If you're looking for a laid-back, no judgement dive bar experience, The Buffet is where you need to be. A definite 5-star dive bar experience.
Fifth stop on my DDD Crew's list on our Dia de los Padres Muertos tour. A couple of my girls on our little tour had never been to The Buffet. What's that you say?!?! It's a goddamn Tucson institution and we were out to educate these foolish women. Â The decor, well maybe that's not the right word. Graffiti walls and bar signs adorn this gem of a place. The clientele ranges from old timers hanging out for hours at a time to college kids to bikers & thugs and working class stiffs. Obviously to a group of 6 women ranging in age from 25-55!!
The place is chill though so sit back and enjoy. I promise you'll get out alive. Probably. But don't quote me on that.
Ever been walking in to a bar at 6 a.m. with the rest of the night shift bar patrons (you'll get truckers, street sweepers, or Denny's waiters), when you trip over someone passed out from the evening crowd? Yeah, me neither, until the Buffet. My brother has been accosted here by some old dude claiming to be an ex-Marine, we have watched fights on the parking lot security camera, I have been offered weed, and I have sadly eaten the $1 hot dogs at midnight at the Buffet (newsflash, inflation!! They are now $2). It's a real $hithole, and that's why I love it. Take cash, and add your name to the wall but don't touch anything you don't have to. Plus, shuffleboard!
Review Source:Went here because I was told I HAD to try a michelada. Honestly - not a fan of clamato, lime juice, and beer. Not my thing. That said, this place is a perfectly acceptable dive bar. The atmosphere is fun, the drinks are cheap and the people seemed pretty cool, had some fun conversations.
Review Source:This is a 5 star dive bar ! Â All walks of life are welcome here as long as you don't act too much of a fool ! Â You have businessmen, bull dikes, college students, crackheads, hot chicks, some not so hot chicks, stoners, nerds, freaks, and geeks, all sitting down and enjoying a tasty beverage.
If they gave Michelin stars to dive bars, this bar would get the highest award !
This will always be my favorite bar ! Â Long Live the Buffet and all its loyal patrons !
This place is an amazing divey dive bar... I'm pretty sure the phrase was coined here. Â It opens at 6:00 am for your drink pleasure. Â Many of the best days of my life were kicked off at this bar. Â Yes, I'm a sauce monster. Â
The bartenders know what's up. Â They know how to pour them right and body slam people when they get outta line. Â Also, you can get a yard of beer and a shot for a penny on your 21st birthday. Â Cheers!
Dive bars are really not my thing. But I'll give them 4 stars anyway. I've heard about this place a lot over my years in Tucson but hadn't been in until recently when my friend wanted to play some Table Shuffle board.
The table shuffle board is in fact really fun, and it's totally free.
Both times I've been in I ended up drinking diet coke which I feel really lame doing but the bartender was totally nice when I did such a thing.
They only serve Coors, Coors lite and Blue Moon on tap and I am thoroughly entertained by the opportunity to say "Tap the Rockies" whenever my friends order a pitcher of it.
It doesn't actually feel super sketchy until you hit up the bathroom. Where there is no lock on the door, just a hole where it once was.
And finally, their website makes me laugh. It's pretty old school, but their description of themselves is funny. It's part of why they get 4 stars.
So if you're one 9th and don't want to spend a lot of money, and don't care that you can't lock the bathroom door it's probably worth a visit.
MUST READ REVIEW!!!!Dive dive dive what more to say definitely a place to get ur drink on. This is where u go for that initiation drink when someone turns  21. Two words -not sure what its called nowadays  Either the BUFFALO FART or GORILLA FART , BUFFALO SWEAT one of those once in a lifetime drinks u just gotta try! Â
Let me put it in perspective for u..... When we used to go to the lake, My best friends uncle wore this old boot around all day at the end of the day as we all sat around the campfire he would pass "The Boot" around an u could put "whatever" u wanted into said boot I.e. Jell-O shots beer, any alcohol , chewing tabbaco , Tabasco, anything except harmful stuff an body fluids. ( u getting the picture yet!) then he would take his foot swish it around an make "Everyone" take a big ole swig, an  HE held the boot an the back of ur head to make sure u got some. Let me be the first to tell u, you DO NOT want to be the last to drink otherwise u get all the stuff at the bottom!!! I learned the hard way!! Still makes me twitch to this day!
That pretty much sums up that drink an this experience of one of Tucson best old bars.
I don't find any joy in this place. It's not a bad place, I just don't think it's great. Most of the seating is around the U shaped bar, its crowded, bright, and they only take cash.The only part I do enjoy is that they have their own parking lot.
 I still joke with people that you get stabbed there. I once heard a story about a stabbing. Ironically the first time I went there the doorman was outside showing his friends a new knife he bought. My date and I looked at each other knowingly since I had told him I'd never been there since I didn't want to get stabbed. Â
Also they open at 6am, so it's popular with the two day benders or the early morning drunks.
<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebuffetbar.com%2F&s=b82f89ead390c57eb7e627e52c6b7e791f10979cdda5d12f7ee0588f83868529" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebuffetbar.…</a>
Diffident bartenders and some seriously scummy, skanky nasty-breath patrons. $3.50 wells. Trashier /and/ more expensive than Plush or the District Tavern.
Yes it's next to a laundromat - but so is Nancy's Fort Lowell Pub (next to the Ft. Lowell Coin-op). Go there if you want to drink in peace while your laundry's being done. Go to Plush or District if you want to be left alone by the day drinkers or maybe interact with various people who could be crackpots or physics students.
Go to the Buffet if you want to hang out with people whose world-view is hopelessly warped by the time they've spent in institutions.
The more I think about it the more depressing it seems: a shooting gallery for alcoholics visited daily by ogling tourists from upper (not-yet written off) classes.
Visiting the Buffet is like hanging out under a bridge.
I like this place, kinda dive-y and not necessarily the kind of bar that appeals to people because it has a unique aesthetic. This is a nice place to just get drinks, play pool and not expect that much effort for entertainment unless you bring your own.
There's a good selection on the Jukebox, and you can see all the people who came before you written on the walls. Friendly qualified bartenders, no gimmicks here, just a nice place to relax and drink.
OK. So I've read the reviews on here, the majority of which are from out of town folks who approach The Buff with a deer-in-the-headlights, freshman in college approach. Let's be fair: this bar is for adults. I've been going here for years and id like to actually write a review that accurately portrays what you can expect from this one of a kind establishment.
For starters, yes, the ambiance is unique. This isn't Applebees, and it sure isn't going to cater to any uppity California or New York local who is here to find a piece of home. This is Tucson, and this is a Tucson bar. Deal with it.
No, there is no actual buffet. Yes, the people here are friendly and welcoming. Don't be a dick. Do tip the bartenders. The juke box is amazing, and you should feed it money.
The draft beer is Coors. There is a rumor they have other beers on tap; drink the Coors. Pay in cash, don't forget your manners, and remeber this bar is older than your grandparents. Respect this bar, as it has done more good in this world than you ever will.
Upon telling my local Tucson'ian friend that I love dive bars while out on a bar crawl of downtown Tucson, he told me he knew a place that I would really dig. He brought me here, The Buffet.
Yep, I'm in love.
The Buffet is the oldest bar in Tucson and is located in the Iron Horse district. Entering the bar, it has all the tell-tale signs of being a dive...the visuals, with the walls covered in scribbled writing that have been collected over the years...the sound, of the chatter of the packed place of patrons who socialize with each other and most importantly, the smell...yes, the smell of piss. Apparently, the men's restroom is a sight to behold as it's beyond disgusting...a sight I decided to save my eyes from viewing as the smell told the story.
The vibe of this place reminds me of the more hip and trendy dives around Long Beach (where I live). In many respects, it reminded me of the Reno Room and O'Connell's due to the fact that you could see locals and old drunkards tipping back glasses with young college students who in this case attend the University of Arizona. They also do a "happy minute" which happens at 6 AM and 11 PM...whatever drink you have in front of you, another one can be bought for a dollar. I unfortunately missed 11 PM's happening.
They also serve what is known as a "Jumbo"...a tall 16 oz glass of Original Coors for 2 bucks! They now carry a few other beers on tap, but for the longest time, Coors was the only thing on tap.
The character of this place is amazing...so much history and so much to love about it...including the large buffalo head mascot that hangs on the wall (at the time of my visit was dressed up for St. Patty's Day).
This place will be on my "to visit" list every time I'm in Tucson...for sure...
This is by far the best dive bar ever. Â It definitely has a mixed crowd, with people from all walks of life. Â Drinks are super cheap, and the bartender makes them with skill and character. Â Be sure to bring cash, or otherwise, you'll be using the ATM near the entrance. Â Happy Minute is at 11 pm, where they match whatever drink you have in your hand for $1. Â The shuffleboard table is the highlight of the bar. Â There's usually quite a wait to even get on the table, and you might have to challenge someone to get in. Â Don't forget to pick up your ID if you left it at the bar to claim the shuffleboard table. Engrave your name on the infamous wall of the Buffet if you want to forever be a part of Tucson history, and grab a hot dog or pickled egg if you get hungry. Â Sooo many memorable drunken nights have been had here, and many more to come!
Review Source:When I heard this was Tucson's oldest bar and winner of Esquire's Best Bars in America and winner of Tucson's Best Dive Bar, I had to visit. I was greeted by a friendly neighborhood dog when I rolled up the parking area and noticed lots of people hanging about outside. Some were smoking in the special bench area complete with tin cans for your butts.
Once inside my eyes had to do a very quick adjustment. So very dark with walls loaded with graffiti and folks sitting around the horseshoe bar sipping their $2 16 oz. Blue Moons. One fellow was enjoying their famous hot dogs served on a coffee filter. It only set him back $2. They offer popcorn, pork rinds, and peanuts in you're not in the mood for a hot dog or polish sausage.
When you feel the need for entertainment, you can go to the pool table or shuffleboard and get in a couple games.
They open at 6 am and close at 2 am.
Cash only here, folks. And when you leave, you might just get a hug from one of the locals.
Let's be honest, this a dive bar. If you go expecting something more then you have come to the wrong spot. It's cramped, has a lingering smell I can't quite figure out and you never know what you will see here. One thing is true though, if you end up here then you've had a good night. It's always entertaining here and I often find that I meet new people while shoved up against the bar. They have a pool table and a shuffle board table,other than that it's like every other bar where you stand around and drink. The drinks are good and your bound to have a great time.
Try it at least once just to say you survived The Buffet.
Not only Tucson's best bar, but one of the best bars ever. Always has great bartenders and colorful, friendly characters at the bar. Don't be too quick to judge this place based on your initial impression...sit down and hang with the very old Tucson vibe. They always have great drink specials.
Enjoy this classic old-school establishment while you still can.
I know I'm going to take some heat for this, but.....eew.
I don't mind dive bars. Â And I'm not one of those clean freak people that is weird about germs. Â But this place is kinda gross. Â Everything is sticky. Â And you can't help touching stuff because it's a tiny place and it's usually packed. Â Thanks to the recent AZ law change, you can't smoke inside anymore...but you can still smell the nicotine. Â
The one good thing about this place is the ability to write on the walls. Â Being tall, I was able to place a pretty good tag high up on the wall last year...for my friend Angel's bachelorette party. Â I'm hoping the tag is still there. Â But I don't plan on going back to find out. Â
I guess you've got to go once for the experience...it is one of the oldest and most grizzled bars in Tucson. Â If you go, drink something strong....which won't be difficult. Â :)
LOVE THIS PLACE! Â Best bar in Tucson.
They encourage grafitti.
They have happy minute twice a day, where at I think it's 5 and 11pm whatever it is you are drinking, you get another free.
Drinks are dirt cheap! Â $5 capn n coke, almost 8 count pours.
Yes, this means at happy minute, you get almost 4 shots for 7 bucks, including dollar tips!!!
Shuffle board. Â Not sure exactly what it is or how to play it, but it is there.
Around the corner from a dozen more bars, perfect place to start off or end a night of bar hopping at happy minute!
Nicole. Â Nicole is the awesomest and sweetest bartender in the Southwest, and even with pricier drinks and none of the above coolness, it would still be worth it!
This Place is the best!
The drinks are over sized strong and just the way i like em!
although it is a smaller venue it has personality just like the people in it and the bartenders serving you. The shuffle board is so much fun! A few hot dogs after a few drinks and you will come to realize why it is called "The Buffet"
when you are on a dive bar crawl stop by this one its a must that is for sure!
The regulars introduce themselves to me every time I'm there, oblivious to the fact I've met them multiple times. They're that drunk but always friendly and not rowdy.
The bartenders all got spunk and they aint afraid to show it. Â But they're all sweethearts as well and they'll remember your order for happy minute without you needing to say a word.
The bouncers aren't so friendly but if you're a regular then they'll definitely warm up to you.
As a dive bar they get 5 stars, but I'm docking a star for the dive bar restroom. Â One big shared urinal, it's filthy, good luck finding hand soap.
They take great care of you on your birthday though. A shot of your choice and a huge beer. They didn't even hold it against me when I drunkenly stumbled and knocked down a glass.
I live in Seattle and have documented over 1,000 bars where I've had a drink (see Project K-Bar), but my two favorite dive bars in the country are in Tucson.  While I love the Meet Rack for it's gradually revealing layers of weirdness, it is the crowd and the  vibe that immediately make it plain that the Buffet Bar and Crock Pot is a great dive.
It has the most elemental features of a fine dive: it is old (est. 1934); it has a ramshackle decor with years of uninvited contributions from patrons; it has cheap and strong booze (with Coors the only beer on tap); and it was full of lively characters on a Sunday night. For Seattlelites, think of the Blue Moon, with a bit wider demographic and even more graffiti.
The Buffet is the oldest bar in Tucson, established shortly after prohibition, although The Shanty up the road a piece has the oldest liquor license (1937), as the Buffet's was suspended a few times over the years. And just as The Shanty is not a shanty at all, there's no buffet at The Buffet -- although there is a crockpot, which holds hotdogs. But it's a grand old place.
Color me fucking impressed. I have been to dives all over the country - love them, appreciate them and seek them out at home and on my travels - and this one takes the cake as the most authentic dive I have ever been to. Ever. Here's why:
First, at 75 years old, it's the oldest dive bar I've ever visited. That's decades and decades of spilled beer and whiskey and god knows what else. And the smell of that old booze hits you when you walk in the door.
Second, there's graffiti...covering every inch of every surface in this bar. Some of which (especially in the bathrooms) is hilarious.
Third, speaking of the bathrooms, there are wood doors leading to the women's sink and toilet area. Neither have knobs, just gaping holes, and they don't shut all the way because the dozens of coats of paint prevent it. Also, there's a condom machine above the toilet advertising "Health Care Convenience Center Treasure Chest." What?
Fourth, they sell memorabilia such as pint glasses and T-shirts...and also gym shorts with their logo and mascot on the bottom left leg -- which makes them look like your middle school P.E. uniform. I ...just ... gym shorts?...no words. Had I any cash on me, I would have purchased them on the spot. Also, I'm going to scan their mascot image from the coaster I took as a keepsake - it's allegedly a buffalo wearing sunglasses, but I'm positive it's Teen Wolf.
Fifth. Speaking of cash, they only accept this antiquated form of payment, as any decent dive bar should.
Sixth, the full name is "Buffet Bar & Crock Pot." Yes, crock pot, which sits on the bar stewing hot dogs, or on special occasions, chili.
Seventh, they have shuffleboard. Of course they have shuffleboard, it's a fucking dive bar.
Eighth, no windows. Literally. Most dives cover or block the soul-crushing light of day. At Buffet Bar, there are no windows to speak of.
Yes, I must mention it has its college co-ed and hipster following, like many other dives. But at noon on a Sunday it was all regulars, none younger than 60 and all silently drinking their pitchers and watching the Cardinals game.
Other notes: I love that another reviewer pointed out that the dress code for this place includes the rule that your shirt must have sleeves if you are a male patron; the jukebox played a rare Marley jam about a zombie (Mr. Brown)
This place hasn't changed (nor cleaned for that matter) since "The Banquet Beer"- that is Coor's for all you folks that don't know classic American cinema out there <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWvHTeNThAo0&s=2c836c3990f564ed36df37187b10bc1925b6ec6ac6de8732c318b4f55205156a" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a> - was actually popular.
Speaking of Coor's, this place has it on tap!
My buddy who took us there as a part of the "Things That Must Be Experienced, and the Places That Must Be Seen in Tucson, AZ" tour told us of some foul stories that have taken place here.
Basically, this is a dive bar, but one that is overrun by college students and so therefore there is an odd mixture of the typical degenerate drunks you would find in normal dive bars, college coeds looking for "atmosphere," and then those that are like us- tourists who come and view this place and its patrons almost like animals at the zoo. Â And much like most other dive bars, the place can be called dirty. Â Except dirty is not quite accurate enough. Â Dirty is an understatement. Â Filthy is more like it. Â I had the feeling I was that kid that jumped out of the outhouse in "Slum Dog Millionaire" when I walked in.
I have to say I don't like it when the dive bar becomes too popular. Â It made me feel like I was out clubbing behind a White Castle tucked between the dumpster and a tweaker who is passed out a couple feet away.
I can see why this place had enough charm to attract people here in the first place, but it has officially graduated from Dive to Dilapidated.
I really wish this place had some complimentary tetanus shots for us to take as chasers to our Coor's.
Parents who don't want their kids drinking should bring their kids here. Â For reals!
Second star is simply because this place does what it says it will do- be divey 'til the end.
The Buffet has a dress code. Â Seriously. Â Males must wear shirts with sleeves. Â I find sleeves oppressive in the Tucson summer.
Aside from that, it's one of the better bars in the downtown area if drinking is your plan. Â I ordered a shot of makers mark, was charged $3 and served a sizeable glass full of the stuff.
Still, I find the dress code hampers my ability to enjoy the place, so I usually don't. Â Home is a long way to walk for a new shirt.
The Buff... where you can get a pitcher and panhandled at the same time. Â This classic dive is a staple option for a night out in Tucson.
My crew and I started here early generally. Â Great for cheap pitchers of Coors. Â They also have a shuffleboard table, something that is a bit of rarity in bars these days. Â
Go there on your birthday and they'll give you a yard of beer and a shot for free! Â
One of the all time great dives I've ever been to !
I love being scared in broad daylight!
Bitchin' mural outside!
Perfect place to pound a couple while doing laundry at the Empire next door. Â If there were a suds n' duds laundry bar in this town I'd never go here tho.....
Reasonably priced drinks, Megan, and shufflepuck. Â YES. Â See below. Â Positive reviewers know what's up....how a player can just keep in touch.
"What do you have on tap?"
"COORS."
Open at 6 a.m. Â The Buff! Â For me, it's somehow only tolerable if I'm near blackout drunk (I've only blacked out twice in my life, The Buff factored heavily into both experiences) -- the kind of inebriated where scrawling on someone else's walls with a permanent marker makes sense (I did this at the behest of a faded stranger who offered me a red Sharpie and the employees definitely didn't mind).
I'm always lured here by friends but it's generally too crowded for my tastes, only takes cash and I can barely hear conversations there. Â Happy Minute at 11 p.m. is worth a quick stop -- they have a daytime Happy Minute but its hour escapes me.
This is a good place to go if you're a total shaking alcoholic who needs a morning drink or you're rolling deep with a breakadawn pack of partylushes who haven't been to bed yet. Â Le Buff definitely feels like it lowers the safety level of my neighborhood, but safety in general is probably an illusion, anyway.
Urban legend or truth: I hear the beer in the hot dog crockpot hasn't been changed in over a decade. Â Neat.
Two words: BUFFALO SWEAT.
If you've ever been to the Buffet at the crack of dawn or for a 21st birthday...you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!
This Tucson staple contains many memories for me...it's a little whole in the wall, local dive...picture all sorts of drunk peeps, all ages, and at all hours. Â ALL hours.
If you hit up the Buffet...you won' t be sober when you leave...so be prepared!
This was the first bar I went to as a 21 year old, and the place I learned of the concept 'bar time'....
As it approached midnight on April 18th, 1990, Â we made our move. We got to the Buffet at 11:45 and headed for the door. I hesitated, since I was still under 21(for the next :15) but my friends said that their clock would read 12:00. Sure enough, I was allowed entry into this great dive and served my first legal bar drink...ahhhh, the fond memories. The amount of alcohol I consumed during that 1 hour before 1am closing was heroic and was barely coherent to actually celebrate on my actual birthday. I will always have a fondness in my heart for this dive, where I ended up closing way too many times during those next 3 years in Tucson.
(Note that the number of stars should really be a sliding scale based upon your tolerance for drunks and generally unsanitary conditions with 1 being no tolerance and 5 being you're homeless)
The Buffet is Tucson's oldest continously running bar. Â It shows its age, but that is also part of the appeal. Â As others have stated, it *is* a gathering point for belligerent drunks. Â However, it's a Tucson experience that cannot be missed.
Don't miss happy minute which I think is @ 11pm precisely. Â At that point, you can get another of whatever you have in front of you for $1.
I would never have expected to be giving a five star review of a dive bar anywhere in the world... but a couple of weeks ago I found myself under the peaceful night sky of the desert and found this interesting oasis.
I stopped in for one (which isn't the typical m.o. of the average patron) with a friend who just had to show me the place, and I'm glad he did. Â Â
The crowd looked very regular, and it was extremely diverse in age. Â The patrons were 21-85 years old, and though some of them seemed a little weathered, the alcohol makes everyone friendly.
Our bartender was incredibly nice, she asked if I wanted well vodka or if I wanted the $2 premixed cranberry vodka and cranberry. Â I said what the hell... why not? Â I had just come from California where I can't get a slice of pizza for $2 on a good day. Â
I remember peering over the bar and admiring the floor the bartender was standing on. Â I think over the many years of operation the floor sank or something, so they just piled wooden pallets up so the bartender had a floor to stand on. Â
When I was leaving I remember there were people outside smoking on a handful of benches on the side of the bar (the smokers are kept 20 feet from the entry per AZ law) and one of the hippy-looking guys complimented me on my hair (which is in desperate need of cutting) just to be nice, and probably because he sized us up to be 'family'. Â
This is a must-see stop if visiting Tucson, it's their oldest bar still in operation AND simply the oldest bar.
Neighborhood blight!
This place is the cause of drunks being passed out on our lawn at 3 in the afternoon.
There is always a miasma of alcoholics hanging around this place and often as not they are belligerent.
I'd like to paint a target on the roof to see if the local A-10s could do the neighborhood a favor and bomb it. Couldn't hurt.
It's the place to be if you're already drunk or just about to turn 21.
I know people who would go here, drink all night, bum around from 2am-6am and go back for more.
It's just that good of a dive.
And seeing since dive bars are now becoming trend spots. I guess I could then say that this is a trend spot, for hipsters, and is a good place to go, if you're too drunk to find 4th ave. and maybe not a hipster but a middle aged man, with a gambling problem. Am I going to far?
Just make sure you hit the Buff on your way up and down 4th. it's worth it. Oh, but don't eat the food. Seriously. Do you have any idea how old those hot dogs are?
Favorite bar in Tucson! I have to many great stories about this bar I can't even start to write them all. With only Coors on tap and a price that can't be beat this bar is a great starter or finisher for any night.. Don't forget to pick up a hot dog from the Coors crock pot and if your really brave try a cherry bomber.. Cashing your hard earned check to start drinking at 5am (not sure when the open, but it is early) is a good way to start any day. Megan the bartender is amazing! and if your up for a challenge I'll take you down in a game of shuffle board any night!
oh yea, This was the first bar in Tucson!
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