Lava Bar Is Coming to Downtown Tucson from the Chela's Team
Published: July 7, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team
TUCSON, AZ — Things are about to heat up on Congress Street. Lava Bar, a new concept from the team behind Chela's Latin Cuisine, is moving into the former Funky Monk space at 350 E. Congress St., with a fall 2026 opening, and a new bar means new jobs downtown.
A late-night hideaway from a proven Tucson restaurant team, with bar and kitchen roles on the way.
📍 Opening at a Glance
| Business | Lava Bar |
| Opening | Fall 2026 |
| Location | 350 E. Congress St., Downtown Tucson |
| Concept | Late-night bar from the Chela's Latin Cuisine team |
| Hiring | Bar, kitchen, and service roles expected |
A New Night Out on Congress
Lava Bar is the newest idea from the minds behind Chela's Latin Cuisine, taking over the former Funky Monk space in the heart of the Congress Street nightlife strip. Details are still under wraps, but the team's social teasers point to a late-night hideaway with bold vibes and a fresh bar menu. Given Chela's track record downtown, expect a stylish new addition to Tucson's growing nightlife scene, and a fresh set of hospitality jobs to go with it.
💼 The Jobs That Come With It
Bars this size run on a full crew. As opening nears, watch for roles like:
- Bartenders and barbacks. See bartender careers.
- Servers, hosts, and food runners across food service and restaurant careers. See server careers.
- Line and prep cooks for the bar menu. See line cook careers.
- Support roles that keep a busy late-night spot running.
Start watching Lava Bar jobs in Tucson and bartender jobs downtown.
What It Means for Job Seekers
Nightlife jobs are a strong fit if you like evening hours, tips, and a social pace, and opening a new bar is one of the best times to get hired, since the whole team comes on at once. With an established restaurant group behind it, Lava Bar could be a stable place to build bar and service experience. For more of what's hiring nearby, see our guide to downtown Tucson restaurants hiring.
How to Get Ready
Pre-opening hiring tends to start weeks ahead, so set up free job alerts, keep your resume current, and follow Lava Bar on social media for staffing updates. Bars and restaurants staffing up can post a job to reach Tucson's hospitality workers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lava Bar opening in Tucson?
Fall 2026, in the former Funky Monk space at 350 E. Congress St. downtown. Exact dates can shift.
Who is behind Lava Bar?
The team behind Chela's Latin Cuisine, an established name in downtown Tucson dining.
Is Lava Bar hiring yet?
Openings weren't posted as of this writing. Set alerts and watch our board, since bar roles usually appear shortly before opening.
What jobs will Lava Bar have?
Expect bartenders and barbacks, servers and hosts, line and prep cooks, and other support roles.
A hot new hideaway on Congress, from a team that already knows downtown. When Lava Bar opens this fall, it'll be pouring drinks, and hiring the people to pour them.
