A new chapter in fine dining begins this fall with the opening of Ursa, the highly anticipated restaurant from classically trained Chef Aaron Lopez. Set to open its doors on Congress Street in Tucson, Ursa will bring a refined and reverent take on indigenous ingredients to the city’s culinary scene.
Nestled in the newly rehabilitated Central Block building — a 1912 landmark restored by Rio Nuevo, Peach Properties, and Dabdoub Investments — Ursa will seat 60 guests in a space inspired by traditional architecture, earth tones, wood and leather accents, and elements from the surrounding landscape.
Lopez and his wife and partner, June, first launched Ursa in the summer of 2024 as a pop-up in his hometown of El Centro, California. The couple always intended to make Tucson the restaurant’s permanent home, drawn by the city’s deep appreciation for Sonoran Desert flavors and its ties to indigenous foodways.
“Initially launching Ursa in my hometown was a dream realized,” said Lopez. “But June and I always knew we’d find our way to Tucson. Our time in El Centro was shaped by deep connections, shared meals, and a commitment to the land that nourishes us – something we will continue to honor in our new home.”
With nearly 15 years of experience in acclaimed kitchens across Los Angeles and Honolulu, Lopez trained at Le Cordon Bleu and honed his skills under chefs such as Michael Voltaggio, Josef Centeno, and Neal Fraser. At Ursa, the menu pays homage to the four great deserts of the American Southwest: the Sonoran, Mojave, Great Basin, and Chihuahuan.
The dishes will explore the potential of drought- and heat-tolerant ingredients — from mesquite, prickly pear, and tepary beans to wild herbs and native seeds.
Many ingredients will be picked by the Lopezes themselves or sourced through partnerships with Indigenous communities, including Ramona Farms, an Akimel O’odham-owned operation known for ethical and sustainable practices.
Ursa will feature a robust beverage program of craft cocktails, beer, and wine made with local spirits and desert flavors, aligning with the restaurant’s zero-waste philosophy that emphasizes full ingredient utilization and preservation. The eatery is slated to open in Fall 2025. Learn more and stay up to date by visiting ursadesert.com or following along on Instagram @ursa_desert.
