One of the things that Jay and I love about the Midtown location of Casalola is its sheer convenience to just about everything in Tucson. (Seriously, you can get basically everywhere in under fifteen minutes.) Even more convenient, we have two very fantastic restaurants within walking distance of the bungalow!

Tito & Pep is the dreamy kind of bistro that is perhaps our platonic ideal of a neighborhood restaurant. The menu’s local, mesquite-grilled flavors feel fresh and alive and hearty and satisfying all at the same time. The ingredients change with the seasons, the wine list is solid and just the right amount of quirky, and the interiors will probably make you wonder why you don’t have more plants in your house. We love the crudo, steak skewers, and seasonal pozole, but honestly we love everything. Maybe most of all, we love the folks running the joint. We recommend getting reservations year round! The place is hopping pretty much every hour it’s open.

The first few times we passed by Locale Neighborhood Italian I always offered up an “oooohhhhh, cuuuuute”, because the vibe is just really charming. String lights and tons of patio space behind stucco walls, the kind of deal that makes you feel like you’re living the good life. It’s fun and easy and delicious. Locale is beloved for their dependable and yummy Italian, but I’m here to tell you, don’t sleep on the breakfast! Around the corner to the right from the restaurant’s main entrance is a fun little surprise of a whole breakfast restaurant space unto itself. There’s a delightful coffee bar, a jaw-dropping pastry case, and a small but mighty menu of breakfast entrees. As someone who likes to make sure I’m getting a bit of protein to balance out my pastry, I deeply appreciate this. The breakfast bakery is counter service, so you can roll through on your own schedule, but we’d recommend reservations for dinner, especially during Tucson’s busy winter season.

For both of these places, be sure to look at your preferred maps app for walking directions. This will ensure you walk on the quiet neighborhood streets instead of busy thoroughfares, and you’ll get the bonus of admiring some of the midcentury and Southwestern architecture that Midtown is known for.

Have fun!