Guidebook for Anchorage
Food Scene
This place rocks. Super friendly staff, good food, some of the best coffee in the area.
(Hint: turn toward Lowe's, this place is in a small strip mall with some cool shops, not quite "on" Old Seward).
121 locals recommend
South Restaurant + Coffeehouse
11124 Old Seward HwyThis place rocks. Super friendly staff, good food, some of the best coffee in the area.
(Hint: turn toward Lowe's, this place is in a small strip mall with some cool shops, not quite "on" Old Seward).
They call it a pizzeria but really this is a full-menu Italian restaurant (they just serve a LOT of pizza). The menu is robust and the pizza options are definitely fantastic. Our usual involves an 18" pie with a 10" cheese for the kid plus a tasty local IPA.
20 locals recommend
Uncle Joe's Pizzeria
11700 Old Seward HwyThey call it a pizzeria but really this is a full-menu Italian restaurant (they just serve a LOT of pizza). The menu is robust and the pizza options are definitely fantastic. Our usual involves an 18" pie with a 10" cheese for the kid plus a tasty local IPA.
FireTap Alehouse
10950 O'Malley Centre DrPretty good food, good prices, and a LOT of beer options.
Seriously amazing Thai food. We eat here. A lot. Our first visit, one of the other guests told me they drive 20+ minutes to get there and it is the "best Thai in Anchorage"... I agree!
9 locals recommend
A Taste of Thai
11109 Old Seward HwySeriously amazing Thai food. We eat here. A lot. Our first visit, one of the other guests told me they drive 20+ minutes to get there and it is the "best Thai in Anchorage"... I agree!
They have a buffet ... enough said? It is an amazing and robust buffet ... now enough said?
China Lights Oriental Cuisine
9220 Old Seward HwyThey have a buffet ... enough said? It is an amazing and robust buffet ... now enough said?
This is our back-up coffee shop if we don't go to South. Good coffee with great reviews (but the food isn't as good).
19 locals recommend
SteamDot Coffee & Espresso Lab
10950 O'Malley Centre DrThis is our back-up coffee shop if we don't go to South. Good coffee with great reviews (but the food isn't as good).
GREAT restaurant. This is one of the few places more than 7 minutes from our house that we will eat out. The building is awesome and food has never let us down.
124 locals recommend
Rustic Goat
2800 Turnagain StGREAT restaurant. This is one of the few places more than 7 minutes from our house that we will eat out. The building is awesome and food has never let us down.
This is probably the most famous and highly rated restaurant in all of Anchorage (if not Alaska).
347 locals recommend
Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
3300 Old Seward HwyThis is probably the most famous and highly rated restaurant in all of Anchorage (if not Alaska).
BREAKFAST! Closes around 3pm daily. Expect a wait of 15-45 minutes unless you can get a reservation. Why the wait? It is wildly popular and very good.
231 locals recommend
Snow City Cafe
1034 W 4th AveBREAKFAST! Closes around 3pm daily. Expect a wait of 15-45 minutes unless you can get a reservation. Why the wait? It is wildly popular and very good.
Restaurant/bar with the best halibut menu in the city.
118 locals recommend
Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse
610 W 6th AveRestaurant/bar with the best halibut menu in the city.
Drinks & Nightlife
It is the closest brewery to the house, quite accessible, and they did wizardry to make their IPA.
37 locals recommend
Anchorage Brewing Company
148 W 91st AveIt is the closest brewery to the house, quite accessible, and they did wizardry to make their IPA.
Beer + restaurant + view = sacred Alaska goodness.
191 locals recommend
49th State Brewing Co - Anchorage
717 W 3rd AveBeer + restaurant + view = sacred Alaska goodness.
Essentials
Carrs = Safeway = the nearest large grocery store to our house. Use my phone number for the discounts if you do not want to sign up for the club card. They have a café and deli with a nice salad bar as well.
73 locals recommend
Carrs
1501 Huffman RdCarrs = Safeway = the nearest large grocery store to our house. Use my phone number for the discounts if you do not want to sign up for the club card. They have a café and deli with a nice salad bar as well.
We mostly go to this Fred Meyer for everything you would need, including groceries and hard goods. Use my phone number for the discounts if you do not want to sign up for the club card.
198 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
1000 E Northern Lights BlvdWe mostly go to this Fred Meyer for everything you would need, including groceries and hard goods. Use my phone number for the discounts if you do not want to sign up for the club card.
Another Carrs = Safeway, but further from the house. This one is a bit newer/nicer. Use our phone number for the discounts if you do not have the club card.
73 locals recommend
Carrs
1501 Huffman RdAnother Carrs = Safeway, but further from the house. This one is a bit newer/nicer. Use our phone number for the discounts if you do not have the club card.
Shopping
Because you always need to know where the nearest Target is. Stop at Cabela's while you are there and get your fishing license.
20 locals recommend
Target
1200 North Muldoon RoadBecause you always need to know where the nearest Target is. Stop at Cabela's while you are there and get your fishing license.
Cabela's
155 W 104th AveAll your outdoor needs from hunting to fishing to camping.
Get yourself a genuine Alaskan Native Ulu straight from the factory.
17 locals recommend
The Ulu Factory
211 W Ship Creek AveGet yourself a genuine Alaskan Native Ulu straight from the factory.
A shopping mall with indoor ice skating, bowling, a movie theater, and shops. Plenty to do if the weather is crummy out.
66 locals recommend
Dimond Center Mall
800 E Dimond BlvdA shopping mall with indoor ice skating, bowling, a movie theater, and shops. Plenty to do if the weather is crummy out.
Title Wave Books
1360 W Northern Lights BlvdGreat little local bookstore.
Barnes & Noble
200 E Northern Lights BlvdGreat not so little non-local bookstore.
Entertainment & Activities
This is the best (only?) waterpark in Alaska. It is also priced as such and completely indoors. It is good in the winter or colder days but keep yourself outdoors otherwise.
20 locals recommend
H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark
1520 O'Malley RdThis is the best (only?) waterpark in Alaska. It is also priced as such and completely indoors. It is good in the winter or colder days but keep yourself outdoors otherwise.
If you have ever wanted to see all the arctic wildlife you can imagine (or you just have not spotted a moose or bear yet), go here! We have an annual pass. All of the wildlife have been rescued from poor circumstance and the plaquards tell you the animals' tale (or "tail" seems more fitting).
121 locals recommend
Alaska Zoo
4731 O'Malley RdIf you have ever wanted to see all the arctic wildlife you can imagine (or you just have not spotted a moose or bear yet), go here! We have an annual pass. All of the wildlife have been rescued from poor circumstance and the plaquards tell you the animals' tale (or "tail" seems more fitting).
This is not just a movie theater, this is a movie theater that shows old films, with a bar, and a restaurant. Go here. This is a sister property of the Anchorage-famous Moose's Tooth.
315 locals recommend
Bear Tooth Theatrepub
1230 W 27th AveThis is not just a movie theater, this is a movie theater that shows old films, with a bar, and a restaurant. Go here. This is a sister property of the Anchorage-famous Moose's Tooth.
Regal Dimond Center Cinemas
800 E Dimond BlvdThis is your nearest current movie theater.
Getting Around
This is the airport and one of the busiest ports in the US! This is also probably your best bet to find a rental car of your choosing.
50 locals recommend
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
5000 W International Airport RdThis is the airport and one of the busiest ports in the US! This is also probably your best bet to find a rental car of your choosing.
Everything Else
This is the main downtown area with plenty of shops and local things to do. Enjoy the food and local crows. There are often events in the summer to keep you busy. Don't fall for any of those big hotels though =)
37 locals recommend
Downtown
This is the main downtown area with plenty of shops and local things to do. Enjoy the food and local crows. There are often events in the summer to keep you busy. Don't fall for any of those big hotels though =)