A new year for gastronomy superstars in Tucson’s vibrant downtown
By Kasey Pooley
Got a hankering for some fresh local flavors? Craving a classy cocktail? Your next favorite spot for a night out is at your fingertips as the culinary community is dishing out some exciting new additions in downtown Tucson.
Out with the Old & In with the New
Heads up! One of your favorite desert dinings is taking on a new culinary concept in 2022.
HighWire
Sound familiar? Previously known as HighWire Lounge, the popular spot has shortened its name to simply “Highwire.”
Besides the name change, there are exciting things in store for HighWire! The 3,000-square-foot location across the patio has been transformed into a restaurant by day and expanded scene by night, with an additional 17,000 feet of kitchen and storage space added for catering and commissary. The new digs will include a high-end laser light show and swanky accent lighting to accentuate the personality of the historic Tucson building owned by the Gibson family. Still in the mood for more? HighWire will also be drumming up live music every Friday on their patio!
And that’s not all … stop by to be served delicious brunch and lunch items and enjoy live music on Saturday and Sunday while you dig in.
Yes, change is scary, but don’t worry — HighWire is still Tucson’s home of molecular mixology in the heart of downtown, dedicated to crafting new-aged and prohibition cocktails. And now with more space for the mixologists to express their creative freedom, the sky's the limit.
What else is on the horizon for HighWire? A facelift is in store as the building will be updated and The Drawing Studio will be transformed into a private event center — so stay tuned!
Delectable Debuts
The Delta
You may have heard about the “loud, punk rock cousin” that has moved into a prime location on 135 S 6th Ave in downtown Tucson. Get ready for a vibe that can only be described as “Rock star meets Southern Belle.”
The Delta may be a sister restaurant of The Parish, Tucson’s only Southern fusion gastropub, but don’t be fooled — it's definitely the rebel of the family. With its vibrant personality and flare, The Delta is packed full of culinary surprises like smoked oysters, Texas poutine, a whiskey bone marrow luge, Sonoran Elote, and so much more.
And don’t get us started on the drinks! Happy hour will never be the same with the mind-blowing cocktail menu. Channel your inner Hemingway with The Delta’s truly remarkable collection of Absinthe, served in a traditional tap fountain. Whether you're into fruity flavors, boozy bitters, or even flaming peacocks (no really, they have that), you’re sure to find a drink worthy of your tastebuds and your Instagram feed.
There’s no better way to enjoy all of the legendary food and drinks than under the kitchen sink of colors, patterns, interior design, and “see it to believe it” art. Local lovers and music fans will swoon over the installment of a wall packed full of vintage flyers from national and local bands.
The Delta rang in the new year right by opening its doors on January 1, 2022. So don’t walk, run to this show-stopping culinary masterpiece.
The Monica
When Tucson foodies are craving a traditional meal, they might hit up El Charro, one of the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurants owned and operated by the same family. Serving up award-winning, hand-crafted Sonoran recipes in three locations throughout Tucson, El Charro has been named "One of America's 21 Most Legendary Restaurants.”
This year, in celebration of the restaurant’s 100th anniversary, El Charro will be welcoming a new branch to the family tree: a restaurant fondly dubbed The Monica. Named after El Charro Café's founder, Monica Flin, The Monica will feature an open kitchen that boasts a creative combo of classic American and buffet-style dining, where the chef serves up whatever is in the pantry. Join them for lunch, dinner, and happy hour — opening soon in downtown Tucson.
Mouth watering already? Check out this article for all things Monica, and visit the restaurant’s website for more details.
Bata
If you are a Tucson foodie, chances are you’ve fallen head over heels with Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink. If that’s true for you, get ready, because there is something truly incredible on the horizon.
Bata: coming soon. A restaurant that will celebrate the culinary flare of the region. Take a bite out of a daily changing menu of dishes prepared over a live oak fire on a custom fabricated hearth. Bata boasts Arizona-milled grown grain, whole animal butchery, an extensive fermentation program, and a bar program that focuses on wines that are organic and biodynamic. The cocktail list will host spirits from across the globe, using seasonal ingredients and flavors.
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink announced the new culinary concept on January 13, 2022, by posting on their Facebook page. So far, no additional information has been made public about the expected opening date, but we know it will be worth the wait!
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