Hugging historic Route 66 and serving as a gateway to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff will be the final summer season street journey vacation spot. Nestled on the base of the San Francisco Peaks throughout the world’s largest Ponderosa pine forest, the mountain city bucks typical notions of the Arizona desert. It even boasts a distant celeb by the title of Pluto, which was found on the Lowell Observatory because of Flagstaff’s well-known (and legally preserved) darkish skies. A state college retains the city of 65,000 energetic, and the meals and drinks scene continues to evolve, with high quality cocktails and beer rising alongside historic speakeasies and iconic espresso outlets. “Flagstaff hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists from world wide annually and has constructed an superb assortment of hospitality endeavors,” says Michael Marquess, the founding father of Mom Highway Brewing Firm, who shares a few of his favourite spots. “As locals, all of us get pleasure from the advantages!”
Mom Highway Brewing Co.
Like every mountain city fashionable with outside fanatics, Flagstaff has no scarcity of breweries, however few have seen the expansion and recognition of Mom Highway. “After the stereotypical begin as a house brewer after which opening a small brewery and taproom in 2011, I by no means imagined we might turn into the third-largest brewery in Arizona and have the number-one promoting unbiased craft beer,” says Marquess. The brewery is known as for John Steinbeck’s description of Route 66 in The Grapes of Wrath, and the taproom is situated on the unique 1926 portion of the enduring street in a circa-1925 repurposed industrial laundry constructing. Amongst the 14 faucets are the brewery’s fashionable Tower Station IPA and the Preserve & Shield Golden Ale (with can gross sales benefitting Arizona Sport & Fish).
Macy’s European Coffeehouse and Bakery
When it opened in 1980, Macy’s was considered one of Arizona’s first espresso roasters, and 4 many years later it stays an unbiased Flagstaff establishment for espresso, vegetarian fare, and group. Macy’s continues to supply its personal inexperienced espresso beans immediately from farmers (from Kenya to Colombia to Sumatra) for roasting in-house. “Macy’s attracts college students, professors, professionals, and vacationers alike,” says Marquess. “I like to sit down within the higher space by the espresso roaster for the very best individuals watching with a double Americano and a freshly baked vegan carrot muffin.”
Annex Cocktail Lounge
Befitting its title, the Annex Cocktail Lounge was initially created as an area to deal with overflow from the adjoining Tinderbox Kitchen not lengthy after the restaurant opened in 2009 in Flagstaff’s historic Southside. “The Annex has since turn into its personal vacation spot for cocktails and small plates,” says Marquess, who prefers a seat on the bar to talk with the bartenders as they construct an array of ingenious, seasonal cocktails just like the Inform-Story Coronary heart (vodka, sage, mint, lemon, stone fruit, and bubbles). “They’ve essentially the most lovely cocktails, however I’m additionally a sucker for his or her Grapefruit Shandy made with Mom Highway’s Tower Station IPA, Desert Rain Gin, and recent grapefruit juice, because it pairs completely with their well-known Annex Burger.”
Whisk and Whisky
Opened within the summer season of 2018, Whisk and Whisky operates like a gastropub, with a hearty meals menu complemented by craft cocktails, beer, and wine. However the true highlight is on the whiskey choice, with a deep checklist spanning world types. “It’s a part of a small, native collective of boutique eating places, however don’t let the situation in a brand new purchasing growth deter you,” says Marquess. “Whisk and Whisky boasts a menu of just about 200 labels, and the employees is passionate about whiskey, in order that they at all times have a favourite advice to share with you. My favourite afternoon cease consists of a Whistle Pig Farmstock Rye and their deviled eggs.”
The Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge
Situated at the historic Resort Monte Vista, this cocktail lounge was the primary speakeasy to function in Flagstaff and continues to sling drinks at this time (interrupted solely by a raid in 1931 that compelled a two-year shutdown). “The Monte V is a superb place to listen to reside music or shoot pool. Each the lodge and lounge are purportedly haunted, so ask your bartender for his or her favourite ghost story,” advises Marquess. “That is considered one of Flagstaff’s final ‘actual’ lounges that hasn’t been ruined with a renovation. Don’t anticipate a fancy cocktail right here; simply order an uncomplicated traditional, corresponding to an Outdated Common, a Gimlet, or a pint. Then sit again and benefit from the band.”
