The Best Bar in Anchorage, Alaska

Background Illustration for Nightlife

Anchorage does not shut down when it gets dark—well, that is when it actually does get dark (it’s still light at 3 am in the summer!). Bars here—and throughout Alaska—open early (in the morning) and close as late as 3 am on weekends. There's a ban on smoking in bars and bingo parlors, as well as in restaurants. The listings in the Alaska Dispatch News entertainment section, published on Friday, and in the free weekly Anchorage Press (www.anchoragepress.com) cover concerts, theater performances, movies, and a roundup of nightspots featuring live music.

Williwaw Social

Downtown

This central three-story entertainment hub tries to be everything for everybody, and mostly succeeds. With a rooftop bar, not-so-secret speakeasy, lively restaurant, and live concert venue, there's always something going on here. Check the online schedule for events like movie nights, DJs, trivia, and dance parties.