Best Restaurants Across Alaska
You won’t be surprised to hear that Alaska’s specialty is fresh fish. Salmon, halibut, and crab—plucked right from some of the world’s most pristine waters—may well be one of the main reasons you visit Alaska.
But here’s the rub: it’s hard to find a restaurant that serves memorable meals. And it’s expensive: even a basic dinner entrée can run you up to $30.
Don’t fret—we’re here to steer you to some of Alaska’s best restaurants. We’ve broken down the dining scene into two categories: local favorites and visitor hot spots. After all, locals know some of the best places, including seafood, steak, pizza, Asian fusion, breakfast, and more. Plus, eating like (and with) the locals can give you insights into local culture. With visitor favorites, you can count on a fun Alaskan experience, like dinner theater, a salmon bake, or an Alaskan buffet served up on an island accessible only by boat.
Of course, after a long day of traveling, sometimes it’s just easiest to dine at your hotel. Fortunately, Alaska boasts some excellent hotel restaurants, and we’ve included them on our visitor favorites list.
Another glimpse into Alaska's food culture is available with Big Swig Brewery Tours and Alaska Farm Tours.
And if you unearth a hidden gem that we haven’t listed, tell us! Email us your favorite.
Local Favorites
Who can’t be tempted by a place that offers a Bacon of the Month? This Anchorage restaurant in the heart of the Spenard neighborhood serves contemporary comfort food in a casual, eclectic setting. Year-round, its menu shows a local and sometimes whimsical flair: Bacon Jam Burger, Reindeer and Chevre Pizza, and S’mores for dessert. Vegetarian options abound, as well. The full bar has its own unique flourishes: it features small batch and single ...more
Located atop Tower 3 of downtown Anchorage’s Hotel Captain Cook, this AAA-four-diamond fine dining restaurant — the only one in Anchorage — offers a blend of French and New American cuisines, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar and stunning views of Downtown, Chugach Mountains, and Cook Inlet. Dishes reflect local resources, such as venison loin and Bering Sea king crab legs. Hours Monday through Saturday — 5pm-9pm. Prices Entrees range from $29… ...more
At this hip, inviting wine bistro, you can choose from 40 wines by the glass with your lunch or dinner. Sit and enjoy a glass, or share a bottle among friends.
Enjoy a wide variety of Alaskan beers on tap, as well as delicious dishes baked in a huge stone oven at this family-friendly restaurant in south Anchorage. Open for lunch and dinner, Firetap Alehouse has a bright, inviting atmosphere, with 6‑seater booths as well as tables that can be pushed together for large groups. During the warmer months, you can also dine out on the deck and take in the view of snow-capped mountains.
This classic steakhouse in downtown Anchorage has a lot of stories to tell: While the restaurant started in the 1950s, its home building dates back to the 1920s. Cut and aged on the premises, the steaks — some four inches thick — have been voted the best in Anchorage for 12 years running. No surprise, though, there is surf as well as turf: the menu features halibut, scallops, prawns and the much-sought-after red king crab.
Settler’s Bay Lodge has long been a tradition for locals, who come to this dinner-only restaurant for the delicious cuisine and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows showcase spectacular views of the gorgeous Matanuska-Susitna Valley, with the Chugach Mountains beyond.
A night at the Seven Glaciers restaurant, perched 2,300 feet above sea level on Mount Alyeska, is a dining journey that begins with a tram ride high above the treetops, followed by an elevator lift, then a stroll along a golden carpet, past a glimmering, glass-and-steel, wine-tower wall and into a dining room radiating the colors of alpenglow and glacial ice. Seven Glaciers is one of only three AAA Four Diamond restaurants in Alaska. You can ...more
The Glacier Brewhouse is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Meals are served in a large rustic dining area, complete with a fireplace in the middle, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s always abuzz with conversation. Here you can enjoy fresh seafood and meats while sampling a spectrum of homemade beers. Before or after you meal, be sure to check out the brewing equipment on display through the glass wall.
Stop in for slices, whole pizzas, salads, wings and more. Find local craft brews on tap. Dine-in, carry-out, or opt for delivery. Located in the heart of Downtown Anchorage.
Just a 45-minute drive from Anchorage, Raven’s Perch lies within the main lodge at the cozy Alaska Glacier Lodge, with big windows and an outdoor deck looking out to a spectacular view. The focus here is on local, sustainable ingredients and products. The staff talks with local farmers and plans ahead to see what vegetables are coming into season to create their menus.
Enjoy a delicious meal with a spectacular view at this cozy, casual, restaurant that’s part of the Seldovia Boardwalk Hotel. Come for lunch any day or dinner on Friday or Saturday night. Sit indoors or out, and as you dine on fresh local seafood and inventive cuisine, you’ll look out onto gorgeous Seldovia Harbor and Kachemak Bay.
At first blush, this traditional downtown restaurant may seem like just a special occasion place: steaks, lobster, oysters Rockefeller and impeccable service. But, its also an Anchorage mainstay for business power lunches, date nights and even upscale prom nights. They also have one of the best Happy Hours in town with drink specials and discounted appetizers.
Nothing beats a good breakfast to kick off a day of adventure in Alaska, and according to locals, nothing beats this popular downtown café for egg scrambles, omelets, salads and more. Snow City Café been voted “Best Breakfast” by Anchorage Press readers for years, thanks to their from-scratch bakery items and creative combos, such as eggs benedict with sockeye salmon cakes, or hot oatmeal topped with homemade granola and blueberries. At lunch, ...more
Anchorage’s Waffles and WhatNot is the perfect destination for foodies looking for something new and exciting. This award-winning restaurant, featured on the Food Network and in Entrepreneur magazine, serves up one-of-a-kind waffles, made-to-order omelets, and breakfast burritos. Vegan, gluten-free, and Keto options are also available.
Created by the folks behind Anchorage’s award-winning Snow City Café, Spenard Roadhouse and Sack’s Café, South Restaurant + Coffeehouse was launched to take the best qualities of those popular eateries to the South side of town. Located in a new development near the famed Alaska Sand and Gravel— and off Old Seward Highway — South Restaurant + Coffee House channels a bit of the area’s industrial past, with a clean, modern space, featuring a ...more
Handmade pastas and delicious pizzas are just the beginning of Flattop’s unique menu, which is full of inventive options. Set in the heart of Downtown Anchorage, the restaurant brings together high-end cuisine and an extensive wine list and serves it in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
Tent City Taphouse is an authentic Alaskan gastropub located in the heart of Anchorage. Discover delicious, locally sourced cuisine and a wide variety of Alaskan beers on tap. Experience the unique blend of Alaskan history and modern décor while enjoying a meal with friends and family. Don’t miss out on the chance to learn about Anchorage’s Tent City history and enjoy brunch with a flight of mimosas in four flavors.
Giving fresh Alaskan dishes a unique touch, Orso serves dinner in a warm, inviting atmosphere. Classics like grilled wild Alaskan salmon are served with an olive and tomato salsa, while Bering sea scallops come with a walnut-gorgonzola risotto. And you don’t want to miss the desserts.
Tequila 61, a unique gastropub in downtown Anchorage, fuses authentic, handmade Mexican dishes and classic Alaskan ingredients to create an entirely new take on contemporary cuisine. This modern approach extends to the creative, handcrafted cocktails and the rustic, industrial interior, where every table is handmade. The result is a memorable dining experience you won’t find anywhere else.
This bar was founded in 1994 by a few locals who felt that Anchorage needed a really good bar for craft beers. Clearly, they were right — both locals and tourists made this place a near-instant institution.
Visitor Favorites
This restaurant on the main floor of downtown Anchorage’s Hotel Captain Cook offers gourmet pizza, fresh pasta dishes and seafood specialties in an English pub-style setting. Named for Fletcher Christian, the man behind the historic mutiny on the Bounty, the pub also offers local, micro-brewed beers, wines by the glass or cognac. Hours Daily: 11:30am-1am Prices Prices range from $10 to $38. ...more
Re-opening in 2022. Please visit our website for other activities available during your stay. The Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre, performed out of the Denali Park Village, offers a true-to-life Gold Rush tale of Alaskan adventures in the early 1900s. Enjoy songs, dance, humor, and a large family-style meal topped off with berry cobbler.
This show at the McKinley Chalet Resort tells the story of the first ascent of Mt. McKinley. Laugh, eat, and be merry while the actors and actresses do double-duty as your servers for an all-you-can-eat meal of salmon and ribs.
Walk the fine line between folklore and gold fever. The Liarsville Camp, near Skagway, was originally named after journalists who came here during the Klondike Gold Rush and cooked up all manner of tall tales. The event begins with an all-you-can-eat feast in the forest. Then explore the old trail camp and finish off your day with a visit the Fancy Goods store. You can also have your picture taken with one of the dance hall girls or the camp’s ...more
At the Chilkoot Dining Room you’ll sample a piece of Alaska Gold Rush history. While enjoying Skagway’s finest steak and seafood, you’re able to take in E.A. Hegg’s historic Gold Rush photos. The friendly staff provides great service and flavorful food that make the historic atmosphere one to remember. The menu varies with daily specials and market fresh offerings. Reservations are encouraged.
The open-concept public house offers classic food with a shot of Alaska flair. The public house’s specialty is slow-smoked brisket, but the locally sourced menu also offers bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf, caribou burgers and fresh, local sheefish. Wash down your dinner with one of 12 local brews on tap and cocktails such as the American Trilogy (including Alaska made spirits) and a Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary.
Set at the top of the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway, the Timberline Bar & Grill offers great views, fresh Alaska seafood, and a variety of lunch and dinner options. After you hike, shop, and enjoy the wildlife on Mount Roberts, dine with a view in the Timberline Bar & Grill.
Get a serving of history along with a classic Alaskan feast. The Gold Creek Salmon Bake, a two-hour experience out of Juneau, has been running for more than 30 years. It’s a great meal and an Alaskan tradition. You’re dispatched from your hotel and brought to a corner of the Southeast Alaska rainforest, which saw lots of activity during Alaska’s Gold Rush.
With its warm atmosphere, lush setting and elegantly rendered Alaskan cuisine, it’s not hard to see why this hotel-based restaurant attracts locals and travelers alike.