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Tucson’s Barrio Viejo is one of the ‘Best Places to Go in 2024’

Barrio Viejo in downtown Tucson (Photo by vhines200 on Flickr)

Tucson’s Barrio Viejo is one of the ‘Best Places to Go in 2024’

Nov 15, 20232 min read

Tucson neighborhood, Barrio Viejo, has been included in Condé Nast Traveler’s (CNT) “Best Places to Go in 2024.”

Through Visit Tucson’s efforts, Tucson has received tremendous recognition in the past year with inclusions in New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2023” and Time Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places 2023.“ The accolades keep on rollin’ in with the recent announcement of Tucson being one of only 12 destinations in North America and the Caribbean included on Condé Nast Traveler’s list.

“Our communications team has been working hard to put Tucson on the radar for this highly reputable publication,” said Felipe Garcia, Visit Tucson President and CEO. “Condé Nast Traveler helps motivate readers’ travel decisions and we are honored to have Tucson and Barrio Viejo recognized.”

EXO Roast Co./Crisol Bar (Photo by Anna Smirnova)

The downtown Tucson neighborhood is among the honorees selected by a global network of editors working in CNT’s seven territories: the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, India, the Middle East, and China. The list has been released each year for a decade and recognizes the best destinations in any given year.

The Barrio Viejo neighborhood is on track to receive designation as a historic landmark neighborhood, too, as home to the historic El Tiradito Wishing Shrine — the only Catholic Shrine in the U.S. dedicated to a sinner instead of a saint. It was this shrine that gave neighborhood residents the fuel needed to save Barrio Viejo from being absorbed into Tucson’s downtown area.

In recent years, the more than 170-year-old neighborhood has undergone a renaissance with the restoration of historic buildings like Teatro Carmen and the relocation and expansion of businesses like Etherton Gallery and EXO Roast Co. And, since we’re on the topic of local businesses, here’s a list of places to grab a bite or something to drink.

The Coronet (Photo by Jackie Tran)

Barrio Viejo Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Etc.

Check out the full Condé Nast Traveler’s article at cntraveler.com.

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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@Scentedleaf is opening a new location in the former Starbucks at Speedway and Country Club!!🥰

The locally owned tea shop celebrates its grand opening tomorrow, October 10, from 11 am to 9 pm, with 50% off all tea drinks and 25% off loose-leaf tea and merchandise.

📍3025 E. Speedway Blvd.@Scentedleaf is opening a new location in the former Starbucks at Speedway and Country Club!!🥰 The locally owned tea shop celebrates its grand opening tomorrow, October 10, from 11 am to 9 pm, with 50% off all tea drinks and 25% off loose-leaf tea and merchandise. 📍3025 E. Speedway Blvd.
The grand opening is TODAY, Oct. 8! 🎉

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“The first restaurant taught us what our customers love most, so at Cortaro we’re focusing the menu around our most popular dishes while making the experience a little more casual and convenient. Most importantly, we’ve learned that no matter how much we grow, the quality of our food has to stay high every single day.” — Kamran Esar

Daily hours: 11am - 9pm

Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.comThe grand opening is TODAY, Oct. 8! 🎉 @istanbultucson is expanding with a second location, @istanbulmediterraneanexpress, at 5660 W. Cortaro Farms Rd. The fast-casual spot will feature about 75% of the original location’s menu, plus two exclusive dishes: build-your-own Turkish stuffed baked potatoes, known as Kumpir, and fresh-ground doner made in-house. The falafel plate and stuffed potatoes can also be made vegan. “The first restaurant taught us what our customers love most, so at Cortaro we’re focusing the menu around our most popular dishes while making the experience a little more casual and convenient. Most importantly, we’ve learned that no matter how much we grow, the quality of our food has to stay high every single day.” — Kamran Esar Daily hours: 11am - 9pm Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com
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Starting Friday, Oct. 9, the Phoenix-based sourdough bakery and stone flour mill will take over the two former @Cafefrancaisaz locations for a Tucson pop-up.

Expect naturally leavened country loaves, chocolate croissants with 81 layers of laminated dough, morning buns, ciabatta and more. 🥐🍞

📍 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. 
📍 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. 

Both locations will be open 7 am-2 pm throughout October. If the pop-up is a success, Proof Bread says it could become a permanent Tucson operation. 

Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.comPhoenix bakery @Proofbread is popping up in Tucson! Starting Friday, Oct. 9, the Phoenix-based sourdough bakery and stone flour mill will take over the two former @Cafefrancaisaz locations for a Tucson pop-up. Expect naturally leavened country loaves, chocolate croissants with 81 layers of laminated dough, morning buns, ciabatta and more. 🥐🍞 📍 7831 E. Wrightstown Rd. 📍 3855 E. Broadway Blvd. Both locations will be open 7 am-2 pm throughout October. If the pop-up is a success, Proof Bread says it could become a permanent Tucson operation. Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com
Have you tried any of them?

@Crossroadskitchen 
Daily buffet 8am - 2pm
2602 S 4th Ave 

@Casamolinadelnorte 
Sunday buffet 10am - 3pm 
3001 N Campbell Ave

@Delcielotamal 
Vegan buffet 9am - 11:30am 
Thursdays and Saturdays 
Traditional buffet Sundays
3073 N Campbell Ave 

@Losme.zquites 
Sat-Sun 7am - 2pm 
2527 W Drexel Rd 

@Cafesantarosa520 
Sunday buffet 8am - 1pm 
2615 S 6th AveHave you tried any of them? @Crossroadskitchen Daily buffet 8am - 2pm 2602 S 4th Ave @Casamolinadelnorte Sunday buffet 10am - 3pm 3001 N Campbell Ave @Delcielotamal Vegan buffet 9am - 11:30am Thursdays and Saturdays Traditional buffet Sundays 3073 N Campbell Ave @Losme.zquites Sat-Sun 7am - 2pm 2527 W Drexel Rd @Cafesantarosa520 Sunday buffet 8am - 1pm 2615 S 6th Ave