Tucson: Bar None If You're Under Twenty-One

Here is a guide and critique of Tucson's college bar scene.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Che's Lounge: unique place, unique culture

Che's bar picChe's Lounge, 350 N. 4th Ave., is on the corner of 7th Street and 4th Avenue.

My experience at Che's was characterized by a few surprises. As we stood outside waiting til the strike of midnight (to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday), we heard a man sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall, singing an oldies song. The only thing that was unique about this rendition of the song was that the man sung it in a very deep, creepy-sounding voice. I was beginning to feel a little disturbed by the song until I looked down the sidewalk and saw a woman running in a white angel costume.

There must have been something in the air that night. I thought she might had been a die-hard Halloween fan, trying to celebrate the holiday a week later. I then learned it was Dia del Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. There had been The All Souls Procession 2006 earlier that day, so the people in costumes must have been part of those who had participated in that event. I even saw a woman dressed up in all black, looking like she was dead and walking like she was dead - with arms stretched in front of her walking like a zombie.

Che's Lounge was very small, yet the colorful walls (purple, red, orange, etc.), decorative artwork and mirrors, jukebox and old-school video game systems gave the atmosphere a sense of fun and excitement that took attention away from its size.

Che's bar pic


The prices of drinks seemed very decent. I got two mixed drinks for under $10. It's hard to discover a bar's specialty while you're actually there if they don't have menus/signs around showing you the specials. Guinness beer seemed to be one of the bar's popular choices. I heard a college student take a sip of it and say, "It tastes like coffee." The artwork was definitely my favorite part of the place because it ranged from black and white to very colorful, in all sizes, and at all all heights on the walls.


Che's bar pic2Though Che's isn't a bar whose name I hear everyone going to all too often, it was a fun place to hang out with a group of friends. The scene wasn't a college one, that's for sure. I did get caressed and smiled at by a 30-something-year-old man as he walked past me. However, it was a fun little bar that had some character to it. They have live local bands playing on Fridays and Saturdays, with no cover charge. Che's is definitely a place to check out whenever you are seeking a change of scenery!


Check out other reviews of Che's:

City Search Review

AZ Night Buzz Review

Yahoo Travel Review

Tribe.net Review

Arizona Daily Wildcat Review

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