Bold.
Rich.
Smooth.
I need another.
Those are the words swirling around my head as I take the first sip of my espresso martini.
There’s something mesmerizing about the chocolatey-brown drink that has a glistening, frothy top, complete with three perfectly placed espresso beans.
Bartender Burke Morrill mixes up an espresso martini at Unicorn Zebra.
As soon as you see those words on a cocktail menu, you get a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face: now you don’t have to choose between complicated drinks with ingredients you can’t pronounce or haven’t heard of.
Out with the girls: espresso martini. Out at a fancy dinner: espresso martini. Out at Sunday brunch: espresso martini. It’s always a perfect time for an espresso martini.
Those who adore the coffee-centered drink know it takes the perfect balance in order to get the best flavor. You don’t want it to be too strong and taste like you’re drinking nail polish remover and burnt espresso, but you also don’t want it overly sweet like you’re drinking melted ice cream.
The best espresso martinis are right in the middle of those two extremes: a rich espresso flavor with subtle hints of vanilla. Those are the masterpieces that have helped the espresso martini skyrocket in popularity.
We asked our readers for their favorite espresso martinis in town and put together the ultimate guide.
North Italia
2995 E Skyline Drive
There’s nothing like enjoying a delicious bowl of pasta with an espresso martini on the side. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation on the Italian Riviera. At North Italia, it has a $12 espresso martini that is made with vodka, freshly brewed espresso, borghetti (coffee liqueur), Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur), and oat milk.
The Shelter
4155 E. Grant Road
Sure, you’ve had an espresso at a fancy restaurant, but what about in a vintage dive bar? The Shelter serves a classic espresso martini that is the perfect balance of sweet and strong. Trust me, you won’t feel cooler than sitting in a booth at The Shelter, sipping on your espresso martini while surrounded by retro ’60s decor and colorful lights.
Bartender Amber Naab mixes up The Shelter Coffee, an espresso martini, at The Shelter Cocktail Lounge. The coffee is made with Three Olives Vodka, Kamora Coffee Liqueur, a house-infused Amsterdam chocolate and fresh vanilla bean Skyy vodka, and a cold brew coffee.
Charro Steak
188 E. Broadway; 7109 N. Oracle Road
As you scour the cocktail menu at Charro Steak, you may be a little sad to see no espresso martini listed. Just flip over to their dessert menu! Here, it has a chocolate espresso martini made with Dorda liqueur, vanilla vodka, espresso, and crème. The creamy flavors of the vanilla and chocolate perfectly complement the coffee drink without making it overly sweet.
UnCork’d Kitchen and Cocktails
6300 E. Tanque Verde Road
Tucsonans do not play when it comes to UnCork’d, so it was no surprise to see multiple readers recommend their espresso martinis. It makes them with vodka, a shot of espresso, burghetti, and Demerara sugar. It also has tons of delicious appetizers that you can pair with your classy martini.
An espresso martini from UnCork’d: vodka, a shot of espresso, burghetti and Demerara sugar.
Zinburger
6390 E. Grant Road; 1865 E. River Road
Zinburger doesn’t just have juicy cheesy burgers, it also has a killer cocktail menu. Its espressotini is made with vodka, Italian espresso liqueur, and Spanish vanilla. If you thought it couldn’t get better, its espressotini is $8 during their Happy Hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily). I don’t know about you, but a cheeseburger, fries and an espressotini sounds like the perfect girl dinner.
Hub Restaurant & Ice Creamery
266 E. Congress St.
The Hub’s espresso martini (pictured in the middle). The Hub adds a bit of tropical flavors to the drink. To make their espress-co martini, they start with coconut washed vodka.
The Hub adds a bit of tropical flavors to their espresso martini. To make their espress-co martini, it uses coconut washed vodka, licor 43, borghetti, espresso, oat milk and mole bitters. Not only are the flavors great, but the espresso martini may be the most Instagram-worthy, as it sometimes top the drink with an “H” made out of cinnamon powder.
My sister, who I would classify as an espresso martini expert, loved the one at the Hub, and said it had the perfect amount of sweetness.
Unicorn Zebra
82 S. Stone Ave.
Have you ever sipped on an espresso martini while a life-size statue of a unicorn zebra looks at you? Well, at Unicorn Zebra, you can. This funky lounge has been a staple for those looking for a good drink and a fun vibe, and a few of our readers said it makes their favorite espresso martini in town. Here, they make their drink with vodka or coco mezcal, coffee liqueur and locally made cold brew.
The Unicorn Zebra espresso martini, made with vodka, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur and Presta Cold Brew.
Café a la C’Art
150 N. Main Ave.
Some may say the Café a la C’Art’s espresso martini is a work of art. (Get it? Because it is connected to the Tucson Museum of Art.) This isn’t your average espresso and vodka drink. Here, it adds a raspberry twist. The French raspberry espresso martini is made with a double shot of espresso, Chambord raspberry liqueur, vodka, and 1883 vanilla.
Miramonte
3352 E. Speedway
Miramonte has only been in business for about two months now, and it already has our readers raving about the drinks. It has a vintage aesthetic, so of course, it has good martinis. Here, it makes its drink with espresso, bumbu crème, and Villon liqueur.
Juniper
222 E. Congress St.
An espresso martini from Juniper. Since Juniper is a gin-focused bar, they use gin (specifically Bols Genever) rather than vodka in their espresso martini, along with Heirloom Espresso liqueur, Demerara syrup and cocoa bitters.
If you’re not a fan of vodka but want to partake in the espresso martini trend, this is the place for you. Since Juniper is a gin-focused bar, it uses gin (specifically Bols Genever) in its espresso martini, along with Heirloom Espresso liqueur, Demerara syrup, and cocoa bitters.
Café Passe
415 N. Fourth Ave.
Looking for a cute place to spend Sunday brunch? Café Passe is your place. Since it has a full coffee bar, it only makes sense that it has a tasty espresso martini on the menu. Its special ingredient in its espresso martini is Tres Amigos.
A new study by OnePoll on behalf of Jack Daniel’s revealed that three in 10 Americans have ended a date early because of what their date ordered to drink. Here’s what you should order to leave a lasting impression. Buzz60’s Johana Restrepo has more.
