After three years in Tucson for law school, these are my top spots.
Top Picks:
Savaya Coffee at the Flin (best Tucson coffee IMO)
Barista Del Bario (co-listed under food because their breakfast burritos are incredible)
Ren Coffeehouse (the bakery location specifically!)
Honorable Mentions: Presta @ the Mercado; Cafe Lucce; Cartel Roasting Co; Exo Roast Co; Raging Sage; Yellow Brick Coffee
Tea (my FAVE TUCSON SPOT): Scented Leaf (tons of flavors of iced tea on tap + vibey inside)
Top Mexican:
Tumerico (vegan, and it's the BEST)
Taquería Juanitos
Aqui Con El Nene (classic street tacos)
Rollies Mexican Patio
Seis (the Mercado San Agustin location specifically!)
Boca (get the chips and salsa)
Breakfast:
Barista del Barrio (their chorizo breakfast burritos + horchata cold brew are to die for)
Baja Cafe
Markets that also have good food:
5 Points Market & Restaurant
Time Market
Flora's Market Run
Other:
A little of everything: JoJo's; Cup Cafe @ Hotel Congress
Italian: Ceres
Top Picks:
Boxyard on 4th Ave (all outdoors)
Hop Shop
Borderlands Brewing Company (nice outdoor seating area, live music sometimes)
The Graduate (more fancy, has cool views of Tucson; don’t recommend the food here)
Honorable Mentions: Crooked Tooth Brewing; Pueblo Vida Brewing Company
For the young folk:
University Ave – Gentle Ben’s, No Anchovies, Illegal Pete’s, Frog & Firkin
4th Ave – The Hut
Downtown – Playground
TOP PICK: Seven Falls @ Sabino Canyon
Check the reviews on AllTrails to make sure it has water before you go
Be prepared for stream crossings - in April, we crossed about seven times but I was able to avoid getting my shoes wet for all seven!
There are three different ways to do this trail. The first way - Seven Falls via Bear Canyon Road - is free but the parking lot is small and it fills up EARLY on weekends. This way puts you at 7.0 miles round trip. The second way is to park at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area ($8) and start your hike from the parking lot. This way puts you at ~8.9 miles round trip. The third way is to take the Bear Canyon Tram from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area to the trail head. This costs $16 (round trip) but shaves 1 mile off the hike (so ~8 miles round trip).
Gates Pass for sunset
Sonoran Desert Museum
Mt Lemmon (hiking, views)
Sabino Canyon (hiking, paved trail, tram ride)
Tumanoc Hill (hiking; paved, steep hill but good view of Tucson from up above)