Best Country Western Bars in Tucson

If you're looking for a sleek, modern bar and lounge in downtown Tucson, look no further than Playground. The hybrid bar and lounge manages to be both hip and inviting, marrying traditional southwestern hospitality with the stylishness of a modern bar and lounge. Keep moving on the dance floor, enjoy a cleverly-named cocktail at the bar, or enjoy a bit of people-watching on the patio. The bar hosts a popular Sunday brunch where you can enjoy a Bloody Mary made to order. If drinking and dancing make you hungry, check out the taste bud-pleasing food menu, featuring gourmet burgers, salads, and appetizers.

The Red Garter Bar & Grill in Tucson has everything you want in a great neighborhood bar: juicy burgers and ice cold beer. The bar has 15 cold beers on tap and a great selection of bottled brews. There is a full-service covered smoking patio with misters for the hot Tucson summers, and heaters for chilly winter days and nights. The atmosphere at this midtown bar is friendly and fun. There are eight pool tables, TVs to watch your favorite sporting events, and a fun country western vibe. Pool is free on Sundays, and the bar regularly hosts a poker night. If that's not enough incentive, the burgers here are regularly voted some of the best in town.

Occasionally you find a restroom with walls that are just begging to be written on, usually in a high school or a bar. The World Famous Golden Nugget is one of the latter. In this case, the scrawls of former and current patrons run the gamut from platitudes and words of wisdom to social and political commentary and warnings about which people not to date. At its heart, this is an amazingly friendly neighborhood hangout, with a bevy of loyal regulars. The crowd is comprised of an eclectic mix of ages and backgrounds, but you'll find that everyone is welcoming. Conversation, pool and shuffleboard are the main distractions, and classic rock and country is the music of choice.

The Cowpony Bar & Grill is one of Tucson's oldest country-western bars and one of the city's beloved dive bars. There's never a cover to enjoy a night at the Cowpony, and the neighborhood tavern is known for its friendly, knowledgeable bartenders, cheap drinks, and jukebox playing country western classics and hits. The bar has become a popular Saturday night dancing and drinking destination, with two DJs playing music, including the latest country hits. The Cowpony is also a place to enjoy some of Tucson's best local talent. The host regularly hosts live music. Check their Facebook page to see the latest events.

Country and Western music is king in some parts of Tucson, and this honky-tonk is a classic example of where locals meet up for conversation, drinks, and a few spins on the dance floor. The simple, country-style interior is always full of regulars in their best Western gear. Live music sometimes featured. Great drink specials and a friendly, laid-back vibe. This is a great destination if you've ever wanted to learn how to two-step like a Tucson cowboy. The dance floor is packed on the weekends, and the venue regularly hosts dance lessons. The kitchen opens at 5 pm daily, so it makes a good dinner spot too.

This popular steakhouse is located in Oracle, a small community located just north of Tucson. The restaurant and lounge is a favorite with locals and visitors looking for a friendly neighborhood place with a fun, country western ambiance. Enjoy a good steak and beer, including a lively happy hour from 4 to 7 pm every day. There is live music in the lounge every Friday and Saturday evening from 7 to 11 pm. Pool tournaments are held every Wednesday at 6:30 pm. On Wednesdays, enjoy two-for-one drinks all day. Looking for something a little different? Stop by on the second weekend of each month for authentic German entrees.

The number one rule for visiting Pinnacle Peak is "No Ties Allowed." Should you arrive sporting one, it will be promptly chopped off and added to the ever-growing collection hanging from the ceiling. Folks love the fun Old-West ambiance here, and they love the food just as much. Most order mesquite-grilled steaks (this is the home of the Cowboy Steak, after all), but seafood is well-prepared, too. Dinners come with salad, beans and bread, but you can also order sides of corn-on-the-cob and mashed potatoes. Polish off your meal with a bowl of warm apple or cherry cobbler dessert. Stop by the adjacent bar, the Silver Dollar Saloon, for your favorite beer or cocktail.

This Eastside restaurant and bar is tucked away on Old Spanish Trail, a scenic desert road that's a stone throw's away from Saguaro National Park. Saguaro Corners specializes in "Sonoran Fusion," which can be aptly described as the best of Mexican and Southwestern culinary traditions, offered up with a modern twist. One menu stand-out is the tamale pie. Imagine the mouth-watering carnitas fillings of a traditional tamale baked inside a corn pie and served with cool, luscious avocado crema and a side of chorizo mac and cheese. It's a Southwestern spin on comfort food that your taste buds won't soon forget. Saguaro Corners also offers a well-stocked bar with lots of local craft beers. You'll also find live music on the weekends.

This upbeat dance club offers a wide range of popular theme nights, with some of the best DJs in the area spinning nostalgic tracks or the best alternative music of today. Club Congress is also a popular live music venue for touring national acts. Mondays are 80s nights, Friday is live music, and Saturday night DJs spin music for Tucson's hippest crowds. Club Congress is located inside the historic Hotel Congress, which offers plenty of atmosphere for a night out in downtown Tucson. Club Congress has also been named one of the country's best rock clubs by numerous publications over the years.

It may have changed hands, and changed names, but Tucson's landmark neighborhood watering hole Boondock's lives on. Finding Nancy's Boondocks in Tucson is still not terribly hard: just be on the lookout for the oversize novelty bottle of wine in the parking lot. This long-time Tucson bar and grill is a favorite place for socializing, drinking, shooting some pool, singing karaoke and dancing the night away. The bar frequently features live music, making this a good spot if your goal is to dance the night away. On any given night, you might be treated to country western, blues and rock acts. The bar also serves some fine bar grub, including tacos, Philly cheese steak sandwiches and chicken wings.