The Alaskan Hotel Bar

The Alaskan Hotel Bar at 167 South Franklin Street in Juneau occupies the ground floor of a building that has been in continuous operation since 1913, making it the oldest hotel bar in Alaska and one of the most historically resonant drinking establishments in the Pacific Northwest. The bar predates Alaskan statehood and has served generations of gold miners, fishermen, loggers, government workers, and the full parade of Juneau residents across more than a century of operation. The interior retains much of its original character: a long wooden bar, vintage photographs and Gold Rush-era memorabilia, exposed ceiling timbers, and a worn atmosphere that is entirely genuine rather than manufactured. The crowd at the Alaskan Hotel Bar is resolutely local. Fishing industry workers, Southeast Alaska tradespeople, and longtime Juneau residents make up the core clientele on weekday evenings, joined on Friday and Saturday nights by a broader mix that includes cruise ship passengers exploring the downtown waterfront and visitors drawn specifically to the bar's historical reputation. The age range spans widely — this is a genuine community bar rather than a themed tourist attraction, though it welcomes both with equal ease. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights is among the most authentic in Juneau, featuring local and regional folk, bluegrass, country, and rock acts on a small stage that fits the intimate scale of the room. A $5 to $10 cover applies on music nights; the rest of the week the bar runs without any door charge. The drinks programme is straightforward and democratic: draft Alaskan beers, basic cocktails, shots, and standard well spirits at prices well below Anchorage levels. Beer runs approximately $5 to $7 a pint. The bar is open daily from noon to 2am, giving it some of the longest hours in Juneau's downtown. For visitors arriving on Alaska Marine Highway ferries or cruise ships, the Alaskan Hotel Bar is within easy walking distance of the waterfront and serves as an ideal introduction to the city's maritime and frontier character.