3 Best Restaurants in Anchorage, Alaska

An absolute must for epicures and adventurous eaters, Crow's Nest uses inspired combinations to highlight, but never overpower, the freshest ingredients Alaska has to offer. Located on the top floor of the Hotel Captain Cook, this is also the best restaurant view in Anchorage, spanning the Chugach Mountains to the east, the Alaska Range to the north and west, and the city 20 stories below. The dress code, like everything in Alaska, is relaxed: business casual, but no sandals and no shorts.

This refined yet relaxing mountaintop restaurant is perched 2,300 feet up Mt. Alyeska, accessed by a 60-passenger aerial tram (free with dinner reservations, otherwise $29 round-trip). The forward-thinking prix fixe menu capitalizes on local produce and seafood, highlighted in dishes such as scallop bisque with smoked salmon mousse. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook seven glaciers in an unforgettable panoramic mountain view.

Don't let the Midtown strip mall that houses Jens' put you off: this is a true fine-dining establishment. The late chef-owner Jens Haagen Hansen's culinary legacy has led to the frequently changing menu that includes Alaska salmon, halibut, and rockfish. The Danish berry pudding with cream is a delightful way to cap a meal. The light and airy restaurant has a playful, energetic feel.