Drinking in Anchorage

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Anchorage has many, many bars. Bars must close by 2:30 AM Monday-Friday and 3:00 AM Saturday and Sunday under municipal law. Bars can stay open until 5:00 AM in the cities of Palmer and Wasilla, about 45 minutes north. Anchorage also probably has more micro-breweries per capita than anywhere else (except maybe Portland, OR).

Beginning July 1, 2007, all bars and restaurants in Anchorage are non-smoking.

• Bernie's Bungalow Lounge, 626 D Street (between 6th and 7th; across the street from Nordstrom's entrance), (907) 276-8808, www.berniesbungalowlounge.com. This is a fashionable and friendly "martini-and-cigar" type of place. Good place to sit outside on the lawn in the summer, or to go upstairs to the Paradise Room for a fancy place to have a drink (although the upstairs is often booked for private gatherings). It's popular with well-dressed young people and businesspeople (during the daytime). The evening crowd is generally younger and the bar is embracing a larger hip-hop crowd. Usually busiest after midnight.
• Chilkoot Charlie's, 1071 W 25th Avenue (in Spenard), (907) 279-1692, www.koots.com. This is the largest bar within about 1,400 miles (2200 km). It's a huge spot that is always busy on weekends. The outside facade is deceptively small - there is a map on their website to navigate through all 10+ bars. There is usually at least one band playing every night (and usually a cover charge). Popular place to pick up dates, if you can hear above the noise.
• Darwin's Theory, 426 G St, (907) 277-5322. A quintessential "dive bar," Darwin's is popular with the locals. If you're interested in avoiding the generic tourist watering holes, Darwin's will wet your whistle. It's just a basic corner bar.
• Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse, 610 West 6th Avenue, (907) 276-BEER, www.humpys.com. Humpy's has dozens of beers on tap and a great pub food selection (esp. seafood) until midnight. It's popular with just about everyone. Beer-battered halibut -- yum!
• Also see "Glacier BrewHouse" and "Moose's Tooth" under "Eat."

• www.berniesbungalowlounge.com
• www.koots.com
• www.humpys.com