Bonanza Bar & Grill

In a town of cramped historic buildings, Skagway’s Bonanza Bar and Grill is refreshingly spacious—perfect for the town’s many visitors. You’ll find a high-energy restaurant that’s a combination of sports bar/Irish pub, with a touch of Gold Rush fever. Burgers and fish and chips are all on the menu, though Bonanza feels more like a bar than a restaurant—with neon beer signs, a large horseshoe-shaped bar, and even a dance floor.

Opened in 2011, the Bonanza has been a local success story—not only because there’s never a wait, but also because of the terrific food. Bonanza makes many of its dishes with local produce, and they buy fish at the dock when the catch is in. Fish and chips—made with halibut and hand-battered—is the most popular menu item; the 1/3-pound burger, served on a sourdough Kaiser roll, is popular as well. Specialty salads, fish tacos, and house-made seafood chowder add to the pub fare.

In the evening, the Bonanza is a hit with locals, who come for the five Alaska brewed beers on tap and the huge specialty cocktail menu. There’s karaoke, dance parties, and live music regularly. In other words, something’s happening all the time at Bonanza.