On Thursday, June 11, Tucson chef Daniel Scordato unveils Emerald 29, a hidden speakeasy tucked beneath The Treasury 1929 at 2 E. Congress St. The lounge opens from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday. Admission is 21 and older, with select events requiring a door cover.
Guests who spot a green light glowing from the Congress Street entrance have found it. On select nights, the doors go dark entirely. Scordato encourages guests to check social media before making the trip.
Painted floor to ceiling in deep emerald and lit for intimacy, the 80-seat lounge draws on nearly a century of history. Secret alcoves, cubbyholes, and sultry banquettes fill the space. At the center sits a restored vault that once held hundreds of original safe-deposit boxes.
The building has stood intact since 1929, and Scordato leaned into that legacy deliberately.
“Emerald 29 is what happens when a building has this much history and you decide to lean into it rather than paper over it,” he said. “We wanted a cocktail lounge that felt like a discovery and a place that rewards the people who find it.”
The room draws cinematic comparisons, evoking Bergman-Bogart’s Casablanca and the grit of the Sonoran Desert. Together, the design and history make Emerald 29 one of the more distinct additions to Tucson’s growing cocktail lounge scene.
The cocktail program places regional flavors front and center. Each drink draws on bold ingredients and a strong sense of place. The menu spans the Sonoran Desert, the Baja coast, and Latin tradition.
Nearly every cocktail on the menu also comes in a non-alcoholic version. Still, the zero-proof program stands on its own. The N.A. Groni uses Empress NA gin, Giffard aperitif, and NA sweet vermouth. The Learning to Fly brings Empress NA gin, blueberry syrup, and lemon. The Milano-Torino rounds out the lineup as a bittersweet aperitivo-style sipper.
The food menu matches the cocktail program in intention and care. Emerald 29 offers lighter grazing options alongside more substantial plates. All dishes are designed for an unhurried night.
Scordato’s culinary reputation in Tucson runs deep. He has led Vivace Restaurant since 1993, building one of the city’s most enduring fine-dining institutions. That same standard of execution carries into Emerald 29’s kitchen.
Emerald 29 launches with a full calendar of live performances. All shows begin at 8 p.m. with no cover unless noted.
Emerald 29 sits inside The Treasury 1929, a 16,000-square-foot historic venue spanning three floors of a restored 1929 bank building in downtown Tucson. The lounge opens to the public Thursday through Saturday. Private event bookings are also available.
Follow Emerald 29 on Instagram for updates on programming and door status. Visit thetreasury1929.com for full event details.
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