Alaska
Dating back to the callow years of the gold rush, this saloon claims to be the oldest on the Bering Sea and was (is?) certainly the most notorious. It's…
Must-see nightlife in Alaska
Fairbanks
One of the best bonuses of this basement-level dive, with its dusty floors, beardy clientele, strong drinks and sports on the TV, is its downtown location…
Juneau
A little more than just a coffee shop (though it does serve locally roasted Sentinel Coffee), Coppa serves fresh-baked pastries, loose-leaf teas and…
Juneau
Owners of seven perennially busy Juneau cafes, Heritage was an early starter in the coffee boom. It's been roasting beans for over 35 years in an old…
Fairbanks
Need a cool spot to sit down, drink coffee, check email and check out local art, crafts and music? Venue's got your back. The cafe area sits across from a…
Seward
This curio-bedecked plush leather lounge serves the strongest drinks in town – try its white Russians – and is said to have the best halibut around (mains…
Kodiak Island
This bar and restaurant is a 15-minute drive out of town past the Coast Guard base, but its atmosphere is worth the trip. It hosts the best live music in…
Alaska
Dive in with the beards and the baseball caps and listen to Nomers discuss gun preferences and tussles with local grizzly bears. The decor’s retro without…
Seward
You'll find homecrafted brew at this expansive restaurant and taphouse. The food ($12 to $21) is just as good as the beer; it's a departure from standard…
Aleutian Islands
The Grand Aleutian Hotel bar is more refined than the Harbor View and in June, July and August the drinkers move to an outdoor patio for 'BBQ on the Deck'…
Ketchikan
Set in an unlikely location in out-of-town Ward Cove, hidden behind a gas station, this cafe offers the Ketchikan area’s best coffee, supplemented by some…
Anchorage
Grab a table overlooking the three giant stainless-steel brewing tanks and enjoy wood-fired pizzas and rotisserie-grilled ribs and chops with a pint of…
Ketchikan
A Jurassic bar preserving over 100 years of cigarette smoke in a wood-paneled, Wild West–flavored building just north of the main cruise-ship terminal…
Southeast Alaska
Legendary dive that's been around for eons. Jon Krakauer mentions it in his book Eiger Dreams; apparently he was asked to leave for playing morbid music…
Prince William Sound
One of Cordova's less dive-y bars, the best thing about this establishment, besides a healthy selection of microbrews on tap, is its harborview deck. It's…
Fireweed Gallery, Coffee & Tea House
Southeast Alaska
You're here for the best coffee in Gustavus (and a whole lot of the Southeast), and freshly baked goods and crepes too. There's an attached gallery…
Alaska
A good mix of tourism guides, bearded hunters and the odd traveler end up drinking in the Polaris, which also hosts live music and plenty of locals…
Denali Brewing Company Tap Room
Talkeetna
There are a dozen beers on offer – plus mead – at this tap room attached to the Denali Brewing Company production facilities.
Homer
This spacious bar is where locals head to listen to live music. The view is killer, but you’ll likely be paying more attention to whichever Homer talent…
Anchorage Region
The cultural heartbeat of Palmer is this cozy coffee shop, with local art on the walls and often live music at night. It has healthy sandwiches, soups and…
Homer
A new brewery in Homer with a modern little taproom and local art on the walls. A rotating special is the Lemon Tart Ale – don't knock it till you've…
Seward
There are hundreds of dollars pinned to this bar’s ceiling and almost nightly live music in the summer. It’s festive.
Fairbanks
In the Campus Corner Mall, this is one of the best spots in Fairbanks to pick up on the student vibe. Frequent live music.
Southeast Alaska
A classic domain of deckhands and cannery workers, with pool tables, free popcorn and a diverse beer selection.
Anchorage Region
The best place to stop after a rainy hike. It serves up soup, sandwiches and pastries in a warm environment.
Haines
Haines is a hard-drinking town, and this is where a lot of locals belly up to the bar and spout off.
Anchorage
A long-standing shop that serves espresso, bagels and muffins between its art-covered walls.
Seward
This fun pub has a good selection of beers on tap and a dance-party-starting jukebox.
Juneau
Packed with all the calling cards of a classic Alaskan dive bar, including car license plates, taxidermy, TVs on sports-channel loops and a tin ceiling…
Kodiak Island
Across from the harbor, B & B claims to be Alaska’s oldest bar, having served its first beer in 1899 (its original liquor license is framed on the wall)…
Sitka
The ‘P-Bar’ is Alaska’s classic maritime watering hole. The walls are covered with photos of fishing boats and their crews, big fish and a blackboard with…
Kodiak Island
Henry's is one of those bar-restaurant hybrids that you forgive poor service and average food for its drink selection. Located on the mall in front of the…
The Interior
This friendly little dive is a nice spot to drink a beer and hear locals tell tales about shooting very dangerous animals that were apparently prowling in…
Ketchikan
'Established 1893' reads the sign, though the interior with its disco ball and stripper’s pole is more 1970s. This piece of Ketchikan history has live…
Homer
Wineries are scarcer than vineyards in Alaska, but this impressive family-run operation bottles some fine berry-based wines. Tastings are $5 (credited to…
Fairbanks
This bar, attached to the Pump House Restaurant, plays the frontier-gold-rush card hard. There's a late 19th-century pool table, a mahogany bar, and a…
Fairbanks
Located centrally downtown, in a building that has been a jail and a firehouse, this little homegrown outfit produces Alaskan vodka distilled from local…
Homer
Catering to a younger crowd, the Alibi has DJs, karaoke and occasional dance parties. The large picture windows reveal the bay, and locals say the food…
