Sparkroot

Sparkroot is a mega cutie café in downtown Tucson — an area I tend to not spend a ton of time in when visiting. I had previously looked into this place, the set up and menu seemed fun, and as we were exploring the area, it became the place where we decided to lunch.
We walked in around noon on a Monday, and it was fairly quiet inside. We immediately went to the front to take a look at the very… disheveled menu. A ton of items were covered over by tape. To the point where new menus should really just be provided. It seemed like a set up you’d find in a very divey spot, but the overall atmosphere at Sparkroot was welcoming and interesting. After ordering, I ran up the stairs to the second story of this coffee café, and we had the level to ourselves.
The three of us went with the pressed sandwich options. It’s 100% impossible for me to resist caramelized onions and arugula, so I had to go with the first option on the sandwich menu: Gruyère, caramelized onions, arugula and spicy mustard. My other two eating companions went with the #2: cheddar, chives, avocado, and cucumber & #5: mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic. I thought the price slightly steep for a sandwich priced at $ 7.75 (no side included) but the overall design and taste of the sandwiches made it worth it. I tried all three, and though I loved mine the most, the #2 sandwich was my second favorite.
While here, I also decided I needed to try an alcoholic coffee drink while in a regular coffee shop. This is something I could never experience in my hometown (without being in a proper bar) so it was a necessity. I went with the Haze 46 — coffee, bourbon and hazelnut flavoring all served in a mason jar (of course). It was enjoyable, though I know if I were to frequent this establishment, it would be a beverage I’d rarely get, though the option is well appreciated.
Overall, I enjoyed Sparkroot. The feeling inside was good, the barista was freaking adorable, and the sandwiches were tasty… though I’m still turned off by the state in which we found the (only apparent) menu. However, it’d definitely be a fun option to study in if I ever need such a spot in my future visits!

Amazing service, unique menu, and great vibe inside. Will definitely be studying here ²⁴⁄₇ as a future college student :)

I’ve been a long time fan of Sparkroot, but recently my experience here has been worse and worse. What used to be my favorite coffee in Tucson has just turned into overly sweet, coffee-​flavored milk. They used to house make their vanilla and hazelnut syrups, but they switched to a generic brand, which you can easily taste. The only redeeming factor for Sparkroot is the atmosphere.
If you’re looking for good coffee and a good atmosphere in the downtown area, go to Cartel just right around the corner. Same price for coffee, but ten times better.

Long time customer of spark root! During my last visit the service was noticeably slower and the girls behind the counter just seemed to be joking around versus actually working. Took forever for us to actually get our food.
Adore the Welsh cheddar + cucumber + avocado panini which keeps me coming back. Its the most perfect sandwich.
They changed my favorite Quinoa Kale salad and added sun dried tomatoes which i wasn’t the biggest fan of. The salad was way better without the sun dried tomatoes.
Ill keep returning when i return to Tucson for the panini, but the service has declined.

Been a couple times since moving to Tucson, haven’t tried any food but the coffee has been tasty and not outrageously priced.
Atmosphere is unique and the store has been fairly crowded both times I’ve been. Don’t expect to find seating for more than you and a friend.
I’d recommend going in for a cup of hot or cold brew coffee if you are in the area or just want to spend a couple hours in a fun coffee shop.

Hipster central. I was totally taken aback by the vibe of this place. There is a very interesting menu. I don’t know how else to describe it. The PB&J that I had took almost 20 minutes to make. How does a PB&J take that long? It was grilled and not that good. I’d say try the drinks, get a muffin and move on.
What I really liked about this place was the multi-​level seating. The upstairs is pretty cool. I really enjoyed the big table on the first floor that has a huge cactus sprouting out of the middle. Lots of different, chill places to sit.
The location is great — right downtown. It’s a very easy spot if you are willing to spend a lot of time just hanging out. Overall, this is an ok place with ok food and ok drinks.

Love this places coffee, just a little steep in price for me, if pricing changes I’ll definitely stop in more. Paid 6.50 for a 12oz soy mocha today. Delicious coffee and very friendly staff!

Clean. Simple. Pleasant service. Nice atmosphere. Decent coffee. Free wi-​fi. Good location near everything. A good quick stop which I have taken advantage of many times. Had a cappuccino. Not bad. Always consistent.

Just always perfect. This little coffee shop and café serves very hip espresso and dishes. They thrive on perfection in presentation, I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with a plate they deliver. Espresso comes with a cute little brown cup and saucer, and they have stirring spoons for you to use instead of straws or wood sticks. Not a single piece of fruit on my oatmeal has ever looked less than a perfect specimen of perfect strawberry flesh. The pressed sandwiches are always crafted with care and the panini grill stripes perfect in a natural way, not a smashed to a char, but delicately embedded in the bread.
I’m only sad because they no longer have a shot of sparkling water with your espresso, it got pulled in lieu of Perrier by the bottle, but the complementary water is always cold and tastes clean.
Try it, or walk down to Broadway and try your luck at Cartel Coffee. I think you will prefer the location of Sparkroot.

Aside from the lighting (it can get pretty dark in the evenings, making it hard to read stuff if you’re not on your laptop), there is nothing really bad to say about Sparkroot. Sometimes the staff are not very attentive or friendly, but its not very often so if it happens to you don’t get discouraged.
The place is very clean and cool looking, the music is always great, the Wifi is pretty good and free, the bathrooms are accessible and clean, and the food is really good (albeit on the pricey side). I enjoy coming here to study in the evenings but its also nice to get a glass of wine during Happy Hour. Its a really great laid-​back atmosphere, which is why it is a lot of people’s favorite place to go.
It is usually pretty full, so if you want to study with a group of people, you should send one person ahead to check out if there’s enough seating for everyone. Seating is pretty limited, and I’ve had to go somewhere else to study a handful of times because it was completely full.
They have a punch card that they never advertise but if you ask for it and remember to whip it out everytime you visit, you will get a free drink after 10 purchases!

I have been here a few times before, and have always been pleased. Most recently, I stopped in late night on a Sunday to do some studying. I was ravenous, but when I walked in the door was told that their kitchen was unfortunately closed due to flooding. I decided to stay anyway and got a cup of coffee and wandered upstairs. The coffee is always great and the service is always fantastic.
I was studying upstairs at a large table and was told by a worker that it was reserved at 4:00. I easily moved to the next table over and the employee hurried back up and gave me a card for a free drink and apologized again. Great service and I’m excited to go back and read it. New favorite coffee shop downtown!

These guys are super accommodating, they brewed fresh iced lemon soufflé tea, yum! Very good place to meet someone the views are perfect.

Updating because Sparkroot has become my go-​to study joint and it’s pretty much unparalleled.
Pros:
— Super clean (including the bathrooms)
— Fast, free, consistent WiFi
— Free water dispenser
— Really laid back environment. The staff are friendly and not pushy (I can come in and study without ordering right away)
— Lots of other students studying, so I don’t feel weird spending literally all day there (which I have. several times. thanks grad school)
— Punch card for the 11^th drink free!!! The cards sit at the counter but they don’t seem to really advertise this so make sure to ask
— Good, low volume music
— You can take breaks to watch people and their dogs wander up and down Congress
— Good pressed sandwiches, including the egg/​potato & apple/​brie
Cons:
— Lighting gets a little dim as the sun goes down
— Generally, outlets are very accessible. However, if you come in a group of 3 or more, you may not be able to find seats together with outlets for everyone.
— It can get a little busy but in general is never too noisy. I’m more productive working in busy environments but this may not be everyone’s preference.

Great coffee, the baristas are incredible, they really know what they’re doing. Gets pretty packed in here but it’s a fun, trendy little spot downtown.
I don’t usually hang out inside because I haven’t stayed for lunch, I usually get what I’m having to go. Love that they have some great looking things on their menu that I have yet to try and pair up with a brew or glass of wine! …Which I will be making time very soon to do.

We came here for breakfast one Sunday morning. We had the vegan biscuits and gravy and the vegan sweet potato tacos. Both meals were good. If you’re wanting traditional biscuits and gravy, this isn’t it! These are made with a mushroom gravy that would also be amazing as a mushroom stroganoff.
The gals working there were super friendly and explained the ingredients to us as we are vegan.

are you the type that likes to people watch while sipping a cup of coffee? WELL then sparkroot with it’s large windows facing congress street is the cute coffee shop for you!
–NOLA served in a mason jar: Iced coffee, sugar, milk, and chicory. Ehh the coffee was just ok but they are nice to let you sub soy milk
need to get some work done? Lots of seating, FREE wifi, many outlets PLUS there’s also an upstairs seating area
NOTE: they also offer food & snacks. Love the music

This is my favorite local coffee place.
Coincidentally, it has one of the best vegetarian-​friendly menus I know of.
For breakfast, I cannot say enough good things about the oatmeal. The muffins are also great for a small breakfast to go. I love the friendly service here, and the quirky vibe makes it a nice place to read or study.
The lattes here are terrific to be sure, but the chai latte is actually my favorite beverage on the menu – it is spicy, not too sweet, and totally unlike any other offering in Tucson.

This would be ⁵⁄₅ if they purchased more comfortable seats. I hate sitting in here, which sucks… because I REALLY REALLY like this place.
Super good coffee. I’ve been told that their baristas need 5+ years of experience, which means that anyone working here wants to serve coffee for a career.
Lovely and eclectic beer and wine selection. (And maybe booze??? I’ve never looked…) The adventurous brother always orders a funky beer and I get a taste, and I’ve never left the safety of the red wine menu because I’ve never been the slightest bit disappointed.
YUMMY and fresh food made by someone with several face piercings. Or maybe face tattoos. Whatever the flavor of body mutilation that evening, all the chefs here are fans of food preparation.
I also like that the over-​education of literally the entire staff doesn’t lead to snobbiness. They are happy to help you understand why they enjoy what they do, and make recommendations based on your questions and requests. I have never had bad service in here.
I definitely have a Sparkroot sticker on the little folder that I carry around while waitressing. And tell people about it whenever they ask.
BUY SOME BETTER SEATS UPSTAIRS, SPARKROOT!!!

Great coffee shop in the recently-​revamped downtown Tucson. Open space with high ceilings, seating areas upstairs and downstairs, loads of natural light pouring in through gigantic windows. Gorgeous.
The coffee is fantastic, too. I always stop in with my one year old to grab an iced almond milk latte before heading over to the Tucson Children’s Museum. Sparkroot is surprisingly child-​friendly, which is lovely. The staff is not the least bit pretentious towards anyone… including the little ones. There is also a child-​sized table for parents to enjoy the vegetarian/​vegan-​friendly treats at with their babes.
Love this place!

Oh Sparkroot, my favorite coffee shop in Tucson. Modern industrial chic meets chill hipster vibe. Serving up coffee and espresso products with beans roasted by my favorite coffee roaster: nationally-​renowned Blue Bottle. Ari Shapiro, the brainchild of equally notable establishments Xoom Juice, Falora, and Sidecar, has hit a home run with this place. Coming here is like stepping into an upscale coffee house you’d find in the likes of San Francisco or NYC. Incredible coffee and espresso drinks, a decent selection of tea, beer, and wine, as well as an array of healthy light snacks and meals (vegetarian only).
The ambiance is also fabulous with it’s modern industrial architecture. The space offers plenty of room to study, meet with friends, and view the action on Congress through their massive windows. Major win for the Tucson Downtown scene — this place has definitely made a name for itself.