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    The Asylum

    4.6 (148 reviews)
    InexpensivePubs
    Closed • 8:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    About The Asylum

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    The Asylum Photos

    THE ASYLUM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Asylum

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bar

    We SO enjoyed our time at this bar. They ordered food from the burger place next door for us. All worked out great. (Go next door & tip the burger guys) This place was the favorite part of our shore adventures in Ketchikan. Cannot recommend it highly enough!

    Grapefruit IPA and asylum duck fart
    Diana G.

    4th time in Ketchikan and we decided not to do an excursion for once. As we were walking around from 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.

    Wendy, I'm home... with a cold one in hand.
    Chris G.

    Cool little spot right on Water Street. I only had beers, but the selection was good and everything was cold and fresh. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and it's an easy place to hang out for a drink. Friendly service and worth a stop if you're looking for a casual bar in Ketchikan.

    Andie G.

    If you're looking for a wild and quirky stop in Ketchikan, The Asylum is it! We wandered in while exploring on a cruise stop, and let's just say we might've left a little 'mad' for this place! The drinks are fun, the snacks hit the spot, and the whole place has this wonderfully offbeat vibe that's perfect for escaping reality (or joining the 'asylum' crew, your choice!). The decor and atmosphere make you feel like you've entered a fun, slightly unhinged escape in the best way. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good laugh, great drinks, and a one-of-a-kind experience!

    Rob P.

    The Asylum is an awesome way to embed yourself in the landscape while enjoying a cold one. Or two. Or more. The back area of the building is carved into the side of the mountain. When the weather is nice, sit outside and stay a while. There's a lot more room here than it first appears from the outside. Drink prices are reasonable. Besides a full bar, they have a nice compliment of beers, including Alaskan beers (of course). As much as it hits all the notes of a bar, what sets it apart is the personality of the staff, particularly the owner. The man never stopped moving, setting up chairs, filling drinks, replacing souvenir shirts for my pain in the ass family who couldn't make up their mind about the design and size. And yet, he kept a sense of humor throughout. Everyone else was cheerful with a lot of "no problem" and "thank you honey". I wish we had more time here, but this will definitely be a place to stop through town.

    Super fun bar to stop in and grab a beer. Sat at the bar and enjoyed talking with the bar tender and others while I waited on food. Ordered fried halibut and fries and AMAZING. I didn't expect to get the best fish on my trip from here but I did.

    Outside view from dock
    Carl R.

    Beers are really cheap! Get a premium beer for the same price as a cheap beer. Great place to get a beer and recommended. Unfortunately, there is no food. However, you can go next door and order a burger and bring it to the bar. The bartender even has a menu for the burger stand next door. There are 2 levels of seating, and also a patio. It's also not too far from the cruise ships.

    fish and chips - the best ever!!!
    Ariana L.

    this hidden gem is frickin AWESOME. if you're not looking for it, you might miss it, so I'd def google maps it out. the beer prices are unbelievable--$3.50 for a heavy pour--and there are so many beers on draft to choose from! the vibe is extremely casual - the owner (?) treats you like family. I love the sassy decor thrown around everywhere. The halibut and chips were the best fish and chips I've ever had and I truly don't know when I'll stop thinking about them. Unfortunately I live in literally the opposite end of the country but I'm considering making the trek back to Alaska just for this!!!

    Patio party
    Carlos G.

    Definitely a great little bar literally across the street from the cruise docks...outside of our 3 hour kayak excursion we spent the entire day here... Carlos the owner was a great host and personally took care of us ...He's a huge Buffalo Bills fan like my buddy so they became buddies pretty quick ..even exchanged shirts..lol.. we sat outside on the patio...the weather was perfect and we could see our ship so no worries as to getting back on time...we look forward to getting back to Ketchikan for a land trip and hitting the Asylum again! Thanks Carlos

    Met new friends

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    My to go to bar when in port. Friendly bar keeps and patrons (locals and tourists). Reasonably priced beers. A good time is had by all.

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    3 months ago

    Great experience. Carlos and Courtney are great!!!! Cheers on steroids. Wish we could stay. Enjoy, engage and quack quack throw it back!!!!

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    1 year ago

    $3.50 drafts? What's not to love! Tell the owner you're a Fighting Irish fan and you get a free beer...tomorrow.

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    2 years ago

    Awesome little dive bar next to the port. Owner was very friendly and even gave us a free shot. Great merchandise too.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - The Asylum

    Review Highlights - The Asylum

    “Had an early all aboard, but we're having so much fun we missed the shuttle so Carlos delivered us to the cruise!”

    Mentioned in 25 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Arctic Bar - Deck area

    Arctic Bar

    4.3(111 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    •$

    We popped into the Arctic Bar while in port during our Alaskan cruise, specifically on a mission…read morefor a Bloody Mary...and wow, did it deliver! It was honestly one of the best Bloody Marys I have ever had in my life. Beyond the great drinks, the bartender was an absolute superstar. The place was packed to the brim, and she was handling the entire crowd like a total pro. I was blown away by her speed and efficiency; she was pouring multiple beers at once, whipping up cocktails in record time, and even tackling her own dishes alongside another lady who was helping wash glasses. She didn't miss a single beat. The atmosphere was lively, welcoming, and genuine. We ended up chatting with fellow cruise travelers at the bar, swapping stories, and just enjoying the great energy of the room. It's an authentic local gem with unbeatable character. If you're stopping through Ketchikan, do not miss this place. Grab a stool, order a Bloody Mary, and enjoy the show...highly, highly recommended!

    The Arctic Bar is one of those "gotta stop" at locations on the dock area in Ketchikan. When the…read morecruise ships pull in, they tend to blast the music and over their intercom, they will advertise to the tourists getting off the ship to come visit and join in the fun times at their bar. To start, they have two lovely Alaskan wooden carved bears peeping through the front entrance. Once inside, those bears look a little different. IYKYK! the staff inside is plenty rowdy and you cannot help but laugh at the scenery. The best place on a nice day is their back waterfront deck. They will bring you a Bloody Mary that might just knock your socks off. Just DON'T RING THE BELL ON THE BAR!!

    Photos
    Arctic Bar
    Arctic Bar
    Arctic Bar - Sign

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    Sign

    Jeremiah's Pub

    Jeremiah's Pub

    2.7(40 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    •$$

    This pub is one of my favorite places to eat in Ketchikan and I would recommend eating there…read more Service there for the most part is pretty good earning their first star due to the lack of bad service I've had eating there. When it comes to food, it's quality earns itself a half star, and keep in mind when compared to other places in town for burgers they fall behind. In terms of cleanliness, they earn their star, all the tables are cleaned, the place smells good, and their soap is awesome, which is important considering that what you're likely going to eat is finger food. Next they are very consistent with their food, therefore you have quality assurance here which earns them a half star because the assurance is for medium quality good. The overall experience id's pretty good, the food moves fairly quickly, you don't feel rushed to make your order, but I would say it is a little pricy to eat there. This earns it for my scale a .75 star. Overall they earn a 3.75 rating which rounds up to a 4 star and I feel the overall rating between reviews of 3.5 is fair. ~ Alex

    Everything needs to be improved! The food did not come for a…read morelong time, then it was cold and not edible . The service was OK, but I did have to chase her down for sweetener. & lemon that was for our ice tea and never brought or offered. I remember coming here prior to this and it was so good that I was proud to bring people here. Something changed!!! Don't eat here! Drive the extra mile, it will be worth it! My daughter had a Halibut wrap, so she paid $25. For something that was not eatable!

    Photos
    Jeremiah's Pub - Monte cristo and crab stuffed mushrooms.

    Monte cristo and crab stuffed mushrooms.

    Jeremiah's Pub - Salmon chowder & an Alaskan Stout. #happy

    Salmon chowder & an Alaskan Stout. #happy

    Jeremiah's Pub - Potato skins.

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    Potato skins.

    Uncharted Alaska Distillery - Distilling area

    Uncharted Alaska Distillery

    4.8(56 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    I have been to this distillery in past trips to Ketchican where I have done their tasting flights…read moreand had some of their craft cocktails as well Which I always liked. The distillery tour, which is the focus of this updated review, was 2.5 hours long and was an absolute pleasure to attend. Travis, one of the two co-owners, did a great job of mixing in the historical aspects of his distillery, with the science of how the distilling process works while mixing in his own down home humor to make for an excellent excursion. As part of this tour you get to taste all the products Uncharted make, which includes numerous Gin, Vodka, Agave and whiskey products while Travis is giving his presentation. Upon completion of his presentation we went upstairs to the "lab" to make our own personalized bottle of liquor where I ended up making an orange colander Agave. Such fun! If you have any interest in the distilling process and have ever wondered how liquor is made you should definitely give this excursion some strong consideration as you will not be disappointed. As Travis added so much to this experience, I would strongly suggest you try to coordinate the tour when he is available. Definitely worth the price of admission (:

    This distillery is doing delicious craft cocktails while offering unique and high quality bottled…read morespirits. Highly recommend this as a stop in your day in Ketchikan. Our favorite cocktails were the Aurora Borealis (with huckleberry vodka) and Smooth Sailor. Don't miss out on their limited time spirits, you are in for a treat. The service was fantastic, friendly and family-owned. Plus, there is plenty on indoor and outdoor seating.

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    Uncharted Alaska Distillery - 9/30/25 FYI. Cool.

    9/30/25 FYI. Cool.

    Uncharted Alaska Distillery
    Uncharted Alaska Distillery - Cocktail

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    Cocktail

    Sourdough Cocktail Bar - Inside of bar

    Sourdough Cocktail Bar

    4.4(38 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    It's worth finding this place. It has a corner bar vibe and eclectic decor to match without the…read more"you ain't from around here" looks. The barkeep was friendly and helpful. Apparently, the only brewery in Ketchikan has a premium price so it doesn't sell well and is not available. The Red Ale out of Anchorage was a great recommendation. If I'm ever in Ketchikan again I'll be back.

    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!

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    Sourdough Cocktail 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!

    The Asylum - pubs - Updated October 2026

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