Denali National Park Dining & Nightlife
You’ll find lots of great dining choices in Denali. Many restaurants are conveniently located within or attached to hotels, making for a convenient dining experience. But don’t limit yourself to your hotel’s offerings—everything is so close together that you can easily pop over to another property and explore its delectable menu as well. Denali also boasts some culinary gems, like the renowned 49th State Brewery just north of the park in Healy. And for a truly unforgettable evening, indulge in a delicious dinner accompanied by a captivating show at one of the two area dinner theaters. You’ll simultaneously enjoy a good meal and learn about the park’s rich history, presented in a delightful musical format.
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Dining and Nightlife
Step inside and the first thing you’ll notice is the historic photos and animal pelts covering the walls, giving the place a real Alaskan feel. But this is no museum — you come here for great pizza and beer, and this place delivers. First off, they take pizza seriously: the dough is aged for 24 hours, then goes into a traditional oven for wood-stone hand-baking.
This show at the McKinley Chalet Resort tells the story of the first ascent of Mt. McKinley. Laugh, eat, and be merry while the actors and actresses do double-duty as your servers for an all-you-can-eat meal of salmon and ribs.
Stop into Fannie Q’s Saloon for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You’ll find dishes inspired by the area served in a modern saloon setting. And, in the evenings, enjoy live entertainment. Popular dishes include Bison sliders and a braised pork shoulder.
If you’re dying to try famous Alaskan salmon in a landmark setting, this is truly the place to do it. Known as “The Bake,” this restaurant has been open since 1984. Just a mile from the park, it’s Denali’s original roadside attraction.
The open-concept public house offers classic food with a shot of Alaska flair. The public house’s specialty is slow-smoked brisket, but the locally sourced menu also offers bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf, caribou burgers and fresh, local sheefish. Wash down your dinner with one of 12 local brews on tap and cocktails such as the American Trilogy (including Alaska made spirits) and a Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary.
How unique is the 49th State? For starters, it’s the only brewpub restaurant here that serves Alaskan yak, in the form of a yak burger. Or tuck into the buffalo meatloaf, a specialty. Don’t miss the housemade Bavarian pretzel. And Fridays bring a special treat — a pig roast, with a pig from a local farm, roasted in ale and smoked over alder wood
Re-opening in 2022. Please visit our website for other activities available during your stay. The Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre, performed out of the Denali Park Village, offers a true-to-life Gold Rush tale of Alaskan adventures in the early 1900s. Enjoy songs, dance, humor, and a large family-style meal topped off with berry cobbler.
For Alaska seafood or fresh-caught fish, try the upscale King Salmon Restaurant, which offers fresh seafood brought up from the coast three times a week. You’ll find fine food as well as great views overlooking the Healy Mountains, Denali National Park, and the Nenana River.
This high-energy restaurant at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge offers some pretty laid-back pursuits. Sit out on the deck and watch rafters float down the Nenana River while sipping Denali Red, a beer brewed specifically for Princess by Alaska Brewing Company. Or dig into a gourmet burger while soaking up late-afternoon sunshine and views of the National Park and Healy Mountains. Of course, the inside of the restaurant is pretty nice… ...more
The farm-to-table menu features fresh seafood, including weathervane scallops and Alaskan oysters. And Chef Thomas Chapman knows what to do with them. Classically French trained, he has served as chef for Team Europe at the 2012 Ryder Cup and been a teaching chef for Sur La Table. His ethos is quality over quantity, only purchasing the finest quality seafood from small fishing operations.
Overlooking the Nenana River and Nenana Canyon, this restaurant offers a menu with dry-aged steaks, chops and Alaska seafood: feast on your favorite cooked-to-perfection steak or try some of the locally-sourced Alaska seafood, including sustainable jig-caught Alaska rockfish. Pair your dinner with a local craft beer, something from the extensive wine list, or one of the handcrafted signature martinis.
The only pizza option at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge — and arguably the best pizza in the area — this log-cabin restaurant serves pizzas piled with toppings and a tangy marinara sauce on a crisp, medium-thick crust.
Located alongside the McKinley Creekside Cabins, this café offers the space to relax and enjoy the mountain views while sipping an Alaskan beer or espresso. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their halibut and salmon are ocean caught and come direct from Homer, Alaska. They can also prepare food to-go for day tour and any other adventures you have planned while visiting Denali National Park. Hours Open Daily from 6am-10pm ...more
Tucked behind big wooden doors, Prey looks pretty unassuming from the road — you might even miss if you weren’t looking for it. But this restaurant at the Denali Cabins — not too far from the Denali National Park entrance — is a gem with both tourist and locals.