Sidecar

I like this place. I can’t tell if it is a foodies dive bar, a hipster dive bar or a neighborhood bar that is run by the guy who has the coolest parties. The drinks are a bit pricey here but if you watch the bartender you will quickly understand why. The number and quality of ingredients they use is mind blowing. The amount of man hours that went into that drink from farm to glass… you are getting a steal. If you want a cocktail of monumental epicness go there and order anything, try a lost and found. If you want a bud light… well go somewhere else.

We love heading down to Tucson once or twice a year and have really enjoyed the dining and craft cocktail scene this city has to offer. I found Sidecar through my research, so we decided to stop by during our recent visit. I enjoyed a glass of the Gruner Veltliner and was pleasantly surprised to see that it was included in their $ 5 happy hour special on glasses of wine. Nice atmosphere, knowledgeable bartender and great cocktail/​wine list.

Great bar very small and chill but the bartenders are good and know their craft awesome place to have a few drinks

The craftsmanship here has no competition. They exhibit an attention to detail that adds, to the experience of every drink. This is by far my favorite bar. I’d gladly pay twice and even 3 times as much for their drinks. They’re worth it.

I am a fan of Sidecar and we recently stopped in for their second birthday celebration. We were on our way to the baseball game so quickly had a cocktail before heading out. My favorite drink is their Kentucky which has bourbon, vermouth, grapefruit and other ingredients, it’s perfect! Out of all the cocktails we’ve tried here so far we have yet to be disappointed. This is a great spot to start off your night before heading downtown or anywhere else. Yes it can get very crowded as it is in a tiny building but they also have a tiny patio :)

I went for the first time tonight after getting a «push» email from Unilocal that this was a good whiskey bar. It is. And generally a good cocktail bar. Very nice ambiance. It is hidden away which is why I did not know I existed though I have driven by it twice a day for two years. I will come back now that I know where it is. The bartender tonight seemed like a pro and not just a guy behind the bar.

The mixologist Theo is a straight up genius behind the bar. He makes the best drinks in Tucson hands down.

Have I seriously never rated Sidecar? The reviews so far are hilarious. Look, Sidecar doesn’t need to change their prices, get table side service, or «try» to act any less «cool.» Sidecar is perfect just the way it is. Every cocktail is delicious. If you’re hungry, grab some pizza at Falora (it’s two doors down). Falora will walk it over to you. All of the bartenders are insanely nice and funny. The décor is very hip and down-​to-​earth. If you’re looking for a grimy bar that serves you Miller Lite, I would go somewhere else. The dress is pretty casual. All of the patrons seems cool and friendly. I love Sidecar. I think it’s one of Tucson’s best bars. I’ve traveled all over the country, and nothing is quite like the gems in Tucson’s mixology scene.

I love the drinks. I love the atmosphere. I love the bartenders.
Occasionally though…
There are identically zero people at your speakeasy who want to have a DJ play MGMT and Fatboy Slim on Friday night, and turn up the volume when you say something, making the speaking part of the speakeasy effectively impossible. Why would you guys do this? Don’t be Highwire Lounge…

Drinks were creative.
Never had egg whites in my drink.
Got my protein and potency of alcohol.
Good music for all too.

I really like what this place has to offer. The look of it is really cool. It has this modern feel and I feel like I’m in New York or some place industrial. Which I’m really into that taste and feel.
The bartender was really friendly and educated me on the wine tasting (which he did an amazing job in getting it done). Aside from the wine they make their own house bourbon which they add to their cocktails. There were some pretty neat style drinks they made, one had the fire added to help caramelize the sugar on top of the drink and another required special lemon spray mist. You can actually see how they put work into making these ingredients in the back without using pre-​made.
The atmosphere can be romantic with the dimming of the lights. I could see it being a great spot to bring a date to drink and socialize at. I will definitely return!

Love coming here! Cool little spot just far enough from downtown. Very chill atmosphere & quaint. Mixologist are great which is what you pay for as far as drinks. Interesting selection if you’re up for trying unusual combinations. Check this place out if douchey college kid bars aren’t your scene.

Sidecar has finally found its rhythm. In little craft cocktail speakeasies, the bartender makes or breaks the ambience, and the amiable Belizean mixologist at Sidecar combines the easygoing nature of the Caribbean with the meticulous attention to detail of a Brit. The frothy, fruity concoction he created for me, reimagining my go-​to Seabreeze staple, teetered on the brink of heaven, and the skewered sriracha pineapple and cranberries sent me over the edge. While my partner was a little disappointed with his traditional margarita, it was exactly what he had requested — bare bones, Mexican style. The ambience is romantic as the staff doesn’t turn up the thoughtful mix to earsplitting and conversation-​killing heights. No egotistical, Portlandia-​style mixologists are here, luckily, and the staff is out to please. Plus, Sidecar is a great place to eavesdrop on ribald Tinder dates or splurge on a loved one for a special occasion. Finally, a speakeasy worthy of the «easy» part.

Gave this place another try, huge mistake. Waited 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. When we got up to leave the bartender (middle aged, with beard) sarcastically and loudly said «Thanks for coming in» I replied «Thanks for the service», he then loudly said «Haven’t you been to a bar before?» Very rude and inappropriate for any establishment.

This place is the most amazing joint for hand crafted cocktails in Tucson. We enjoyed everything on the menu. Erick was an amazing bartender and make us complex, smooth, delicious drinks. Come here for the best cocktails you’ve ever had.
Here’s what I loved: surprising flavors I adored.
Here’s what I hated: can’t think of anything.

Sidecar is a great little, hidden place to get a drink if you are inthe neighborhood. The décor is very reminiscent of a metropolitan city. I get the NYC feel particularly. I’ve been here for happy hour on two different occasions and both times the place was pretty empty unfortunately, though I am not sure why because the drinks are great! I typically oder the Kentucky sidecar. It’s super refreshing and made just right. I wish there were a few more happy hour selections on the cocktails (it’s just on draft beer/​wine/​the 3 sidecars) because I would be more likely to try more of them. The prices are a little steep otherwise given the neighborhood that it’s in. Regardless, it’s still a cute, quiet place to get a good drink.

Oh my goodness, all the tiny blue bottles full of bitters and cordials and infusions and whatnot. Not to mention the stacks of fresh fruits and vegetables waiting to become garnish. This place is a visual and olfactory feast as well as a repository of incredible cocktails. (Bonus: they carry my favorite scotch plus a coffee stout on tap)
My favorite cocktails so far are the Oaxaca Sour and the Rye Hanky Panky. (omg cardamom rye.)
I can wait to try them all.

This place makes me laugh.
Very good bartenders. Career bartenders. Sometimes they need to lighten up and stop lying about the Miller Lite in their own fridges at home.
Definitely feels like the cool kid table in the high school cafeteria, where everyone is carefully posed just in case another cool kid walks by and glimpses them there.
Sarcasm aside, I was very impressed by my cocktail (off-​menu… I asked for something floral and green, with St. Germain in it, but not sweet or fruity – he made me something that was PERFECT for what I’d requested). One other person with me got a cocktail (Moscow Mule, I believe, and she was equally impressed) and the others drank beer. Cool beer. The kind of beer of which only hipsters have heard. Beer with coffee and a goatee and skinny jeans. You probably wouldn’t like the beer.
Again, this place just makes me laugh. Maybe if they weren’t playing jazz to be even cooler, I could take them and their Business IKEA furniture a little more seriously…
Really, though. The cocktails were very good.

I often stared across the side street from beloved Cashew Cow at Sidecar wondering what mysteries are inside. Finally, C and I decided to check it out. Joined by another friend, we met Nicky, The bartender. Something about a pony tail and an creative flair for making drinks made him the staple of the night. We tried 5 mixed drinks between the three of us. Everything from the Shandy to the Dark and Stormy, these classic drinks were explored in a very new way.
We ambiance was cool and the interior was great! Nicky made the night though. We will definitely be back!

They take great pride in their craftsmanship, as a truly great spot should.
Case in point: Garden Shears — a seasonal drink made with housemade strawberry simple syrup. My wife may have had the last two of the season as the bartender showed us the bottle and said it was the very last of it. The notes of basil did not overwhelm. It was a very thoughtful and tasty drink.
The Kentucky is one of their signature drinks and it’s easy to see why they sell so many of them. Manattanish with a touch of citrus notes; it really hits the spot.
The Negroni is your basic mixture of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, but the bartender says he puts his own special twist on it, which was lost on my plebeian palate. Nonetheless, it was well-​executed.
Lest I forget the nosh: They seem to switch up the rather limited menu but offer things like chevre and crackers, olives, nuts and, when they don’t run out, they have cookies from Sugar Sweet bakery across the street.
They have some beers on tap as well as wine, but if you don’t order a cocktail here, you are doing yourself a disservice.
One of the more unique spots in town. Most of these cool places are going in downtown. It’s nice to know we have a midtown spot to have a nice grown-​up cocktail.