Where to Eat in Flagstaff

Flagstaff has an old-fashioned feel but has fine international restaurants, good microbreweries and top South-Western cuisine when choosing where to eat.

Dessert at Josephine's Modern American Bistro in Flagstaff
Dessert at Josephine’s Modern American Bistro

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 Pub and Grill in Flagstaff
Charly’s Pub and Grill

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.

Cocktails at Brix in Flagstaff
Cocktails at Brix

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.

Tinderbox Kitchen in Flagstaff
Tinderbox Kitchen

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 in Flagstaff
Josephine’s Modern American Bistro

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.

Frommers Arizona and Grand Canyon 2022

Frommer’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon

This is our recommended guide for Arizona and the Grand Canyon, if you’re thinking of planning a visit. The two authors both live full-time in Arizona and the book is therefore based on lifetime experiences of the state. It has 86% 5- and 4-star ratings on Amazon.