Tucson’s newest hotel, The Graduate opened October 14 at Main Gate Square.
Set just across a narrow street from Main Gate Square’s Marriott, which includes 9 floors, The Graduate features 15 floors, one of which is the rooftop bar and restaurant. While the Graduate offers fewer rooms than the Marriott, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality with a fresh, casual, slightly modern Southwestern aesthetic.
While The Graduate brings and blends a mix of modern, upscale and casual, it’s the inclusion of top floor restaurant and bar, “The Moonstone” that’s sure to be the star for locals and visitors. In fact, if elevation is what you’re after, you’ll find no higher local space for eating and drinking.
With accordion glass doors that open the entire space into an essentially extended patio, Moonstone’s unrivaled views of the Catalinas and Rincon mountains are not just visible but on display from the high-window walled patio that makes up roughly 50 percent of the space. The patio also features multiple fire pits for lounging groups.
For hungry guests, there’s plenty to salivate over, however the menu is slightly limited.
The Southwest Meat & Cheese Plate ($18) offers dried chorizo, Serrano ham, Oaxacan and Chihuahua queso, and house pickles with grilled bread.
Tajin Spiced Shrimp Skewers ($18) is a colorful dish of shrimp, mango, and Tajin spices while the Graduate Smash Burger ($15) includes two smashed burger patties topped with American cheese, and secret sauce on a potato roll served with house chips. View the full Moonstone bar and food menu here.
The Graduate’s Moonstone also offers 10 house cocktail creations, some of which are a subtle play on existing cocktails, like the Paloma, made with Espolon blanco tequila, grapefruit, agave, and lime.
Cactus Water ($12), a twist on a vodka cranberry, includes the addition of basil and agave. The Moonstone’s signature drink, aptly named Moonstone ($15), features Espolon blanco, Cointreau, blue curacao, Luxardo, lime, and a mezcal rinse imparting a touch of smoke. Horray’s Hooch ($13) features gin, elderflower, honey and lemon chilled and served up. Keep in mind that The Moonstone offers a full bar, so if you’re not feeling any of the house creations, they’ll whip you up whatever you prefer. A limited yet well-rounded selection of beer and wine is also available.
While you’ll find plenty of delights to snack and sip on, for hotel guests, it’s just enough to satisfy yet still encourage exploring the area. You’ll just have to pull away from the view first.
The Graduate, located at 930 E 2nd St., is the newest member of a family of hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored towns around the U.S.A. Learn more about The Graduate at graduatehotels.com/tucson.
