out Tohono Chul desert gardens and gallery, but avoid being out in the hottest part of the day:
- start early
- explore the gardens first
- as it heats up, move inside to the galleries
- browse the shops on your way out
- cool off with a late lunch at Wildflower.
Or, if you’re still at Tohono Chul at closing time, you can head to Wildflower for dinner.
Restaurant Prix Fixe: $45 per person.
Garden + Gallery Admission: $15 (or free with a Culture Pass)
On the menu
Wildflower: 3-course meal (starter, entree, dessert) + glass of wine
Tohono Chul:
- Walk in the Gardens tour daily at 10am.
- The exhibit in the Main Gallery is Día de los Muertos (now through November 5).
Hours
Wildflower: daily 11am-9pm
Tohono Chul: daily 8am-5pm
Locations
Wildflower: 7037 N. Oracle Rd.
Tohono Chul: 7366 N. Paseo del Norte
