16 of the best restaurant patios in Tucson


April 25, 2019
a man wearing a hat
By Jackie Tran
By Jackie Tran

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.

If you’re looking for a patio featuring brunch at a luxury resort, check out Feasts, Views & Mimosas: 6 Fancy Sunday Brunch Buffets. For a patio brew, check out 10 Popular Patios to Grab a Cold One in Tucson.

For everything else, below is our list of the best restaurant patios in the Greater Tucson area (hi there, Oro Valley).

Blanco Tacos + Tequila

2905 E. Skyline Dr.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Tqcj_BNhT/

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.
Boxyard on Fourth Avenue (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Boxyard on Fourth Avenue (Credit: Jackie Tran)

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 GrillBXQ (Bronx BBQ), Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food, and Indian Twist.

For more information, theboxyardtucson.com.

Cafe 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 Rd., Ste. 105, Oro Valley, AZ 85737
Patio view at Charred Pie
Patio view at Charred Pie (Credit: Jackie Tran)

New Oro Valley pizzeria Charred Pie features a glorious view of the Pusch Ridge mountains on their patio. Bar seating is also available otuside.

For more information, visit charredpie.com.

The Coronet • Fonda La Hermanita

198 W. Cushing St.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3MudhkhsjN/

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 Rd.
Patio at Fini's Landing
Patio at Fini’s Landing (Credit: Jackie Tran)

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 p.m. – 2 a.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. 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 Ln., Oro Valley, AZ 85737

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.
Roof at Playground Bar & Lounge (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Roof at Playground Bar & Lounge (Credit: Jackie Tran)

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 Rd.
Patio at Poco & Mom's Cantina (Credit: Jackie Tran)
Patio at Poco & Mom’s Cantina (Credit: Jackie Tran)

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

16461 S. Houghton Rd.
Tay's BBQ patio
Tay’s BBQ patio (Credit: Kate Severino)

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.

Upcoming Events

View all events
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.

Article By

Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon...

Related Stories