311 E Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Cup Cafe, located in the historic Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson, is one of the best breakfast spots in the city if you are seeking both great food and a nice historic ambiance. Breakfast is delicious, filling, and moderately priced.
Plan for a nice brunch experience before exploring any other nearby attractions like the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, Reid Park Zoo, or Saguaro National Park. I highly recommend the amazing Cast Iron Baked Eggs entree!
Cup Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant works with many local companies such as Pivot Produce, so the ingredients are both fresher and healthier. Weekend brunch really is the best time to visit as the atmosphere is a bit quieter, the food is at its' best, and the pricing is most affordable.
Plus, during the hot summer season, early morning is the only time you can bear to sit outside. At night, the restaurant seems to transform into a bit more of a drinking party atmosphere, while mornings are more laid-back and casual.
There are lots of goodies on the breakfast menu including Cast Iron Baked Eggs, Vegan Breakfast Tamale, Quiche, Huevos Rancheros, and Brioche French Toast. We settled on the Deposition and the basic 2 eggs plate, both of which were fabulous. The potatoes here are so good, definitely home cooked versus out of the freezer bag.
The Deposition is a great hefty choice for anyone who wants to fill up before exploring the desert. For just 10 bucks, you get 2 eggs any style, bacon, and 2 huge pancakes.
And if you are still hungry you can treat yourself to something sweet from their enticing pastry display.
They offer a delicious special blend of house coffee as well as a number of specialty Numi teas, a great tea brand which I frequently brew myself at home. And if you need a hangover cure, there is a special Bloody Mary Bar every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm.
Pricing at Cup Cafe is very affordable and the portions are pretty big. It's a great deal compared to many of the pricier restaurants downtown.
Update: On our second visit, we tested the delicious Cast Iron Egg dish. This filling dish includes two poached eggs, ham (we opted to skip the ham), leeks, shallots, gruyère cheese, cream, and fines herbes, served with breakfast potatoes and toast. It is easily one of the best breakfast entrees in Tucson!
The lunch menu is small but includes a nice diversity of options including numerous vegetarian selections. Highlight include: Country Fried Tofu Sandwich, Chicken Caprese sandwich, Fish and Chips, Shrimp Po' Boy, Salmon Farro salad, and Sonoran Cauliflower tacos. For a starter, definitely try out the Barrio Bread, served with house made herb butter, basil pesto, and chili infused oil. This is the best homemade bread anywhere. I pick up at least a loaf of bread each week (I am willing to wait in line, it is so magnificent).
Service was just okay, probably the only let down of the dining experience at Cup Cafe. The hostesses were not very friendly and highly disorganized. Our waiter was attentive, although not very friendly.
Update: on our second visit, the service was much better.
Cup Cafe offers a nice ambiance, whether you choose to sit indoors or out. The indoor dining area is casual and quaint. The outdoor patio is usually a bit of a wait, although worth it for the shady leafy setting. The quaint terrace is the perfect place to laze around on a weekend morning enjoying coffee or tea and great breakfast food.
Cup Cafe is one of the most charming breakfast spots in Tucson. Check it out on the way to any area attraction. The filling food and nice ambiance will definitely start your Tucson vacation off on the right foot. Be sure to enjoy the delicious Cast Iron Baked Eggs dish on the beautiful outdoor patio.
