Tohono Chul Tea RoomBirds, Blooms and Breakfast: Favorite Tucson Tea Room Serves Up Good Food, TooAbout Tohono Chul Tea RoomRelaxing at a table on the patio of the Tohono Chul Tea Room, watching hummingbirds zoom from bright red penstemons to vibrantly purple-flowered salvia, we couldn’t imagine a better spot to spend a sunny spring afternoon. But after one sip of the prickly pear lemonade, we knew we'd found our slice of desert heaven. For a great meal in a wonderful atmosphere, we think the Tea Room can’t be beat. The Tea Room is actually a full restaurant on the grounds of the privately owned, non-profit Tohono Chul Park. This 49-acre oasis not only preserves a slice of native Sonoran Desert but also has:
Located on Tucson’s busy Northwest side, you could spend a whole day here wandering the nature trails and garden paths. Although the park is in town, it's still home to many species of desert animals, including roadrunners, desert cottontail rabbits and cardinals. Although Tohono Chul Park offers so much to see and do, many locals come to Tohono Chul just for the food. Now, there's even more reason to visit the tearoom since famed chef Albert Hall and his wife, Lila Yamashiro, assumed management of the tearoom in July 2009. The pair are the team behind the award-winning Acacia at St. Philips restaurant, known for its gourmet fine dining. Their emphasis on sustainability, local ingredients and regional cuisine brings additional quality and flair to a venerable dining experience. Tohono Chul Tea Room CuisineTohono Chul Tea Room’s menus continue to offer a mix of café favorites and Southwestern fare.Chef Hall has introduced seasonal menus that take advantage of the Arizona produce and products. Lunch dishes still span the range of favorites, from soups and salads to sandwiches and entrées. Recent offerings included:
Tohono Chul Tea Room’s breakfast menu has a good selection of traditional and Southwestern specialties. Eggs Benedict, apricot and cream cheese-filled French toast and buttermilk pancakes with warm berry compote share the menu with huevos rancheros and a breakfast burrito. On Saturdays and Sundays, the menu switches to brunch after 11:00 a.m. There's offerings from both the regular breakfast and lunch menus such as the Tohono Chul omelet, sweet potato hash, caprese sandwich and the Indian flatbread taco. As their name suggests, Tohono Chul serves afternoon tea. The traditional assortment is a mix of finger sandwiches such as salmon mousse and egg salad, sweet pastries and scones with thick cream and jam. The Tea Room offers a small selection of black, green and flavored teas. In addition to the standard selection of drinks, Tohono Chul Tea Room serves a lemonade flavored with the luscious, deep red juice of the prickly pear cactus fruit. It's well worth a trip to Tucson just to have a glass! Atmosphere at Tohono Chul Tea RoomTurn off busy Oracle Road towards the park and you’ll leave the bustle of the city behind.
Don’t be surprised if you see a coyote or javelina cross the road in front of you. As you turn into the grounds, you’ll see the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains towering beyond the park. Native plants like desert marigold, giant saguaro and prickly pear cactus fill the borders and beds. You first enter the interior courtyard through a brick archway, an original feature designed to accommodate horse-drawn carriages. Wonderful aromas and the sounds of falling water and bird song fill the air. The atmosphere is definitely Southwestern at Tohono Chul Tea Room. In fact, the restaurant is in a lovely, old Spanish Colonial home of adobe brick walls and terracotta tile roof that dates back to the 1930s. Known as the West House, this building was the original residence on the property. The dining room is in a brick-walled room simply decorated with light wood tables and chairs, lovely landscape paintings and leafy, green house plants. In winter, the dining room’s brick fireplace provides a welcome warmth. But if the weather is nice, we recommend seating outside in either the courtyard or on the garden patio. The courtyard is a favorite seating area. Surrounded by high walls and filled with lush flowers, vines and trees, this cooling oasis is typical of Spanish hacienda design. At its center is a blue- and white-tiled, Spanish fountain that bubbles and trickles with the refreshing sounds of falling water. Behind the house is a cobblestone patio. This is next to the Hummingbird Garden.
It’s a great spot to have lunch and watch the tiny, jewel-like winged wonders zip from one brightly colored, nectar-filled flower to the next. Large, turquoise umbrellas shade all of the outdoor tables, protecting you from the sun on warm days. Recently, Tohono Chul opened the Wilson Room for additional indoor seating. Located on the north side of the West House, this room is also of brick and has viga ceilings. It’s not as picturesque as the original dining room as there are limited windows and no views of the garden. However, as Tohono Chul Tea Room can get very busy, it makes for a good overflow area. Our Meal at Tohono Chul Park Tea RoomWe’ve eaten many meals at Tohono Chul Tea Room.
It’s long been one of our favorite places to take new visitors to Tucson. The Tea Room’s lunches are great. All of the food is wonderfully fresh and flavorful. The sandwiches are always large and filling and served with your choice of lime jicama slaw, Yukon Gold potato salad or field greens salad with your choice of dressing or seasonal fruit. Some of our favorites include the chicken breast sandwich ($8.95), which has a succulent grilled filet on a Kaiser roll and is served with a creamy and tangy southwest sauce that’s just slightly spicy. The portobello mushroom sandwich ($7.95) was also delicious. It featured a large mushroom marinated in a flavorful herb vinaigrette, grilled and served on a French roll along with roasted red bell peppers, slices of red onion, tomato and lettuce. We've also stopped in for breakfast on a Sunday, which is one of their busiest times.
Their huevos rancheros ($7.95) is excellent. This dish was slightly different from other versions we’ve had of this Mexican classic. Tohono Chul Tea Room places scrambled eggs atop a bed of creamy, slightly smoky refried black beans. Both are drizzled with a deep red, ranchero sauce with just the right amount of spicy heat. The eggs and beans are topped with a scattering of lightly fried corn tortilla strips instead of the traditional presentation of sitting on a corn tortilla, making a nice change of pace and a lighter dish too. It was so yummy we were tempted to lick the plate clean. The fried egg sandwich ($7.95) was a definite step up from the kind served at fast food joints. A fried egg topped a thick slice of ham and slices of cheddar cheese placed between two slices of golden-toasted French bread. Served with a mix of freshly cut fruit, it was tasty and really hit the spot. We’ve always found the Tohono Chul Tea Room staff cheerful and friendly. They seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. Restaurant Fast Facts: Tohono Chul Tea RoomLasting Impressions: Great service, delicious food and a lovely setting make this one of Tucson’s best casual dining experiences.High Points: Beautiful garden and wildlife sanctuary setting; wonderfully fresh food; friendly, attentive service. Don’t miss the prickly pear lemonade! Low Points: They can be very busy for Sunday brunch, so be prepared for long waits. Location: Northwest Tucson, one block west of the intersection of Oracle and Ina Roads. Address: 7366 North Paseo del Norte, Tucson, AZ 85704 Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location. Phone: (520) 797-1222 Hours: Open daily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Breakfast: served daily from 8:00 am – 11:00 am. Lunch: served Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Brunch: served Saturday & Sunday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Afternoon Tea: served daily 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm. Note: Tohono Chul Tea Room is outside the fee area of the park and not subject to the admission charge. The La Fuente Gift Shop, the La Entrada Museum Shop and Greenhouse, which feature native and arid-adapted plants, unique garden gifts and home and garden décor, are also free of charge. Park Admission: Tohono Chul Park’s grounds are also open free of charge on New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, the park buildings are closed on these days. Reservations: Accepted for parties of 6 or more only Dress: Casual Vegetarian Options: Yes Good for Families/Kids: Yes, they have a children’s menu of hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mini pizza. Wine List: No alcoholic beverages served Smoking Policy: Non smoking only Parking: Plenty of free parking right outside restaurant Credit Cards: Accepted Prices: $ - $$ Pricing Key: This information was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the resort, golf course, restaurant or spa before making reservations and/or travel plans. Return to Tucson Arizona Vacation Destination page from Tohono Chul Tea Room page
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