14 Awesome Bars in Anchorage, Alaska

If you’re in Anchorage and looking for a place to grab a drink, we’ve got you covered with the best bars in Anchorage!

Anchorage is trendy for tourists and travelers because it has beautiful scenery, fantastic wildlife, and many outdoor activities.

This city is in the southeast of Alaska, is a tourism hub, and often serves as an entry to the rest of the state. Even though it isn’t the most modern or tech-savvy, its charms are just as interesting, like its great bars.

Different kinds of bars mark the map of Anchorage. And one thing is for sure; each is a perfect spot to celebrate after a long day exploring the nearby wilderness.

Generally, the bar scene in Anchorage is known for craft beer, casual vibes, cozy decor, and live music.

There is something for everyone, whether you want a dive bar, a bar and grill, or a sports bar. You’ll enjoy bars with great cocktails, and if you want to eat, you’re lucky because some places we’ll talk about here have great food, too. 

With that, let’s jump straight to these 14 fun, chic, and local bars in Anchorage, Alaska, that you can’t miss!

14. Barry’s Baranof Lounge

1166 Gambell St, Anchorage, AK | Cocktail Bar, Pub, Lounges | $10 – $25 | Monday to Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am, Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm – 3:00 am, Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am

First on this list is Barry’s Baranof Lounge, which has food so good that people often mistake it for a restaurant.

This dive bar has been around for years and is in downtown Anchorage. It’s a local favorite for a reason!

The owner, Barry Smith, has been in the hospitality business for a long time. He chose to open his bar when he saw that the neighborhood needed a more upscale lounge.

Today, it has a full-service bar with various domestic and foreign beers, wine, liquor, premium spirits, and specialty cocktails.

If you don’t like alcohol, you can choose from a variety of fruit juices, soda water, or water from the tap. You can also buy non-alcoholic drinks like coffee or tea on-site.

This place also has a long list of traditional bar food, like burgers and fries.

What’s left? There is live music every day of the week at this place. Jazz played by local musicians will make your time here more relaxing.

Barry’s Baranof Lounge also has places to sit inside and outside and a room for events that can fit up to 100 people.

This bar is an excellent place to meet new people, drink, and dance. The bartenders are friendly, and everyone seems to be having a good time. People from all walks of life head to Barry’s, and there are always many things at the bar.

And don’t forget that the bar attracts many tourists with its unique location next to the city’s most famous attraction – the Chugach State Park. So you can head there afterward!

13. The Blue Fox Cocktail Lounge

3461 E Tudor Rd, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Pub | $10 under | Monday to Sunday 11:00 am – 2:00 am (next day)

The Blue Fox Bar is one of the hidden gems in the area and a great place to go if you’re looking to have a good time.

The Blue Fox Bar is just north of Anchorage. It has two stories, one below ground and the other above. Both settings offer unique experiences, depending on what you want.

On the lower level, there are several more relaxed bars and seating where you can catch up and relax with your family or friends while having a drink. It has a classic look with wood flooring and tables.

Many kinds of drinks are available here, including beer, liquor, and wine. Also, there are many kinds of food, like appetizers, pizzas, burgers, salads, and pasta. Both the food and drinks have tasty flavors that are unique to Anchorage.

The upper level is the spot to be if you want to start dancing the night away!

It has a huge dance floor and then a stage where local bands perform weekly shows with pop, rock, country, jazz, and blues music throughout the week and karaoke nights on the weekends.

On top of that, this bar is only a quick walk from many accommodations in downtown Anchorage and things tourists want to see when they come to this part of Alaska, like the Anchorage Museum and the Denali National Park Visitor Center.

12. Cabin Tavern 

264 Muldoon Rd, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Dive Bar | $10 – $25 | Monday to Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am (next day), Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm – 3:00 am (next day), Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am (next day)

The Cabin Tavern is another historic landmark in downtown Anchorage. It opened in 1940 and has been giving its loyal and long-term customers the best service ever since.

Whether you’re just passing through Alaska or there for a long time, you should check out Cabin Tavern. If you like dive bars mixed in with history, this is even more of a reason to go there.

The inside of Cabin Tavern looks a lot like the insides of other downtown Anchorage bars. It has dark wood floors, a lot of red accents, and themed decorations all over.

It has a long list of drinks, including more than 100 tap beers, wine, whiskey, and malt. Even though it has an extensive menu, one drink that stands out is the “out of the box” Bloody Mary with string cheese. Yes, you read that right!

During the summer, there is also a large outdoor patio with plenty of seating to enjoy drinks while getting fresh air. Their deck has a beautiful view, and many tables allow you to enjoy it with friends or family.

The service is good, and the crowd is just what you expect. Anchorage bar-hopping isn’t complete without this classic dive, with a couple of dart boards, several TVs showing sports, and even the bar dog. This is one of the best bars in Anchorage to experience the local vibes!

11. Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria

3300 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK | American, Bar, Beer | $11 – $30 | Monday to Friday 10:30 am – 11:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

If you are looking for a beer and pizza combination in a casual atmosphere, no one does it better than Moose’s Tooth!

Anchorage, Alaska’s Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria is a bar and restaurant that is good for the whole family. It has been around since the early 1980s, and its great food, drinks, and atmosphere have made it more and more popular.

The pub has places to sit inside and on the patio, open all year. High ceilings, lumber paneling, and oversized windows give the rooms an airy feel while making them feel cozy.

It has many burgers and sandwiches available for lunch and a long list of wines for people who want something fancier.

The craft beer selection at Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria is also among the best in Anchorage. It includes over 150 tap beers and more than 50 different kinds of beer in bottles that change with the seasons.

Besides food and drinks, Moose’s Tooth has local bands play live music at the pub on the weekends. It’s a great way to enjoy drinks and relax after a long day outside.

Don’t know what to order? We suggest getting the best pizza here, the Elf on the Shelf. You will be satisfied with its beers when it comes to drinks. Even more than the pizza, people come here for the beer. There are many great options, so try as many as you can when you go.

You cannot go wrong here if you want an excellent spot to hang out with friends or family.

10. Matanuska Brewing 

2830 C St, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Pub | $11 – $45 | Monday to Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Matanuska Brewing is a chain of brewpubs with locations in downtown Anchorage, Eagle River, Midtown, and Palmer.

It’s one of the earliest breweries in the state, opening in 2004. The New York Times, CNN, and Travel + Leisure already featured Matanuska Brewing Company as one of the best pubs in Anchorage, and it’s easy to see why.

The brewery is on Seward Highway and is in the middle of downtown Anchorage. It is also close to the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Because it rose before the majority of buildings in the city, there are no additional buildings around it, and it has lovely views of downtown Anchorage.

Even though their food and drink menus are long and tasty, you should try their quarter-pound beef burger! It’s not enough to say that it makes your mouth water. 

If you don’t like burgers, don’t worry: there’s something for everyone, like steak, Alaskan seafood, pizza, and more.

Regarding drinks, Matanuska Brewing Company has a wide range of pale ales, IPAs, and other kinds of beer. It also boasts unique beers, like stouts and porters, which you can try if interested.

The Citrus IPA and the Sunlight Pilsner are two of its best American Pale Ales. On the menu, you can also find beers like Starlight Wheat, Cream Ale, and the famous Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.

All those and plenty of outdoor and indoor seats contribute to a fantastic experience here – not to mention the friendly service.

9. Pioneer Bar

739 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK | Beer, Dive Bar, Pub | $11 – $30 | Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day), Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 am (next day), and Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day)

Pioneer Bar has the “almost perfect bartender” and has been Anchorage’s best bar for several years. If you’re in the area, this is one of the top Anchorage pubs for the authentic local vibe!

Anchorage’s Pioneer Bar is a tiny, cozy place to hang out. The place has a casual vibe, but there are enough tables for large groups.

This bar has a wide range of beers on tap and in bottles, cans, and growlers. It sells bottled beers like Narragansett, Brooklyn Lager, Samuel Smith’s Golden Stout, and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

It also has a few seasonal options that change often and a wide range of exciting imports, including some hard-to-find beers you can’t get anywhere else in Anchorage.

The sausage at Pioneer Bar is in-house, and you can get it with fries or onion bands on top. This food is delicious, especially with mustard. There is also a small TV above the bar. Pool tables and dart boards are in the back, and it plays some good music.

The bartender also suggests what to try, and its Irish coffee is a fantastic alternative if you are not into alcohol.

Even though it’s often called a “hole in the wall,” the Pioneer Bar is what many people look for in a traditional bar: casual comfort. Just a great place to hang out with your friends and get a cold pint of beer. This is one of the best bars in Anchorage for a real local experience.

8. F Street Station

325 F St, Anchorage, AK | American, Bar | $11 – $30 | Monday to Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day)

This pub is located between the fifth and sixth Avenues on F Street. Even though the bar has been around for a long time, it is still among the top locations to hang out in Anchorage.

The bar has a nice, comfortable feel to it. It is made mainly of wood, giving it a country feel. 

The menu at the bar includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and more. Its halibut fish and chips are among the best in Anchorage. On the other hand, the French fries at this bar also taste great compared to other places.

Of course, the bar section here is also top-notch. You can choose from a long list of wines to go with your food. But this place also has a good variety of beer on tap and in bottles. You won’t be disappointed with the drinks here, especially during happy hours when it gets crowded.

Apart from that, F Street Station also has a wide range of other events, such as live concerts and karaoke nights. These events fit with the overall laid-back vibe of the place.

Also, the service was outstanding and friendly. There were just two servers for the entire place, including drinks from the bar, but they worked quickly and satisfactorily. They will even check on you several times!

Overall, this spot is a must-visit if you are in the area! This is one of our favorite well-rounded bars in Anchorage that has great drinks and food and a cozy vibe.

7. Glacier Brewhouse

737 W 5th Ave #110, Anchorage, AK | American, Bar, Brewhouse | $11 – $30 | Monday to Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Friday 11:00 am – 11:30 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 11:30 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm 

Many bars in Anchorage are also restaurants or brewpubs, and Glacier Brewhouse is no exception. This more than famous brewhouse is where you can grab a pint and a feed of Alaska’s best. It is known as Alaska’s first choice for Wild Alaskan seafood.

The brewery is a 15-bbl single-infusion mash system, and out of about 1,200 brewpubs in the United States, it consistently places among the top ten for making beer.

This brewery is known for making beers in the English and American West Coast styles. It also has a very detailed program for aging beers in oak.

You can try award-winning drinks like amber, blonde, bavarian hefeweizen, Indian pale ale, oatmeal stout, imperial blonde, and raspberry wheat in this brewery. You can also ask for flights to enjoy each with your friends. Even better, this brewhouse is in a restaurant, so it’s easy to get tasty food.

You can order pizza, sandwiches, soups, burgers, chili, and other comfort foods from the full menu. The steak and shrimp go well together, so you should get them.

We recommend making a reservation if you want to go to this brewhouse. Because of everything it offers and how it feels, this widely known place can get crowded quickly. 

6. Avenue Bar

338 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Pub, Dive Bar | $11 – $35 | Monday to Thursday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am (next day), Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm – 3:00 am (next day), Sunday 12:00 pm – 2:30 am (next day)

Drinks and art go together well at Avenue Bar. 

Open since 1914, is probably one of the oldest bars in downtown Anchorage. It has been giving its customers old-fashioned Alaskan hospitality since it first opened. If you like to learn about local history and customs, this is one to add to your list!

This Anchorage pub first opened in the early 1900s as a pool hall. Around 1941, the bar changed its name to Union Club, and in 1984, it became The Avenue Bar.

Today, it’s just a local “dive bar” with a touch of class. Bar bites and wings are accessible from 4 pm to 12:30 am, and the late-night menu is available from 12 am to 2:30 am. Bar food includes nachos, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and more.

This Anchorage bar has draft beers, domestic beers, and beers from other countries. You can also find seltzers, cocktails, mocktails, wine, scotch, whiskey, and several others. You will never run out of beverages to drink!

There is also live music to listen to while you drink. It also has a shop where you can buy various souvenirs, a couple of dart boards you can play with friends, and a TV to watch a game.

Avenue Bar has events from time to time, so you might want to check out its website to make plans.

5. The Gaslight Bar

721 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Dive Bar, Lounge | $15 – $35 | Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day), Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 am (next day), Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30m am (next day)

The Gaslight Bar is in downtown Anchorage. It is more of a lounge than a bar, and people go there to enjoy comfort, tranquility, a good atmosphere, excellent service, and even better drinks.

Even though the dark lighting and big couches make the atmosphere feel cozy and comfortable, patrons know how to get the party going for a night to remember.

But the best thing about this place is that there are many things to do. In the center of the bar is a mechanical bull which you can ride for free. All you have to do is sign a form.

Not interested in riding? Head behind the bull to access a small dance floor and a raised platform. Other things inside are another bar room, some bathrooms, and bar games like pool and darts.

If you like music, you will also like this place. Older hip-hop, pop, and country music are popular, but you can jump up and down to loud throwbacks when the night gets late.

If you’re hungry, you can try some hotdog stands outside. It’s a great late-night spot if you want to party.

4. Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

8111 Dimond Hook Dr, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Brewery | $10 – $60 | Tuesday to Friday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

This next bar and restaurant is a world-famous brewery recognized for its delicious food, barrel-aged stouts, and barley wines. Even though it’s a tiny regional microbrewery, the beers it makes are robust, so don’t miss it!

Craft brewery Midnight Sun Brewing Company makes more than 40 ales and lagers yearly. It opened in 1995 and is the first brewery in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the second oldest brewery in the state’s history, after Alaska Brewing Co., which opened in 1986.

Since May 2009, the brewing company has been in its current spot, which has a tap room and a full-service restaurant.

While its main beers are stouts and barley wines, it also has some great IPAs and Belgian Ales that are sure to please your taste buds.

“The Loft” is on the second floor of the building. It has 16 beers and two sodas on tap, all made in-house. It also has a daily menu of delicious, fresh food with its world-class beers.

From here, you can also get to several other places. Beluga Point is the closest one if you want to see rock formations. You could also go to the Chugach National Forest or Lake Eklutna.

3. Reilly’s Irish Pub

317 W Fireweed Ln, Anchorage, AK | Bar, Pub, Club | $11 – $30 | Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day), Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 am (next day), Sunday 10:00 am – 2:30 am (next day)

Another great neighborhood bar is Reilly’s Irish Pub.

Reilly’s is an Alaskan dive bar in the Fireweed neighborhood that is known to be one of the best bars in Anchorage. Reilly’s is a great place to hang out after a long week, whether for a beer after work or a night out with the guys.

From its name, you can tell that this pub serves Irish food. It is the best place to get an Irish coffee you don’t want to miss, especially in the colds of Alaska.

There are also drinks like strawberry hibiscus, prickly pear, signature margarita, and blueberry mojito that you can get here. You can try beer, lager, and many other choices.

You can also find several TVs playing sports games inside the place. On the other hand, the business also plays soft music to help you relax on a chilly Alaskan night.

Every year, there are also fun events at Reilly’s. It has golf tournaments for its clients, and anyone can join. An elephant exchange and drinks are available all night long during the holiday.

In general, if you are in Anchorage, it is an excellent place to be. The bartender is funny, and the staff and the owner are friendly. This is one of the best bars in Anchorage for a classic Irish pub vibe!

2. Carousel Cocktail Lounge

3206 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK | Lounge, Dive Bar | $11 – $30 | Monday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am (next day), Tuesday to Saturday 2:00 pm – 2:00 am (next day), Sunday 5:00 pm – 2:00 am (next day)

What could be better than cheap beer, live music every night, and an oversized patio outside? You get what you see at Carousel Cocktail Lounge, and it’s excellent!

The “Carousel” has been an essential part of Alaska and Spenard since 1957. It has a “colorful” past, and its new owners are working hard to bring the “old school” dive bar back to life.

The beer list at this bar has a lot of exciting drinks. Alaskan amber, white, husky IPA, and double shovel appalanche are just some of the beers they make.

You can also access hefeweizen and oatmeal stout from Glacier Brewhouse, Elysian space dust IPA, goose island IPA, and shock top Belgian white.

There is also food at the Carousel Lounge. There are, among other things, tempura shrimp, toquitos, chicken wings, boneless chicken bites, and mozzarella sticks.

Apart from the food and drinks, this lounge has a pleasant atmosphere and live music. There are pool tables, dart boards, and other things you and your friends can do together.

More importantly, the place is clean, and the people who work there are friendly. You will not be disappointed with the kind of service you receive.

You’re in for a great night out in this location when everything comes together!

1. 49th State Brewing Co

717 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage, AK | Breweries, Pub | $11 – $50 | Monday to Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am – 11:30 pm, Sunday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

49th State Brewing, in downtown Anchorage, is a must-see part of the Anchorage experience.

Here, you can see the diverse Alaskan culture by exploring the long history of brewing with award-winning beer or trying fresh Alaskan foods on the menu.

This brewpub is often called one of the best bars in Anchorage. Its unique menu items are its home-brewed beers and creative bar snacks.

You can find steaks, burgers, and wings on the menu, all classic American foods. Also, guests love Alaskan specialties like elk, yak, king crab, salmon, halibut, and more.

On the other hand, its tap list has drinks that have won awards. You can try Alaska eight-star lager, solstice IPA, ube hefeweizen, sauvignon blanc saison, and more. There are still a lot of drinks you can find here if you come.

49th State is more than just a brewpub; it’s also a community center. The many private theaters and function rooms make it a great place for concerts, workshops, conferences, and weddings. 

On top of that, there is a fire pit inside and outside to help you unwind. Do not forget to check on the patio overlooking the beautiful Alaska landscape, like the Cook Inlet and Alaskan Range!

Overall, 49th State Brewing Co. is not your ordinary hole-in-the-wall. Instead, it is of a higher standard. There’s a reason why this Alaskan brewery has won so many awards. Visit here to experience local, luxury, and alluringly delicious drinks and foods in downtown Anchorage!

Looking for the top places to enjoy food in Anchorage? Here are our absolute favorite restaurants in Anchorage that you will love!