We were rudely informed food stopped being served before 9 even though the menu says 10.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jodi-Anne Brzozowski
Went there after reading many great reviews and looking for a relaxed vibe for our first night in Tucson. We were very disappointed with the abrupt and unfriendly bartender. We felt we were a bother. The food was good though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Teppo Dama
It's a chill spot in a beautifully renovated old motel. Local artists have their work displayed for sale in the dining room, and the menu lists simple but elevated food alongside craft cocktail classics and specialties.The food is as good as it seems. Burgers are delicious. Black beans, too, and the fried potatoes are out of this world.The cocktail menu is exciting to read, but the bartender we had seemed more suited to a dive than this place. They didn't seem to grasp that whether a setting is served on ice or just chilled is part of the drink recipe, or that actually measuring parts, vs free pouring, makes a huge difference in the consistency and quality of the drink. Out of four cocktails, three were frankly terrible.So, if you're looking for a burger and a beer, hit this place up. It's worth it. If you're looking for good drinks, there's a few much better places within walking distance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Burger and Cottage Fries Takeout, The Burger, Poutine
Buck Fievre
We'd been wanting to try the Red Light Lounge at the Downtown Clifton for a while now, but having friends coming into town soon finally got us off our bums. Based on the pictures and positive reviews, this is just the kind of place they'd like to have a meal and a drink with us.Sadly, the lounge is pretty much all show and no go. The young woman working the front desk (really just a table and laptop in the lobby) wasn't evidently wildly enthusiastic to see us, but she at least politely told us where to find food and drink. And the young woman bartender was friendly and courteous, and she even intuited that we were going to share our entries and had them plated accordingly.But the food. My god, the food.The $18 Red Light Burger had a pretty decent brioche-like bun. But the meat was just one of those preformed patties that come in huge packages at Costco with a too-sweet BBQ sauce slathered on it. And the side of black beans we ordered was tiny, and seems to have just been spooned out of a can based on the temperature and taste.We also shared an Eighteen Visions Quesadilla for $12. It was supposed to contain several tasty sounding ingredients, but they must have been in miniscule proportion because all we really came away with was the taste of the store-bought flour tortilla and not very good salsa.Oh, and although we were the only people waiting for food, neither the burger nor the quesadilla were very warm when they arrived at our table.$50+ later, our recommendation would be to maybe order a drink, partake in some of the free popcorn, take your Instagram-able selfies . . . and move along briskly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Jon Humig
This hidden gem inside the Clifton hotel has a great lobby bar with a few food options. There is also a great patio for enjoying a fall afternoon or evening. They also host a number of local events with diverse offerings. Stop in and check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David H.
I hate to do this, but this place was not what i thought it was. motel restaurant, food was motel restaurant like and really it IS a lounge.Which is not to say it's their fault, it does say it's a lounge in a hotel... not sure why i expected anything different or why i didn't just leave. It's just kind of like watching the movie barfly, i just kept hoping it would surprise me.Sorry guys
Gia Evitah Hartman
Turned away for dinner at 9:29pm during restaurant week, closes at 10. Drove far. Never again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
appalachianrailtrail
I was in town for a solo trip to ride The Loop and wanted someplace that was both unique and affordable. I arrived after their front desk had closed for the night, so on my day of travel they texted me with the code to an outside dropbox containing my room key. Finding the dropbox at night was a little difficult; I had to walk around the property three times, in the dark, before I realized it was tucked into a little maintenance alcove. That was a little annoying with luggage. But eventually I found it and made my way to my room. I stayed in one of the original rooms, which have been lovingly maintained and redone. All the original charm is still there and the furniture, bedding, and decor is all modern. Outlet space was adequate, but do yourself a favor and bring a power tap. The screen door was a great way to bring in some fresh air and keep the place cool at night (though I would NOT sleep with the inner door open). The bathroom was original tile, immaculately clean, and very well maintained. I had ample hot water and water pressure -- definitely a must after a day of riding the nearby bike trails (The Loop trail is just a short and safe 1-mile ride away). The Red Light Lounge is an indoor / outdoor space that can get lively, but not obnoxious. In my vintage room I barely heard a sound, even on the weekend. The drinks were very good and the service was excellent! The food was, unfortunately, forgettable. The burger was okay, but nothing special. The nachos arrived cold with what seemed like institutional cheese sauce. Fortunately, there are a ton of great dining options within walking distance. Just two blocks south there's an Ethiopian restaurant and 5 Points Market, both of which are excellent and very worth the walk! Two blocks west is Exo Roast, which had some of the best cold brew I've ever had. Downtown and all its bars and restaurants is a short six block walk north. I felt very safe walking the adjacent streets by myself at all hours of the night. Parking was tricky. There were several times when the lot was full. I'm not sure there's anything the property can do about this, but be prepared to park on the street. I never had a problem parking close by. There were a few downsides that kept me from giving this 5 starts: WiFi was flaky and unreliable in my room. I tried using the TV a few times for background noise, and it mostly just gave an error. The heating / cooling system was fussy. The floor was perpetually dusty due to dirt from outside blowing in. I mentioned this to the front desk, and they profusely apologized and said it's a known issue with some of the vintage rooms. Finally, their booking engine is ... weird. If you try to book more than a month in advance, random dates (and sometimes several months in a row) pop up as unavailable. Despite these minor issues, this is a great option for clean, safe, budget travel with style.
Christine Borba
10/10! I am always skeptical of a hotel bar, but it was so awesome. You can access the bar from the courtyard or the lobby, it was super cute and had a fun vibe. The bartender was amazing, and the drinks were excellent. My husband went back the next day and ate dinner there, and said it was good as well. If I find myself in Tucson again, I will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
898bettyp
This place is a gem, especially for the amazing low price. I’d stay again, and recommend to most friends, with a caveat I’ll get to later. But first: It’s a 10-15 minute walk to downtown, and the residential neighborhoods closer to the hotel are fascinating to explore. The hotel itself has an older section, and a newer 2-story section where I stayed. I normally never stay in rooms that open to the outside, but with the wrap-around patio/courtyard arrangement, I had no concerns at all. The room and bathroom were huge, the vibe/decor was attractive—like mid century/retro, with a western flair. All the basics were there, including mini-fridge and microwave, and worked fine. If you’re looking for a spa, a workout room, pool boys (or a pool), this place may not suit you. For me, it was great—and again, incredible value and location. My caveat: the restaurant/bar hours were very, ummm, “fluid” from what’s posted. As a manager, I wouldn’t want to stay open when it’s slow, either. As a tourist, though, I’d like to know, when deciding whether to have a drink/snack elsewhere or wait till I’m back at the room. (And not a lot nearby). Shorter hours is totally understandable, but a little notice would be nice. Couple other things are more curiosity because they seem so easily fixable: there’s just 2 wall hooks to hang any clothes (no closet) yet a world of wall space. A couple more hooks, or a small rolling rack? would help. And, no shelf, stand or space next to the single lavatory. Again, plenty of room in the large bathroom (nice big shower), and a stand across the room—but not in reach of the lav. It’s a very small thing (no pun intended) until you’re brushing your teeth or doing make-up or blow-dry. No full-length mirror, either. But bottom line, I’d happily stay again, and tell friends to do the same.
I have lots of food intolerance and the bartender was so gracious and helpful, taking two trips to query the chef as to ingredients. As a result I had a great and safe fir me dinner (the quesadilla). An absolutely charming establishment.Dietary restrictions: Super helpful staff! I am severely sulfite intolerant and the bartender was very helpful and interested in learning about my particular weirdness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
G8777PPkimberlys
Our first time there and we’ll be back even if we don’t sleep over in Tucson often. Very unique atmosphere and super comfortable room and bed. Check in was the easiest I’ve ever seen and the bar is very quaint and cozy. Prices were great at the bar and the bartender was very personable and perfect for this little boutique sort of place. Looks like it must have been an old motor lodge of some sort back in the day, and refurbished in a way to keep some old and new charm with a budget price. Loved it…….
Nancy A.
Very good food and atmosphere!Red Light Burger!Roasted Poblano. We really enjoyed.
David K.
The Red Light Lounge (RLL) is part of the Downtown Clifton Motel. We stopped here to have one drink on date night. I really like this place as it is unique and has a chill vibe and I enjoyed the music the DJ was playing primarily 90s with the Notorious B.I.G. I had the Rodeo Sweetheart (Mexican rum, Tamarind, lemon, bitters, velvet falernum) and it was excellent. The outdoor patio is lively with a great atmosphere. I highly recommend the RLL for date night or just to try something different. We will be back for dinner next time.
Ed Schwitzky
This last visit to The Red Light Lounge at the Downtown Clifton Hotel confirms it: the Night Cap is now my most favorite hand-crafted cocktail! Although the Southern Moon was delightful, differently. As was the Sunset Cooler. Then the bartender promised Tucson's BEST burger. And she wasn't wrong!
We were rudely informed food stopped being served before 9 even though the menu says 10.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Went there after reading many great reviews and looking for a relaxed vibe for our first night in Tucson. We were very disappointed with the abrupt and unfriendly bartender. We felt we were a bother. The food was good though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
It's a chill spot in a beautifully renovated old motel. Local artists have their work displayed for sale in the dining room, and the menu lists simple but elevated food alongside craft cocktail classics and specialties.The food is as good as it seems. Burgers are delicious. Black beans, too, and the fried potatoes are out of this world.The cocktail menu is exciting to read, but the bartender we had seemed more suited to a dive than this place. They didn't seem to grasp that whether a setting is served on ice or just chilled is part of the drink recipe, or that actually measuring parts, vs free pouring, makes a huge difference in the consistency and quality of the drink. Out of four cocktails, three were frankly terrible.So, if you're looking for a burger and a beer, hit this place up. It's worth it. If you're looking for good drinks, there's a few much better places within walking distance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Burger and Cottage Fries Takeout, The Burger, Poutine
We'd been wanting to try the Red Light Lounge at the Downtown Clifton for a while now, but having friends coming into town soon finally got us off our bums. Based on the pictures and positive reviews, this is just the kind of place they'd like to have a meal and a drink with us.Sadly, the lounge is pretty much all show and no go. The young woman working the front desk (really just a table and laptop in the lobby) wasn't evidently wildly enthusiastic to see us, but she at least politely told us where to find food and drink. And the young woman bartender was friendly and courteous, and she even intuited that we were going to share our entries and had them plated accordingly.But the food. My god, the food.The $18 Red Light Burger had a pretty decent brioche-like bun. But the meat was just one of those preformed patties that come in huge packages at Costco with a too-sweet BBQ sauce slathered on it. And the side of black beans we ordered was tiny, and seems to have just been spooned out of a can based on the temperature and taste.We also shared an Eighteen Visions Quesadilla for $12. It was supposed to contain several tasty sounding ingredients, but they must have been in miniscule proportion because all we really came away with was the taste of the store-bought flour tortilla and not very good salsa.Oh, and although we were the only people waiting for food, neither the burger nor the quesadilla were very warm when they arrived at our table.$50+ later, our recommendation would be to maybe order a drink, partake in some of the free popcorn, take your Instagram-able selfies . . . and move along briskly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
This hidden gem inside the Clifton hotel has a great lobby bar with a few food options. There is also a great patio for enjoying a fall afternoon or evening. They also host a number of local events with diverse offerings. Stop in and check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I hate to do this, but this place was not what i thought it was. motel restaurant, food was motel restaurant like and really it IS a lounge.Which is not to say it's their fault, it does say it's a lounge in a hotel... not sure why i expected anything different or why i didn't just leave. It's just kind of like watching the movie barfly, i just kept hoping it would surprise me.Sorry guys
Turned away for dinner at 9:29pm during restaurant week, closes at 10. Drove far. Never again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I was in town for a solo trip to ride The Loop and wanted someplace that was both unique and affordable. I arrived after their front desk had closed for the night, so on my day of travel they texted me with the code to an outside dropbox containing my room key. Finding the dropbox at night was a little difficult; I had to walk around the property three times, in the dark, before I realized it was tucked into a little maintenance alcove. That was a little annoying with luggage. But eventually I found it and made my way to my room. I stayed in one of the original rooms, which have been lovingly maintained and redone. All the original charm is still there and the furniture, bedding, and decor is all modern. Outlet space was adequate, but do yourself a favor and bring a power tap. The screen door was a great way to bring in some fresh air and keep the place cool at night (though I would NOT sleep with the inner door open). The bathroom was original tile, immaculately clean, and very well maintained. I had ample hot water and water pressure -- definitely a must after a day of riding the nearby bike trails (The Loop trail is just a short and safe 1-mile ride away). The Red Light Lounge is an indoor / outdoor space that can get lively, but not obnoxious. In my vintage room I barely heard a sound, even on the weekend. The drinks were very good and the service was excellent! The food was, unfortunately, forgettable. The burger was okay, but nothing special. The nachos arrived cold with what seemed like institutional cheese sauce. Fortunately, there are a ton of great dining options within walking distance. Just two blocks south there's an Ethiopian restaurant and 5 Points Market, both of which are excellent and very worth the walk! Two blocks west is Exo Roast, which had some of the best cold brew I've ever had. Downtown and all its bars and restaurants is a short six block walk north. I felt very safe walking the adjacent streets by myself at all hours of the night. Parking was tricky. There were several times when the lot was full. I'm not sure there's anything the property can do about this, but be prepared to park on the street. I never had a problem parking close by. There were a few downsides that kept me from giving this 5 starts: WiFi was flaky and unreliable in my room. I tried using the TV a few times for background noise, and it mostly just gave an error. The heating / cooling system was fussy. The floor was perpetually dusty due to dirt from outside blowing in. I mentioned this to the front desk, and they profusely apologized and said it's a known issue with some of the vintage rooms. Finally, their booking engine is ... weird. If you try to book more than a month in advance, random dates (and sometimes several months in a row) pop up as unavailable. Despite these minor issues, this is a great option for clean, safe, budget travel with style.
10/10! I am always skeptical of a hotel bar, but it was so awesome. You can access the bar from the courtyard or the lobby, it was super cute and had a fun vibe. The bartender was amazing, and the drinks were excellent. My husband went back the next day and ate dinner there, and said it was good as well. If I find myself in Tucson again, I will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is a gem, especially for the amazing low price. I’d stay again, and recommend to most friends, with a caveat I’ll get to later. But first: It’s a 10-15 minute walk to downtown, and the residential neighborhoods closer to the hotel are fascinating to explore. The hotel itself has an older section, and a newer 2-story section where I stayed. I normally never stay in rooms that open to the outside, but with the wrap-around patio/courtyard arrangement, I had no concerns at all. The room and bathroom were huge, the vibe/decor was attractive—like mid century/retro, with a western flair. All the basics were there, including mini-fridge and microwave, and worked fine. If you’re looking for a spa, a workout room, pool boys (or a pool), this place may not suit you. For me, it was great—and again, incredible value and location. My caveat: the restaurant/bar hours were very, ummm, “fluid” from what’s posted. As a manager, I wouldn’t want to stay open when it’s slow, either. As a tourist, though, I’d like to know, when deciding whether to have a drink/snack elsewhere or wait till I’m back at the room. (And not a lot nearby). Shorter hours is totally understandable, but a little notice would be nice. Couple other things are more curiosity because they seem so easily fixable: there’s just 2 wall hooks to hang any clothes (no closet) yet a world of wall space. A couple more hooks, or a small rolling rack? would help. And, no shelf, stand or space next to the single lavatory. Again, plenty of room in the large bathroom (nice big shower), and a stand across the room—but not in reach of the lav. It’s a very small thing (no pun intended) until you’re brushing your teeth or doing make-up or blow-dry. No full-length mirror, either. But bottom line, I’d happily stay again, and tell friends to do the same.
Restaurantji Recommends
I have lots of food intolerance and the bartender was so gracious and helpful, taking two trips to query the chef as to ingredients. As a result I had a great and safe fir me dinner (the quesadilla). An absolutely charming establishment.Dietary restrictions: Super helpful staff! I am severely sulfite intolerant and the bartender was very helpful and interested in learning about my particular weirdness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our first time there and we’ll be back even if we don’t sleep over in Tucson often. Very unique atmosphere and super comfortable room and bed. Check in was the easiest I’ve ever seen and the bar is very quaint and cozy. Prices were great at the bar and the bartender was very personable and perfect for this little boutique sort of place. Looks like it must have been an old motor lodge of some sort back in the day, and refurbished in a way to keep some old and new charm with a budget price. Loved it…….
Very good food and atmosphere!Red Light Burger!Roasted Poblano. We really enjoyed.
The Red Light Lounge (RLL) is part of the Downtown Clifton Motel. We stopped here to have one drink on date night. I really like this place as it is unique and has a chill vibe and I enjoyed the music the DJ was playing primarily 90s with the Notorious B.I.G. I had the Rodeo Sweetheart (Mexican rum, Tamarind, lemon, bitters, velvet falernum) and it was excellent. The outdoor patio is lively with a great atmosphere. I highly recommend the RLL for date night or just to try something different. We will be back for dinner next time.
This last visit to The Red Light Lounge at the Downtown Clifton Hotel confirms it: the Night Cap is now my most favorite hand-crafted cocktail! Although the Southern Moon was delightful, differently. As was the Sunset Cooler. Then the bartender promised Tucson's BEST burger. And she wasn't wrong!