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    Arctic Bar

    4.3 (105 reviews)
    InexpensivePubs
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Arctic Bar Photos

    ARCTIC BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Arctic Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Indoor bear
    Jaime B.

    Nice local bar with a good beer and swag selection. Right on the water and in the heart of Ketchikan! Indoor and outdoor seating and the themed bears are hysterical! We would definitely go back!

    Cheers - beware of beers, er, bears.
    Chris G.

    Stopped into the Arctic Bar while visiting Ketchikan. It definitely has that old-school dive bar vibe, dark, lively, and full of character. The drinks were reasonably priced and strong, but the service was hit-or-miss depending on who you caught behind the bar. Fun spot if you're looking for a no-frills, local watering hole, though it's not exactly the most welcoming or polished experience. Worth a stop for the history and atmosphere, but not a must-do.

    Kristine L.

    What a fun little bar in Ketchikan! We stopped inside because we saw a sign for $3.50 beer. Turns out it's only for Happy Bear beer (which isn't terrible, but super light). Arctic bar is your typical dive bar with indoor and outdoor seating. They also have billards and a store for merch. I loved the decor and the beer they have on tap. It was a great stop before getting back on our cruise ship. Highly recommend!

    Outside
    Scott G.

    Ketchikan has several dive bars but this one was my favorite. It's got a pool table and is very spacious. It is really a must see.

    Cee D.

    Stopped in to check out their merchandise, located immediately to your left as you walk in. There were two people inside: the female bartender and a guy at the bar. The bartender saw us come in (I mean, how could you not?!?) but didn't acknowledge us, not even after standing there for several minutes. She and the guy kept chatting completely ignoring us, like we didn't exist; like we were standing there for our health. Finally, after several minutes of waiting, my husband walked over to the bar and said, my wife would like to get a shirt. The female bartender's response was: it's cash only over there, there's an atm over there, but but made no motion or effort to leave the bar and help us out. So we asked if we just go and look at the merchandise and she said "no, you wait for me, I'll come over there." So that was that. We decided to leave. For a place that advertises "come drink with the locals" this bartender is one unwelcoming, unfriendly, and rude local. Don't waste your time here. They don't welcome your business. There's no shortage of places to eat, drink, shop, and be merry in Ketchikan and this place isn't it. One star is being generous.

    David L.

    Lovely staff, very accommodating. Thank you Coleen! Justin at the bar made a perfectly spicy bloody Mary that I've been craving for, but never knew it. (The bloody marys on the princess cruise have been very lackluster, bland, and only memorable for being as such). Plus, the "ahoy fuckers!" And the happy bears logo is something to etch Ketchikan into my memory. Thank you.

    Spicy Bloody Mary
    Paul P.

    Fabulous cozy bar with a lot of local history. You must visit the "happy bear" shrine, you'll understand when you visit. A favorite of the locals located right at the port. The spicy Bloody Mary is a fan favorite and pub prices are good too. Since it has a little history you can purchase shirts, stickers, etc. Worth a visit!

    View from patio
    Jeff W.

    Did a mini pub crawl and I liked most of the bars I visited, but this was my favorite. It is great dive bar with a pool table and a lot of funny decorations built around their happy bears theme. They have a friendly staff and a nice beer selection with reasonable prices. I sat on the covered patio and took in the beautiful view overlooking the harbor.

    Bill S.

    OK, the graphics of two bears may be a bit much for some....but this is one of the oldest bars...right next to the main port in Ketchikan. The owner, a lady who's worked here 35 years and has owned it for 25 years May well stop by your table to chat. She is very nice and welcoming like you'll find in many Alaskan ports. We had some of the ice cold drafts from Alaska Brewery. Great views, environment and prices!

    Liz M.

    Nothing special about this bar other than the two bears outside getting it on. I was expecting more since a few ppl recommended this spot. The vibe is definitely more boring here than at the Totem Bar. Bartenders weren't as friendly as they were at the other bar. But it's definitely a bar you have to check out if you're in Ketchikan. Grab at least 1 beer and go bar hopping. Apparently they have 9 bars in the area.

    Signage on the side

    The bar is right next to the cruise terminal. It has a fun level of crude, adult humor. It's a great place for some memorable vacation photos and souvenirs.

    Arctic Bar swag for sale

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    10 months ago

    Draft beers were very good here, ambience was old town Alaska wood bar scene, people are cool, service was cool...

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    1 year ago

    Good selection of drafts. We had an amber and a pilsner. Very tasty at 10 AM. The happy bears out front will welcome you in!

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    2 years ago

    Staff was super nice. Awesome bloody Marys! Not to be missed. Hope to return one day.

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    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kara J.

    Kara J.

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    2 years ago

    Great bar - so fun! Definitely worth stopping in. Friendly service, indoor/outdoor seating. Great location. Say hi to the bears!

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    2 years ago

    Alaskan Warmth through and through. Love the deck, drinks, water view, fun atmosphere and great music venues.

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Review Highlights - Arctic Bar

    And, I believe her name was Paula, she was awesome and made us giggle quite a bit with her "argh" attitude.

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    The Asylum

    The Asylum

    4.6(142 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $

    We both agreed that The Asylum was our favorite of the 3 pubs that we visited in Ketchikan during…read morethe pub crawl. It's well known for their specialty Duck Fart shots, but it's really the owners that make it so special. We were greeted warmly by Carlos. He made this visit so much fun. Honestly, I would have loved to stay longer to sample some of the local beers. They have many craft beers on tap. I just couldn't pass up the Booty Juice cocktail. It's strong & unique. I think he said it was a local huckleberry vodka, but I could be wrong. The best part was the Duck Fart shot. Don't go by the recipe because he actually makes it a little different. I won't spoil it for you. Not all Duck Farts are created equal. Haha! My husband won a t-shirt with the pub logo. Yes, our group played a trivia game. The owner admittedly has no filter. That's really what made the whole experience such a blast. Unfortunately, it was our first stop so we had to move on. I'd definitely revisit this one again in the future.

    4th time in Ketchikan and we decided not to do an excursion for once. As we were walking around…read morefrom the cruise ship, we stumbled upon this place. Great place to grab a drink with your friends and just enjoy your time. Drink prices are reasonable and the drinks were great. The vibes were chill. Met some kind people. Definitely recommend giving this place a try when in Ketchikan. We know we'll be back again one day.

    Photos
    The Asylum
    The Asylum - So cute in here

    So cute in here

    The Asylum

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    Sourdough Cocktail Bar - Part of the pub crawl

    Sourdough Cocktail Bar

    4.4(38 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    There's a number of reasons to visit this unique bar in Ketchikan. Its history comes from the…read morefamily that owns it. You can read about that history on their website. They have a big collection of old ship and shipwreck photos decorating the walls. I also saw what looked like an antique painting of gamblers in the Gold Rush period, as well as some old historical memorabilia. It was like walking into a different time period with all the décor and wood paneling. We had a choice of a beer or a cocktail. We chose the Sourdough Mule. Apparently, tequila and ginger pair well together. It was good, but I liked the Bear Skat shot the best. Who knew that Blueberry Vodka would make such a big difference in the flavor? My husband really liked the Butt Hole shot. I didn't get to try it, but he said it was pretty good. We didn't get to stay long. It was our last pub crawl stop. By that point, we were all a little buzzed before heading back to Ward Cove. Thankfully our tour operator was our designated driver. It was a great time spent in Downtown Ketchikan!

    We stopped in off our cruise for some shopping power drinks to have a beer and duck fart. Service…read morewas spectacular and Sherlin was so friendly and fun !! No food but a great assortment of jerky and chips ! Totally be back when in Ketchikan a super fun bar !!

    Photos
    Sourdough Cocktail Bar - Inside of bar

    Inside of bar

    Sourdough Cocktail Bar - A cool mural in the back

    A cool mural in the back

    Sourdough Cocktail Bar - The Bear Scat with Anchorage Distillery's blueberry vodka. Yum!

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    The Bear Scat with Anchorage Distillery's blueberry vodka. Yum!

    Arctic Bar - pubs - Updated May 2026

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