The Shanty

401 E. 9th St., Tucson
520/623-2664

HOURS: Sun.–Wed. noon–1 a.m., Thurs.–Sat. noon–2 a.m.

The Shanty is an old railroad bar turned Irish pub turned college-kid hangout. It’s on the edge of the Iron Horse neighborhood (where the railroad workers used to live) just off 4th Avenue. It has a large patio lined with greenery and is usually crowded on the weekends with, as in most Tucson [1] bars, a mixture of the young and the not-so-young, all drinking together.

They’ve got between 80 and 100 different beers, with most of the exotic stuff in bottles; they certainly pour a good Guinness. Several pool tables get heavy use. There’s no food other than free bar-top popcorn.

Though it has moved once since it opened, the Shanty actually holds the oldest liquor license in Tucson.