Juneau Alaska Travel Guide | Best Things to Do & Where to Eat
We never thought much about making the trek up to Juneau, Alaska, but when the opportunity presented itself and we felt a touch of spontaneity, we hopped on a short flight schedule from Portland, and we are so glad we did. Juneau Alaska is surrounded by beauty—mountains, rivers, ocean, and ice collide in a beautiful and wild way. Though Juneau is located on a peninsula, it feels very much like an island, as it’s only accessible by plane or boat. You can only drive about an hour in any one direction into the wilderness before you can’t drive any further. It is so isolated and yet so full of culture, great food, and spirit! Juneau is one of the most underrated places we’ve ever had the pleasure to visit.
There’s so much to do and see in the area, we wanted to create a short guide of some of our favorite things. For those planning to venture to Juneau, make sure to also hit some of the other great spots in South East Alaska, such as Haines, Sitka, and Skagway.
Where to Eat in Juneau Alaska
Best Brunch Spots in Juneau Alaska
1. The Rookery Cafe
A quaint and laid-back cafe in the heart of Juneau offering an eclectic menu of brunch items. The Rookery Cafe serves Stumptown coffee (an ode to Portland, Oregon) and has some of the best avocado toast I’ve had the opportunity to try. The lattes are deliciously nutty, the baked goods are crisp and fresh, and the atmosphere is perfect for any rainy day in Juneau. They’re open every week from Tuesday through Saturday.
2. Sandpiper Cafe
This is perhaps the most well-known breakfast and brunch in the Juneau area. The crabcake benedict is the real star of the show! Made from king crabs, I’ve never had crabcakes that are so full of meat and flavor. This popular Juneau brunch spot is at the top of my list to return to for our next trip back to Alaska! As much as the savory takes the cake, the sweet options are just as worthwhile. Strawberry french toast, eggs sunny-side-up, and fresh fruit — you cannot go wrong! The Sandpiper Cafe currently takes reservations, which if you are visiting on a weekend I recommend calling in advance!
3. Coppa Cafe
You’d be hardpressed to find a more friendly or delicious cafe in Juneau. There’s no better place for espresso, sweet and savory pastries, and ice cream. Coppa Cafe has a small location amongst the food carts in downtown Juneau, however, we visited its brick-and-mortar location serving hot coffee and pastries. It’s a great spot for small bites, coffee, or a snack on your way in or out of town. Coppa Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
4. Sacred Grounds Cafe
This indigenously Tlingit and Haida-owned coffee shop serves seriously good brew. The brightly lit and modern atmosphere is the perfect place to spend some time enjoying a cup of coffee or one of their sausage burritos. The artwork around the coffee shop highlights Alaska Native culture, and visiting is a great way to experience a bit of what makes Juneau truly unique. Sacred Grounds Cafe is open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm daily.
Top Restaurants in Juneau Alaska
1. In Bocca al Lupo
In Bocca al Lupo literally means “into the wolf’s mouth” or in another way, “good luck!” Serving modern Italian fare, In Bocca al Lupo is one of the best places to eat in Juneau as well as experience the local cuisine. Specializing as a bakery in the heart of downtown Juneau, the cozy restaurant offers wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, cured meats, and catering.
The menu rotates depending on seasonality and availability of ingredients, however, we highly recommend enjoying a pasta dish, a wood-fire pizza to share, and a main-course featuring seafood if available. We ordered the Wood Fired Salmon Steak which ultimately proved itself to be a major highlight of the entire trip. It was the largest piece of salmon I’ve attempted to eat and yet was completely different from any other salmon I’ve tried. It was like a fine sirloin steak, freshly sourced and perfectly seasoned.
2. Devil’s Club Brewing
This downtown Juneau brewing company offers an ever-rotating selection of locally brewed beer styles and gourmet grub. The trendy taproom serves tasty pizzas, pretzels with beer cheese, gyros, and its delectable World Famous Pesto Ciabatta. This brewery represents the adventurous among us, the off-the-beaten-path lifestyles, and the unique people that inhabit this little part of the world. Open every day from 2:00 to 8:00 pm.
3. Deckhand Daves
One of the most popular places to try seafood in the Juneau area. Deckhand Daves offers salmon, rockfish, and halibut in a selection of seriously tasty tacos and fish and chips platters. Serving out of a food cart, the outdoor eating area in downtown Juneau is the perfect place to grab a beer, some fish tacos, and enjoy the views along with a lively but laid-back atmosphere. Deckhand Daves is open daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.
4. Alaskan Crepe Escape
Along the theme of Juneau food carts, Alaskan Crepe Escape is located within Gunakadeit Park amongst other dining and bar options. With the mountains as an incredible backdrop, the food cart is open daily from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm offering a wide variety of sweet and savory crepes, healthy and nutritious smoothies, and delicious espresso.
5. Captain’s S’more & Brew
For those looking for something sweet to top off an evening or just for a midday snack, Captian’s S’more & Brew serves locally crafted marshmallows that are roasted right in front of you. They also have handcrafted coffee and hot chocolate available alongside the unique S’more recipes.
Best Bars & Pubs in Juneau Alaska
1. Visit Amalga Distillery
A distillery that specializes in exquisite gin flavors made from locally harvested spruce and florals. The mid-century modern space was designed by natural woods, concrete, and surrounded by spacious windows. It’s the perfect spot to unwind with a specially crafted cocktail, or two! We loved the flavors of Amalga Gin so much, that we bought a couple of bottles to take home with us. This is at the top of our list for bars and speciality drinks in Juneau.
2. The Narrows Bar
Quaint, classy and cosy atmosphere feels like a warm hug in central Juneau. The Narrows Bar acts like a living room for the downtown area. Good conversation is accompanied by great drinks. If you find yourself looking for a nightcap or a place to relax in the evening, this is it.
3. Forbidden Peak Brewery
Open Daily from 11 am to 8 pm, Juneau’s newest family-owned handcrafted brewery is located in beautiful Auke Bay. It overlooks the Harbor and has amazing outdoor seating with fireplaces. They usually have some sort of food there and it’s also next to the most iconic fisherman’s bar in Juneau, Squirez Bar which has great greasy late-night bar food as well! For all of your hop needs, Forbidden Peak Brewery offers a wide selection of craft beers.
4. Barnaby Brewing
A bright and eclectic space serves as a great place for a drink. Open daily from 3 pm to 8 pm, Barnaby Brewing is an award-winning nano-brewery focusing on American style ales and lagers while incorporating locally harvested ingredients. Every so often, they have a cute cat that wanders around the space as well, so you can pet a cat while you drink a beer!
Top Things to Do in Juneau Alaska
1. Glacier Helicopter Tour with Coastal Helicopters
One of the best ways to experience the incredible landscape surrounding Juneau is to view it by air. The Glacier Helicopter Tour with Coastal Helicoptters is a great way to not only get a birds-eye-view but also to have the chance to walk on the famous Mendenhall Glacier. This was our first helicopter tour we’ve taken, and it’s safe to say it certainly won’t be our last.
2. Find Great Views at the Shrine of St. Therese
About a 30-minute drive from town sits a Catholic church on a peninsula with great views of the mountains. It’s true that the best things in life are free, and the Shrine of St. Therese just so happens to be one of those things. This is a great option for photography, as well as just taking the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.
3. Spot Black Bears at Eagle Beach Recreation Area
For all nature lovers, this is a great quick stop to see wild black bears fishing in the streams! Stop by Eagle Beach Recreation Area to watch wildlife and take in the views of the mountains. There’s also a campsite, cabins, and lodging available nearby.
4. Hike Nugget Falls
If you drive down Glacier Spur Road, you’ll end up at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center. Here, there is the starting point to one o the easiest and most popular hikes around the Juneau area. The hike is about 2 miles roundtrip and leads to the edge of the Mendenhall Glacier, where you’ll find Nugget Falls pouring straight out of the ice. It’s an incredible sight to see, and something that should absolutely be included on any itinerary to Juneau!
5. Explore Downtown Juneau
Downtown Juneau is home to a variety of eclectically designed buildings. From quaint log cabins, to new industrial-build complexes, to little historic shops with early 1900s charm. It’s a great activity to just walk around the area and familiarize yourself with Juneau’s living room. After wandering through a few shops, we found ourselves strolling along the waterfront, taking in the views of the mountains and watching for whales.
6. Visit the Alaska State Historical Museum
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the history and culture of Juneau is to visit the Alaska State Historical Museum. From ancient artifacts to the profession of Alaska becoming a part of the United States, the museum paints a vivid picture worth seeing. It will give you a great appreciation for the area, and some context to Alaska’s past and why it’s so important to conserve the culture and natural wonders that the area holds dear.
Unique Businesses to Visit in Juneau Alaska
1. Kindred Post
Open Daily 11-5 Kindred Post is a post office, gift shop, and gathering space located in the heart of downtown Juneau, Alaska. The store holds a ton of local products, great for finding some treats or souvenirs. One of the companies to highlight here is Trickster Company, an indigenously owned creative group that features Natively designed art pieces.
2. Barnacle Foods
Barnacle Foods products is something truly unique and pretty remarkable to the area. I wasn’t aware that kelp could be so tasty until I tried Barnacle Food’s Kelp hot sauce. It is seriously incredible. Cooking with kelp is a tradition well known in the area, and as the local couple Matt and Lia found their cupboards were overflowing with mason jars of preserved ocean foods, they decided to share the wealth.
It's salty, savory, crisp, and full of vitamins, minerals, and iodine. Kelp makes foods taste richer, imparting a subtle savory flavor known as “umami”.
From fresh kelp-pickles, to hot sauces and salsas, to umami-blasted toppers, it’s all delicious. The best part of this product-line along with the unique flavors, is its impact on the environment. Harvesting kelp is not only sustainable but good for the planet. Kelp is a carbon sink, grows abundantly and wildly in our oceans, and harvesting it for food as an alternative to land-based farming reduces human’s impact on the environment.
3. Rainy Retreats Books
A beautiful and cozy bookstore filled with new, used, and rare books alongside a selection of vinyl records. You can get lost in here looking at the selection of books. It’s a fun place to wander if you find yourself on a rainy day in Juneau! The store is open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
4. Alaska Robotics Gallery
The Alaska Robotics Gallery features the illustrations and artwork of Pat Race and other artists driven by a sense of adventure and whimsy. Alaska Robotics Gallery carries a wide selection of graphic novels, comics, and short films which you can see on their website. Open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
5. Harbor Tea & Spice
Harbor Tea & Spice offers over 300 organic bulk herbs, spices, and in-home custom spice blends, as well as over 50 varieties of organic teas and tisanes from all over the world including handcrafted exclusive tea and tisane blends. Harbor Tea & Spice is open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
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