By late afternoon in winter the sky over the Chugach foothills is already going dim, and the downtown grid starts to fill with people moving between the civic buildings on 6th and F, the galleries along D Street, and the bars and brewpubs that keep the evening going. In summer the light lingers much later, and the same streets stay busy well into the evening.
Anchorage is a city with many, many bars, a strong cluster of micro-breweries, and a downtown core where performance venues, galleries and restaurants sit within a few blocks of each other. It suits visitors who want an easy, walkable evening in the center of town, and anyone willing to pair a drink with live music, a show, or an art crawl. Note that bars must close by 2:30AM Monday through Friday and 3AM on Saturday and Sunday under municipal law, and that all bars and restaurants in the city are non-smoking.
Where to go out in Anchorage
1. Downtown Anchorage
The downtown core is the most concentrated place to spend an evening. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts on West 6th Avenue, the Dena'ina Center at 7th and F, and the Egan Convention Center at 5th and F are linked by covered walkways and form a civic center in the heart of downtown, so a show or an event can be the anchor of a night that continues on foot nearby.
This suits anyone who wants venues, bars and restaurants within a short walk of one another. If you are timing a visit around a performance, check programming before you go, since the center's three theaters host events rather than a fixed nightly schedule.
2. The gallery circuit on First Friday
On the first Friday of every month, downtown art galleries stay open late and sometimes host opening parties, encouraging people to do art crawls. The tradition has been established in Anchorage for more than 20 years, and First Friday generally runs from about 5PM to 9PM. In summer more than a thousand people may take part.
It suits an early-evening start rather than a late night. The International Gallery of Contemporary Art on D Street near 5th Avenue, described as the event's founding venue, and the Anchorage Museum see the largest turnouts. Some venues are free and others may charge, so check the local papers, such as the Anchorage Press or the Anchorage Daily News, to find out what is open.
3. Summer concert series in the parks
The Anchorage Downtown Partnership hosts three weekly concert series in summer. Music for Little Ones runs Mondays noon to 1PM in Peratovich Park at 4th Avenue and E Street, and Music in the Park runs Wednesdays noon to 1PM at the same location. Live After Five runs Thursdays 5:30 to 7:30PM in Town Square Park at E Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, with food and a beer and wine garden. The music is free.
This suits an early, outdoors evening, particularly the Thursday series if you want a drink with your music. Check locally for programming, since the series are seasonal.
4. Breweries and bars
Anchorage has many, many bars and, by the source's account, probably more micro-breweries per capita than anywhere else except perhaps Portland, Oregon. This is the broadest category of night out in the city and the easiest to build an evening around.
It suits anyone who wants a low-commitment night with plenty of choice. Bear Tooth Theatrepub, named in the source, marks a new Broken Tooth Brewing draft beer with live music on the first Thursday of each month, an event called First Tap Thursday. Bernie's Bungalow Lounge on D Street between 6th and 7th, across from the Nordstrom entrance, is described as a fashionable and friendly martini-and-cigar type of place. Glacier BrewHouse and Moose's Tooth are also named in the source as places to eat and drink.
5. Civic and convention venues
The Dena'ina Center and the Egan Convention Center, together with the performing arts center, anchor downtown's event calendar. These are the places to look when a touring show, convention or civic event is what brings you out.
This suits a planned evening rather than a spontaneous one. Because programming varies, confirm what is on before you build a night around any of these buildings.
How a night out unfolds
Anchorage evenings can start early and outdoors in summer, with free park concerts at noon and in the 5:30 to 7:30PM slot on Thursdays, and with First Friday gallery hours from about 5PM to 9PM on the first Friday of the month. Drinking continues later: bars must close by 2:30AM Monday through Friday and 3AM on Saturday and Sunday under municipal law, and bars in Palmer and Wasilla, about 45 minutes north, may stay open until 5AM. The sources do not describe a single standard dinner hour or a typical night out beyond these points.
Frequently asked questions
When do bars close in Anchorage?
Under municipal law, bars must close by 2:30AM Monday through Friday and 3AM on Saturday and Sunday. Bars in Palmer and Wasilla, about 45 minutes north, can stay open until 5AM.
Can you smoke inside bars and restaurants?
No. All bars and restaurants in Anchorage are non-smoking.
When is the best evening for gallery-hopping downtown?
The first Friday of every month, when downtown galleries stay open late, generally from about 5PM to 9PM. The International Gallery of Contemporary Art and the Anchorage Museum see the largest turnouts.
Is there free live music in summer?
Yes. The Anchorage Downtown Partnership hosts three weekly concert series in summer, including Music for Little Ones and Music in the Park at midday in Peratovich Park and Live After Five on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30PM in Town Square Park. The music is free.
Decide whether your evening is a show, a gallery crawl or a round of brewpubs, check what is on that week, and plan the night around it.