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If you’re planning your trip to visit Alaska and are looking for restaurants in Denali and inside Denali National Park & Preserve, we’ve got you covered!
As a family-owned and operated adventure tour company that has been in Denali for more than 15 years, we’ve explored every nook and cranny of the Denali area, including the most popular restaurants and cafes where travelers and locals alike go to grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We’ve put together a list of restaurants and cafes near the park, both north and south of the Denali National Park road entrance. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a nice sit-down meal after a long day of exploring and adventuring, there’s an option for you, including places near the local hotels and cabins.
Your Alaskan experience would not be complete without authentic Alaskan favorites, including freshly caught Alaskan salmon and king crab, reindeer, moose, and even yak! Homemade sourdough bread and wild blueberries are two other Alaskan treats that you won’t want to miss.
With no further ado, let’s get started!
Food options inside of Denali National Park & Preserve:
First, let’s talk about what restaurants are available within the park itself. (Spoiler alert: there aren’t a ton of food options inside the park!) Keep in mind that all three of these options listed below are only open during the summer season (mid-May to mid-September) and are closed during the winter.
Morino Grill
Located near the Denali Visitor Center and the Alaska Railroad depot, the Morino Grill is the only restaurant inside the park. This restaurant offers quick-serve cafeteria-style dining with burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, plus seafood chowder and fish ‘n’ chips. They also serve Starbucks coffee, and they have “grab & go” options if you are looking for something to take with you on your hike or bus tour. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
The Riley Creek Mercantile
The Riley Creek Mercantile is a convenience store located in the Riley Creek Campground that sells groceries, deli sandwiches and wraps, coffee, beer, wine, and ice cream. It’s also a great place to buy things you may have forgotten to bring before venturing into the park.
Food options near the Denali National Park entrance:
Just outside the park entrance, you’ll find many more options for food and drink.
Prospectors Pizzeria and Ale House
At Prospectors Pizzeria you will find hand-tossed, wood stone-fired pizza, salads, soups, and pasta. If you are looking for a unique Alaskan experience, you might try one of their specialty pizzas featuring local toppings like elk, salmon, reindeer, or Alaskan king crab! Or, you may choose to enjoy a traditional favorite, like the McKinley Margarita, which features crushed fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil. Voted one of Craftbeer.com’s “Great American Beer Bars,” Prospector’s also offer 49+ beers on tap, including craft beer from Alaska.
The Black Bear
Voted “Best Coffee Shop in Alaska” by Food Network online, The Black Bear has been servicing brunch in Denali since 1997. Their menu offers a variety of tasty breakfast and lunch items including biscuits and gravy, avocado toast, eggs benedict, breakfast burritos, burgers, BLTs, salads, and soups. They value supporting local farmers by locally sourcing their proteins and produce, and they have an in-house bakery and bake all of the bread on their menu. In addition to coffee, they also serve smoothies, shakes, tea, Alaskan beers, wine, and locally brewed kombucha.
Cache Café
The Denali area’s newest coffee house hosts a delicious array of Kaladi Brothers roasts, a Local Anchorage company, and provides a wide variety of staple coffee house favorites like cookies and muffins! It’s a great place to stop by for a quick morning boost before heading out onto the trail for the day. It stands apart by offering CBD infused options as well for those who are interested.
Denali Doghouse
Denali Doghouse is located right next door to our own Denali ATV Adventures office, and it is a great place to get quick service hotdogs and burgers while shopping on Denali Drive. Their menu includes reindeer hot dogs made in Alaska, as well as many other specialty hotdogs, hamburgers, and fries. They also offer black bean burgers, coleslaw, chicken nuggets, chili, and more.
The Overlook at The Crow’s Nest
The Overlook is the restaurant located at The Crow’s Nest Cabins and offers beautiful views of Alaskan scenery while enjoying your meal. Small plates include fresh Alaskan oysters, sriracha peanut fries, crab and artichoke dip, and house-made salt and vinegar chips. Entrees include seafood options such as Alaskan salmon and halibut, Alaskan king crab (including a crab ravioli), as well as beef tenderloin, burgers, and fries. Dessert includes Overlook’s famous Baked Alaska which is flambeed right at your table!
Karstens Public House
Karstens Public House is named for the man who led the first expedition of Denali and is located at McKinley Chalet Resort. The restaurant offers Alaskan beer and cocktails along with comfort foods like jalapeno cornbread, steak frites, smoked brisket, pasta, mashed potatoes, soups, and salads. It includes both indoor and outdoor dining options. Karstens also serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast each morning.
The Alpenglow at Grand Denali Lodge
The Alpenglow restaurant is located at Grand Denali Lodge and offers Alaskan seafood like salmon, halibut, and king crab legs. The lunch and dinner menu also includes steaks, pasta, chicken, soups, and salads. For breakfast, there are both a la carte options and a continental breakfast featuring both sweet and savory items.
Mountaineer Grill & Bar at Denali Bluffs Hotel
Mountaineer Grill is located at the Denali Bluffs Hotel and is open for breakfast and dinner. The dinner menu offers barbecue platters, such as BBQ pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken, as well as other American fare (burgers, salads, baked potatoes, etc.) You can enjoy local beers and cocktails on their outdoor patio. They also offer a breakfast buffet each morning.
The Perky Moose Café at Denali Bluffs Hotel
The Perky Moose Café is another dining option at the Denali Bluffs Hotel and is open in the mornings and afternoons for “grab and go” breakfast and lunch options, coffee, and pastries.
Moose-AKa’s
Moose-AKa’s is an Eastern European restaurant & tavern that serves traditional Serbian family recipes made from scratch daily. Menu items include moussaka, fried crepes, stuffed peppers (including a vegan option!), schnitzel, and more. Desserts items include a Serbian-style cheesecake, as well as “Grandmother’s chocolate cake” which has an interesting combination of homemade chocolate cake made with coconut cream and oat milk, layers of crushed Brazil nuts, pureed dates, and peanut butter, and a topping of chocolate, almonds, and roasted coffee beans. Yum!
Music of Denali Dinner Theater
If you are looking to add some fun live entertainment to your night out, you might want to try the Music of Denali Dinner Theater! The night starts with an all-you-can-eat, family-style dinner including Alaskan salmon, barbeque, mashed potatoes, and apple crisp. The night continues with performances from musicians and singers, as well as a musical comedy theatrical production about the first men to reach the summit of Denali.
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge has several dining options on the premises:
- Fannie Q’s Saloon is named for Fannie Quigley, a famous Alaskan prospector, trapper, and cook. It’s open for breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The menu includes burgers, seafood mac & cheese, blackened salmon tacos, and more.
- King Salmon is open for both breakfast and dinner. The dinner menu features Alaska seafood, pasta, chicken, and steak dishes, as well as smoked wild Alaskan salmon chowder.
- Lynx Creek Pizza & Pub serves pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and ice cream.
- Grizzly Burger is open for lunch and dinner and serves burgers, seafood nachos, “boozy” milkshakes, and fries. You can dine inside or out on the river view deck.
- River Run Espresso sells coffees, ice cream, and pastries.
Great One Liquor and Grocery
At Great One Liquor & Grocery you can buy snacks, souvenirs, and alcohol, including picking from one of the largest selections of wines in the area. There’s also a food truck parked outside with burritos, tacos, burgers, and more. You order at the grocery counter and then collect your meal from outside.
Subway
There is also a Subway franchise location on the Denali Drive boardwalk, if you are craving something fast, easy, and familiar!
Food options north of Denali National Park entrance:
North of the Denali National Park entrance in the nearby town of Healy, Alaska, there are some dining options to satisfy your taste buds.
49th Street Brewing Company
The 49th State Brewing Company is a Denali brewpub located 10 miles from the entrance to Denali National Park. You can spend the day in the beer garden enjoying a locally crafted beer or enjoy their food menu which includes things like crab-stuffed jalapenos, Bavarian handmade pretzels with 49er beer cheese. There’s also the Brewpub Reuben made with beer-braised corned beef, marbled rye, sauerkraut, house-made 1000 Island dressing and Dutch Swiss cheese. Or be adventurous and try their famous Yak burger, which is made from locally raised Alaskan yak!
The Alaska Coffee Bean
The Alaska Coffee Bean is a popular coffee house located in the town of Healy, about 10 miles away from the park. Their menu hosts both breakfast and lunch fare, as well as a wide range of coffees from North Pole Roasters. Saturdays is a bustling time to swing by and check out the farmers market they hold in their parking lots throughout the summer, and swing by any day to check out the locally made souvenirs they have for sale near the counter.
Totem Inn and Pub
The Totem Inn and Pub is a spot to not only grab a bite of some quick bar fare and pizza, but it’s also a great place to play a game of pool, watch a baseball game with the locals, or try your hand at shuffleboard. If you’re the type that’s interested in getting a feel for the types of people who live full and part time in the Denali area, this is a great place to do that.
Healy Thai Food
This hard to miss bright orange food truck located in the parking lot outside of the 49th State Brewery is a fan favorite for people craving food besides the standard American menu available most places in town. Affordable, quick and delicious, you’ll find yourself ordering one of your favorite Thai dishes, and likely to have left over Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles to take back to the hotel room with you. Make sure to try the Thai Coffee for a sweet post meal treat.
Three Bears Grocery Store
Three Bears’ mission was to bring nutrition to Alaska’s many food deserts and that’s just what they did when they planted roots in Healy. This standard grocery store is a one stop shop not only for stocking up on food, but also to pick up any items you might need, but forgot before making your way down to Denali. Camping gear, toiletries, and alcohol are just a few of the things you can scoop up while you’re in town.
Rose’s Café
Rose’s Café in Healy, AK is located at 249.5 Parks Highway and is about a 15-mile drive to the park entrance. It’s open for breakfast and lunch and was a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice winner in 2021. They offer breakfast favorites like country fried steak and eggs, omelets, French toast, bacon, sausage, homemade sourdough bread, as well as homemade desserts, pies, ice cream, and milkshakes.
Black Diamond Grill
Black Diamond Grill is located at Black Diamond Resort about 15 minutes away from the park entrance. The menu features seafood favorites, prime rib, duck, pasta, salads, and appetizers such as crab cakes and baked brie.
Food options south of the Denali National Park entrance:
A few miles south of the park entrance there are also some dining options to consider!
McKinley Creekside Café and Bakery
McKinley Creekside Café & Bakery is located at McKinley Creekside Cabins on the banks of Carlo Creek, 13 miles south of Denali National Park. They serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner as well as have a wine selection and Alaskan craft beers. They have a small greenhouse and garden to add farm-to-table fresh food to their menu. Homecooked favorites include Grandma Emmi’s meatloaf, turkey pot pie, fish tacos, chili, and more. The bakery offers cinnamon rolls, blueberry scones, chocolate chip cookies, etc.
The Perch
The Perch is an upscale restaurant located on the South side of the park. Their menu boasts a number of delicious items from Filet Mignon to Candied Salmon Deviled eggs. This spot is great for a well crafted cocktail, a date night, or a taste of luxury in the tucked away corner where it sits, overlooking Panorama Mountain. Unlike the lower 48, you wont find a dress code in this fine dining establishment, so don’t be shy showing up in your hiking boots and flannel, because you will fight right in.
Panorama Pizza
Panorama is a great place to take the family, or head with a group of friends to get some classic style pizza, a soda or a pitcher of beer. Their patio area bustles on summer days, situated right on the banks of the tranquil Carlo Creek. Show up on the right night, and you’re likely to find a karaoke party happening, with an intense game of foosball right outside the front door. Honorable mention to “Rocket,” the resident black lab who spends his days on the deck, lounging in the summer sun.
Prey
Prey, is the Denali Cabins in-house restaurant. This intimate setting is easily accessible right off the Parks Highway and seated in front of the Denali Cabins property. There, you will find a menu of time-tested dishes, a full bar service, and friendly wait staff.
Mount Hunter Coffee
Like Prey, Mount Hunter Coffee is the Denali Cabins in house coffee stop. For those who are coming into town from Anchorage or Talkeetna, you’ll find this a quick and easy pit stop, and for those staying at the hotel a great place to kick off you’re morning before setting out on the days adventure.
Gold Rush Dining Room
Located at Denali Park Village resort, the Gold Rush Dining Room offers two breakfast buffet options (continental breakfast or Denali buffet which includes additional items), and a dinner buffet with carved prime rib, chicken, Alaska’s catch of the day, soups, mac & cheese, a full salad bar and more.
Experience the culinary adventure that is Denali!
We hope this list of options was helpful for you in finding places to eat on your trip to the Denali National Park area, our favorite part of Alaska, and the place we call home. Who knew you could come to Denali seeking adventure in one of America’s national parks, and also have a fine dining experience or a night out at a dinner theater? We hope you have an Alaska trip to remember, and many travel stories to share when you get back home!
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