Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Anchorage / Alaska

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Anchorage / Alaska? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Whisky & Ramen

4.8

4.8 (1319)

$30 and under

Japanese

Anchorage

About the restaurant

Please note: If you'd like to be seated at our Ramen Counter or Whisky Bar, please add a reservation note or tag when booking.

Top review

Carol

Dined 1 day ago

Alex was amazing! Great service and food. The skewers and baked Alaska were delicious.

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4.7

4.7 (4756)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Anchorage

About the restaurant

You will know the moment you walk in that this is not your typical brew pub. The scent of the alder wood grill and wood fired oven, the energy of the sparking exhibition cooking line and the glow of the brewery delight your senses. The BrewHouse features rotisserie grilled meats, the freshest Alaskan seafood, brick oven pizza and award winning hand crafted ales. The BrewHouse is Anchorage’s downtown landmark restaurant-“Where Alaskans meet Alaskans”.

Top review

Missy

Dined on Oct 22, 2026

Our waitress was amazing!!! Her service was above and beyond.

AJ's Oldtown Steakhouse & Tavern

4.7

4.7 (1378)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Homer

About the restaurant

AJ's Oldtown Steakhouse & Tavern is located in the heart of Old Town, offers a casual, friendly atmosphere and is known locally as the "Historic Waterfront". While we are not a fancy, we believe in amazing food, fun specialty drinks, and great entertainment! We value our guests and believe in goodwill and hospitality. AJ's is proud to be serving up the top 2% of USDA Prime Beef offered in the Nation and we like to top it off with a premium martini. We feature mouth-watering steaks & great seafood including Local Alaska Scallops, King Crab, Fresh Halibut & Salmon in a friendly old town atmosphere! This venue also offers fun family entertainment & dinner music. Established in 1941 as the Homer Cafe and Club it was the first bar in Homer and has been serving up delicious fare and drinks for over 70 years.

Top review

Sharon

Dined on Oct 29, 2026

Food was great and a good deal!! Definitely gonna go back!!

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Popular dish

Alaskan Scallops

Popular dish

Bleu Cheese Potato Chips

Ginger

4.7

4.7 (1547)

$30 and under

Pacific Rim

Anchorage

About the restaurant

PACIFIC RIM CUISINE
Great food. Excellent service. Warm ambiance. These elements are how many of our guests would describe Ginger. We created a restaurant that expresses our faith and values in extending genuine hospitality to all and food sure to please all tastes. We take classics and new cuisine of the Pacific Rim and put a modern twist on the flavors.

Top review

Tricia

Dined 4 days ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely loved my experience! The food was amazing, especially the chicken wings and curry—both were full of flavor and cooked to perfection! The customer service was excellent, and the staff made us feel welcomed and appreciated. The atmosphere was awesome, with a great vibe that made the entire experience even better. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything was on point. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and a wonderful dining experience!

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Experience

Legends Only - A Singalong Brunch

Canyon Ridge Grill - Holland America Denali Lodge

4.6

4.6 (356)

$31 to $50

American

Anchorage

About the restaurant

Experience elevated dining in the Alaska wilderness at Holland America Denali Lodge’s Canyon Ridge Grill! Enjoy a variety of fresh, regional flavors, including pan roasted Alaska cod, jumbo lump crab cakes, Wagyu burgers, and the finest selection of beverages from local wines to microbrews and spirits. Come early for a hearty breakfast and stay late for delectable dessert.

Top review

Roger

Dined on Sep 3, 2026

This restaurant is outstanding. It is a great example of Alaskan dining at its finest. The food was top notch and the wine cellar was well organized. Service was prompt and very efficient.

ORSO

4.6

4.6 (2727)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Anchorage

About the restaurant

Alaskan, warm, inviting, innovative, a menu full of surprises, unbelievable wine list, great cocktails, are common phrases used by our guests to describe ORSO. We feature the freshest ingredients available, Alaskan whenever possible- fresh Alaskan seafood, fresh local pasta, and local produce when in season. ORSO’s outstanding service, bold menu, classic cocktails combined with a wine list that has received the “award of excellence” from the Wine Spectator for five years is why ORSO is the “Place to be” for Anchorage dinning.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 5 days ago

The food was fantastic and staff worked hard to take good care of us. Even on a mid-term election night. Live the new wine flights.

Tequila 61°

4.6

4.6 (603)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Latin

Anchorage

About the restaurant

Building a bridge between latin-fusion cuisine, a large hand-selected collection of Tequila, and the personality of beautiful Anchorage. Tequila 61° embodies what it means to blend Alaska with latin inspiration and flare.

Blending time-honored latin recipes with a modern twist, we fuse the perfect blend of spices with fresh ingredients like Alaskan seafood for entrées authentic in flavor and unique in presentation such as our fabulous Halibut Rey Filete or our Fajita Molcajete bowls.

Best of all, our mixologist and highly trained bartenders behind the bar are at the ready to help you find the perfect pairing with our craft cocktails and hand-picked varieties of Tequila and Mezcal.

Using reclaimed materials and unmatched attention to detail, we’ve built a charmingly rustic atmosphere where good food and good times are always abound.

Plenty of parking at the nearby Coho parking lot, a short walk from our front door.

Top review

RaeAnne

Dined on Oct 18, 2026

This was our first experience at Tequila 61, and it did not disappoint. We had a quiet dinner on a Saturday night. All the food was delicious. Try the pork chop! Hands down the best pork chop we’ve ever had, it was so moist and similar texture to steak.

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Experience

Tequila Tasting at Tequila 61

Tent City Taphouse

4.4

4.4 (99)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Anchorage

About the restaurant

This modern Gastro Pub, situated in downtown, pays tribute to the humble origins of Anchorage, once known as Tent City. As a family-owned and operated establishment, we are dedicated to promoting local businesses while offering a welcoming and amiable environment. Expect excellent food, refreshing beer, and plenty of laughter.

Top review

DeAnnaGold

Dined on Sep 10, 2026

A gem of a place! Excellent food and service. Highly recommend.

Karstens Public House - Holland America Denali Lodge

4.2

4.2 (520)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Fairbanks

About the restaurant

Karstens Public House is named after Henry Karsten, the man who helped lead the first expedition of Denali and it is located one mile north of the Denali National Park Entrance at the McKinley Chalet Resort. Karstens is part of Denali Square, which is the heartbeat of the Holland America Denali Lodge. Outdoor dining showcases sweeping views of the surrounding mountains along with indoor dining that provides an inviting and lively atmosphere. Guests will enjoy local craft brews, signature cocktails and authentic Alaska comfort foods like Smoked Salmon Chowder, Beer Battered Halibut, Seared Alaskan Salmon and the ever-popular Dive-In burger. Karstens also serves a scrumptious breakfast menu with sweet and savory options that are sure to start your day off right.

Top review

ThomasGold

Dined on Sep 16, 2026

Lan our server was great. She was on target with the service.

Crimson

4.0

4 (56)

$31 to $50

American

Anchorage

About the restaurant

Located in downtown Anchorage, Crimson is a warm, welcoming dining room rooted in place and guided by genuine hospitality. The menu features modern American cuisine with Alaska influences, highlighting thoughtfully prepared seafood, steaks, seasonal dishes, and handcrafted cocktails — including house favorites like smoked Old Fashioneds. Every dish is designed to feel refined yet approachable, making Crimson an easy choice for locals and visitors alike. Join us for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or cocktails at the bar. Complimentary parking is available, making it easy to enjoy a relaxed, modern dining experience downtown.

Top review

Mary Ann

Dined on Oct 1, 2026

The service and food was exceptional. Even had live music. Was a great experience

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Experience

Social Hour

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