9 Best Places to Eat in Talkeetna, Alaska (From a Local)

Talkeetna, in my personal opinion, is one of the best cities in Alaska to explore - and by explore I mean eat at. With incredible views of Mount Denali, unique finds like the town's cat mayor, and amazing places to eat, if you're lucky enough to stop in Talkeetna during your trip to Alaska, then you'll also want to take advantage of the delicious options throughout Talkeetna. If you're looking for something quick, my ultimate favorite is Mountain High Pizza Pie - just know that it can get very busy!

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Visiting Talkeetna & Where to Stay

Talkeetna is a unique town with lots of quirky attributes, and before your visit, there's a few things to keep in mind. Parking in Talkeetna can get extremely crowded, especially during warm summer months, and you'll often have to park in one of the two lots for hiking. If you're looking for a place to stay, I recently stayed at the Talkeetna Aerie Domes - an incredible Airbnb that overlooks the Alaska Range & has incredible views for stargazing and northern lights watching.

Because of Talkeetna's proximity to Denali National Park, there's also plenty of adventures and tours you'll want to take advantage of while in Talkeetna. And because Talkeetna gets very busy in the summer, I highly recommend booking ahead of time to ensure you get a spot on whichever adventure you're looking to cross off your bucket list - whether that's rafting, zip lining, or an epic flight seeing tour of Denali.

My favorite tours in Talkeetna : 
- Denali Canyon Rafting
- Denali Peak Flight Seeing Tour
- Denali Park Zip Line Adventure

Best Restaurants in Talkeetna

1. Mountain High Pizza Pie - This is always my husband and I's first stop, and our personal favorites are the Hawaiian and Gyro Pies! They have indoor and outdoor seating, and we've always had excellent food. It can get quite busy, so I would expect a line and wait.

​2. Homestead Kitchen - This sit down restaurant is the newest in Talkeetna, and they have a great mix of options on their menu. Homestead Kitchen is owned by the Pursuit Company (the same ones who own the Denali Cabins, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, and the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge) so you know that you'll be getting a great experience no matter what. Unfortunately they are only open in the Summers.

3. Conscious Coffee - This small coffee shop has a little bit of everything (think coffee, tea, bagels, smoothies, crepes, milkshakes, and a great London Fog!). With a small seating area outside, and an even smaller indoor space - this is a great spot to stop if you're looking to grab a coffee or snack on the go. They also sell a large variety of books on the inside, and even have a puzzle exchange!

​4. Talkeetna Tako - This food truck now has a permanent location right next to Shirley's Ice Cream, and they have some of the most delicious fish tacos you'll ever have. I highly recommend trying out their Halibut Tacos or Halibut Quesedilla!

​​5. Denali Brewing Co. & Brewpub - With two locations, their brewpub & gift shop are conveniently located right in downtown Talkeetna. With multiple beer gardens and a large menu, this is a great place to go if you're looking for a restaurant with a laid back feel. If you missed the brewpub, you can stop at their tasting room that's right off the Parks Highway just a few miles out of town. My personal favorite item to get is their "The Aleutian" - a delicious, grilled Alaskan Cod sandwich. They also have awesome sweet potato wedges.

​​​6. Talkeetna Spinach Bread - To be completely honest, I've only ever tried the Talkeetna Spinach Bread at the Alaska State Fair - but because they're based in Talkeetna I thought they 100% deserved a spot on this list because truthfully, their spinach bread is one of the best state fair foods I've ever had. You can find their permanent food truck set up just off main street in downtown Talkeetna, but only during Summer months & not during the Alaska State Fair.

​7. ​​Flying Squirrel Bakery & Cafe - Although located a little ways out of town, the Flying Squirrel also has a surprisingly large breakfast and lunch menu, including wood fired pizza nights on the weekends! If you stop here you can also grab a cup of coffee to go with your choice of pastry or any of their artisan soups or sandwiches.

​8. Shirley's Homemade Ice Cream - Shirley's is another personal favorite of mine, and I recommend that everyone stops to try their special, fireweed flavored ice cream!​ You'll only be able to try this unique flavor if you visit in the summer, otherwise you might miss out.

​9. Latitude 62 - I recently stopped here for breakfast on my most recent trip to Talkeetna and was pleasantly surprised. Although it also doubles as a bar & motel - their reindeer sausage breakfast muffin is out of this world. Plus, you might run into some locals that spent the night in the back.

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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