Flagstaff has an old-fashioned feel but has some fine international restaurants as well as good microbreweries and top South-Western cuisine.
One of the pleasing things about Flagstaff is that it has a thriving dining scene, and you can eat anything from a cheap burger to some of the finest South-Western food for miles around. In addition there are restaurants from all over the world, offering Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, French, and many more kinds of cooking. There are several good microbreweries, loved by the large student population, and numerous coffee-shops, delis, and diners if you just want something quick, cheap and tasty.
Charly’s
A busy bar is Charly’s Pub and Grill, part of the historic Weatherford Hotel in the downtown area. It serves food all-day, from the Navajo Breakfast to Wyatt Earp’s Surf and Turf at dinner. There’s entertainment here too several nights a week.
Brix
Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar has also won many accolades, including being chosen by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as one of the best new restaurants in the world. It serves contemporary American cuisine in a historic carriage house, and also likes to credit its food suppliers on the menu. Typical dishes include Roasted Red Beet Risotto and Wild Boar Chop.
The Tinderbox Kitchen
The Tinderbox Kitchen is another place where you’ll find modern American food, but here they also give classic dishes a modern twist, like a Bacon-wrapped Buffalo Meatloaf. The chef’s claim to fame at the Tinderbox is that he was the personal chef to Paul McCartney for a week. It’s safe to assume he didn’t cook his Sugar-Cured Venison Loin for the vegetarian ex-Beatle.
Josephine’s Modern American Bistro
Josephine’s Modern American Bistro is another star of the modern Flagstaff restaurant scene. It’s housed in a 1911 building in the historic downtown district, but the atmosphere and the food are as modern as can be. The food of Arizona and Mexico is centre-stage, with inspired preparation of dishes such as Smoked Pork Tenderloin with Ranchero Sauce or Eggplant Enchilada. Their Wine List has also won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
