With the distinction of being Tucson’s only wine hotel (in partnership with Sand-Reckoner Wine Cellar), the newly opened Citizen Hotel is an oenophile’s desert dream come true. Bonus: It’s less than 10 minutes from the University of Arizona campus.
More than 100 years ago, the Tucson Citizen building housed the area’s first newspaper press; today, the historic outpost is now home to The Citizen Hotel, a newly opened, 10-room boutique wine hotel. What makes The Citizen a wine hotel, you ask? Well, the hotel also houses the wine cellar of the widely adored Sand-Reckoner Wine Cellar in its basement. Owner of The Citizen (and its sister hotel, The Clifton), Moniqua Lane, and Sand-Reckoner’s Sarah Fox are longtime friends, making the partnership a no-brainer. Guests of The Citizen not only have the opportunity to conveniently purchase bottles in their room (there is even an in-room wine fridge to chill them), but they also get to enjoy complimentary tastings at 4 p.m. on the mezzanine.
Though there are only 10 rooms, they are big in size and personality. They each have high ceilings, large windows, handcrafted furniture, a mini bar brimming with local drinks and snacks and some even offer sitting areas (for sipping your wine, of course). But, best of all, are The Citizen bathrooms. Each has a cedar-lined closet, spa robes, luxe toiletries and a large soaking tub with a wine caddy for those who like to pair their bubbly with actual bubbles.
After a day of exploring Tucson (or exploring the comforts of your room), The Citizen’s lobby bar is open Thursday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. for a little nightcap. The bar spotlights Arizona’s three American Viticultural Areas–and simply the best that the state has to offer via its craft cocktails, local beer and wine list. While the sips are delicious, the atmosphere is just as enticing: casual and come-as-you-are but also brimming with conversation and excitement. (And don’t miss the quirky design elements that pay homage to the building’s early days as a newspaper press.)
To book your stay, visit www.thecitizenhoteltucson.com.