12 Best Restaurants in Flagstaff, North-Central Arizona

Helmed by James Beard Award finalist Rochelle Daniel, this sleek downtown restaurant dazzles with a seasonal menu that is as much about presentation as it is about taste. Dine on fresh-caught fish, prime cuts of meat, and handmade pastas for dinner or share hot and cold appetizers—don't miss the roasted bone marrow—over cocktails or a glass of wine at the bar. The chef also offers an eight-course tasting menu with 24-hours’ notice. 

A redbrick carriage house, built around 1910 as a garage for one of the first automobiles in Flagstaff, is home to one of the city's most sophisticated restaurants. With a seasonally updated menu, the chef pairs locally raised pork, beef, and roasted duck with wines from a list of almost 200 bottles (Brix refers to the sugar content of grapes at harvest). The cheese plate, served with poached natural apricots, is a great accompaniment to a glass of wine at the counter bar. 

Located in a Craftsman-style bungalow just a few blocks from Flagstaff's historic downtown, this fine-dining establishment serves bacon-wrapped filet mignon, braised short ribs, crab cakes, and smoked pork osso buco. The menu suggests wines from its extensive list to pair with each entrée, or you can order a craft cocktail from the creative bar. Brunch is served weekends from 9 am to 2 pm and features a good mix of sweet and savory breakfast items along with salads, sandwiches, and burgers. In the summer, reserve a table on the patio; in the winter, opt for a seat near one of two fireplaces.

This restaurant and microbrewery is a popular, casual, and family-friendly place with a pleasant patio. Wood-fired pizzas include the Enchanted Forest—with brie, portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, spinach, and artichoke pesto. Expect serious amounts of garlic on whichever pie you choose. Sandwiches, such as the Margarita Chicken (marinated in tequila and lime), come with a hefty portion of tasty fries. You won't regret ordering one of the down-home desserts, like the super-gooey chocolate bread pudding. Among the excellent microbrews on tap, the Red Rock Raspberry ale is a local favorite. Beaver Street Brewery, along with its sister brewery Lumberyard Brewing Company, is a stop on the Flagstaff Brewery Trail.

With juicy burgers made from locally sourced, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef, this is arguably the best burger joint in the Southwest. Freshly cut fries lightly dusted with herbs, veggie burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and organic salads round out the menu. In summer, try to arrive on the early or late side of lunch and dinner to avoid the lines.

Breakfast, lunch, and coffee on the run has risen to new heights with the presence of this friendly café on Route 66, a few miles east of downtown Flagstaff. Exceptional smoothies, breakfast burritos, and two avocado toast options, plus generous salads and sandwiches with house-made dressings and sauces accompany the coffee bar.

Upscale breakfast dishes like the croque madame—a grilled ham and fried egg sandwich drenched in cheesy mornay sauce—and Instagrammable coffee drinks and cocktails make this Southside coffee shop a good choice for a casual morning meal or brunch. On sunny days, sit on the patio and people-watch.

Don't let the name mislead you: this South-of-the-border Route 66 diner serves breakfast (all day), lunch, and dinner in a bright space decorated with Día de Los Muertos–inspired paintings. House specialties include a green chile pork enchilada topped with two eggs and J.B.'s Volcano: a mound of chilaquiles drenched in that same green chile pork, loaded with chorizo and crowned by an over-medium egg. Order a breakfast cocktail or coffee to complement your morning meal. Burritos and street tacos dominate the lunch and dinner menu.

You can create your own salads, or enjoy breakfast (try the carrot-cake pancakes), homemade soups (gluten-free), and sandwiches through dinnertime at Mix.

When you take your first bite of any one of the six expertly crafted pizzas on the menu—like the simple tomato, basil, and mozzarella, or the mascarpone, pecorino, arugula, and prosciutto—you'll understand why this small eatery has developed a fierce following. Plates of paper-thin cured meats and olives and salads with chèvre and pine nuts are equally delicious. Don't skip out on the homemade gelato. If you can't get a table at the original Phoenix Avenue location, there's a second one inside Dark Sky Brewing Company.

This cheerful Mexican restaurant, with light-wood booths and colorful designs, eschews heavy Sonoran-style fare in favor of the grilled dishes found in Guadalajara. The fish tacos are particularly good, and you can substitute grilled vegetables for the rice and beans if you prefer a lower-carb meal. 

This deservedly popular downtown spot serves modern comfort food to local professionals and visiting foodies. Signature entrées include steelhead trout with jalapeño chimichurri, pineapple pork belly, and duck-leg confit. For cocktails and lighter fare (or if the wait is too long), check out the sister bar next door, the Annex—it's just as hip and delicious, and the patio is a great venue for live local music.