What to See, Do, Eat & Explore in Bisbee Today

We arrived in the dark of night, our maps giving us a bit of a miscue. We missed the turnoff, looped around, through a tunnel, and finally, onto the main road. Although our hotel was on the south end, we continued on to see Main Street in all of its splendor. It was an enchanting sight, with white lights strung in a zigzag pattern from roof to roof down the length of the winding street, illuminating the serried row of brick buildings. We marveled at the unique colors and architecture of each, a mix of Victorian-era, Gothic, and European-style buildings. What were once two and three story mining era buildings are now repurposed art galleries, shops, hotels, and restaurants. 

The next morning was bright and sunny, with a chill in the air. Despite the need to bundle up a bit, I could not wait to see it! For me, this is where it all comes together—the culmination of all my reading and research, when the place I’ve imagined finally takes shape in real life.

Bisbee in the daylight did not disappoint. The way it is laid out reminds you of an Italian hill town…shoestring streets, steep stairways, and multihued houses built high up into the hillsides. A picture-perfect postcard setting! So fitting for my first small town visit. 

Bisbee, Arizona is an ideal weekend getaway—and after experiencing it firsthand, here’s what you should know before you go. 

Best Time to Visit

With it’s clear blue skies and 65 degree weather on the regular, one of Bisbee’s claims to fame is that it has “The Best Year Round Climate on Earth.” Peak times to visit are Fall and Spring, but here is a more detailed summary of what to expect by season. 

Fall (September–November): Warm days, cool, crisp nights—and Halloween, which perfectly fits the town’s spooky vibe.

Spring (March–May): Sunny days, mild temperatures—perfect for exploring.

Summer (June–August): Surprisingly cooler than many Arizona cities—a refreshing escape from the desert heat.

Winter (December–February): Sunny days with a chill in the air—quiet, laid-back, and peaceful.

Where to Stay

The Block Hotel
8 Naco
https://www.theblockbisbee.com

My Review:

I love places with a back story! It adds an element of mystery and intrigue. A blend of old meets new. Enter The Block Hotel, built in 1908. What the hotel describes as “turn of the century architectural style” really does reflect Bisbee’s evolution from a booming mining town into the charming historic gem it is today. It is a Neo-Classical Revival building, which back in the day, served as the sheriff’s office and City of Justice Court. It more recently housed the Bisbee Tourism Center. 

The automated check-in process is simple. I would describe the room we stayed in as quaint, quiet, and simple. It has everything you need and a comfortable bed. Pet friendly, free off-site parking right across the street. While not right in the center of the action, so to speak, it’s a short walk to Main Street for shopping and restaurants. 

Other notable options based on reviews (while I did not stay at these places, I did set foot in both on a ghost tour)…they are worth checking out!

The Copper Queen Hotel
11 Howell Avenue
https://copperqueen.com

If you’re looking for a place where stories and haunts seep through the walls…this is your place! I even caught a glimpse of it on a ghost tour while visiting. Constructed in 1902, this hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are fascinated by the architecture and the ghost stories. According to their site, the Copper Queen combines “antique luxury with modern conveniences”. The hotel has a restaurant called the 1902 Spirit Room and also the Outlook Saloon. Celebrities including John Wayne and Harry Houdini stayed here back in the day (they have rooms named after them!), and more recently, Julia Roberts and Keifer Sutherland. 

The Oliver House & 26 Souls Speakeasy
26 Sowles Avenue
https://oliverhousebisbee.com

Built in 1908, this small, family-owned lodge is for adults only. They aspire to be, as they call it, your “Haunt away from home.” Here you can rent a room, or the entire house! Believed to be haunted (with 26 deaths or more on site, not surprisingly), it has been featured on the show “Ghost Adventures” on both the Discovery and Travel channels. (Links to these episodes can be found on their website.) Whether or not you are a guest here, you can see a glimpse of the famous house at the 26 Souls Speakeasy. They serve beverages including house-made cocktails, mead, premium wine and beer, in addition to mocktails and snacks. 

*Side note: During our ghost tour, we did, in fact, capture an orb in our photos of this building!) 

Where to Eat & Drink

Coffee & Breakfast

Bisbee Coffee Co.
2 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee
https://bisbeecoffee.com

Located in the heart of Old Bisbee, this central coffee house and artisan roaster has called the town home for 25 years. Think more cozy cafe vibes with this one, and a menu of classic and signature creations. I stuck with a simple hot vanilla latte with oat milk (love when I have alternative milk options), which hit the spot on a chilly day.

Allen & Co. Coffee Shop
31 Subway St. #3, Bisbee
https://www.instagram/allenandcocoffee/

This vibrant, eclectic space opened in October 2024. They have their own “house” made syrups – including vanilla, caramel, and lavender. I tried the Pink Sea Salt Honey Rosemary, which the barista said was most popular. It has a hint of sweetness and the rosemary is very subtle (if you like sweet like I do, I would up that sweetness). If coffee isn’t your thing, they have excellent tea and matcha offerings as well. If you’re hungry, the avocado toast was a delicious option! 

Bonus for this place is that it has a vintage market next door (Allen & Co. Curiosities…sadly it wasn’t open so I did not have the opportunity to check it out)

Loved the vibe, coffee and food were fantastic, don’t miss this spot!

Old Bisbee Roasters ~ Specialty Coffee
Authentic Small Farm Coffee
1 OK St.
https://oldbisbeeroasters.com/

Free Espresso shots! Need I say more? The owner is roasting beans right there on site, and it is next to The Block Hotel on the south end of town. I highly recommend taking some of their coffee home with you. We picked up the sampler pack, containing a half-pound each of their favorite coffee, including fresh roasts from Bali (Blue Krishna), Mexico (Huatusco Altura), Honduras (Siguatepeque El Jaguar), and Tanzania (Edelweiss Peaberry). (This is available in whole beans only, and is subject to change.) You can also order online and have it shipped right to you!

Treats

Bisbee Good Cakes
44 Main St., Bisbee
https://www.instagram.com/bisbeegoodcakes/

These tiny cakes are full of flavor. My favorite was their virgin vanilla cake with fresh strawberry frosting, but the chocolate was also tasty. They add glitter to their cakes, and I love that little detail! They also make cookies and fudge.

Patisserie Jacqui 
91 Main St., Bisbee
https://www.patisserie-jacqui.com/

This place is an absolute must! Totally lived up to the hype. Looks like a charming little French bakery, with a classic black and white awning shading the glass display windows trimmed in hot pink. The cases are filled with temptation! So many sweet and savory scratch made delights to choose from! I had the most flaky, delectable chocolate croissant and a sugar brown butter cookie that was heavenly. Go early for best selection as there is almost always a line and they sometimes sell out. Your taste buds are sure to be tantalized!

Restaurants

Bisbee Badassery
105 Tombstone Canyon

Casual, motorcycle themed restaurant with a full bar. Fun vibe, friendly and welcoming owners. Delicious burgers, sandwiches, tots, fries and onion rings. We appreciated that they were open every day and open till 10:00 on the weekends. We hit them up after our ghost tour and were not disappointed! 

Main Street Bistro
202 Tombstone Canyon

This hidden gem at the far end of Main Street is popular, cozy, and gets rave reviews. I was wowed by the tantalizing flavors of the Birria Ramen which hit the spot on a cold night. The refreshing limeade with real candied lime was the best limeade I have ever had in my life (sorry, not sorry, Sonic). Unfortunately, the owner mentioned he was likely moving his business to Tucson, and it’s showing as “temporarily closed”. I still wanted to include it here, because the vibes and food are worth following, wherever he ends up!

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Did not get to try, but come highly recommended:

Cafe Roka
35 Main Street, Bisbee
https://caferoka.squarespace.com/

Upmarket cafe featuring New American food. Chef Rod Kass has a unique culinary style with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. Reservations required. 

Le Cornucopia Cafe (recently re-located)
1 Howell Avenue

Known for its fresh salads, homemade soups, sandwiches, pies, cakes, and other desserts. Their meatloaf sandwich was voted the “Best Sandwich in Bisbee” by Forbes.

Taqueria Outlaw
78 Main Street, Bisbee

Casual Mexican fare. House-infused margaritas? Say no more! Live music is also featured here. They do not accept reservations. 

What to Explore

Historic Downtown Bisbee

One of my favorite pastimes is strolling around town. Main Street and Brewery Avenue have plenty of shops to check out…from antiques, to rocks, to clothing and art galleries. Other thoroughfares include Tombstone Canyon Road, Subway Street, and Naco Road. You can get coffee, eats, and treats throughout. There is a little bit of something for everyone!

Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
#5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee
Open 10am – 4pm everyday
bisbeemuseum.org

General Admission $12; Veterans, Active Military & Seniors (60+) $11; Children under 10 free, must be accompanied by an adult, group rates available.

Great place to explore the history of Bisbee. Upstairs you will find a state-of-the-art mining exhibit as crafted by Smithsonian designers. The minerals and crystal cave are a must see for rock lovers!

Be sure to check out the little gift shop. And beyond that, (just like you see in the movies) there is a research room tucked in the back, containing all the hidden secrets and lingering mysteries of Bisbee in one place. A man by the name of Mike Anderson doing research at the table invited us in. His current project was recreating a map of Main Street and all of the businesses that existed back in its heyday (so up my alley!). When I mentioned that as part of our visit we were going to visit Warren Ballpark, Mike casually mentioned that he wrote a book about it. Turns out we had been literally looking at said book in the gift shop right outside the door, just moments before. He said, “If you wanna grab a copy I will sign it for you.” So of course we did!

Warren Ballpark
99 Arizona St. #73
www.friendsofwarrenballpark.com

Built in 1909, it is touted as the “real Field of Dreams.” It is the oldest baseball stadium still in use (older than Fenway (1912) and Wrigley (1914)). According to Anderson, “Some of the most colorful and notable figures in baseball history have stepped onto its field as barnstorming big leaguers or as minor-league players hoping to make their way up to the “Big Show”. Today, the field is used by local baseball and football teams, as well as for concerts and special events. 

If you are interested in the history of the ballpark, including its use as a holding facility during the a significant historical event known as the Bisbee Deportation (that actually has nothing to do with baseball) check out Mike’s book here: 

https://bookshop.org/a/122424/9781531665203

Evergreen Cemetery
8 Old Douglas Road, Bisbee

Quick fact about me…I love cemeteries. I have always found them peaceful – never creepy. They evoke a sacred, hallowed feeling…I cannot begin to fathom all the stories they contain! I could wander for hours reading headstones and wondering about the lives of the departed souls. Going forward, you can count on cemetery visits as part of my travels. If it’s not your thing, cool…but if so, you are in the right place!

Old Bisbee Ghost Tour 
https://www.oldbisbeeghosttour.com

Described on their site as:  “The haunted history tour with a macabre twist! The Old Bisbee Ghost Tour is our most popular tour.  Walk the back alleys and stairways while you learn the history of Bisbee and how it pertains to the ghosts which haunt it!”

7 Nights a Week at 7pm
$20 per mortal
Duration: 1.5 hours

They also offer a Haunted Pub Crawl (where “Spirits are Guaranteed” — ha!) and a Ghostly Tour on Wheels: Bisbee After Dark. This version takes you around town in a golf cart to even more haunted spots and was highly recommended by locals. (For current details and pricing, check their site.)

One of my favorite parts of this experience had nothing to do with ghosts at all. While wandering the quiet back alleyways, I noticed something else entirely…the spectacular night sky!

It’s impossible not to look up.

Bisbee is officially designated as an International Dark Sky Place. The program “works with communities, parks, municipalities, and the public to certify and protect dark places for humans and wildlife alike.” Because of the town’s strict light‑pollution rules, the night sky here is nothing short of breathtaking. I saw it for myself during our ghost tour — the stars felt close enough to touch.

If you’re curious about the mission behind the designation (I genuinely love what they’re doing), you can learn more here: https://darksky.org/

Looking for a nightcap after the tour? I highly suggest an experience that is uniquely Bisbee…

Bisbee Social Club
67 Main St. (Basement Level, 69 Main St.), Bisbee
https://bisbeesocialclub.com/

Look for the burning red light above the door at 67B Main Street. A few steps below street level, you will find a secret, speakeasy inspired cocktail lounge. You can sip on delightful cocktails, play pool and arcade games, or listen to live music. Don’t forget to take some fun shots in the photo booth! This place has immaculate vibes, don’t skip this one!

*Hours and prices listed for the above businesses may vary. 

**One important note about small towns. You might notice that I did not post hours for many of these businesses. Sometimes days and times fluctuate depending on things like vacations and even sluggish foot traffic. Always check online for up-to-date hours. With restaurants, I would recommend calling ahead. There were several in Bisbee that were high on my list, but I could not try for various reasons related to closures. Small town travel requires a high level of flexibility! Yes, it is disappointing when you are so looking forward to seeing and trying places that everyone talks about, but the best perspective here is to consider the discovery of unknown places as part of the adventure.

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Postcards from a Small Town: Bisbee 

And that’s when a simple idea turned into what I hope will become a tradition…

Before this trip, I decided to find and send a unique postcard from every small town I visit. I wandered into a shop and was inspired to find the artwork of Judy Perry! Every detail of Judy’s paintings feels authentic, but the colors and charm are elevated. It’s like seeing the small town of Bisbee through a joyful and imaginative filter. Judy has loved living in Bisbee and painting there since 1976. If you would like to learn more about Judy and where to purchase her artwork, here is where you can find her:

https://www.judyperrybisbee.com

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On to the Next…

While I loved sharing my Bisbee travel experience with you, it is time to move on to the next episode of Postcards from a Small Town. 

Finally, a new pin is hitting the map. The next stop is still a secret – for now. Let’s see what magic we can find there…