Find the Best Things to Do in Midtown
By Patricia Escarcega
Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson Local Expert
About Midtown
Photo courtesy of City of Tucson
Midtown Tucson is hard to define - it loosely encompasses the wide middle swath of the city from Interstate 10 to Tanque Verde - but it's where the majority of Tucsonans eat, shop and play. Many of the city's top urban attractions are here, including local gems like the Tucson Botanical Gardens and Reid Park Zoo.
See & Do
Midtown Tucson is home to many of the city's most conveniently located attractions. The top attractions in central Tucson include the Tucson Botanical Gardens, a lovely collection of 16 residentially-scaled gardens. The garden are open 7 days a week, year round, with the exception of major holidays. Reid Park Zoo is a midtown institution with 17 acres of exhibits, including ostriches, jaguars and, yes, even polar bears. For a slightly off-the-beaten path attraction, head to the Mini-Time Machine Museum.
Eat
There are lots of great dining options around midtown Tucson, including one of the city's most beloved foodie hotspots, Feast. The menu is constantly changing and features fresh fare in a stylish bistro setting. If you're craving sushi, one of the best sushi places in Tucson is in midtown, Kazoku.
Party
Midtown Tucson is home to dozens of bars and lounges, including Sidecar, a stylish spot with a menu of Prohibition-style cocktails. Fans of sports and elevated bar food will enjoy Throwbacks, a neighborhood tavern that regularly hosts fight nights, poker nights and karaoke. For a night of Old West entertainment, catch a fun, raucous show at The Gaslight Theatre.
Stay
There are lots of good hotels in midtown Tucson, including the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites. The sprawling urban resort features an Arizona sports-themed lounge, kids play area and restaurant on-site. Another midtown hotel that's convenient to many Tucson attractions is the Doubletree by Hilton at Reid Park, which is walking distance to the shady urban oasis of Reid Park.
Shop
From large suburban shopping malls to strip malls bulging with one-of-a-kind boutiques, midtown Tucson has it all when it comes to shopping. Park Place Mall and the El Con Mall are the area's largest shopping destinations, where you can find plenty of big-box retailers. For a more intimate shopping experience, head to St. Philip's Plaza, an open-air center with high-end and locally-owned boutiques.