Whether you're trying to curb the likelihood of a hangover or are simply hungry later than most, late-night options are slim in Tucson.
While chain diners like IHOP and Waffle House and taquerias such as Nico's and Los Betos are always an option — as well as the shhh-don't-tell-anyone fast-food drive-thru — sometimes what's desired is something better. Maybe even with table service.
From delicious pizza and nachos to must-try seafood and sandwiches, here are local spots for late-night eats.
Believe it or not, Arizona Inn serves a full menu until midnight at their Audubon Bar & Patio. This historic inn does it right, too. Choose from a full dinner menu, a more casual bar menu, and a wide assortment of wine, beer, and cocktails.
Highlights include:
Open: 11:30 a.m. - midnight daily.
For more information, visit arizonainn.com.
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With a menu featuring 26 sandwiches, nine salads, five bread bowl soups, and seven appetizers, Bison Witches can satisfy many appetites. Open from 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily, Bison Witches is a popular late-night option for grabbing a delicious bite with friends.
Must-try items:
Open: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. daily, but the kitchen closes at midnight.
For more information, visit bisonwitchestucson.com.
Great pies and hipster to the core, Brooklyn Pizza has served as a sanctuary for those looking to grab a quick slice or two. Part of the late-night scene, Brooklyn stays open until 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday feeding hungry customers through a slice take-out window.
Favorites:
Open: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily, late-night slices 11 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. Thursday - Saturday.
For more information, visit brooklynpizzacompany.com.
While Culinary Dropout features a wide menu available deep into the night, diners also find themselves coming back for the live music and fun activities such as cornhole and table soccer.
Highlights
Open: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 11 a.m. - midnight on Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit culinarydropout.com.
With the entire menu available until close, Dante’s Fire has become a hotspot for those looking to enjoy a hearty meal after a night out.
The menu features starters, burgers, pastas, salads, and desserts. Open until 2 a.m. daily, this place has the potential to become your late night go to.
Highlighted options:
Open: 4 p.m. - 2 a.m. daily.
Read our April 2019 article Dante's Fire Ken Foy stoking new flames with fresh menu updates, new partner.
For more information, visit dantesfireaz.com.
The Drunken Chicken features simple dishes and quality ingredients that are quick to impress. Try the dips, maple syrups, and order any combo that gets you chicken and beer-battered waffles.
Highlighted Items:
Kitchen Open: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - midnight Friday, 10 a.m. - midnight Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit thedrunkenchickenaz.com.
Open until 2 a.m. daily, Elliott's has earned a loyal following from workers in the food industry. Go for the bacon, duck, and infused vodkas.
Highlighted options:
Open: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday. The bar closes at 2 a.m. daily.
For more information, visit elliottsoncongress.com.
Another New York-style pizza joint, Empire Pizza & Pub offers one tasty pie. Located on downtown’s Congress Street, Empire enjoys its fair share of late-night pizza seekers.
With wings, salads, and desserts, pizza isn't the only thing Empire does well. Open until 3 a.m. four days a week, this place has made a name for itself in the minds and mouths of hungry customers.
Stand out items:
Open: 10 a.m. - midnight daily and late-night hours are midnight - 3 a.m. Wednesday - Saturday.
For more information, visit empirepizzapub.com.
From 10 p.m. - close, Ermanos serves up their late night-exclusive menu with tasty dishes such as the vegan Splendid Burger and Mac 'n Cheese.
Highlights from the late-night menu
Open: 11 a.m. - midnight Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Friday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com.
In the center of the downtown area, HUB offers families and club-goers house-made ice cream, craft cocktails, and a menu chock full of elevated comfort food. Located directly along Tucson’s streetcar route, it's easy to enjoy HUB’s lobster mac and cheese, pastrami sandwiches, and chicken pot pie. HUB is open every day until midnight.
Popular items:
Open: 11 a.m. - midnight daily.
For more information, visit hubdowntown.com.
Although Karamelo King opened a brick-and-mortar at 5224 E. Pima St., the beloved stand at Grant Road is still operating at night to take care of your drunchies. The hot dog and carne asada stand serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, caramelos, and hielitos, Mexican frozen desserts.
Highlights:
Open: 4 p.m. - midnight from Monday - Thursday, 4 p.m. - 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Keep up with Karamelo King on Instagram.
Whether you stop in for bibimbap, tteokbokki, gal bi short ribs or late-night drinks, consider this Korean restaurant when choosing. Stay tuned for updates on the addition of a karaoke bar and expanded restaurant space.
Menu highlights:
Open: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, 4 p.m. - midnight Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and Fridays, and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays.
Read our 2019 article Korean favorite Kimchi Time bold and flavorful, expansion in the works.
Keep up with Kimchi Time on Instagram.
A Tucson mainstay, Kingfisher offers a late-night menu featuring a variety of killer dishes. Oysters, as well as Steamed Black Mussels with Sriracha and sweet butter, and a Maine lobster roll with shoestring fries make the menu. Whether you get off work late or are enjoying the night out with friends, Kingfisher is open every day of the week until midnight.
Must-try items:
Open: 11 a.m. - midnight Monday - Friday, 5 p.m. - midnight Saturday - Sunday.
Read our February 2019 article Kingfisher Still a Catch After 25 Years in Tucson.
For more information, visit kingfishertucson.com.
If you want a late-night bite to accompany a few delicious tropical drinks, Kon Tiki is the place.
Go with a Kon Tiki Mai Tai or have a true Hawaiian experience with the Scorpion Bowl — a tropical blend served in a life-size bowl, with a touch of fire.
Another go to is the Batwings — Bacardi Limon marinated “batwings” tossed with house-made tamarindo sauce.
Standout items:
Open: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. daily.
For more information, visit kontikitucson.com/menu.
A cornerstone of Fourth Avenue’s food scene, Lindy’s On 4th serves up some of Tucson's most well-known burgers.
Known for their outrageous topping combinations and hefty portions, Lindy’s is a popular choice. Open until 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday, the burger joint lends itself well to those looking for a lot of food at odd hours of the night—or day.
Favorite items:
Open: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday - Saturday.
For more information, visit lo4th.com.
Maynards Market & Kitchen
Maynards Kitchen's Reverse Happy Hour is available after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Enjoy discounted drinks and rotating specials accompanied by entertainment from local musicians.
Stand-out items:
Open: 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday and it closes at 9 p.m. Sunday - Thursday. Reverse Happy Hour is available after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Read our February 2019 article Maynards Hits Their 10-Year Milestone & Continues To Serve Tucson "Full Steam."
For more information, visit maynardstucson.com.
It's open 24/7. Hello pit-stop... for Country Fried Steak and Eggs, Mushroom and Swiss Burgers, hot sandwiches, and an extensive menu that might boggle your brain on a long road trip.
The diner, offering up a range of eats from breakfast to dessert, is located inside the Tucson Truck Terminal—aka Triple T Truck Stop—off exit 268, the Craycroft exit off I-10.
Highlights:
Keep up with Omar's Hi Way Chef on Facebook.
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A haven for those seeking Southern cuisine, The Parish features classics like frog legs, crawfish hushpuppies, and much more.
This unique restaurant often offers live music to pair with a diverse menu of Louisiana favorites for those who like to stay out late. If you want to try the likes of Baked Oysters Bleu, Bacon Popcorn, Hand Cut Fries and Hushpuppies (to name a few), catch their late-night menu (served from 10 p.m. - close Tuesday - Saturday).
Late-night drinks and eats are served from 10 p.m. to midnight from Friday - Saturday.
Local standouts:
Open: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. - midnight Tuesday - Saturday, and 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday.
Read our October 2019 article Southern hospitality meets creative food, bev & ambience at The Parish.
For more information, visit theparishtucson.com.
A hidden gem, Surly Wench's kitchen offers hand-formed burgers and more fried goodies than you can shake your drink at.
Highlights:
Kitchen open: 5 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. daily
For more information, visit surlywenchpub.com.
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This local sports bar and restaurant has four locations around town as well as their pizza concept, Trident Pizza Pub, which is open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
They have a variety of beers on tap, bottles, and a decent wine selection for those supporting game day or just stopping by for a bite to eat.
Highlights:
Kitchen open: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - midnight Friday - Saturday.
F0r more information, visit tridentgrill.com.
With a walk-up window for takeaway pizza, roll-up windows, a new seating arrangement, and a new kitchen layout, the Trident family are here to repel your late-night hunger pangs with ease.
Highlights:
Kitchen open: 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Sunday - Thursday, and 11 a.m. - midnight Friday - Saturday.
Read our February 2019 article Trident Pizza Pub Serves Hand-Tossed, Brick-Oven Pizza with a Tucson Twist.
F0r more information, visit tridentgrill.com/pizzapub.
Union Public House may be known for their popular Whiskey Wednesdays, but UPH's Pretzels with cheese sauce, NY Strip, and Pulled Pork Sliders provide the perfect accompaniment to a night of clinking glasses. Open until 2 a.m. daily, grab a drink or stay the whole night.
Standouts:
Open: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. Saturday - Sunday.
For more on Union Public House, please visit uniontucson.com.
Urban Pita welcomes those looking for a lunch-time or late-night bite. If the fast-casual environment, quick service, and street-facing windows for people watching won't lure you in, you'll have to try one of their popular plates—that'll do the trick!
Highlights:
Open: 11 a.m. – midnight Monday - Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Thursday - Friday, noon – 3 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. - midnight Sunday.
For more information, visit urbanpitaaz.com.
If you're out in the following areas, give these a try:
[This article was originally written on January 18, 2019, and most recently updated on February 21, 2020. Sarah Pelfini and Kate Severino contributed to this article]
