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Wine Loft
Categories: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Beer, Wine & Spirits, Wine Bars [Edit]
17 N San Francisco StSte 2A
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 773-9463
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Wed, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
31 reviews for Wine Loft
Review Highlights
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"Great atmosphere and huge selection of board games." In 10 reviews -
"The bartender is super nice, friendly, and knowledgeable." In 6 reviews
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"We noticed their iPod playlist - Wilco, Ryan Adams, Ray..." In 3 reviews
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Christine T.
Chandler, AZ
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend & I have come here twice now, once per snowboarding season in the past two years. We come to sip some wine, maybe add some cheese if we have room for food after dinner, and play some awesome board games! Last year, I got a cheese plate with four different types, but my favorite was Manchego from Spain(which is around $20.99 a pound at Fry's!).
This year, I could not bare to eat any more food after having teppanyaki @ Sakura in the Radisson Woodlands Hotel where we stayed for the night. I did get to taste their special for the night-a Tempranillo. It was very smooth & easy to drink. I just wish I could remember which vineyard it's from. My boyfriend asked for the smokiest wine on the menu, but of course I don't recall the name. I'm still only a wine enthusiast, not yet at the connoisseur level that I want to be! But just ask the bartender. They're very knowledgeable & willing to help you find the right wine for you!
There's also a great selection of beers. We got a peach-flavored ale. It was delicious!! Tastes just like juice.
I love the atmosphere of this place. It's on the second floor, and it's dead quiet in the building as you walk up the stairs. Then you open the doors to groups of people (I'd say in their 20s & early 30s) chattering away & laughing & just having a good time. There is a wide variety of board games available for you & your group to play as you all drink up & get a lil tipsy! It's all the more fun that way! -
Review from Zach C.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/15/2011
The Wine Loft is great - they provide great board games, a huge selection of wines, intimate seating and BYOF-ICTW (bring you own food - it's cheaper that way).
It's got ambiance and a true downtown Flagstaff vibe to it, it's cozy, you like being here. It's comfortable to explore different wines and beers here and none of the other patrons are obnoxious or loud.
I have to say I am confused by some of these negative reviews that rant about how the Wine Loft has carpet, the older tables, and the employees. You should probably disregard those.
If you're going to be disappointed and not enjoy drinking wine here based purely on the flooring of an establishment, I'd probably say you should be wine tasting in Scottsdale, not in Flagstaff. And let's be honest - the reason you're in Flagstaff is because you don't want to be in Scottsdale, right?
My experience with the employees here has been great, really friendly, and they make great suggestions. When I lived in downtown Flagstaff, I'd come here to escape the rowdy Maloney's bar scene, to get better alcohol and to enjoy the company of the people I was with.
One of the things I really like about this place is that you can bring your own food - crackers, cheese, bread, etc. so you might be spending more on your drinks but are able to bring whatever you want from wherever you want and save on it.
So - disclaimer, yes there is carpet on the floor and yes the chairs and tables aren't new or fancy. If you can get past those two things you'll really enjoy yourself. -
Review from Sarah S.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love this place. Play battleship
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Review from Kristin C.
Minneapolis, MN
4/29/2012
I traveled to Flagstaff this weekend to explore the Grand Canyon and surrounding area. Flagstaff has a big college population, so i was looking for something that was slated toward a slightly older crowd. After reading the reviews here, i thought "looks good." Wrong.
When I walked in the place was empty. The owner was sitting at the bar with his laptop - very unprofessional in my opinon. He was also clearly scamming on a young woman at least 20 years his junior. Love who you want, just don't do it where you work.
The wine list is good and the Belgian beer selection was good, but the ambiance just sucked. -
Review from Jennifer T.
Phoenix, AZ
2/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is seriously my favorite place to visit when in Flag. It is super chill, the wine is affordable and the bartenders are great. They have tons of boardgames which I'm also a sucker for. If I lived in Flagstaff I'm sure I'd stop by at least once a week.
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Review from J. B.
Flagstaff, AZ
3/16/2012
Beer, Wine and Board Game! What a great night and the crowd is young and entertaining. This is a safe place to come hang-out for a PG night with friend or family. The bartender is always very helpful whether you are getting a bottle or just a glass. They also have a pretty good band selections of some nights and a decent Ipod list for the rest!
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Review from Billy R.
Tempe, AZ
2/16/2011
I read in the paper while I was staying in Flagstaff that there was going to be wine tasting here. I killed time until 5:00 when the tasting was to begin. I walked down to where this place was, went up the stairs. I'm always excited to taste wine in a place I've never been and get to soak in the atmosphere. As soon I walked in, I took a look around and the gentleman working behind the bar said something to the effect of, "Can I help you?"
"Yeah," My girlfriend told him. "We're here for the wine tast--"
"That was Wednesday. The paper is wrong."
"Oh... kay?" She continued. "The paper specifically noted today."
"Yeah, no. That was on Wednesday."
We stood there for a confused moment or two. Most people would have apologized ferociously and cursed the damn paper for getting it wrong, not treat two potential customers like pieces of shit you need to weigh down with toilet paper in order to actually flush successfully.
"Hey," I interjected, trying to keep an awkward moment from getting completely weird. "Maybe we can get a bottle of wine."
"There's a $5 corking fee if you want to drink that in here," he told us. This guy did not want us to stay. I likened this guy to Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons, someone who think that they're just all around too awesome and powerful to be bothered by someone stupid enough to come into his bar and expect to be treated with any shred of dignity.
Fuck this place. -
Review from Andrew B.
1/30/2011
Almost walked past this place since it has very small signage and you have to walk up 2.5 flights of stairs. The set up is very cozy, dimly lit, and quiet for the most part. The ability to purchase bottles at a fair price made it interesting...set up as a store and a place to drink a bottle. $5 more to drink it there....um, OK. I was told where the Malbec section was so I went to the back and looked at their half dozen selection. Although I did not want to buy the most expensive bottle, the other cheaper options were bottles I did not care for in the past so it was the $25 bottle. Although I was not impressed by the bottle (it wasnt bad) the bartender told me it was ranked in the Top 200 bottles of 2010 by Wine Enthusiast. Wish I could remember the name but its the $25 bottle of Malbec.
So get this, they have this chalk board of ALL of the board games they offer people to play while there....wow. I had NO clue there are so many games that I had never heard of. So while drinking our Malbec at the bar, I got to enjoy a game of Scrabble...
I like the spot and will be back. -
Review from James G.
Prescott, AZ
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the wine selection and board games here! Come here to escape the noisy downtown scene in Flagstaff.
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Review from Liz X.
Chicago, IL
6/7/2007
If this place was in Los Angeles, it would be packed to the gills and people would be hovering about ready to pounce on an emptying table. Ahh...but not here in quaint Flagstaff where space at the bar and tables are healthily filled, but still available.
The Wine Loft is a charming shelter for oenophiles and their friends. Picture this: a cozy but subtlely chic coffee-house vibe that is part wine shoppe, part wine bar, but 100% chill place to hang. It's situated in the small, but delightfully packed downtown area. However, it's a bit hard to find because it is on the 2nd floor. You have to go up two flights of quiet dark zig-zagging steps before you enter upon the oenophiles' oasis.
Once you enter, you are welcomed by the warm vibe that includes a cozy bar, several tables, and lots and lots of wine. I happened to walk in on some live music performed by a local band who were pretty damn good. The atmosphere was festive, yet cozy. The WL offers up a list of several board games (the coffee-shop aspect) and lists the albums on the owner's iPod (ranging from the Decemberists to Norah Jones). The patrons ranged from your typical 20-30s crowd in groups or couples and included a cute geriatric couple dancing/hobbling the night away.
On to the good stuff: the wine. A good range of wines (didn't get to get up and walk around the band to see what they were selling) on the bar menu which included wines from California, Oregon, French, and a few other countries. I sampled a great French Malbec (never had one even though Malbecs originated in France), a great Oregonian Pinot Noir, and my fave...a Zin from Central Coast that was recently featured in "Wine Spectator." They were all great and reasonably priced (between $6-10/glass). The WL also offers some microbrews in a bottle. The owner/bartender is super-attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Now if the wine would have been accompanied by some good cheese and fruit...it would have been perfect. But I guess good cheese and fruit always makes everything a touch more perfect.
The Wine Loft is a great place that would be able to sustain itself in any major city. It's even nicer because it's in Flagstaff where the people are nice and no one is trying to one-up each other by bragging about what kind of car they drive, what auditions they just bombed, or who did their new boobs. Go, Flag (as the locals refer to it)!Listed in: Roadtrippin' from el A to the…
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Review from Alicia B.
Boston, MA
11/14/2007
Ah, the missing "u." That's what I think of when I remember The Wine Loft. You see, in walking to the restroom past the tables, I saw a Scrabble piece on the ground. I picked it up and placed it on the closest table where two women were playing a game - not Scrabble. I guess at The Wine Loft, Scrabble pieces wander off, for they remarked, "Yeah, we wanted to play Scrabble, but it's missing some letters." Obviously.
Let's rewind.
Standing on the corner, wondering where to find this place, a man asked what my friend and I were looking for. Upon telling him, he pointed, "See that blue light. It's right there, up the stairs." Easy enough.
We walked into the doorway and proceeded up the stairs. We wondered if we were headed in the right direction. The stairway was plain with ugly blue carpeting and white walls. We climbed the stairs. At the top, there was a glass doorway on our left. We walked in to The Wine Loft. We had arrived!
We snagged a couple chairs near the end of the bar. Upon examining the menu and talking with the woman working the bar, we placed our orders. I went with a light Zin, since we were going to be dining at Pasto later. The wine was very, very good. We noticed their iPod playlist - Wilco, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne. Yes, I could hang here. The music playing overhead was great.
Upon looking around, there was plenty of seating. There were couches near the window, yet they were claimed. There were plenty of bar stools at the bar, along with bar tables and regular square tables farther back.
This place truly is a loft - with the layout being one long rectangular shape. Art on the walls warmed up the place, as did the racks of wine.
Downside: one bathroom per gender. And you have to exit the relaxing decor and re-enter the plain stairway/back storage area. It sort of throws you out of the mood, if you ask me.
If I lived in Flag, I'd probably come here about once a week if I needed a place to chill, sip some wine, read a book or challenge a friend to Scrabble, despite the missing letters. -
Review from Sandy T.
12/30/2007
relaxed place to hang out when you are in Flagstaff. easy going, mellow and lots to let the mind wander upon. I wasn't too impressed with the medium body by the glass choices but the man liked the Pinot's. I think I was just in a bad mood so it probably wasn't really anything wrong with the wine.
There was an interesting mix of people, one group had brought 2 babies with them to the Wine Loft at 10 o'clock on a Sunday night, that seemed odd to me. But hey, who am I to judge. Thankfully I am old enough to not have a faux id, but a word to the wise, they are stringently checking everyone who enters that looks even remotely under 30. -
Review from Eric W.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2006
Best wine in Flagstaff. If you need a break from the town's funky westerness and want a little urbanity (without pretense), this is the place to go.
Also, if you have reservations at a nearby restaurant, the restaurants will call you here... nice. -
Review from Nicole W.
4/7/2009 2 photos
I had seen so many cool reviews for this place, I had to visit it!
We visited after dinner for a glass of wine, some relaxation, and some chocolate from Uncle Buzz.
The place is huge, tons of seating, a whole list of games, and a giant variety of wine as well as beer!
Lisa the bar tender was very friendly, helpful and fun!
I went with an Argentinian Malbec, hubby chose a Merlot.
The place is cozy, comfortable and unpretentious!!
It;s upstairs over an art gallery - look for it and enjoy it!
Side note- the restroom is not their faults - it's part of the building! -
Review from Randy G.
4/26/2009
You want a bar that is part art gallery, part chill lounge, and serves up expensive wines and beers? Then this is the place.
Huge, full of games, the staff is very nice, but the prices are a little steep, especially for the beer, which is easily purchased elsewhere in town, and at cheaper prices.
This is a bar that is more about the atmosphere. -
Review from Andrew B.
Boulder, CO
4/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Some reviewers noted the pleasing ambiance, but I'm not seeing it Pretty sure they haven't updated anything in here since 1984. Only two tables have a window view, the rest of the place has low ceilings and uncomfortable seating. The staff is either snotty, or bored out of their minds. When I asked about appetizers the bar tender pointed me to a refrigerator with cheese in it. In an effort to not be completely negative on the place, they do have a nice wine and beer list.
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Review from Luz V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2009
BF and I met a friend here for a drink and to watch his friend play some folk. I don't know much about wine, but the beer list is great! And well priced too! The bartender is super nice, friendly, and knowledgeable. Great atmosphere and huge selection of board games!
We returned the next day to get a bottle of wine to pair with dinner and were glad the bartender knew what he was doing! -
Review from Chuck K.
Phoenix, AZ
11/18/2009
This is a must when visiting Flagtown!
Bring your significant other or friend and share a bottle of wine or two here while playing board games and just having great conversation.
Try and grab one of the tables at the very front that overlooks the street below.
Then pick from hundreds of bottles and bring up to the bartender who will take care of you.
They have some pretty cool artwork for sale on the walls from the locals and always have some of the local musicians on the playlist including my fav (and former goaltending partner on NAU's hockey team) Nolan McKelvy.
The ONLY place to go for wine in Flag... -
Review from Nicole S.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/20/2011 1 photo
The only thing this place has going for them is the ambiance and the board games. When it was about a half hour till close, we were rudely told that if we wanted another board game, we had better make a decision fast or else it wouldn't be given to us. The guy at the bar was very impolite and didn't seem knowledgeable. I had fun because I was in good company, but the service was horrible.
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Review from Sarah Y.
11/30/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Love it! If you live or are ever in Flastaff, you need to go to the Wine Loft. They offer great wine (the moscato is my favorite) and beer (or at least that is what I hear), and the atmosphere is calm and conducive to conversation/fun/board games with friends. I fondly remember many nights I have spent at the Wine Loft playing Scrabble and drinking wine with my good friends.
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Review from Joe D.
Longwood, FL
2/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Has board games and a great beer list as well. Nice ambiance. Cheaper wine glasses than Vino Loco, but a bit more stuffy.
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Review from Sarah L.
Chandler, AZ
5/26/2008
The wine loft is great. It's upstairs in downtown. It's casual and comfy. They have complimentary cheez-its, which are sometimes served in a wine glass. They have a very large selection on wines, plus some other beverages. The staff are very helpful in picking out wine. The atmosphere is nice. It's loud enough that you don't have to be quiet but not loud enough that it's annoying. There is often live music too. They also have board games and plenty of seating so you can hang out, play games, and drink some delicious wine.
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Review from Megan B.
Decatur, GA
2/20/2010
You'd never know this place was there unless someone told you or you were doing something else in the building. Craig and I discovered the wine loft after kevin at the tinderbox told us about it, mostly for their Belgian beer selection. We were out and about and decided to stop on in for a glass of wine and a beer. Their wine list was extensive, and their beer list was pretty good too. They had a list of all their cheeses available, and that was a long one as well. Everything was very fairly priced and the service was friendly. They had a big chalk board with a list of their games. We chose trivial pursuit and asked each other questions while sipping on tasty drinks. A very cool, low-key spot. We'll visit again! Apparently they have live music on week nights.
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Review from Mark M.
Phoenix, AZ
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Enjoyed a nice bottle of wine at a great price. Definitely not pretentious, but I wish the bartender was a bit more knowledgeable about the wines. I agree with what someone said about getting a table at the front, the back is a bit cafeteria style.
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Review from Alisa H.
Phoenix, AZ
10/5/2009
Stopped in here with my wine group to quench our thirst one afternoon. Other than one table of 4 at the front, looking out onto the street, we were the only other people there that afternoon. To celebrate a friend's business accomplishments, we decided to order some champagne. We selected one, but rather than wait for it to chill, decided to ask the bartender for his recommendations and if he had them cold. Our first selection was not in the cooler...nor our second. We had a prosecco which wasn't that good. Next choice, which he recommended and said he had cold, was also not in the cooler. Seriously, we watched as he unloaded the bottom shelf of bubbly from the cooler no less than three times! Hey, how about just telling us what you would recommend from what you DO have cold?
Seating seemed like hand-me-downs from a conference center that went out of business, but at least it was comfortable. They are still working on the building, and the bathroom is located through a back door and and out a hallway, just at the point where you think you must be going out to the fire escape.
Pleasantly surprised to learn that they have live music, and some interesting acts, at that, so would like to come back to see that, but not the most interesting place for day drinking. -
Review from Bethie G.
Flagstaff, AZ
4/30/2009
Local chill...fantastic selection that with consistent new selections. Great to hang with friends; music is always great, and folks are happy here.
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Review from Doug C.
Mountain View, CA
7/17/2009
If you're going to serve slightly overpriced alcohol, you'd better know your stuff when it comes to a good Australian Shiraz or a nice wheat beer. And this place totally does, as far as I'm concerned. Plus, they have "Twixt" which is like one of my favorite games ever. If I'm ever back in Flag, I'm going to play Twixt with someone at the Wine Loft.
Relaxing music atmosphere, low lighting and industrial art define the space, with comfortable seating throughout. Close your eyes and you might think you're at a a bar in a swanky hotel. -
Review from Richie D.
Chino Valley, AZ
1/20/2011
Great wine, cheese, crowd and board games! Service is just O.K. which is a shame because this place could hook me for an every day visit. A must visit regardless.
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Review from Eilise F.
Flagstaff, AZ
2/12/2009
I love the Wine Loft. Flagstaff chic,casual but nice. Good wine selection for a small town. I love the board game selection and i-pod playlist, nice touches. One of my fav places in Flag!
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Review from Jennifer H.
Albuquerque, NM
2/28/2011
I don't even want to give this place ANY stars. RUDE bartenders, rude service. Yes, they charge a $5 corking fee on top of some of the most outlandish priced bottles of wine! My boyfriend and I had been going here for the past 2 years and this last visit was the first time we had been charged a "corking fee". When my boyfriend asked about the fee, the Bartender/owner told us that there has ALWAYS been a separate corking fee. I assumed they included it in the high cost of the bottles of wine they sell. They do not acknowledge you when you walk in, they are not helpful, nor are they knowledgeable. We asked about a specific bottle of wine we had bought and drank there during previous visits, and Mr. SNOOOTY Bartender told us he NEVER heard of the wine, nor has he ever sold it. Which is a complete lie. IF you like RUDE service, and to be treated like you are making the workers go waaaaaay out of their way to help you, then this is your place! I will NEVER go back to The Wine Loft, nor will I ever recommend this HORRIBLE HOLE IN THE WALL to anyone again. BTW, I had recommended to some friends who went and were treated just as horribly rude. Save your money...don't bother.
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Review from John V.
Boston, MA
11/17/2007
Carpeting in a loft...is like having a Cape style shingled house in Phoenix, it' just ain't workin. Synthetic rugs aside, this place is somewhat cool, with the ability to easily transcend to very cool. I have to keep telling myself "you were in Flagstaff, it was cold, you love the cold, don' let this sway your yelp-honesty" It is like being on a plane and seeing a movie, you get off the plane rave to all your friends, and then they see it, and say uhh, that sucked dude" Subtract one star, thumb up, tick mark, or check for your immediate environment I always say. So after I calculated with this formula in mind, I come up with 3 stars. I'll start with what I liked: great wine selection, good prices, wide open spaces, spectacular music. dislikes, Bad "I mean bad" furniture, carpeting, decor, and OK service. Overall it is a very laid back place and perfectly fine for a glass of wine (or to rhyme) However it seems to draw a mixed crowd of all types, which is usually great, but this time my friend and I had the unfortunate pleasure of hearing all about this girls love life as she lamented to her friend about her ex. I think her exact words were "hey man, I like kickin it with you, I like hangin, let's finish this bottle of wine before Chris gets here" If I ever heard this from a girl I think I would just laugh out loud. So as we had to skid-dattle to get to our dinner reservation we went to use the bathroom, at this point I said out loud "I feel like I am going to see a dentist" the interior of the building and hallways had that bad telemarketing company, or dodgy dentist feel. If they do a little remodeling, this place could be 5 stars!
