The District Tavern

This is the only bar in Tucson I absolutely refuse to go to. The owner is awful. AWFUL. It’s also worth noting that of the 4 reviews at the bottom that don’t count into the overall rating (for no immediately apparent reason), three of them are 1-​star reviews.

Everything about this dive is great! Jukebox, live music, NO TVs, cash only (come prepared). There IS parking most of the time in back (although I usually feel lucky with the parking). I love the owner and think she is great!

My favorite drinks and what I order every time is the special: $ 3 beer and whiskey shot. It’s a great deal! Always have to stop here before going to Club Congress. Chill place where you can play pool but it can be loud, as most bars are anyway.

Cheap drinks. Good tunes. Pool table. What more could you want?
The District is a quintessential dive bar. Cash only, it sends many a weary college student over to the ATM or out the door. That’s one of the reasonsI like it.
It’s got a quirky mix of locals that come around and some rather interesting music acts that occasionally play (I think the band from Australia who’s song literally consisted of screaming «Pot. pot, pot, pot» takes the cake), but it’s a good place to come, grab a cheap drink and shoot some pool with friends. There’s a jukebox if you have the urge to hear some good music after all the pop songs throughout the night, and I’ve never seen it so busy that I couldn’t find a place to sit. Dog friendly as well, I believe? I’ve seen many a pooch hanging out.
It’s a good, chill breath of air during some of the crazier nights on Congress.

Not your typical Congress bar, and I mean that in the best way. Always cheap drinks, an interesting juke box, and pool tables. There’s usually room to find a seat with friends, and sometimes they have concerts. The biggest downside to this place is its CASH ONLY; also you can only smoke on the back patio and you aren’t allowed to bring drinks out. It’s a great place to escape the downtown crowd without having to go far. Definitely recommend this place!

Cheap drinks, fun locals, more drinks, locals who like to buy you drinks… what’s not to like.
Good dive bar scene, good for chatting up randoms and watching the world go by.

Love the service. Good specials. Bar is usually clean and in order. James and Matt give good service. Love Noël too.

Four stars because cheap booze.
$ 3 gets you a shot and a beer – yeah, everyone talks about it, but that’s only because it’s awesome!
A few more bucks gets you some songs on their jukebox packed full of awesome songs («The Bitch is Back» by Elton John was Cassie’s fave) and a run at one of their billiard tables.
Sure, like Cassie, it seems a little rough, but once you get used to that, you’ll fall in love. And unlike Cassie, The District Tavern hasn’t blocked my number!

One nice bartender (good-​looking man with glasses) and everyone else is mean to me.
I would be full of compliments. I loved this place as 7 Black Cats; I wanted to love it again. I’ve been twice in two weeks and had mediocre to crap experiences.
To begin with a segue: I really respect that this place is doggie friendly. It just so happens that I went outside and noticed a puppy (tagged, collar, ok, fine) but it had recent sutures, and it was tied to a post that holds up the awning. It was crying, and some customers were worried about it. It was starting to drizzle. So, I went inside and asked around to see if anyone owned the dog. I was going to tell the owner that they could bring the dog inside, in case they didn’t know. Yes, I’m the type to get up in everyone’s business and worry about crying dogs, even if there’s nothing to worry about. I’m an animal lover FOR SURE; I’ll risk getting 86’ed for a baby critter. Eventually the owner of the dog came from the alley, took Goldy (yes, that’s how it was spelled), and left.
Mission deleted, I relaxed and went in and sat at the bar, and asked the female bartender with the curly-​ass mullet (owner, I think) if there was a vodka bar nearby named «Juxtapose.» I haven’t lived here in 10 years, and I thought I had read about it. She was a total snot, but at first I thought she was being sweet. It turned out to be vicious sucrosey sarcasm venom she was spitting at me. Not sure if she heard me right, I asked again in a different way. With utter attitude, she said, «are you asking if I know what ‘juxtapose’ means???» Barely maintaining my composure, I acknowledged that she was a smart, smart lady by noting that indeed, I had no doubt she knew what the word juxtapose means, but that I wondered if there was a nearby vodka bar by that name. (I should have quizzed her ass. Bet she doesn’t know what it means, off the top of her head.) I gestured westward, saying I thought it was at the nearby corner. She goes, «why don’t you toodle your little ass over there and find out?»
Ok, hahahahahaha. Cream of the crop retort, Lady. What does it come down to? This: I don’t mind paying cash. I tip big, make friends, and I’m a loyal customer. I Unilocal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Guess where District Tavern fits in? Juxtaposed distinctly against classy establishments, let’s say.

If after work downtown at 5pm you wanna chill, and not think about how broke you are, a shot of Old Crow and a bottle of Miller for $ 3 sounds good, this is your place!
It’s got all the cool «dive bar» vibe of any dive bar. It’s got none of the dive bar pain. The staff is amazingly friendly, fast, and attentive. The people are about what you expect in a dive bar, colorful, friendly, and not a lot more.
This is THE low dollar, fun place to be in downtown. There are places in downtown Tucson that are classier, funner, wilder… But there is no where cheaper or safer or more honest with a better staff than The District. This place has a certain heart and feel you won’t find anywhere else.

Here’s the deal. This is a dive bar in the truest sense. Cash only, the ATM is broken half the time, the furniture is old and well worn, pretty much the only thing you can get to drink is beer, beer and whiskey and Coke. The reason you go is for two things:
1. The best juke box selection in town. Stocked with the owners personal CDs, it’s great!
2. Watching the people of Tucson walk around Congress St. Between the bus stop across the way and the upscale establishments next door you see ALL walks of life. I’ve seen fist fights, arrests, and even a wondering Tuba player.
When you’re done get some awesome ice cream from The Hub next door and walk on.

Great bar. Dark and kind of seedy but not seedy enough to creep you out. There are insane specials such as $ 3 for a beer and a shot of whiskey. What?! I know, insane. There is cool artwork in the walls and the restrooms have cool colorful murals (the women’s room anyways). I mean you don’t come here for frou-​frou drinks and to «be seen.» You come here to just hang and chill and take this bar for what it is. Also, a great place for drinks before catching a show at the Rialto since it’s just down the street from it. The two times I’ve been here Violent Femmes have been playing from the jukebox. I half expect it to be the same the next time I’m there.

The District Tavern may look a little dark and scary from the front door, but take a step in and discover one of the most laid back, be yourself bar in Tucson. Make sure you bring cash since they dont accept credit. If you feel like meeting some new folks, sit at the bar and chat with the super friendly bartenders, or most likely you’ll end up sitting next to someone interesting. My favorite drink there is Session Black and occasionally I will order a whiskey, but this place just feels like a beer place to me. Wanna play a game… There are many many board games to choose from and chill at a booth to play, or there are 3 pool tables and 2 dart boards. There is no chance you will find yourself wallowing over a lonely beer when there are so many options to keep you busy! So next time you are wandering down Congress, wander into this bar and let your troubles fade away!

It is what it is…

District: No PBR Or Bud. That’s okay! Ask for the «F.K You» drink ($ 5). Ask for James the bartender and tell him I sent you. You can get a Miller Highlife and a shot for $ 3 here. Nice bar. Bring your I.D. because they will check. Play some pool, smoke on the outdoor patio.

Solid dive bar.
The District has good drink specials and a short but satisfying tap list; most drinks are cheaper than other nearby bars. Two dart boards and a pool table in the back always keep me entertained. And the great location in the middle of town makes it an ideal place to meet up or to spend all night.

Dog-​friendly Noël and her staff provide biscuits and bowls of water for barfly pooches, the jukebox is loaded for bear, the pool cues are decent, and the crowd is homeless/​hip chic. Sure, I wish the place were better insulated. I have never taken off my jacket here. I know, diagnosis: female, but I’d still like to peel off layers. I’d gladly suffer far greater physical discomfort to have my trusty hound dog by my side for happy hour. Bartenders could modulate the volume a bit — District-​goers are by and large NOT into enjoying their Violent Femmes at ear-​splitting club decibels. We’ve been driven out more than once because our ASL is rusty.

Solid dive bar with darts and pool. Some of the best people-​watching I’ve seen in Tucson. It’s dark, a little grimy, and you’ll see everyone from gorgeous hipsters to a guy who looks like he’s been sleeping on the street for weeks.
The bartender was friendly and somehow managed to keep everyone’s drinks flowing despite how crowded it was. The DJ was great too, his music was right up my alley!
I think the only reason this review is a little lower is because it’s not exactly my taste. If you’re a person who likes dive bars, this would probably be a 5 star spot for you.

A fan indeed! I do wish the layout was a bit different, I’ve bumped into many an angry pool sharks trying to work their game. Outside of that and the fact that summertime it’s occasionally a bit warm and stuffy, I dig it. The bartenders are responsive, the drinks are reasonably priced and the overall vibe is a bit more enjoyable than some of the seedier 4^th ave spots. It’s a pretty chill place. I’ll note that if you are a non-​smoker, you’ll want to stay clear from the front because when the weather is nice, the door is open, and a lot of that blows into the bar.
Know Before You Go: They have a few parking spots in the back in the same lot that HUB uses. Make sure you’re in a designated District Spot though, because the rest are reserved for HUB and I’d hate for you to have to write a review about your impound experience too.

The District is wonderful. Good beer selection, cheap drinks all the time, but especially during happy hour. The jukebox is reasonably priced and has a good mix of songs. And you can play pool if you feel like it.
This is definitely my go-​to Tucson bar. The location is prime, if you’re a concertgoer like myself, and you can enjoy a few drinks in a relaxed atmosphere before you leave for a show.