By Jackie Tran of Tucson Foodie
Cozy up at our top choices to take advantage of this season. Whether it’s the decor, people watching, or the great outdoors, the best restaurant patios are usually cozy enough to linger on for hours.
Here is our list of the best restaurant patios in the Greater Tucson area.
- Blanco Tacos and Tequila, 2905 E. Skyline Dr. With a location in the Foothills overlooking Tucson, Blanco offers one of the best views in town. The happy hour is also one of the best deals in town. For more information, visit blancotacostequila.com.
- Blue Willow, 2616 N. Campbell Ave. With abundant greenery and a calming fountain, Blue Willow’s patio is a peaceful respite from the traffic of Campbell Avenue. For more information, visit bluewillowtucson.com.
- The Boxyard, 238 N. Fourth Ave. Shipping container development The Boxyard opened with a bar and abundant outdoor seating. In fact, it’s built around outdoor seating. Some of the containers also open nicely for shaded, open-air seating. Additionally, four restaurants have opened at Boxyard: Percheron Mexican Grill, BXQ (Bronx BBQ), Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food, and Indian Twist. For more information, theboxyardtucson.com.
- Café a La C’art, 150 N. Main Ave. The patio at Cafe a la C’Art features vibrant mosaic tile work and occasional live music. It’s also just steps away from the Tucson Museum of Art. For more information, visit cafealacarttucson.com.
- Charred Pie, 12125 N. Oracle Road., STE. 105, Oro Valley. New Oro Valley pizzeria Charred Pie features a glorious view of the Pusch Ridge mountains on their patio. Bar seating is also available outside. For more information, visit charredpie.com.
- The Coronet / Fonda La Hermanita, 198 W. CUSHING ST. Even though the Coronet moved out of their location with a fantastic patio, their new space at the former Cushing Street Bar & Restaurant features a fabulous patio. The Fourth Avenue people-watching has been replaced with an intimate courtyard experience. If you miss the old patio, you can still experience it at their cousin cocktail bar The Libertine instead. For more information, visit coronettucson.com.
- Fini’s Landing, 5689 N. Swan Road. Fini’s patio features a comfortable blend of indoor luxuries and outdoor beauty. Guests can enjoy watching sports on several television sets alongside a view of the Catalina Mountains. During hotter weather, part of the patio is tented off with air conditioning. For more information, visit finislanding.com.
- Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. The open courtyard patio of Hotel Congress is large enough to host festivals, yet cozy enough to curl up at a table with a book. Renovations are in the works to make it even better. Also, on the patio, Plaza Eats whips up international street food 9 PM – 2 AM Thursday and 5 PM – 2 AM Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit hotelcongress.com.
- La Cocina. 201 N. Court Ave. La Cocina’s patio offers a backyard feel — the backyard of someone who has their life together. And a turtle pond. For more information, visit lacocinatucson.com.
- Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento, While Mercado San Agustin is not a restaurant, it houses the shared patios of multiple restaurants such as Agustin Kitchen and Seis Kitchen, as well as Presta Coffee. One block away, the MSA Annex offers additional options in an outdoor shipping container space. The open-air space has a Spanish courtyard feel. Musical acts such as Naïm Amor frequently perform live. For more information, visit mercadodistrict.com.
- Noble Hops, 1335 W. Lambert Lane, Oro Valley. Noble Hops’ east-facing patio features a panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Oro Valley. For more information, visit noblehops.com.
- Playground Bar & Lounge, 278 E. Congress St. Whether it’s front, back, or on top, Playground offers patios for days. For more information, visit playgroundtucson.com.
- Poco & Moms Cantina, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road. Hatch-chile lovers, don’t fret. Poco & Mom’s Cantina provides New-Mexican cuisine with outdoor dining options right here in the city. Read our March 2019 article Poco & Mom’s Cantina: Hearty New Mexican Dishes with Hatch Green Chile. For more information, visit pocoandmoms.com.
- Proof Artisanal Pizza & Pasta, 4340 N. Campbell Ave. STE 104. While St. Philips features a variety of lovely patios, proof shines bright. During warm days, fans and shades keep the area cool. In the cold weather, the patio is covered and utilizes a generous amount of heaters to keep things toasty. Since Proof, Union, and Reforma share a liquor license and a center courtyard, guests can bring cocktails to the courtyard for live music. For more information, call (520) 789-7447 or visit prooftucson.com.
- Saguaro Corners, 3750 S. Old Spanish Trail. Popular with bicyclists, Saguaro Corners is just on the outskirts of Saguaro National Park East with a stunning desert view. The impressive list of beers makes the view that much easier to enjoy. For more information, visit saguarocorners.net.
- Tay’s BBQ, 6461 S. Houghton Road. Open-air barbecue concept Tay’s BBQ has a full bar, family-friendly menu, and outdoor games in Corona De Tucson. And, there are heaters to combat dropping temperatures over the festive season. Read our June 2019 article Tay’s BBQ brings people together with family-style barbecue & outdoor fun. For more information, visit taysbbqaz.com.
