Despite its relatively small size, Flagstaff is home to an outsized number of exceptional restaurants, breweries, cafes and bars. So between hiking, biking, camping, fishing and enjoying the cooler climate, here's where to fill up throughout the day. These are our favorite spots to stop by in Flagstaff.
Start strong with breakfast and brunch:
Forêt Flg2 S. Beaver St. #170, Flagstaff
Forêt Flg serves elevated brunch dishes in a casual environment. Order at the counter and then grab a seat inside the oblong restaurant or out on the small dog-friendly patio to sip specialty coffee and brunchtime cocktails while you wait. The dishes, such as the savory croissant waffle or soft scrambled egg plate, can take a while, but if you have the time to relax, Forêt Flg is a delicious way to start your day.
Prosciutto, brie and fig are a winning combination. At The Toasted Owl, the flavors are folded into breakfast.
Tirion Boan
12 S. Mikes Pike, Flagstaff
5200 E. Cortland Blvd., Flagstaff
Owl-themed everything is the name of the game at this Flagstaff staple. There are two locations of The Toasted Owl Cafe in town, both of which serve delicious cinnamon rolls, diner-style drip coffee and hearty brunch plates. We’re partial to the massive burritos (best filled with spicy jalapeno bacon) and omelets such as the fig, prosciutto and brie.
Sosta
413 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff
Though it just opened in March, Sosta is already attracting lines at breakfast for its casual format and dog-friendly patio. It also doesn’t hurt that it's the latest restaurant from the veteran team behind the popular wood-fired pie shop Pizzicleta. The same careful selection of high-quality ingredients treated simply is on display. For breakfast or brunch, try the hearty biscuits and gravy or breakfast sandwich filled with scrambled eggs, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes and arugula and a zesty chimichurri. Linger over your cold brew or cappuccino and take in the historic space, the old Carriage House that was built in 1909.
Fuel up at Flagstaff coffee shops:
Firecreek Coffee Co.
22 E. Route 66, Flagstaff
Firecreek Coffee Co. is the perfect college town coffee shop. It’s a little grungy, the playlist is great, and no one cares if you post up for a few hours with a book or laptop. We typically pop in for an afternoon treat and enjoy the skillfully roasted beans brewed into a Campfire Latte topped with a roasted marshmallow. Bags of beans also make a great gift or souvenir to take home.
Late for the Train Coffee
19 E. Aspen Ave., Suite A & B, Flagstaff
Our go-to move at Late for the Train is to order a Dave's Rockrammer with espresso, raw sugar and steamed cream or a spicy chai at the counter and head straight for the patio. Hidden behind the building, the little courtyard is filled with metal tables, colorful foliage and red bricks. In the fall, it's a serene autumn escape in the heart of downtown.
Kickstand Kafe
719 N. Humphreys St., Flagstaff
If you’re heading up to Snowbowl, make sure to stop at Kickstand Kafe. This local coffee shop is the perfect place to stop by for a specialty coffee drink and a well-made sandwich before your bike ride or after a hike. The large space has plenty of room to find a seat and still manages to feel cozy and comfortable.
Matador Coffee Roasting Co.
203 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff
7133 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff
Matador Coffee Roasting Co. has championed specialty coffee at elevation for 20 years. Today, Matador has two cafes in town that serve classic coffee and espresso drinks or more playful sips, such as its decadent raspberry truffle white chocolate mocha. If you’re searching for more than a caffeine boost, Matador also serves teas, Italian sodas, smoothies and a taut menu of breakfast and lunch bites.
Favorite Flagstaff lunch spots:
Pizzicletta
203 W. Phoenix Ave., Flagstaff
Pizzicletta is not just your average pizza joint. Located in an old textile building, the tiny wedge-shaped space serves pies with giant flavor. The light crust is speckled with blackened bubbles, offering the perfect balance between fluffy and flavorful. Seasonal toppings rotate, and we love the fall roasted squash pie. If every table is full, head over to Dark Sky Brewing, where Pizzicletta’s menu is paired with local beers.
Proper Meats + Provisions
110 E. Route 66, Flagstaff
This whole-animal butcher shop also crafts a mouth-watering menu of sandwiches. Among the must-orders at Proper Meats + Provisions are the 10-day pastrami, French Dip with tender roast beef or the decadent but zippy Banh Mi made with confit pork shoulder, cilantro, pickled carrots and zucchini and chili sauce. Every sandwich comes with golden, seasoned house chips that are impossible to stop eating.
Diablo Burger
120 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff
Diablo Burger has served exceptional charbroiled burgers in downtown Flagstaff since 2009. Each burger starts with a six-ounce patty made from local, grass-fed beef sandwiched between a toasted, “db”-branded English muffin. The muffin is the perfect circumference for these bold burgers. Try the Traveling Wilburys, topped with sauteed mushrooms, curry mayo, Swiss cheese and chile flakes. The fresh-cut, double-fried frites are equally impressive with a savory, earthy note from their Herbes de Provence seasoning.
Flagstaff breweries and bars for an afternoon beer:
Historic Brewing Co.110 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff
4366 E. Huntington Drive, Flagstaff
Historic Brewing Co. isn’t the biggest brewery in town, but it’s a must-visit any time we are in Flagstaff. Inside the downtown location, the space is industrial yet cozy, with a wide variety of brews on tap, board games to keep you occupied and a classic brewpub food menu. Outside, a small patio offers a spot to sip and hang out with your dog. If you're out on the east side of town, stop by the taproom and brewing facility where the magic starts. Seasonal sips are a delight, such as the Piehole Porter, which is typically flavored with cherry and vanilla but gets a pumpkin twist in the fall.
Dark Sky Brewing Co.
117 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Dark Sky Brewing Co. You can sit inside at a high-top table and order a flight. Grab a seat on the back patio with your dog and order a Pizzicletta pie. Enjoy the large, front patio and order from Atmosphere Kitchen, which offers a separate pub-style food menu. Any way you cut it, Dark Sky is a must-stop destination for craft beer, good eats and a great time.
Hops on Birch
22 E. Birch Ave. #2, Flagstaff
The two dozen-plus taps and coolers at Hops on Birch are stocked with drinks for any mood. Craft beer is the star, and the bar offers pours from Flagstaff breweries, familiar Valley makers and beverage companies from around the country. The dog-friendly taproom and patio also offers ciders, seltzers, wine, kombucha and coffee and hosts events all week, including live music.
Pay-N-Take Beer and Wine Bar
12 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff
Pay-N-Take Beer and Wine Bar is pretty self-descriptive – at this bottle shop and bar, you can grab a few items and head on your way, but the pub and its sidewalk-facing patio are likewise inviting. Pay-N-Take has a deep selection of craft beer and wine, with 18 drafts and 10 coolers stocked to the hilt. Linger inside to watch a game or mingle with locals and their pups on the patio. If you’re peckish, there's also a large convenience store-style shelf of chips, candy and other snacks to tide you over.
Flagstaff dinner destinations:
Shift Kitchen & Bar107 N. San Francisco St., #2, Flagstaff
It’s hard not to be entranced by the chefs deftly working the line of the open kitchen at this seasonally driven modern American restaurant. Guided by executive chef and former Phoenician Tamara Stanger, the team at Shift Kitchen & Bar quickly turns out some of the state’s most unique dishes, like pickled French fries and savory sorbet. The menu is meant to be shared, but if you can’t decide where to start, opt for the four-course chef’s tasting menu. If you’re in search of a nightcap, stop by Shift’s sibling wine lounge Oeno.
Atria
103 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff
If you’re looking for a luxe, celebratory night out, Atria is ready with precise service and modern, seasonal bites. Diners may recognize chef Rochelle Daniel, an alum of Scottsdale’s Fat Ox and a James Beard Award semifinalist. At Atria, she’s brought a touch of fine dining to Flagstaff in a dreamy, elegant space. Oysters, roasted bone marrow, housemade pasta and steaks are among the selections. The restaurant’s Sonoma Duck served with a black currant-foie jam, cabbage, sausage and an XO glaze is a standout. Atria also offers four and eight-course tasting menus, with 24 hours' notice requested for eight-course meals.
Tinderbox Kitchen's menu rotates regularly, with unique twists on classic dishes, such as elk soulvaki.
Sara Crocker
34 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff
Tinderbox Kitchen likes to note that it's a place for “fine dining in Armani or jeans.” In an outdoors-driven town that attracts plenty of tourists, we saw a good mix of diners in athleisure, jeans and sport coats during a recent visit to this sleek, polished restaurant. Tinderbox’s menu, like many other elevated eateries in Flag, rotates regularly. What’s consistent is the restaurant’s modern takes on global fare infused with Southwestern ingredients. Think soulvaki with delicately grilled elk or duck confit with a rich mole. Pair your meal with one of the playful cocktails mixed by Tenderbox’s skilled staff.
Fat Olives
2308 E. Route 66, Flagstaff
Fat Olives resides on the east end of town in an unassuming Tuscan-style stucco and stone building. Don’t let its demure, vintage exterior fool you. This award-winning, family-friendly restaurant is making serious Neapolitan pizzas and pastas that have even garnered a visit from Food Network star Guy Fieri on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Those pies range from classic to contemporary, like the spicy Shrimp Fra Diavolo or pork-laden Adovada.
