5 Best Bars in Anchorage, Alaska

The rustic interior here is all stone, wood, and antlers, but the real attraction is the sun-soaked two-story rooftop deck where, on clear days, you can see Denali hovering over the northern horizon. The menu of pizzas and hearty bar bites emphasizes all things Alaska, including giant burgers appropriately named for noteworthy peaks. Beers are brewed on-site using local ingredients like Sitka spruce tips and Talkeetna birch syrup. The restaurant also hosts a range of events in its on-site theater, including improv comedy and trivia nights.

Arguably the most artistic brewery in the entire state, ABC's nationally known beers include several sours and a lot of high ABV percentages. Grab a glass in the high-ceiling tasting room and wander freely among the brewery's towering wood casks, or carry your pint outside to swap stories on the firepit patio or sun-soaked rooftop deck.

Lots of old-timers favor the dark bar of Club Paris. This is your spot if you like a stiff, no-nonsense drink.

Tall windows frame the Chugach Mountains and old skis fence the patio at this airy brewery, opened by twin brothers, head brewers, and noted powder hounds Rory and Brett Marenco. Like all Anchorage breweries, Girdwood Brewing Company closes by 9 pm, so make sure to end your adventures on the nearby tides, trails, and mountaintops early enough to grab a pint.

A trendy place for the dressy crowd, the bar at Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill has stunning views of Cook Inlet, a special single-malt-Scotch menu, and tempting cocktails. The lavender martini is a highlight. Take advantage of the happy hour food menu in the late afternoon.