Updated: April 2024
Traveling along Route 85 heading for camping near The Cactus Pipe National Monument, I came across the small town of Ajo, Arizona, about 40 miles north of the US-Mexico border.
At first glance, I thought this town was old and run down, but as I took a closer look, I saw something else… Character!
Ajo, is a historic, former mega copper mining town, that lies in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. It is about a 2 hour’s drive from Phoenix and Tucson.
As I approached the downtown area or The Plaza, I was quite taken by the Spanish-style buildings surrounding an oasis. This inviting area was complete with tall palm trees, plenty of green grass, park benches, and even a beautiful white stucco bandstand. Next, time for a stroll!
First, I love outdoor cafes, especially in nice weather! When I saw people sitting at tables under an arched patio enjoying hot beverages, I decided… Coffee is my first stop!
Oasis Coffee is one of a kind! This great little coffee/pastry/sandwich shop is located on the western side of the plaza in Ajo’s old, Historic Oasis Theater.
The shop has a sleek vibe inside with a black and white theme throughout including the tile flooring. The dining nook is inviting with unique touches, like a wooden chess game and a ukulele set out for customer enjoyment.
The coffee was delicious and I even met a couple of locals and enjoyed chatting with them about their fondness for living in this relaxed and diverse community.
Next, I stopped at The Visitor’s Center, the anchoring section of the plaza housed in The Historic Train Depot. The super-friendly gentleman working at The Visitor’s Center answered all of my questions thoroughly. Great maps, brochures and gift shop.
Certainly, I was beginning to sense an overwhelming passion the locals had for living in their tight-knit community.
From there, I browsed the shops in the plaza, including my favorite, the 3nations Market! I am a huge fan of vintage, antique, and thrift stores.
This Market is unique in that its vendors come from the 3 Nations living collaboratively in Ajo – the Tohono O’ odham tribe, the Hispanics, and the Americans. There are so many interesting things here including handmade and new items! Love this place!
After all the shopping, I was hungry! I chose to have lunch at The Farmers’s Market Cafe because of the great online reviews, their sustainability practices, community involvement, and the farm-to-table approach.
Upon arriving at the cafe, I was a bit surprised to learn that the indoor seating was closed and I had to place a to-go order from outside. Fortunately, it was a beautiful spring day to enjoy a meal at one of the outdoor tables. I ordered the roasted sweet potato and brown tepary bean quesadilla – it was flavorful! ** when I returned in April 2024, unfortunately, this restaurant was temporarily closed.
After lunch, I walked across the street to visit Artists Alley, where many colorful, multicultural, and expressive murals are showcased on the backside of buildings. What a sight!
I noticed there are many more murals scattered throughout town which are quite interesting. I enjoyed learning about Ajo’s thriving Artists/Artisan Community that enriches the area in many ways with their diverse creative works.
Finally, upon leaving Ajo’s Plaza, I couldn’t help but notice the photogenic snow-white stucco Catholic church across the street. Surely, this structure is remarkable and eye-catching! I wish I could have stopped in, but had to be on my way.
I enjoyed exploring this little gem of a town and I highly recommend stopping by the Plaza if ever passing through. It appears to me that Ajo is on its way, emerging into a flourishing artsy, multicultural, and sustainable community. I wonder what it will be like in years to come?
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** Also worth mentioning – a popular restaurant on the outskirts of town:
Granny’s Kitchen – Breakfast/lunch restaurant about 10 miles south of Ajo on Route 85 (on the way to The Cactus Pipe National Monument and the U.S./Mexico border). The Huevos Rancheros was yummy!
