Chair 5 Restaurant

Chair 5 Restaurant in Girdwood has been the social center of Alaska's most active ski and outdoor community for years, serving as the post-adventure gathering point for Alyeska Resort skiers, Crow Pass hikers, and summer visitors making the 45-minute drive south from Anchorage along the spectacularly scenic Seward Highway. The restaurant's name references the Alyeska ski lift system, and the menu reflects the setting: hearty burgers, hand-tossed pizzas, and Alaska craft beers appropriately sized for appetites sharpened by the surrounding mountain landscape. The Ski Boot Burger — a double patty with cheddar and house sauce on a brioche bun — is the signature item and one of the most satisfying burgers in Southcentral Alaska. The smoked salmon dip with pita is the essential starter, offering the Alaskan pantry staple in its most social, share-friendly form. The Alyeska Amber, brewed locally, is the obvious draft choice when settling in after a day on the mountain. The dining room is casual and unpretentious — wood paneling, local artwork, and the particular warmth of a space that has absorbed decades of après-ski energy from the surrounding community. No reservations are taken; walk-in is the only option, and waits on busy ski weekends can run to 30 minutes. Operating daily year-round, Chair 5 remains open regardless of conditions on the mountain. The combination of reliable food, solid beer, and genuine mountain-town atmosphere makes it the kind of place visitors return to each time they pass through Girdwood.