R Bar — Restaurant in Tucson

Wow, do you love Mescal and Tequila as much as I do? Probably not, but hey, every person to themselves. A good Shirley Temple is nice, too. Not....

My wife and I love to attend great music shows at The Rialto Theater immediately next door. For years and years there was no building next door until the 9 or 10 story apartment complex was constructed a few years back.Now an excellent group of businesses comprise the ground floor of this mega building and in the alley side, on that ground floor, directly opposite to The Rialto Theater, is a the one and only R Bar.

When I first discovered the R Bar my wife and I had gone to to a show at The Rialto that had a typical intermission about half way through the night's musical entertainment. We shunned the usual lobby bar and wandered outside. As we rounded the corner and took a breather, we spotted a new establishment tucked into the alley side of the megalith apartment building. We didn't have enough time during the musical show break to head over there, however after the show we walked right on in.

What a cool place. It could easily have been a trendy bar in Soho or upper Manhattan, yet here it was in an alley in Tucson. The creators of this cool place obviously know what works and where it will make a splash. An alley in downtown Tucson? Take me there, won't you.....and ask for Gabe. He is the man who knows from where the best...

I just had an excellent experience here! Told the bar tender I wanted a cocktail made with mezcal, but had no idea what I wanted beyond that. He made me the perfect cocktail (called a dirty word—like the name of the drink is "dirty word") Well done sir. ALSO the wall with iconic Tucson-related things is SO COOL and even includes KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY!! WHERE I WORK! I am so impressed! Everything is red in the bar, which was a little unsettling to my friend, but it didn't bother me too much. It's dark in there, so it's not like, glaring red (except maybe in the restrooms, where there's more light). My final not is that upstairs, they have these spinning stools, which seem like a bad idea, given people are drinking, but my friend and I had a great time with them, and didn't hurt ourselves. We had a great time at R Bar, and I hope to return...

I love getting the Moscow mules here. You aren't supposed to take the copper cup home that it is served in. But I do. I have 23 copper cups now.

UPDATE: Every now and again I like to update notable reviews as I know it well help the people. I have been continuing my copper cup collection which is thoroughly helping me decorate my old timey themed man cave. I never thought I'd be anywhere near owning 45 copper cups, but here I am. I strongly recommend...