10 Best Cafes You Must Try In Anchorage, Alaska

cafes in anchorage
Alex
Alex 
Updated
| 4 min read

With just under 300,000 residents, Anchorage is the largest city in the state of Alaska. Historically, Russian presence in the area has been there since the 19th century until 1867 when it was purchased by the United States. At the time, the deal seemed like a foolish decision until 1888 when gold was found here. Anchorage is a beautiful place, especially for those who love the outdoors and love exploring parks and doing some outside winter sports. Of course, after a long day of being outside nothing’s better than a nice warm cup of coffee. Here are some of the best cafes you must try in Anchorage, Alaska

1. The Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe


The Writer’s Block Bookstore & Cafe is much more than just a cafe. It’s a meeting place for all of Anchorage’s artists! The store features some amazing coffee and food options from tasty tacos to scrumptious muffins. They also host open-mic nights and often have live music performances by local artists. Stop by and spend an afternoon reading a new book and indulging in some coffee.

The Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe

Address: 3956 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99517, United States

Website: The Writer’s Block Bookstore & Cafe

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)

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2. Middle Way Cafe

We're almost to the weekend! Come in and treat yourself to our fresh made juices and smoothies!

Posted by Middle Way Cafe on Thursday, 12 December 2019

Middle Way Cafe has been an Anchorage staple since 1994. Not only are they an amazing cafe but they also are a space for showcasing art and food all made locally. Their menu features organic healthy choices sourced from local producers. Middle Way Cafe also prides itself on being sustainable through its total recycling program and compostable disposable cups, take-out trays and cutlery.

Middle Way Cafe

Address: 1200 W Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States

Website: Middle Way Cafe

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 6pm

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3. Cafe 817

Posted by Cafe 817 on Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Cafe 817 is known around the city for being one of the best spots for coffee and a quick bite. The affordable prices make Cafe 817 a good choice for those looking for something cheap in a city known for high prices on food. Cafe 817 has a pretty wide selection of coffee and meals and their convenient downtown location can’t be beat.

Cafe 817

Address: 817 W 6th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Website: Cafe 817

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 3pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

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4. The Red Chair Cafe

If you missed us, have no fear! We're Closed Mondays until April 1. See you tomorrow!

Posted by The Red Chair Cafe on Monday, 9 December 2019

The Red Chair Cafe is a local cafe that is a little more on the upscale side. The cafe is host to artists showcasing their work so if there is something that catches your eye, then feel free to inquire about purchasing art from a local artist. The Red Chair Cafe serves tons of great food options as well as coffee and if you’re looking for something a little harder, they also have an extensive wine and beer list. The Red Chair Cafe is also open early in the mornings for those early risers.

The Red Chair Cafe

Address: 337 E 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Website: The Red Chair Cafe

Opening hours: 7am - 3pm (daily)

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5. SteamDot Coffee & Espresso Lab


SteamDot Coffee & Espresso Lab is there to provide some of the best coffee for the real coffee connoisseurs out there. Sourcing their beans from single-origin producers, their coffee is roasted in house and brewed with love in every cup. Explore their food options or simply indulge in some of the best espresso Anchorage has to offer. For the real fans, they also have their grounds on sale so you can brew some at home.

SteamDot Coffee & Espresso Lab

Address: 10950 O'Malley Centre Dr, Anchorage, AK 99515, United States

Website: SteamDot Coffee & Espresso Lab

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 7am - 6pm

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6. Snow City Cafe


Snow City Cafe has been around for over 20 years now and is one of downtown Anchorage’s best spots for food and coffee. Although “cafe” is in the name, where Snow City Cafe really shines is through their breakfast, which is served all day long. They offer a wide variety of gluten-free and vegan options as well as making everything from scratch from ingredients sourced from local producers.

Snow City Cafe

Address: 1034 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Website: Snow City Cafe

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 7am - 4pm

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7. Black Cup

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The story of Black Cup starts in the 70s with a man named Perry Merkel who traveled through Central America until finally settling in the Last Frontier. He brought the coffee scene to Alaska. Merkel roasted his coffee in a shed behind his house and sold his coffee to local restaurants and grocery stores before opening up a cafe. Now, Black Cup is an Anchorage institution continuing to bring some of the best coffee to Alaska and the people of the city.

Black Cup

Address: 341 E Benson Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States

Website: Black Cup

Opening hours: 6am - 8pm (daily)

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8. Midnight Sun Cafe


Midnight Sun Cafe was started by a husband and wife couple in October 2007. In a land where the sunlight can be sometimes sparse, Midnight Sun Cafe is a beacon of light and exuberance with their brightly colored walls and eclectic atmosphere and decor. Over the years, the menu grew and people’s commitment to the Midnight Sun Cafe grew with it. The cafe is invested heavily in the community, volunteering at events like Habitat For Humanity and Young Women of Achievement INC. Midnight Sun Cafe is also invested in recycling and sourcing their coffee from a single source producer.

Midnight Sun Cafe

Address: 245 W 5th Ave #106, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Website: Midnight Sun Cafe

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 5pm

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9. Dark Horse Coffee Co

Come in and check out our new 12 and 16 ounce mugs.

Posted by Dark Horse Coffee on Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Dark Horse Coffee Co has been around for over 10 years and they are proud to call themselves a “family operation”. The folks at Dark Horse Coffee Co serve food as well, with their oatmeal being an Anchorage favorite. Even after 10 years, they have kept their original promise on maintaining quality even going so far as to have a barista who is certified by the International Association of Specialty Coffee. She is one of only two people in the entire state of Alaska to have this. On top of their coffee, you can see the quality in the food they serve with organic and locally sourced ingredients being the utmost important.

Dark Horse Coffee Co

Address: 646 F St, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Website: Dark Horse Coffee Co

Opening hours: 6:45am - 6pm (daily)

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10. Ollin Tea & Cafe


Ollin Tea & Cafe boasts of having the “largest tea display in North America”, so if you’re a tea lover, you’re in luck because they have just about every tea you can imagine. Ollin Tea & Cafe also has a wide variety of coffee options as well as a selection of delicious food options that are organic and sourced from local producers. Come by and hang out, grab a drink and enjoy one of their tasty sandwiches. They also have online ordering if you can’t make it out of the house.

Ollin Tea & Cafe

Address: 300 E Dimond Blvd #15, Anchorage, AK 99515, United States

Website: Ollin Tea & Cafe

Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 7:30am - 6pm; Fri: 7:30am - 7pm; Sat: 8am - 6pm (closed on Sun)

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Hot coffee in Anchorage

Best cafes in Anchorage Alaska.
Source: Pixabay

It’s not exactly a secret that Anchorage can get pretty cold. Why not warm up a little with a little cup of coffee? The city is pretty coffee-centric with many local cafes specializing in local producers, single sources coffee and serving some delicious food. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a little afternoon snack there are a ton of great options in Anchorage.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Alex is a Canadian university graduate with degrees in English literature and History. He was born in Montreal and when he's not traveling he enjoys movies, video games, playing the drums and...Read more

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