Congress Tap Room

Stopped for cocktails at this historic hotel. Dirty martini, passionfruit margarita and a honeysuckle daiquiri. Great mixologist!

The Hotel Congress is a wonderful historic hotel. The cafe offers a great breakfast and lunch. The two times I’ve been there I’ve been very pleased with our meals. They’re dog friendly too! We were able to bring our Gracie out on the patio. My first time visiting I had the honor of meeting Tiger. He’s been tending bar in the Tap Room since 1959! A must while in Tucson, a meal or a drink. My next time will be over night and take it all in. I’ve heard Dillinger Days is a hoot. Last placed he stayed before being arrested in Tucson.

The place is actually pretty dam cool. Drinks are great, and the atmosphere is chill. Music is on the spot. However, having been in the entertainment industry for decades, I must give the bartender an epic fail. We sat down and ordered our drinks, and they were on the spot. Three gentlemen came in, and we immediately noticed they were from our of town. We struck a conversation, and it was all laughs and good conversation from the start. They bought my girl and my I 2 rounds of drinks, and the bartender still charged our tab instead of the New Yorkers. The New Yorkers called them out on the discrepancy and told him he needed to fix it. They were matter of fact and not rude. They had that typical New York mannerism. It's in their tone. However, if you have any people skills, you'd understand they weren't being rude, aggressive, or offensive. Instead, the male bartender with the pony tail took great offense, cut them off, and refused to serve them any further. Despite the fact that they had just arrived and had just begun their evening. I didn't know these guys, but as a law enforcement officer, I am able to read people. These guys were not drunk or aggressive, yet the bartender got in his feels and asked them to leave and refused to serve them. I tried talking to the manager on this matter, but she backed his play and stated that the bartender didn't feel safe. Wow!!! Really!?!?!? Didn't feel safe!?!?!?! Pathetic. These guys were professional contractors just hanging out and happened to buy us a couple of rounds of drinks. It's sad that they were cut off and refused service. As a former bartender, you sir failed massively.

While you would certainly come to the Tap Room to order draft beer in the afternoon, do not be afraid to request a craft cocktail from their bartenders. In this case Noah fashioned a spectacular take on a Daiquiri which made my short list of best drinks I had on my most recent visit to Tucson.

Great spot love the outdoor patio. They need to update the hours! We drove from Phoenix and they don’t open until 2pm. Luckily Cup cafe was able to pour us some brews!

Super fun. Great staff. Food. Quality drinks and arts.

Great small very “old school” bar in the Hotel Congress hotel in downtown Tucson. We caught a pretty amazing happy hour special of two 16oz beers (Dillinger ipa’s) for $8. Sat what! They were great! Nice server as well! Jazz-fest was in town so that made it even better! VictorB

the Sonoran style sopes are good and free of obnoxious cheese. the key lime pie is a good rendition of classic key lime pie. outside seating would be better if there was a mister system to cool off the patio. but nice ambiance and good food!

Tucson is so fortunate to have a Jazz Club like the Century Room. We have been here for three different performances and each one has been so unique and a fantastic music experience! Last night has to be our favorite so far! The music performance by Danny Janklow and the elevation band, which is made of Tucson musicians, was incredible! They celebrated the music of John Coltrane. Danny is an exceptional saxophonist! Wow! I mean we continued talking about him at dinner and this morning during breakfast. He performed a new song at the end of his set playing a soprano saxophone that was so hip and full of life! I cannot wait for that to be recorded on his next album. His Fiance Katherine Ella Wood was the vocalist for a few songs and she was delightful. I will say the pianist Jon Eldridge II was fabulous! I am still thinking about how he played those keys on that piano! Incredible. Of course Arthur Vint on drums is always a special time to hear him join the band! Jeff Sandberg on bass is a very talented musician as well! The Century Room is a special vibe on its own. We love the interior with the long bar and intimate seating. The drinks are always wonderful. I especially love their mocktail called desert blossom spritz. So refreshing! We didn't ordering any boards to snack on this time. But they are always a good start to the evening. We look forward to our next jazz night visit! Truly a special place in our Old Pueblo!

Lovely, intimate location to listen to jazz bands performing. Great decor that fits the jazz theme and a bit of the art deco style. They have a great menu of drinks including alcoholic and NA options. They even serve snacks. The waitresses are friendly and helpful and check up on you often and refill your water as needed. Paying is easy to as they bring the machine right to your seat and they can split the checks too. Downside is the stage is small and not elevated so if you are not in the front it's hard to see the band. The acoustics are great though. It was a packed house each night I went. I am amazed at how many people they got in there. This is definitely a date spot!

I wish I had a place like this near where I live. What a find! We were here on a Wednesday to see Hot Club of Tucson perform and it was an incredible show. They performed so many great songs, many of which I was familiar with and many of which weren't typical jazz songs but were performed in such a creative jazz-inspired way. The space is really nice and the drinks are fantastic 10/10 for music, ambiance, and drinks :) My one complaint is the process for getting your tickets online shares very little information and isn't totally accurate. When we purchased our tickets it said if you upgraded to the preferred (closer) section, that if you didn't arrive on time people in the regular section could move up and take your seats. We weren't certain we would make it on time because of an earlier dinner reservation so didn't want to risk losing our seats and decided to just get seats in the regular section. That information about giving up your seats isn't true at all. We saw multiple tables of people arrive late and get seated in the preferred section which they had originally reserved. Also the preferred section gets table service while the rest of the tables need to order at the bar. I wish this was advertised as well. ALSO, the tickets were stated as being for two different shows, an earlier set and a later set sold as two separate ticket options. Because it was a weeknight and not a weekend, they didn't really follow this even though that's how the tickets were sold. The second set started WAY earlier than advertised and I saw someone show up very late because they had gotten a ticket for the 8:30pm show but the second set actually started around 7:50pm. The entire show ended at almost 9pm so this person basically missed over half the show they expected to see because it wasn't advertised accurately online. The Century Room is a 5 star jazz venue as far as I'm concerned, however the misinformation and confusion in what they advertise online regarding their shows is really unfortunate and should be resolved for the future. I would hate to be that guy who showed up for an 8:30 performance only to realize the show was almost over already.

The Century Room is many things: 1. The design of the room is stunning 2. The waitstaff, bar staff and door staff are friendly and professional 3. I was there on a Monday night to catch The Century Room Jazz Orchestra and the band was swingin' like crazy. What a night! Can't wait for my next trip to Tucson!

Went here Friday night with a group. One thing that stood out in the process of coming is the nuisance of trying to plan with a group. There's no way to link your tickets or state you're with a group unless one person pays for all the tickets, which obviously is seldom the case for various groups. You also have to download an app which is annoying on the day and age when everything and body has an app and phone storage is not unlimited! Anyways I digress, lol. Actually arriving to Century Room, I was an impressed. It's an intimate space with food and drink for order as well. The shape of the room is not my favorite but really all seats can see so it's not that big of a deal. Staff was friendly and professional, even when my small group attempted to move themselves lol. Not a fan of the lock tail menu but they were courteous in providing suggestions and altering theirs. I can't remember the name of the one I ordered but it was okay. I subbed the grapefruit soda for plain club soda which was admittedly my fault! The boards were a good size and allowed for grazing. I loved the barrio one, just wish it had meat in it, as well as more crackers or bread. With my table of 7, the server spontaneously brought more by, which was kind of her. I really appreciated that. The meat/cheese board was fantastic as well. Someone at our table also ordered the caprese board and seemed to like all of it but the pasta salad, which they felt was misplaced with the rest of the items. I agree with that. I also tasted it and was not a fan of it at all either. The show was great and went by Soo fast! I do wish it would have been broken up a bit, maybe with a couple breaks or an intermission, but the group was definitely talented and entertaining.

I came for the 10:30pm show last night after dinner and love the ambiance here. It reminds me of a jazz club in chicago or NYC (except for all the extra space). We had space between us and the tables around us. A waitress came around to take our orders. After speaking with some regulars they told us the 7 and 9pm shows are jazz bands who they bring in from all over and the 10:30pm show is the house band. It can be people who work at the bar or who are just dropping in to play for the night. Sometimes it might be someone famous who is in town. We really enjoyed the music and especially liked when they brought a female singer on stage to join in. Lots of people who went to the 9pm show stuck around for the 10:30pm show as well. The cocktails weren't that good though. I only liked 1/4 of them. The Morada Colada has tea in it. I'm glad I asked because it wasn't clear from the menu and I can't have caffeine.The Spanish Inquisition is complex. It was a tiny bit bitter at the end and no citrus flavor. It is spirit forward but not overpowering. It was good and I would order this again. Champion of the sun tasted like rotten pineapple juice to me. Francisco didn't think it was bad tho. The Ocelotl was not good. It was a bit bitter but overall I didn't like the taste. I would have liked the Copper Hall Collins if it wasn't so sweet. I hope they get some new drinks but if not, I'll just be drinking the Spanish Inquisition or champagne here in the future. The kitchen is closed by the time the 10:30pm show is on.

Came on Monday to see a big band show. a wonderful experience! cocktails are premium quality and unique. This place is a gem. Must visit if you're in the area. A++

This is a wonderful place to enjoy good music and delicious craft drinks , a little on the pricey side but worth it. The decoration is very art deco, with wonderful lighting throughout the bar. All shows here are wonderful and the host ,Paul is wonderfully cheery and attentive. Their menu has improved exponentially and they have great appetizers to choose from. We ordered the "Barrio Heartbreaker" board that included pickled butternut squash (delicious), artichoke hearts, barrio bread ( ), butter, brie cheese, jam, pesto and olive oil.

Cozy jazz lounge with a stellar mixologist. Creatively presented drinks to include the Shadow Caster II with soft flavored whisps of applewood smoke. There is a small bites menu as this is a lounge. Service was friendly and quick. Live music to lift your mood and to forget your worries. No cover charge- which is a gift of its own because the vibe and music is high end. Parking meters are free after 5pm downtown which is an extra plus.

I've visited twice and absolutely enjoyed the experience both times. Tasty cocktails, great atmosphere, attentive staff, and fantastic music. Not really more you can ask for when out enjoying live music. Absolutely recommended if you're a fan of live music, particularly jazz or blues.

My partner and I have lived in the area for several years and just made it in to The Century Room. What a fun find! Walking in transports you to a NYC jazz club -- dark wood, dark ceiling, a long bar, and cozy tables -- right here in Tucson. We attended on a TKMA (Tucson Kitchen Musician Association) songwriter night, but the Century Room opens at 6 p.m. every day. The menu offers small bites that actually are plenty big; our group had a Caprese Antipasto that served two and Barrio Heartbreaker that served two. We accompanied this tasty food and good music with a Tumbleweed (blanco tequila, pineapple, lime, chile ancho, hibiscus, & allspice) for my partner and a Copper Hall Collins (Irish gin, thyme, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit soda) for me. Yes, the cocktails may seem on the pricy side, but they are worth it; they do offer some wine and beer at much lower price points. Finally, on the night we were there, placards at the table directed us to the bar to place our order. A friendly staff member quickly brought both food and beverage. We will be back to visit this awesome gem! *As an aside, you can use the valet at Maynard's for this venue too.

Can I say this place is Groovy? Oh yes I can! I check the calendar of events on the regular. My musical spirit is liberated in this little speak easy. The bartenders are generous and talented with the more difficult concoctions. Cocktails, ambience, sexy corners and live music..... date night, we will be back.

Hot Jazz on a Cold Arizona Night You don't just catch anyone playing the extraordinary bass of Jaco Pastorius. Last night we caught the early show at The Century Room at Hotel Congress. What a terrific night for jazz fans. Bassist Patrick Morris ripped into the Pastorius repertoire. That master craftsman clearly had as much or more fun than all of us (and we were blown away) in that classy venue while he led a tight team of high-powered artists, including Chris Peña on Fender Rhodes, Alassane on piano and Casey Hadland on drums. Vocalist Aria Ratcliff was a special guest indeed, with a Joni Mitchell tune from the Mingus album on which Pastorius was featured. Kudos for astonishing dexterity all around. There was even a bonus from free-style rapper Roch Mirabeau. They left it all on that stage. Hungry for jazz on high-heat, we left deeply grateful and totally satiated. Pastorius would be proud at this celebration of his towering talent. Born in 1951, Pastorius began as a drummer and then switched to bass in high school. His groundbreaking solo work and collaboration with Weather Report and Joni Mitchell, along with his development of the fretless bass, elevated his stature as a legendary jazz artist. ~ Pepper Pro

This host guy who is continuously walking and obstructing the view for the entire audience not only super unaware of the very sweet moment the singer was making but also micro managing audience to when to sit down or not. He was hostile the whole night, he shows disrespect and disregards to women. I came here several times in the past years since Covid. This guy was so different when I came here with my husband (white man) previous times. This time I came with my girlfriend and he was super rude to us from the start. I feel discriminated for being a women of color for the way I was treated tonight.

The Century Room is a gem, showcasing both local and national jazz musicians. The table service is attentive, and management clearly knows and respects its regular patrons. There's an ease to the place, which has a well-appointed moody interior and seating that's capped around a hundred, making it an intimate listening room. The semiannual jazz festivals bring great community access and just another way the Century Room shines!

What a great place for jazz music in Tucson Arizona I'll see you all again on Wednesday night

Fantastic cocktail bar and jazz club. A great sport to check out when you are in Tucson.

The Century Room is a lovely venue for live music performances, poetry readings and other events celebrating the arts. The decor is beautiful and the attention to detail impressive. It's hard not to get lost in your surroundings, but definitely take a look around and soak it all up. If craft cocktails are your game, you're in lock. They have an extensive menu of cocktails, many of which were really unique. The wine and beer selection isn't great, but that's not their jam. Still, the menu is extensive enough that you're likely to find something appealing and the ambiance alone is worth a visit. Be aware, most of the cocktails take time to make, so be prepared to wait a beat, especially if it's busy.

The century room has a lot going for it, but unfortunately it is buried due to a number of issues that keep it from realizing it's potential. We showed on a Saturday night for a 10:30PM musical performance. Even though there was plenty of seating there was a wait due to their servers being backed up. Once we were were able to get in, we opted for a $10 per person cover for a "close to the stage table" while we were sat in the front of the house it was against the wall with an obstructed view of the stage, definitely not worth the cover. The menu is absurdly small and pretentious as well as overpriced. If you aren't looking for some over-engineered specialty cocktail this isn't your place. When it came to getting those drinks (which were awful) in the 90 minutes we spent in the century room one drink was all we were able to order because we only saw our waitress once. When it came to settling the tab that took another 20 minutes we had to walk up to the bar to finish so we could leave. The only thing saving the century room from being 1 star is the potential it has to be a REALLY great date spot. TL:DR - pretentious, over priced, with some of the worst service downtown, The Century Room can be so much better than it is. It is beautiful with great live entertainment and should easily be full, but has a lot of work to get there.

What a beautiful space! I tried the tumbleweed cocktail off of the new cocktail menu, and it was BEAUTIFUL and tasty. Definitely on the sweeter end, but I love sweet. I also tried the olives, and the portion was pretty significant for a "small bites" order of olives, and they were tasty. The live music was great, too-- an excellent date night option.

First time going to Century Room since they opened. We purchased the dinner and a show package, which gave us reservations for dinner at Cup Cafe, and reserved seating at the show close to the stage. The group that played was a jazz quartet, lead by saxophonist Will Anderson. They were great! Loved the atmosphere and appreciated the fact that they kept the room very "Tucson" and didn't make it too main stream and boring. My only gripe is I wish they had more options on their cocktail menu - not a huge fan of mezcal. I was hoping I could have ordered one of the drinks from the Cup Cafe cocktail menu. Great place. Will return!

Very classy and elegant. The service is great and there a nice selection of delicious drinks, and the performances had some raw energy. Definitely a wonderful experience!

Caught another performance here - an old school Mex jazz/bolero group. The ambience remains intimate/cozy with really no bad seats, which is good for their general admission tickets (typically around $20-25 +/- and easily purchased in advance). Drinks are on the high side with most cocktails around $16 but they are truly "craft" quality... and the menu is already different than just one year ago! Appetizers are similarly updated but remain limited and range from $6 for a bowl of mixed nuts or olives to $22 for a very decently sized charcuterie board (we should have ordered this In hindsight). The lone dessert (a flourless cake) apparently has been out for months. They should cross it off each menu, so bummed it was unavailable! I enjoyed the Tepache Mule ($13) and she had a classic margarita ($16 .. not on the menu but glad she asked, it was fantastic). Overall, really glad to see drink sizes improving to "normal." Parking on the street is impossible but the garage just one block east is basically $1/hour... a bargain designed to help bring folks downtown. Two bathrooms are gender neutral and the wash sinks (a large double vanity) are both located outside the restrooms, a brilliant efficiency.

Love! Love! Love! Decor, Drinks and live music. They opened in March and I'm upset that it took me this long to finally check this place out. We went on a Sunday night and it was fabulous! Live band, but they also opened the floor up to " Amateur" musicians and singers to perform if they wanted to join on stage. Staff was nice and attentive. I Loved the glass water bottles/pitchers they have. I do wish they had more/different food items on the menu. Only about 4 things (cheese board, Ceviche, olives and bread, shrimp cocktail and nuts) and I don't eat seafood so we only ordered drinks.

We spent the month of January attending various Jazz Concerts here. Small Venue. Great Service. Good Drinks. Didn't have any food. Multiple shows a night so they turn the room over in a hurry. You'll need to have post drinks elsewhere.

I loved this place. Music was great! Service was amazing, the drinks were so good! Definitely coming back soon!

Wonderful music, atmosphere and drinks. So nice to sit and enjoy some good jazz and a cocktail. Very relaxed room, mixed age crowd. Will totally go back for more.

Great concert but rude owner. He told me I couldn't sit with my legs crossed in a seat that I paid for after buying food and drinks. Who tells someone how they can sit?? Absolutely ruined my mood the rest of the night. I have certain issues when it comes to my legs, and having to sit in a seat for multiple hours without being able to readjust is extremely uncomfortable. Owner was also drunk and stumbling around a few times. I most certainly will not be returning.

Running from Bears was an epic show at The Century Room. Had a wonderful night with great drinks and fantastic music. So lucky to be there.

intimate cool jazz club. as good a vibe and music as any jazz club anywhere. World class musicians like Emmet Cohen, Bill Charlap, and Bull Frisell all play here

Bought all my friends tickets and had been waiting to go to the newest jazz club in Tucson. After paying full price, we were seated in the very back corner. Um, okay? The format isn't stage facing, and they serve food, so we thought it was food, drinks and jazz on the side. Not so. It's actually they expect you to pay attention like it's a virtuoso performance. I'm fine with that, but make the format that way. Face the tables forward, put that on the tickets and ensure everyone goes into the deal understanding that it's to be completely quiet while the performance is happening. Having frequented many jazz clubs in the past, I've never seen anything quite like this. There was a host who went around shushing tables. My friends from Chicago were so insulted they wanted to leave after the first song. As someone else mentioned, its rather pretentious. I'm fine with whatever vibe you wanna project, just make it clear on the website and ticketing.

The drinks were soooo good. The Promise of the Earth was the most unique drink I've had and highly recommend it.

Great addition to downtown Tucson and the Maynard's/Cup Cafe/Hotel Congress cartel. We had dinner over at Cup and then sat in for the Will Anderson-led jazz quartet playing Duke Ellington. Apparently the establishment is owned and/or operated by the Tucson-native drummer and UA music prof Arthur Vint. They did a great job with the remodel and decoration of the space. Our only suggestion for improvement would be a little more variety in the cocktail menu that is available during shows. Right now it's limited to four cocktails and the list is a bit one-dimensional - mezcal, smokey whiskey, and a mule. We tried two and they were both good, but if that's not your jam you're kinda out of luck. Something citrusy, a little sweet, not super spirit-forward(maybe with some mint?) might be a good addition. Either way, we'll likely be back!

Let's just start out by staying this establishment is so classy, so you better dress the part! not really, you can wear whatever, but this place is great! So professional especially the host, Paul! He was so gracious to seat our large group. This place has an amazing atmosphere! A great way to spend a Saturday night with friends, thanks Paul!!

Haven't heard jazz this good since Showman's Club on 125th Street in Harlem. It has become my favorite spot in town! The amount of talent flowing through its schedule is incredible, and most of the acts are local. Their host Paul is great at finding you a seat too, even when it's packed. He and the crew are also what I love about this place. No other club around like it!

Gotta be the coolest place in town in my 25 years here ( unless you're not interested in jazz) Beautiful quaint and hip decor/ vibe along with top notch jazz acts, great acoustics, and a friendly staff! Oh and let's not forget the cocktails! Can't wait to return!

We were on our way to check out some music inside Hotel Congress when we were drawn into The Century Room by the smooth jazz piano music wafting outside on the sidewalk. We were greeted at the door by Paul who was so warm and welcoming as he ushered us inside to take a look around as we said we were on our way elsewhere. Once inside, we were immediately transported to an earlier time fully expecting to see the Rat Pack sitting in a corner booth. The drink menu beckoned us to "just have 1 drink" and listen to the music for a short while. Four drinks and another band playing, we regretfully had to leave. We absolutely love this bar, this vibe and Paul is the best. We have since told our friends about The Century Room and we will be back.

Really nice room cozy good drinks Big City jazz scene meets the Old Pueblo.The Congress rules

Phenomenal experience at the Century room last night!.It's wonderful to have this addition to downtown- we don't have traditional weekend nights off so this Sunday night adventure was exactly what we've been looking for! We were welcomed in warmly by Paul- what a great host! He helped us get the skinny on all upcoming Jazz events. Our bartender made incredible drinks from the Century rooms specialty menu ( pics below of the drinks offered, sorry they are dark) - the Techape mule and The Sonoran Sazerac were perfectly balanced and delicious. The old fashioned and the sapphire and tonic martini were also served with the same excellent level of skill and care. The live music was.. the Jazz jam- different musicians from the university sat in. Wow! There was a lot of incredible talent on that stage! Such a wonderful experience - highly recommend this for a night out!

We were drawn into this jazz bar Mecca by the incredible vibe and the amazingly charismatic front of the house man Paul who makes everyone feel special. The ambiance just screams cool cat, the decor and barware are throwback speakeasy, like everything Hotel Congress a step back in time. The music is off the hook and the drinks are Real Craft cocktails, eclectic combinations that go down smooth. Bottom line when you bring a top guy like Paul together with fantastic toe tapping music and delicious craft cocktails you have a winner. Go now while you can still get in!

It's taken us over a year to get ourselves down to the Century Room, but we finally did, and had a great time. The music was excellent, the crowd was lively, the staff was friendly, the drinks were creative, and the boards were tasty and large -- two were an ample dinner for three adults. (My one quibble would be to suggest a bit more bread and crackers to accompany the meats, cheeses, fruits and spreads -- which they provided upon request.) It's not cheap, but when you factor in first-class, LIVE entertainment it was not excessive. Especially with the closing of Pastiche, we'll be back.

Such a fun vibe! Great selection of beverages and a wonderful place for live jazz! Must visit if you are staying downtown.

This was high on list of summer "must visit" spots. We finally made it in a few weeks back and we weren't disappointed. From some of the other reviews you can see that some of the kinks are still getting worked out, but I greatly appreciate what they owners are trying to do by bringing something they seem greatly passionate about to Tucson. The night we went we had a great experience - good cocktails, good service, and good jazz. We will be back.

Staff was rude and slow, tried to close an hour before their posted closing hours. Upon arrival (one hour before closing) was told it was already "last call". Upon leaving, was told to "hurry up" because they were closing early. We immediately got up and left. As we were hustling out of the bar before closing, staff heckled after me and told me not to return because due to my medical condition sciatica, I put my VERY CLEAN feet cross legged on their rustic 1970s booth furniture to relieve hip pressure.

So quiet and I am sometimes considered a baby boomer, so that says something. I enjoyed the jazz, but the crowd seemed so enthralled that no one dared chat, or even order a drink beyond a whisper. Even the nopalito ceviche we ordered seemed to crunch too loud at times. The band did overpower conversation, but just know the crowd here is dedicated to listening to the music and nothing else. Yes, you just might get 'shushed!'

Fun place with great music and atmosphere. Michael's service was amazing!! Will definitely visit again.

I want to reiterate, I certainly don't mind paying a cover on a popular night; but we were handing over the card to pay $5 per person and we were not given a choice to sit closer to the stage for $10, they just changed it to $10, acting like they were doing us a favor. If they had given us the option between the two that would be fine, but the attitudes of the staff felt off in my opinion. We also were a group of 6, so $60 vs. $30 just to enter a bar is a big difference, just to catch like the last hour of the jazz show.

This is a hidden gem of Tucson. Elegant yet casual and so intimate. Saw The Lowest Pair here in late June 22. Great drinks and fantastic acoustics. Top notch service.

We so enjoyed our time at the Century Room last month. The trad jazz band was phenomenal, the service was very nice. Definitely coming back soon!