Once a simple side road in the heart of Flagstaff’s sleepy downtown district, Leroux Street is becoming a compelling blend of historical hidden gems and burgeoning businesses. Spend the day exploring this nascent nexus through nearby eateries, lodging and other enterprises both contemporary and classic.
Text and Photography by Madison Rutherford
3 Places To Eat
A Brix
Find seasonal, sustainable sustenance sourced from farms in the Four Corners region at this intimate restaurant and wine bar housed in a historical carriage house. A romantic, string-light-studded patio provides the perfect setting for enjoying a meal of build-your-own charcuterie boards and colorful dishes prettified with wildflowers, plus purées assembled with pleasantly surprising ingredients such as sunflower seeds, black garlic and huckleberry.
413 N. San Francisco St.
928-213-1021, brixflagstaff.com
B Lotus Lounge
Though the Hotel Monte Vista has been captivating visitors with its supernatural lore, glamorous Old Hollywood guests and vintage charm for nearly a century, it seemingly never ceases to stay contemporary and cutting-edge. To wit: the whimsical cocktails and Asian fusion fare at Lotus Lounge, a brand-new drinking and dining concept located on the first level of the famed lodge. Here, you can munch on duck confit croquettes and sip on CBD-infused cocktails while still taking in the history and mystery of the good ol’ Monte V.
106 N. San Francisco St.
928-440-5568, lotusloungeflagstaff.com
C Atria
Flagstaff’s newest New American darling debuted in August, bringing house-made pasta, fresh fish and other premium proteins (think imported Wagyu and Iberian pluma pork) to a charming little space on Leroux Street. Craft cocktails concocted with house-made syrups and an extensive wine list including rare global wines by the glass are also on deck at this dreamy dining establishment helmed by acclaimed Arizona chef Rochelle Daniel (Fat Ox, L’Auberge de Sedona).
103 N. Leroux St.
atriarestaurant.com
3 Things To Do
D Flagstaff Community Farmers Market
This lively weekend market started more than two decades ago with only 10 booths. Today, nearly 100 vendors gather at Flagstaff City Hall every Sunday to showcase the vibrant agriculture, art, cuisine and community that Northern Arizona has to offer. Stop by May through October for fresh produce, local art and jewelry, fresh-squeezed lemonade and homemade tamales.
211 W. Aspen Ave.
928-607-4712, flagstaffmarket.com
E Art Loft Collective
Art aficionados must make a stop at this newly opened studio and gallery where creatives teach, learn and display their work. Current resident artists include ceramicist, metalsmith and fiber artist Haley Jacoby and painter Jeff Urdang.
17 N. San Francisco St.
847-946-3666, artloftcollective.com
F Hops on Birch
Arizona beer-trepreneur Justin Evans (of Valley tap rooms The Wandering Tortoise and The Sleepy Whale) bought the more demonstrably named Hops on Birch two years ago and gave the cozy craft beer bar a facelift, introducing options from local breweries like Pueblo Vida Brewing Co., Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. and Wren House Brewing Co., plus more far-flung beermakers from California and Colorado.
22 E. Birch Ave.
928-440-5380, hopsonbirchbeer.com
PHOTO OP
The corner of Leroux Street and Butler Avenue is home to a colorful public art piece painted by the Black Sheep Art Collective. It’s a kaleidoscope of complex imagery depicting the juxtaposition of nature and city life. A shadowy skyline blends into vivid wildflowers and trees, all of which are presided over by a goddess-like being.
Overnight Option!
The Inn at 410 B&B
Housed in a Craftsman-style home built in 1894, each impeccably decorated room has Victorian flourishes including floral wallpaper and Kiva fireplaces, but also modern amenities like a giant jetted bathtub.
410 N. Leroux St., 928-774-0088, inn410.com
