The Shelter Cocktail Lounge

Wicked cool dive bar and a must do when in Tucson. Though busy the bartender was on it every second we were there. Great selection of cheap drinks and the happies happy hour we have seen in some time. Going back as soon as we are thirsty!

This place was open late on a weekday for my birthday. My drink was good. It’s a quirky atmosphere. I’m pretty sure I sat there for about five minutes staring at all of the decorations.

It’s been a long time since I’ve gone, but I love this bar. The décor is off the hook and I love the ever changing drink specials. The infused vodkas are soo good and I think her name is Jill (IDK for sure) but the bartener with the dreads and crazy unique style is my favorite. Her and Paris.

Something about this place is quite addictive.
It may not look like much, or even a bar, on the outside but it’s a nice quaint dive bar on the inside. It’s pretty small– a bar, couple booths and several tables. But it’s nice a cozy full of good music, disco ball, retro decorations. For somewhere I never really heard of, there’s a surpringly good number of people who are always at this bar on the weekends.
The bartenders are nice, the table and floors ARENT sticky and the people are just having a good time. You won’t find any twerking or too belligerent drunks here.
Drinks are a fair price. Lots of different drink specials for everyday of the week. My favorite so far has to be the Alien Secretion Martini :)

Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere is just awesome and the bartenders are super nice, attentive, and they even remember names. I love the movies they play on the tv; most are classics that date me, but they’ve also played Forrest Gump and Labyrinth. And of course, the drinks are amazing! I’m usually a beer drinker and love that they offer Kiltlifter, but my favorite mixed drinks so far are the honeybee sour and their version of the white Russian, which is delicious.
I love that I can sit here with friends and family of all ages and not have to shout over loud music (except perhaps on the weekends) and just enjoy a drink and a chat. Definitely a hidden gem of Tucson!

I kinda love this place. It is magnificently hipsterrific in the best way. Best martini bar in Tucson.

Totally wacky décor with great cocktails — definitely worth checking out.

Lets start with the positives. LOVE the whole atmosphere! The wallpaper, JFK and the Beatles, lava lamps it had it all. The bartender was super nice. Then I had the drink… cucumber martini should be lite and refreshing. This tasted sweet and thick. It came in a half size martini glass. The coffee was just ok.

Travel back to the heady days of the Cuban missile crisis in a bar that also doubles as a time capsule from 5 decades ago. The drinks are on point, the staff and patrons are friendly, and images of JFK smile down upon you from every perspective. It’s dark and the music is good; typically, I don’t like bars, but if I have to be in one, I prefer for it to be dark with good music. There’s a suit of armor in one corner, playing cards stuck to the ceiling, a wall covered in mirror tile. The whole situation is just funky as hell. I would give it 5 stars but there was a weird cleaning product smell I didn’t like when I came in.

Do not let the over whelming smell of urinal cake lead you from the quality this bar produces. Delicious infused vodkas and a throw back atmosphere of the 60’s makes this bar the best in Tucson. The people that frequent are from all different social groups making conversation interesting. Best dive bar in Tucson!

This place is a great little martini dive! It is away from the University, 4^th Ave and Downtown districts, which is needed sometimes. The cocktails are strong and the bartenders are likable. The place is held up by regulars ranging from young lawyers to old veterans. A good place to have a calm and impactful conversation with a stranger or enjoy a craft martini by an expert!

This is our favorite dive bar in Tucson. Yes, the drinks can be a bit pricey, but if you only go a couple times a month, it’s not too bad. And yes, it is dark, what do you expect, it is a classy dive bar. You want lights, go to a disco or rave club, plenty of light there. If you want a relaxing, friendly bar, this is it. Paris makes the second best Bloody Mary in Southern Arizona, next to mine. They are also known for their great martini drinks of all flavors, got to try at least one.
Christmas is coming and you don’t want to miss the traveling bus load of Santa Claus’ and their sexy elves rushing in for a dive bar crawl drink then rush out. Better than the flying Elvis’.
And to the guy whining about not letting his red-​neck brother in because he wasn’t wearing a real shirt, the Maverick is right up the road, and take your one star with you, we don’t need your kind around here.

«You gotta have tits or sleeves,» was what the doorman told us. Unfortunately my brother had neither, and we were denied entry. I’ve previously been to the Shelter dozens of times, and am quite shocked this dive bar would be so offended by a sleeveless shirt on a Tucson summer night.
I understand establishments may want to set a dress code, but this one is sexist, discriminatory, and most likely illegal. What is most offensive is the apparently standard phrasing in which they inform potential patrons. They might as well say «I want to look at boobs, not your man-​arms.» The doorman then went on to explain that «5-​star restaurants have dress codes too…»
Really, the Shelter is comparing itself to a 5-​star restaurant? Hint-you’re a dive bar, and 5-​star restaurants don’t have sexist and discriminatory dress codes.
Ladies, if you want to be ogled by creepy middle-​aged men, this is the place for you!

This place feels like it fell out of the Beatles era, however it is a fun place to grab a booth and a good drink. The martinis here are fabulous, the prices are excellent, and the dark, quiet, intimate atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a chill night with friends and good conversation.

The atmosphere is amazing, small, so get here early and slide up to the bar and watch a cheesy movie and make sure you order a bloody mary with their garlic and jalapeño vodka… or have a key lime pie cocktail… oh yesss… bathrooms are clean, upstairs is cosy so you can grab your significant other and have a quiet drink. I’ll go to this establishment again and again!

The lemon drop was amazing! The drinks are delicious, and as far as I can tell, service is one of the best. Friendly people — I would definitely go again.

First night in town meeting friends and it just so happen to be Martini Day at The Shelter.
Well, that was the original plan… Spirits were still on the menu, but there was a true array on this evening.
I read Isabella J’s highlight on White Russians and as I haven’t had one in some time (and I’m a fan of The Dude and his Caucasians) I made it happen. I imbibed this glorious beverage whilst Willy Wonka played in the background.
I was not disappointed in the least… It was oh-​so-​delicious.
I then moved on to a coffee inspired Martini, and it was also awesome. You know what else was awesome… The server and her suggestions. She was on it, and by that I mean on her game. I’ve come to expect no less from the Shelter and it’s staff.
But wait, the adventure continues. My buddy arrived and ordered the «Spicy Lemonade.»
I inquired, he looked at me silly, and then I saw them… Three different infused alcohols!!! And so I ordered one as well. I was impressed. Very impressed.
All in all. For my first night it was a great start to my small vacay in Tucson. Great friends, great drinks, and it was in a great bar.
I have to thank the staff at the Shelter for a great time. Keep it up, and don’t change.

A must-​go classic Tucson drinking establishment. Great vibe, lava lamps, Kennedy/​Beatles memorabilia and genuine talent behind the dimly lit bar.
They can turn their infused vodkas into a work of art (I hear). I’m a good vodka/​soda type of girl but even something as simple as that, seems to just taste oh-​so-​much better here (dangerously so).
And when I’m feeling risky, they make a dirty Chopin martini that makes me swoon (yes, swoon is an appropriate adjective for this place).
Come have some fun!

5 stars for serving amazing martinis and cheap Fireball that make me forget how to count to 5.
5 stars for magazines on a table by the restrooms so you have reading material, should you need it.
4 stars for the uncomfortable seating. The bar seats are ok; the booths are worn and saggy and become painful about two drinks in.
Rich’s recommendation: gin martinis, vodka martinis, specialty martinis, I’m sure they can even make a Fireball martini.

Groovy bar with a delicious drink «Adiós Motherf (fill in the blanks)» which is a glass of blue wonderfulness. Good prices, nice atmosphere. Totally a time warp out of the 60’s. And they love JFK here. There’s a smoking room with table shuffleboard and Centipede; and also there’s a pool table. The bar is the place to sit and chill with the cool bartenders.
Nice vibe, fun place to drink and get your retro groove on!