Flagstaff is not only northern Arizona's commercial and services hub, it's also the center of the region's entertainment and nightlife scene. The city is home to the 21,000-student Northern Arizona University and serves as home base for tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists who come to explore the area's high-profile tourist attractions, including the Grand Canyon, San Francisco Peaks and Arizona Snowbowl--the closest skiing and snowboarding facility to the Phoenix metropolitan area. As a result, the city is flush with nightlife opportunity, ranging from lounges with impressive wine lists to highly regarded breweries and all-night dance clubs popular with the younger crowd.
Flagstaff Brewing Company
The Flagstaff Brewing Company is a popular bar and restaurant that brews several varieties of its own beer. It features a sizable indoor space with both bar and table seating, and a large patio where patrons who choose to smoke cigars or cigarettes can do so. During the late spring, summer and early fall, the bar features musicians several nights a week on its outdoor stage. The outdoor patio is situated in a shop-lined courtyard, making it a popular walking corridor for downtown visitors. Thus, "Flag Brewery," as locals call it, is a popular spot for people watching, too.
In addition to the beers produced on site, Flagstaff Brewery has a full bar and a selection of over 100 single malt whiskeys. The bar also offers a full food menu, too, featuring numerous salads, burgers and specialties such as poutine, a dish of french fries topped with cheese curd and gravy. The bar is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Flagstaff Brewing Company
16 E. Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 773-1442
flagbrew.com
Museum Club
The Museum Club is a historic Flagstaff bar that has been serving tourists and locals since 1931. It is most well-known for the numerous famous country-western musicians who have played there. The bar and restaurant is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been named one of Car & Driver magazine's Top 10 roadhouses. The bar still offers regularly scheduled country-western music.
In addition to a full bar, the Museum Club also offers a full menu of food featuring roadhouse staples such as steaks, burgers and salads. In addition to live music, the club also offers off-track betting and routinely hosts horseshoe and Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments. Museum Club is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Museum Club
3404 E. Route 66
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
(928) 526-9434
museumclub.com
Cuvee 928 Wine Bar
The Cuvee 928 Wine Bar is in downtown Flagstaff in Heritage Square, within walking distance of numerous other bars, restaurants and hotels. The bar offers a rotating variety of at least 10 white and 15 red wines by the glass, and others by the bottle. Additional bottled wine is available for purchase in the adjacent store. The bar also offers a variety of educational flights--three glasses of wine paired either by style or region.
In addition, Cuvee has a menu aimed to compliment its sophisticated wine selection. Panini sandwiches are offered for lunch and dinner. Entrees range from vegetarian specials such as marinated beets to dishes designed to please meat-lovers, such as spice cured salmon and sirloin of Angus beef.
Despite its lofty selection of foods and wines, dress is casual. In the spring, summer and fall, outdoor patio seating is available. Cuvee 928 Wine Bar is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The bar is closed on Sunday.
Cuvee 928 Wine Bar
6 E. Aspen Ave.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 214-9463
cuvee928winebar.com
About The Author
Ed Baker has worked in the publishing industry since 1994. He is currently an editor and writer based in the Southwest. He previously served as an investigative politics reporter for the "East Valley Tribune" in Mesa, Arizona. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Arizona State University.
