Last cold beer before your 6 p.m. SkyWest hop? That’s The Maverick.
The Maverick sits in the Main terminal past security, styled after Tucson’s Maverick nightclub with country décor and constant twang on the speakers. Think bar stools, TVs, and boots‑and‑hats energy more than polished gastropub. It runs typical airport hours that track the first and last flights, so you can usually grab something from around 5 a.m. through the evening banks.
Menu is straight bar fare: burgers, wings, fries, and sandwiches in the $12–$18 range, plus draft and bottled beer, basic cocktails, and well drinks. Reviews on Yelp and Google Maps say the food lands in the “fine, nothing special” category, so treat the burger and wings as something to soak up a pint, not a destination meal.
Drinks are the real draw. Regulars mention stopping for a single draft beer before a regional flight to smaller Arizona or New Mexico towns, then walking to the gate about 20–30 minutes before boarding. Expect domestic drafts, a couple of regional options, and standard pours in the $7–$11 range, which is normal by airport standards at TUS.
Watch out for the volume: several reviewers call out loud country music that makes Zoom or Teams calls nearly impossible, especially during early evening around the 5–8 p.m. departure push. If you need to plug in a laptop, note that outlets at the bar are limited, and you may be better off charging at the gate after you finish your drink.
Tip: use The Maverick as a timed pit stop — grab one beer, a quick order of wings, then settle your tab 30 minutes before your boarding time so you’re not sprinting when your small regional jet at gate B or C starts loading early.