Best Places to Eat and Drink Near the University of Arizona

Berry Greens Juice Bar features a bright and airy interior. Light wood and white walls create a clean, minimalist aesthetic. They are best known for their wide variety of healthy acai bowls and fresh juices.

The Classic Acai Berry Bowl combines organic acai, banana, and mixed berries with almond milk. The Pitaya Dragonfruit Bowl features dragonfruit, strawberry, mango, and banana blended with coconut water.

Caffe Luce on University Boulevard offers a cozy and artistic atmosphere. Local artwork adorns the walls, creating a welcoming community feel. Both indoor and outdoor seating options are available for guests.

Their coffee leans towards medium and darker roast. The Aztec Mocha is a favorite among regulars. Reviewers often recommend their fresh pastries, including a moist and chocolatey vegan banana bread.

China Pasta House offers a humble and unassuming interior with some of the most affordable food in Tucson. This restaurant is best known for its authentic Northern Chinese “pasta,” specifically dumplings and hand-pulled noodles.

While China Pasta House offers several varieties of dumplings, shrimp or leeks & pork are safe bets. Shrimp has a sweet, snappy bite, while the leeks & pork offer a simple oniony flavor with a touch of ginger.

The Pork Steamed Buns are not actually buns — they’re soup dumplings. Let them cool down just a bit, then pop the whole thing in your mouth for an explosion of gelatinous porky broth.

Espresso Art Cafe’s front room provides an environment for casual coffee drinking and hookah. Behind a pair of double doors, a dimly lit speakeasy bar displays first‑edition books, antique sculptures, and 1920s carpentry. Art‑covered walls, cozy nooks and an inclusive events calendar (e.g. jazz nights, karaoke, trivia, and drag shows) provide a community feel.

Frog & Firkin serves as an energetic space at Main Gate Square to watch sports games. The festive design includes darts, pool tables and open‑air deck seating. They offer pub‑style British fare and extensive collection of beer from around the world.

The experience here is best enjoyed socially, so share some pesto and brie Green Fries and some Garlic Knots.

Gentle Ben’s features an industrial vibe with an open layout that flows to a shaded rooftop deck with city views and casual patio seating. The venue buzzes with energy from local college crowds and live sports on big screens, transforming into a club vibe on busy nights.

The Lizzy Salad with chicken, bacon, gorgonzola and honey‑basil vinaigrette is the longtime local favorite. Pork also has its following with the house Carnitas Tacos and Pulled Pork Sandwich with beer‑battered fries.

The University Boulevard outpost of the family-owned shop billed as Tucson's only pita and poke spot, with everything made fresh daily without preservatives. The Reggie's Bowl, crunchy onions and spicy salmon over half rice and half greens, is a favorite order, and online ordering makes campus-area pickup quick.

Kababeque Indian Grill features high-top tables, and emerald green accents for a contemporary, casual feel. The quick-service setup helps offer Indian street food on the go, ranging from grilled kebabs and chicken tikka masala wraps to the paneer curry bowl and samosa chaat.

New York Pizza Department exhibits a casual, college‑town vibe inside a space within a residential neighborhood near the University of Arizona. Customers order at a counter before seating.

They offer New York–style pizza and jumbo slices large enough to fold in half. The Batman Bread features a combo of mozzarella, bacon, garlic, and jalapeño.

Hidden and tucked away upstairs at Main Gate Square, Oriental Express Restaurant has a no-frills casual interior.

They serve Chinese-American classics prepared quickly and in generous portions. Regulars also recommend the orange chicken, sesame chicken, beef and broccoli, and lo mein.

Red's Tacos & More runs as a family-owned operation with multiple Tucson locations, rooting its menu in authentic Sonoran recipes passed down through the family. The Sixth Street spot adds a full-service bar, pool tables, and a relaxed outdoor patio to the experience, giving it the feel of a neighborhood hangout as much as a taco counter. Inside, multiple TVs, a casual open layout, and late hours make it a natural draw for the nearby University of Arizona crowd.

Birria and carne asada serve as the most popular items on its Sonoran-influenced menu.

Scented Leaf Tea House on University Boulevard features a modern, botanical-inspired interior with lush greenery and hanging pendant lights. Wooden shelves showcase colorful tea products, while a textured mural wall and open seating create a welcoming environment. The space blends natural elements with industrial accents for a relaxed and creative vibe.

The tea house is known for its loose-leaf teas, teas on tap, and customizable drinks. Popular options include the lavender chai latte and iced green peach tea.

Many hearts were broken back in December 2022 when 4 Seasons Restaurant permanently closed at 1423 W. Miracle Mile. Now, with a fresh name and new location, 4 Seasons is back in action as Seasons Eats at 1710 E. Speedway Blvd.

Many of the fan favorites have landed back on the menu, much like the Top of Siam:  curry chicken and shrimp mixed with carrots, onions, pineapple, basil, and bell peppers.

Sunshine Wine offers a cozy adobe bungalow environment with soft lighting, inviting guests to linger. Outside, a lush patio with yellow umbrellas, herb gardens, and a firepit welcomes sunset sips and neighborhood hangs.

Inside or outside, enjoy curated wines, draft cocktails, and local-centric small plates. While the regularly updated menu changes seasonally, the roasted wheat ice cream remains a staple.

The Graduate Tucson, which opened back in October 2020, brings and blends a mix of modern, upscale, and casual to the University area. The rooftop restaurant and bar, The Moonstone, offers an unrivaled sweeping view of urban  Tucson.

Time Market offers a warm, rustic ambiance with exposed wood beams, polished floors, and ample natural light. The space combines a café, bakery, and grocery store, creating a bustling yet cozy environment. Known for its artisanal bread, wood-fired pizzas, and curated wine selection, Time Market has been a neighborhood staple since 1920.

For an elegant sandwich showing off their artisanal bread, try the Tonno Capero on a baguette with yellowfin tuna, marinated fennel, Gaeta olives, and preserved lemon. Pair it with their timeless Kale Salad, and if you have room, a slice of pizza.

Turkish Kebab House features a courtyard patio with umbrella‑shaded tables under trees and string lights. They also stay open until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Also, if Turkish Kebab House sounds familiar it’s because it used to be named Turkish Grill House, a restaurant that used to share the same building as Old Times Kafe. Try the Ali Nazik Kebab with roasted beef, eggplant, yogurt, butter, garlic, tomato, and jalapeño.

Zing Zing’s specializes in the fiery cuisine of Hunan — Sichuan and unAmericanized Cantonese cuisine are also available. While you can be adventurous on the menu with Cold Chicken Gizzards and Pickled Chitterlings, the combo plate is a deal difficult to pass up.

Go with the Fast Food Combo with One Meat and One Vegetable and choose from the Panda Express-like heat lamp trays. Instead of super-sugary Orange Chicken and generic vegetables, Zing Zing’s offers options such as braised pork belly and stir-fried eggplant and peppers.