In the winter, skiers head to Flagstaff to hit the slopes at Snowbowl. In the summer, Phoenicians visit to escape the desert heat. And all year round, travelers are drawn to this mountain town for its laid-back vibe, natural attractions, culinary scene, and more. If you’re planning a weekend getaway, here are some of our favorite spots.
Where to Drink
Flagstaff, designated a leading Craft Beer City, boasts eight craft breweries, and a fun way to sample the suds is via the self-guided Flagstaff Brewery Trail. Print out the online passport or find it at Flagstaff Visitors Centers to collect stamps for a commemorative pint glass while visiting award-winners such as Mother Road and Dark Sky. At Drinking Horn Mead Hall, you’ll learn about mead, an ancient alcoholic beverage fermented from honey. Choose one from the 15 on tap to try in a cocktail like Odin’s Old Fashioned, or order a tasting flight with seasonal selections like Root Bee-ah and Lemon-Ginger.
Annex Cocktail Lounge is the go-to spot for craft libations to enjoy in their lounge or al fresco on the site of a historic Basque handball court. Co-owner Nick Williams collaborates with his talented team on inventive seasonal creations such as Bobby’s Harvest, featuring Old Tom and Suncliffe gin (made with Arizona botanicals), watermelon-infused vermouth, and scotch garnished with a slice of watermelon radish. You’ll want to grab a bite too, like the juicy Annex Burger with cheddar, bacon jam, Secret Sauce, and house pickles. Wine lovers gather at downtown’s Oeno Wine Lounge, but you’ll also find a curated selection of beer and cider. Owned by Dara Wong of nearby Shift restaurant, Oeno offers a diverse wine list with approximately 30 options by the glass.
Where to Eat
Start your day at Tourist Home, a local favorite for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy coffee and pastries at this cheery café, or more substantial eats such as the top-selling Breakfast Burrito, huevos rancheros, or veggie Benedict with artichokes and spinach. MartAnne’s Burrito Palace is a beloved Flagstaff institution that serves breakfast all day. I can’t finish it, but still have to order JB’s Volcano, a delicious platter of chilaquiles, green chile pork, chorizo, sour cream, rice, beans, hash browns, and a fried egg.
Head to Forêt for specialties like orange rolls slathered in cream cheese frosting. Or dig into their canelés, a French pastry from Bordeaux that is so labor intensive, chef-owner Sam Greenhalgh only makes a dozen a day. Pair your Croque Madame with a mimosa or your Niçoise salad with an Aperol Spritz for the perfect brunch. Another lunch favorite is Proper Meat and Provisions, a butcher and deli stocked with local items, wine, and beer, and refrigerated cases filled with homemade pot pies, pasta sauces, and more. Try the banh mi sandwich with confit pork, the French dip, or daily specials like fried chicken on Thursdays. Also note, patrons can enjoy a meal from Proper Meat next door at Drinking Horn Meadery.
For dinner, don’t miss Atria, helmed by co-owner and chef Rochelle Daniel, a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist. The newest addition to the Flag dining scene, you’ll find a thoughtful wine list and spectacular craft cocktails. Atria even uses housemade syrups and bitters, such as a signature spruce and pine infusion. Dishes are just as artful, including oysters served chilled with apple and hibiscus granita or grilled with Italian ‘ndjua. Visitors will be equally impressed by pastas like mesquite tortellini stuffed with ricotta and huckleberries, and entrees including melt-in-your-mouth smoked short rib. Tip: Request a tasting menu when you book a reservation and you’ll be rewarded with surprise courses such as a scallop mousse-stuffed squash blossom paired with corn puree or a dessert finale of a cheesecake “egg” with an apricot jam “yolk” encased in a Dulcey chocolate shell.
Shift’s ambiance mirrors the menu–casual yet refined. Snag a seat at the kitchen counter and watch Chef Christian Lowe and her team work their magic on dishes like the popular pickled fries and Shift wings. Elevated plates include foie gras torchon with rabbit confit and grits with mascarpone and dandelion greens. Don’t pass on owner and pastry chef Dara Wong’s decadent desserts, such as carrot cake with marshmallow granola.
At Brix, executive chef Logan Webber displays his culinary prowess in dishes like elk tartare stuffed in a pani puri shell colored with the char of bourbon barrel wood. Stunning entrees are crafted from the ground up (literally), like the spring herb risotto with a medley of foraged pioppino mushrooms, baby turnips, English peas, and summer truffle (add the optional breaded veal sweetbreads with fennel pollen to make it extra decadent). The wine list and cocktail menu promotes local producers, so look for Arizona Sake, Del Bac whiskey, and a large selection of Arizona wines.
Tinderbox Kitchen, run by the same group behind Tourist Home and Annex, is another must-visit. Graze on roasted garlic crostini as you select from Chef Joseph Wickham’s enticing options. Eye-catching picks include barramundi filet with sunchoke ragout or spinach tortelleti stuffed with house-made ricotta and artichoke hearts. Tinderbox’s award-winning wine list even features an exclusive Tinderbox House red blend made annually in Colorado in partnership with Sutcliffe Vineyards.
Where to Explore
The Museum of Northern Arizona is a prime springboard as you’ll receive a fascinating education about Northern Arizona’s Colorado Plateau. Learn about the geology and culture of sites such as Wupatki, Walnut Canyon, and Sunset Crater Volcano, collectively known as the Flagstaff Area National Monuments. Explore 900-year-old pueblos at Wupatki, learn about the cliff dwellings at Walnut Canyon, and admire the views of Sunset Crater Volcano. Fun fact: It has served as a geologic training ground for every astronaut that has walked on the moon.
Short on time? Riordan Mansion National Park is conveniently located five minutes from downtown, and the guided tour of this unique arts and crafts-style mansion takes no more than an hour. And the best way to end a day in Flagstaff is stargazing at Lowell Observatory where Pluto was discovered! The Giovale Open Deck Observatory is the newest addition and features six telescopes to marvel at the planets and galaxies.
Written by Christina Barrueta
Photography by Luke Irvin