Menlo Park - Tucson, AZ

An early agricultural site for Native Americans, the area saw Spanish settlers who created a mission on the south end of the neighborhood in the late 18th century, which fell to ruin due to years of neglect after the Spanish left the area. Over 100 years later, a developer named the area Menlo Park after a city of the same name in California, and in 1912, subdivided the area.

Be sure to stop by the Mercado San Agustin, the only public marketplace in Tucson, for the Spring Bazaar, with art, wine, gourmet foods, and more. Menlo Park has easy access to the nearby Tucson arts scene, which includes the Tucson Museum of Art, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Restaurant options in the neighborhood include multiple Mexican and Chinese restaurants and even a French bistro. Numerous dining options scatter along West St. Mary's Road and West Congress Street.

Epicures should head over to Agustin Kitchen, a farm-to-table French bistro focused on sustainability and local ingredients. Craft cocktails round out the menu. For a taste of French-Korean fusion, order the bibimbap bowl with barbecue Berkshire pork, house-made kimchi, short-grain rice, and sriracha carrot paired with cucumber, and herb salad and farmer's egg. Wash it down with a Mexican-themed cocktail called Bosque, which contains mezcal, rye whiskey, Cynar artichoke amaro, grapefruit liqueur, and salt.

Fans of Mexican food frequent Tania's 33 Restaurant, a Sonoran-style family-owned restaurant with tried-and-true family recipes. Tania's menu also includes a selection of vegetarian and vegan options. With folk foods such birria and chicharrones on the menu, this establishment announces loud and clear you've arrived at an authentic Mexican spot. Try the savory pollo ranchero burrito, or select the nopalitos en chile burrito for a meat-free option. Tania's take-out allows diners to bring home a taste of Mexico, such as some comforting caldo, or soup.

Menlo Park/Panorama Estates hosts scant options for nighttime drinks and entertainment; however, several nearby bars and the like lie across the river.

Common ways to get around the neighborhood include biking, driving, and public transit. Buses serve the area, taking passengers downtown and to other Tucson neighborhoods. Hailing a cab proves difficult, but private companies allow customers to arrange pick-ups in the area by phone. Uber covers the area, making ride sharing a possibility. Free public parking for drivers abounds in the area as well. Interstate 10 runs along the edge of Menlo Park, allowing for easy access. Residents can accomplish some errands on foot, but the neighborhood's overall walkability hovers in the average range. Bike lanes provide safe and easy access for bike commuters into nearby downtown.

Menlo Park/Panorama Estates is home to "A" Mountain, or Sentinel Peak, a fairly expansive desert area with a small mountain peak overlooking downtown Tucson. Once a lookout spot for the Spanish, the peak now draws cyclists, runners, and tourists to climb and descend while also providing a prime sunset-watching location.

A bit outside the neighborhood, Greasewood Park encompasses 160 acres of natural desert park with an orienteering course that includes 39 checkpoints. The park preserves the natural flora and fauna in an urban setting. Menlo Neighborhood Park provides numerous kid-friendly activities, hosting basketball, soccer, and baseball fields in addition to a community pool and small water slide.

The cost of living in Menlo Park/Panorama Estates remains below the Tucson average. Buses to downtown from the area cost $1.50, and the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Menlo Park/Panorama Estates runs around $559. The typical price for a beer at a local pub ranges between $2 and $4, and gas costs, on average, seven percent less than the national average.

Menlo Park hosts the Mercado San Agustin, a very modern yet classic-feeling public market with an open-air courtyard, boutique stores, coffee, and food offerings. Find retail shopping and grocery options on West St. Mary's Rd.

Fans of unique accessories and jewelry designs should check out Mast, a boutique focused on "genuine radical" handmade goods housed in a beautiful space at the Mercado San Agustin. Here, you can find many items crafted in-house or by local Tucson artists. Leather and leather bags feature prominently, as do rustic and whimsical jewelry pieces, including earrings and necklaces.

Lovers of Southwest Native American culture don't want to miss the San Agustin Trading Company, specializing in authentic all-leather moccasins. Owner Jessie Aguiar has been crafting traditional Southwest-style moccasins for over 40 years, and his company represents the only remaining handmade producer of this specific regional variety of moccasin. The construction of the shoe produces a long-lasting moccasin without visible seams, and San Agustin Trading provides a choice of several styles and colors. Grocery store options consist of Albertsons and Safeway, both in the northern region of the neighborhood. The Santa Cruz River Farmer's Market runs year-round on the corner of Speedway and Riverview.