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From scallops to king salmon, fresh seafood dominates menus in Southeast. Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, and Ketchikan have all variety of ethnic eateries, along with some notable restaurants serving more sophisticated, contemporary fare. Many towns also have good greasy spoons or roadhouses where you can get a serving of local gossip along with your breakfast or slice of pie.
The 1920s-era roots of this space adjacent to the New York Hotel come through in the antique bar and fixtures, creating a casual yet elegant place to enjoy a meal while staring out the plate-glass windows at life on busy Stedman Street, or admiring the mural by local artist Ray Troll that spans one wall. The menu includes reasonably priced seafood, salads, and burgers, along with Mediterranean-influenced fare, and solo diners should feel very comfortable at the bar.
If you're in Ketchikan in the morning (this place closes at noon), don't miss an opportunity to visit this family-owned café and roastery, which serves some of the best espresso you're likely to find in Southeast. The fresh-baked pastries make a delicious accompaniment.
Pop culture meets greasy spoon in this unassuming coffee shop with red-vinyl booths that has been in the same family since the 1950s. The menu doesn't cater to light appetites—it includes sandwiches, burgers, fried chicken, chili, and halibut fish-and-chips—but the place really is at its best for an all-American breakfast (available until 2). Dinner is served most evenings, too.
A 10-minute walk from the cruise-ship docks, this friendly eatery is a good stop for a cheese biscuit and coffee in the morning or soup and a sandwich in the afternoon. You'll also find sweet treats such as muffins, tortes, and cakes.
This busy little seafood deli and burger joint in the heart of Petersburg is a great place for a quick bite en route to your next adventure, or a breakfast sandwich before you get started. Live or cooked crab is available for takeout, and the shop can process your sport-caught fish.
Diners have an appeal all their own, comforting in their consistency yet unique to the towns in which they're found, and the Dockside is no exception. Stop in for a traditional breakfast before starting your island adventures, or grab a burger on your way back. The pie is also highly recommended.
In the heart of quiet Douglas, across the bridge and a couple of miles from downtown Juneau, this family diner has Formica tables and a menu that includes omelets, sandwiches, kids' favorites, and burgers that are often cited as the best in the city. This is a good choice for those seeking an alternative to downtown Juneau's midsummer crowds.
Inside a gallery that features work by local and regional artists, this café at Four Corners offers light fare such as crepes, pastries, and cookies, as well as milkshakes and specialty espresso drinks and teas. The café's drive-up window is groundbreaking for Gustavus (but if you're a visitor, you'll want to go in to see the art and crafts).
A local hangout, this café offers a wide range of breakfast options to accompany your morning joe, and nearly everything on the menu is made on-site. At lunchtime, sample one of the filling hot sandwiches. Fresh fruit smoothies are also available.
Locals flock to this cheery spot for lunch; it's the closest thing to home cooking Petersburg has to offer. On weekdays it's open for breakfast and lunch, but on summer weekends dinner is also an option. Helse also doubles as an ice cream and espresso stand.
Established in 1974, Heritage Coffee serves locally roasted coffees, along with gelato, fresh pastries, and a variety of sandwiches. The flagship store sits on the corner of Front and Seward streets, while other locations include smaller cafés at 230 South Franklin, a branch inside Foodland IGA market, and the Glacier Cafe in the Mendenhall Valley, as well as two drive-throughs.
Meet the locals over espresso, brewed from fresh-roasted beans, and a fresh-baked pastry at this busy corner natural-foods store, deli, café, wine-and-spirits shop, de facto meeting hall, and hitching post. Mountain Market is great for lunchtime sandwiches, wraps, soups, pizza, and salads.
Travelers flying out of Sitka's airport retreat to the Nugget while waiting for their plane to arrive. The Nugget serves American classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but the homemade pies are the real attraction.
This lively café fills up quickly at noon with locals on lunch break, making it a great place for people-watching while munching on a salad or a fried chicken sandwich. You can also have a delicious breakfast here; if the fresh-baked pastry doesn't tempt you (although it surely will) try the bravas potato bowl or adobo loco moco. Coffee in all its forms is also outstanding.
Enjoy your morning latte and a cinnamon roll in this cozy, friendly coffeehouse, or stop in for lunch on a rainy day and sample their rotating selection of homemade soup.
This cozy little spot on the harbor is a must for breakfast—you can choose from an array of fresh-baked frittatas, quiches, and pastries to accompany your distinctly delicious cup of coffee. No one would blame you if you snuck back in for lunch, when the sandwiches on homemade bread make an appearance. Seating includes outdoor options.
This busy and bright café in the Aak'w Village District, about a five-minute walk from the center of town, is a popular destination for brunch on weekends. It's also a good choice for lunch if you're visiting the state museum, as it's less than a block away.
Housed in a former gas station, this year-round restaurant is known for its comfort-food specials. The huge calzones are stuffed and served piping hot with sides of house marinara and ranch dressing—build your own or choose one of the chef's creations.
With views overlooking the water, the Stikine Inn's restaurant (often called the Stik) is easily the prettiest place to dine in Wrangell. Given the town's scarcity of options, the place could just assemble a get-by menu, but the salads, pasta, burgers, and hearty soups here are seriously tasty. For lighter early-morning or midday fare, there's the Stik Cafe, which serves breakfast sandwiches and panini, among other items.
A tiny coffee shop and bakery, Sweet Mermaids is a great choice for breakfast. If you're here for lunch, try the salmon chowder—the perfect antidote for a rainy afternoon.
