Nestled amid the beautiful mountains and forests of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a delightful city that offers a unique blend of small-town charm, a vibrant arts scene, exciting outdoor recreation opportunities, and a blossoming local food culture.
With its proximity to the Grand Canyon and other stunning natural attractions that draw over 5 million tourists annually, Flagstaff has developed a robust and diverse culinary scene. From classic diners serving up hearty meals to innovative farm-to-table establishments focusing on locally-sourced ingredients, Flagstaff’s restaurants cater to all tastes and budgets.
This article highlights 12 of the best and most popular restaurants that visitors and locals alike rave about in Flagstaff. From creative breakfast joints to Southwestern cuisine specialists to vegetarian-friendly eateries, there is something for every palate. These restaurants offer inviting atmospheres where you can soak up Flagstaff’s laidback mountain town ambiance while enjoying thoughtfully-made dishes that reflect the region’s cultural heritage and landscapes.
Mother Road Brewing Company
Type: Brewpub
Address: 7 S Mikes Pike, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Extensive craft beer selection, gastropub fare made with Arizona ingredients
For some of the freshest and most flavorful craft brews in town, check out Mother Road Brewing Company located right along the iconic Route 66 strip in historic Downtown Flagstaff. In operation since 2011, Mother Road takes immense pride in handcrafting small-batch ales, lagers, stouts and more on-site, many of which pay tribute to Arizona’s natural beauty and landmarks.
Flagstaff locals and tourists flock here not only for the impressive beer menu but also the gastropub-style fare that incorporates locally-sourced ingredients. The menu has something for everyone, from vegetarian-friendly options like the Pesto Chicken Flatbread to heartier choices like the Mother Meatloaf made with Arizona beef and pork wrapped in bacon. Their weekends feature a boozy brunch menu with Southwestern twists on classics like Huevos Rancheros. With frequent community events and live music evenings, Mother Road will make you feel part of the family during your Flagstaff stay.
Diablo Burger
Type: Burger Joint
Address: 120 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Gourmet burgers focused on fresh, seasonal produce
For a truly indulgent burger experience in Flagstaff, Diablo Burger will exceed all your cravings and expectations. Since its founding in 2009, this popular local burger bar has developed a reputation for huge portions, creative toppings, and fresh high-quality ingredients. All their patties use hormone and antibiotic-free beef sourced from northwest cattle ranches and are cooked to your preference.
Their menu is constantly evolving to feature seasonal Flagstaff-grown produce, so every visit promises new flavors. While their “Fire” burgers like the Inferno with dried chili peppers will appeal to spice-lovers, even pickier eaters have options like the “Holy” burger topped with provolone and avocado. Their various sandwiches also showcase local meats and cheeses, while their fries and onion rings are crispy perfection. With a great craft beer and whiskey selection too, you’ll be drooling for your next Diablo Burger meal before leaving Flagstaff.
Beaver Street Brewery
Type: Brewery Restaurant with Local Fare
Address: 11 S Beaver St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Flagstaff’s original brewpub serving German lagers + American comfort food
No list of Flagstaff’s best dining spots is complete without the beloved Beaver Street Brewery located right in downtown. Launched in 1996 as the city’s very first brewpub, Beaver Street holds iconic status and laid the foundation for Flagstaff’s now-thriving craft beer scene. Their in-house brewed beers encompass a range of German wheat beers, lagers, porters and seasonal specialties that you can pair with hearty yet refined American and Southwestern fare.
Menu standouts include the salmon cake appetizer with lemon vinaigrette, the southwest quinoa veggie burger loaded with flavors, and the chicken pot pie oozing with gravy. But leave room for their Wood-Fired Oven pizzas like the popular flagship Rio Grande with green chilies, cheddar and avocado. Whether you’re looking for a filling lunch, a place to watch the big game or a late-night bite, Beaver Street Brewery will satisfy all cravings while you sip on Flagstaff history.
Coppa Cafe
Type: Italian Cafe & Bakery
Address: 1300 S Milton Rd #2, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: House-made pastas, gelato, Italian pastries + breads in a cozy trattoria setting
For all things deliciously Italian in Flagstaff, Coppa Cafe enchants visitors with the aromas of fresh bread and pastries the moment you walk through its doors. This quaint European-style café and bakery in the Milton neighborhood strives to transport you straight to Italy with its small-plates sharing style menu centered around house-made pastas, ravioli and sausages.
Their displays dazzle with rows of flaky croissants, tall layer cakes and decadent tiramisu to go perfectly with your macchiato. Come lunch hour, regulars flock here for panini stuffed sky-high with salami, prosciutto and provolone plus daily soup specials like minestrone or Italian wedding soup. Of course, save room for their gelato from scratch featuring classic and modern flavors alike. Whether coming for a leisurely sit-down meal or takeaway picnic provisions, Coppa Cafe excels at celebrating the dolce vita.
Criollo Latin Kitchen
Type: Latin Fusion Cuisine
Address: 16 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Creative empanadas, arepas + ceviches fusing Latin American flavors
For a taste of Latin American spice and sizzle in the high mountains of Arizona, check out festive Criollo Latin Kitchen found along bustling and historic Flagstaff Downtown. Since opening its doors in 2011, Criollo has won over locals and visitors with its vibrant, richly flavored dishes inspired by cuisine spanning from Mexico down to Patagonia. Empanadas here come baked or fried with fillings like sweet plantains, shredded pork in green mole or roasted chicken in a smoky red pepper sauce.
Construct your own arepas from a selection of cheeses, beans, proteins and toppings or try their signature Verde stuffed with chicken and Oaxaca cheese. Balance out these hearty appetizers with zesty ceviches and poke bowls popping with fresh citrus, onion and ají pepper. And do save room for tres leches cake or flan soaked in sweet condensed milk. Your next Latin American vacation awaits at Criollo’s humble Flagstaff location!
Karma Sushi Bar & Grill
Type: Sushi Restaurant and Lounge
Address: 6 E Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Creative specialty rolls, kombucha cocktails, sake flights
For excellent sushi with modern twists near historic Route 66, look no further than Karma Sushi Bar & Grill. This hip downtown locale crafts artful sushi rolls that visual appeal matches the brilliant mix of flavors and textures within. Flex your adventurous palate with one of Karma’s over 50 signature specialty rolls like the Midnight Moon with tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, and black tobiko or the Painted Desert featuring yellowtail, lime zest, cilantro and serrano chilies.
Beyond sushi, Karma impresses diners with yakitori skewers, rainbow poke nachos and wok-seared entrees running the gamut from hibachi salmon to pad Thai. Cocktail lovers shouldn’t miss Karma’s creative kombucha-based drinks or sampling rare sakes during happy hour flights. With slick ambiance mirroring the surrounding red rocks, Karma brings a scene as thrilling as the menu.
Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar
Type: Flagstaff’s Finest Farm-to-Table Restaurant with Extensive Wine List
Address: 413 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Locally-sourced New American cuisine and Arizona’s largest wine cellars
Consistently recognized as Northern Arizona’s premier fine dining destination, Brix Restaurant & Wine Bar delivers expertly executed farm-to-table New American fare complemented by one of Arizona’s most extensive wine collections. Housed in a converted historic home just off Heritage Square, Brix offers an intimate atmosphere with antique touches that let the food claim center stage.
Menus shift seasonally to feature the best regional produce, cheeses and meats sourced directly from local ranches and farms to create dishes like their signature table-side prepared Caesar salad, hearty bison short rib bourguignon in red wine sauce and fall-apart tender Arizona-raised lamb.
Their 2,500+ label wine cellar spanning Old World to West Coast allows knowledgeable servers to offer tailored pairings with your meal, whether you prefer a complex Barolo or a fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc. For fine flavors and bespoke service, Brix hits the high note.
Pizzicletta
Type: Wood-Fired Thin Crust Pizza Spot
Address: 203 W Phoenix Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Carefully crafted thin-crust pizza with seasonally inspired toppings
For piping hot wood-fired pizza cooked to crispy, chewy perfection, Pizzicletta has developed a cult following among Flagstaff locals, Arizona visitors and national pizza aficionados alike since opening in 2012. Owner and pizza artisan Caleb Schiff has meticulously designed every aspect of Pizzicletta for optimal flavor and texture results from the specially milled Italian flour to exact oven temperatures.
This yields an exceptionally light and supple sourdough-leavened crust sturdy enough to support piles of high-quality meats, cheeses and veggies sourced locally whenever possible. Seasonally inspired signature pizzas range from the hearty La Regina with Italian prosciutto, arugula, shaved Parmesan and olive oil to vegetarian options like the Olivota with roasted garlic purée, caramelized onions, olive tapenade and goat cheese. With just a handful of counter seats plus takeaway options, be prepared to wait outside for your Pizzicletta pie worth its weight in dough.
Monte Vista Lounge
Type: Southwestern Cuisine in a Hip Historic Bar
Address: 106 N San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: One of Arizona’s oldest watering holes now dishing out Navajo tacos, green chile burgers, other New Mexican staples
For a quintessential Flagstaff hangout that dishes out Southwestern fare as hearty as its drinks are stiff, saddle up to a stool or slide into a vinyl booth at Monte Vista Lounge on Route 66. This historic dive first opened in 1926, making it one of Arizona’s longest continuously running cocktail bars through prohibition and beyond. Now part gastropub with a New Mexican cuisine slant, Monte Vista plate up handheld classics like Navajo tacos piled high with chili, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onions on warm frybread.
Their lineup of green chile cheeseburgers delivers the heat in more ways than one. While live bands fuel the scene on weekends, it remains a relaxed place during happy hours for scoring $2 Tecates, people-watching and digging into hefty plates of nachos drenched in cheese. Despite its neon allure and vintage patina, Monte Vista keeps things unexpectedly wholesome for families too with arcade games and hard ice cream machines doubling as decor.
The Curious Kitchen
Type: Farm-to-Counter Eatery Championing Local Food Systems
Address: 1100 N Ft Valley Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Menu driven by hyperlocal Arizona ingredients from small growers, ranchers, other small businesses
For conscientious and memorable farm-fresh dining just north of downtown Flagstaff, pay a visit to the appropriately named Curious Kitchen restaurant and market. This cozy eatery residing in a converted 1909 farmhouse functions as “the living room of Flagstaff food” by exclusively showcasing ingredients from over 20 nearby farms, dairies, mills and artisans within 150 miles on daily rotating menus.
Known for their hearty, flavor-loaded breakfast bowls and build-your-own grain salads and toast at lunch, Curious Kitchen makes sourcing directly from local food purveyors their main mission rather than an afterthought. This hyperfocus benefits regional growers and diners craving true crop-to-counter dishes, like their standout beet latkes, mole chicken and dumplings or vegetarian posole stew with hominy. Leave room for seasonally changing sweets like peach or boysenberry pie too!
Macy’s European Coffee House & Bakery
Type: Local Favorite Coffeehouse with European Flair
Address: 14 S Beaver St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Charming French-Austrian café bringing European flavors downtown via fresh pastries, crepes, waffles + coffee
For a sweet escape to Europe without leaving charming downtown Flagstaff, Macy’s European Coffee House & Bakery transports patrons with the sights of overflowing pastry cases and smells of freshly ground coffee and baked goods. Family-owned since 1998, Macy’s friendly staff greet you cheerily while preparing espresso drinks from Vienna roast coffee beans as you admire deli cases piled high with Danish, strudels, scones, tarts and other classic Austrian and French baked delights.
Come lunchtime, their crepe griddle gets fired up to deliver both sweet and savory options filled with your choice of meats, cheeses, vegetables, Nutella, fruit compotes and more. Beyond typical coffeehouse fare, Macy’s also plates up specials like beer cheese soup, Reuben panini, and chicken pot pie not easily found elsewhere downtown. After being fortified by their European hospitality, one walk through Heritage Square will have you convinced you traveled across the Atlantic!
Simplicitea Shoppe
Type: Community Focused Veg-Friendly Cafe
Address: 2700 S Woodlands Village Blvd Suite 300, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Nutritious breakfasts, lunches and smoothies benefiting local non-profits and ethical brands
For feel-good plant-based nourishment supporting community causes in Flagstaff, head to SimpliciTea Shoppe near Northern Arizona University’s main campus. As their name suggests, this tranquil spot steeps global tea varieties ranging from Moroccan mint to Thai ginger into smoothies, steamers and of course, classic hot or iced tea sippers.
Beyond impressive tea diversity sourced directly from small farmer coops abroad, SimpliciT ea’s menu empowers healthy, ethical eating with vegetarian and vegan-centric breakfast bowls, grain salads, sandwiches, soups and baked goods showcasing local, largely organic ingredients too.
Also acting as an incubator for startup food brands with social impact missions, they stock Alt Milk hard seltzers, kernels from IAMSOIL regenerative popcorn and more. With every purchase made, a portion benefits a rotating cast of local nonprofits, amplifying SimpliciT ea’s community engagement.
1892 NAU – A Tinderbox Kitchen
Type: Modern American Dining at Historic University Hotel
Address: S San Francisco St & W Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
What makes it special: Seasonal new American cuisine menu served in an iconic railroad era lodging space
History and fine contemporary cuisine unite at 1892 NAU – A Tinderbox Kitchen found inside downtown Flagstaff’s landmark Weatherford Hotel dating back to 1897. Restored to period-appropriate glory with modern upgrades, the Weatherford now houses 1892 NAU as its contemporary yet casual hotel restaurant with seasonal menus focused on both technique and provenance.
Housed in what was once a Pony Express horse barn, the dining room in this Historic Hotel of America inductee blends exposed brick, vintage woods and custom metalwork for a setting both rustic and polished. Menus skew towards refined comfort fare using well-sourced proteins and produce, like their standout starters of burrata caprese with estate olive oil, meatballs with preserved lemon gremolata and creamy truffle gnocchi under a poached egg.
For a quintessential Flagstaff evening, belly up to the bar or lounge on the sprawling patio for craft beer or wine before dinner overlooking the commanding San Francisco Peaks.
Conclusion
From eclectic gastropubs to curated wine programs to vegetarian havens, Flagstaff rewards visitors with welcoming watering holes, diners and eateries as diverse as Northern Arizona’s landscapes. Beyond serving artistically plated dishes and potent libations, these 12 restaurants foster community in a high mountain town attracting everyone from road-trippers to ski bums to Grand Canyon pilgrims.
With such culinary variety stemming from Flagstaff’s ranching roots, railroad history and university culture, memorable meals become inevitable during any stay. Just come hungry and leave happy.