6 Best Bars in Juneau, Juneau, the Inside Passage, and Southeast Alaska

The company's tasty, award-winning beers—including Alaskan Amber, Icy Bay IPA, White, and Freeride Pale Ale—are brewed and bottled in Juneau. This is no designer brewery—it's in Juneau's industrial area (5 miles from downtown), and there's no upscale café-bar attached—but in the friendly tasting room visitors can choose from more than 20 varieties of Alaskan beer, including hard-to-find "rough drafts," and food trucks encourage lingering. A retail shop downtown sells Alaskan-branded clothing and other items.

A sign frequently placed outside this historic bar reads: "Have an Alaskan with an Alaskan at the Alaskan," referring to the locally made beer, the clientele, and the bar itself. And it's true that this triple convergence can be found here any night of the week—the bar always has at least one type of Alaskan Brewing Company beer on tap, and the crowd is primarily local, even in summer. On the ground floor of the Alaskan Hotel, this is Juneau's most historically authentic watering hole, with flocked-velvet walls, antique chandeliers, and vintage frontier-brothel decor. Just keep in mind that in recent years the vintage charm has begun to look decidedly worn out, but it's still worth visiting just the same.

In the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery, you can sample small-batch gin (up to two drinks per visit) while seated next to the brass and copper still in which the gin was made. If your timing is right, single-malt whiskey will also be on offer. A magnet for locals, the well-designed space includes high ceilings and huge windows perfect for people-watching.

A former theater on the uphill end of Franklin Street now houses a spacious, high-ceilinged brewpub with an interesting selection of well-produced beverages, including an Alaska Beer Award–winning IPA, a black lager, and a house cider, along with several types of hard seltzer. Stop in on a Wednesday for pizza night, or choose from a selection of snacks and sandwiches, including vegetarian options.

A remodeled former dive where locals like to drink, shoot pool, and meet singles, the Imperial retains mounted moose and bison heads and other vestiges of its divey decor. Other noteworthy features include the original pressed-tin ceiling and what is reputed to be the longest bar in Alaska. The Imperial Grill, located within the bar, serves food until 11 pm on weekends.

An upscale alternative to Juneau's somewhat rowdy bar scene, The Narrows is the best place in the city to enjoy a quiet, carefully prepared craft cocktail. In addition to its association with Southeast waterways, the bar's name reflects the shape of the space—long and skinny—and its exposed brick walls, fireplace, and leather couches in back add to the intimate vibe.