11 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. With incredible views of 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 food. Think state famous pizza, delicious fireweed ice creams, and locally sourced Maple Birch Brittle.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
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For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

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

Where to Stay in Talkeenta

Talkeetna is a unique town with lots of quirky charicteristics, and before your visit there's a few things to keep in mind. Because there's so much to do in Talkeenta, parking can get extremely crowded, especially during the summer months, so expect a wait. It can also get very muddy, so if you're planning to explore town or do any hiking I recommend bringing comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.

If you're looking for a place to stay, you actually have quite a few options. I recently stayed at the Talkeetna Aerie Domes - a set of incredible rental domes that overlooks the town of Talkeetna and has incredible views of the Alaska Range - plus they have a sauna onsite. If you want to stay in or close to town I recommend the Susitna River Lodge!

Book the Epic Talkeetna Aerie Domes!

My Favorite Tours in Talkeetna :
- Denali Flightseeing Tour
- Anchorage to Talkeetna Railroad
- Denali Zip Line Tour

Best Places to Eat in Talkeetna

1. Mountain High Pizza Pie
This is always my husband and I's first stop in Talkeetna, and our personal favorite is the Main Street Gossip! They have indoor and outdoor seating (in the summer months), and as one of the most popular local spots to eat, there'll usually be a wait unless you're visiting in the shoulder season. Personally, I would recommend sticking with their pizza.

​2. Homestead Kitchen
This sit down restaurant is one of the newest in Talkeetna, and they have a great mix of options on their menu. Unfortunately they're only open in the summers, but we've heard great things about their Halibut Sandwich and their Crab Hushpuppies.

3. Conscious Coffee
This small coffee shop has a little bit of everything (coffee, tea, bagels, smoothies, crepes, milkshakes, and a great London Fog). With a small seating area outside, and an even smaller indoor space that doubles as a local library - this is a great spot to stop if you're looking to grab a coffee or snack on the go. Personally, we love their parmesan bagel with the chive cream cheese - sounds simple but it's so tasty!

​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. They have multiple beer gardens and a large menu that has a little bit of everything, this is a great place to go if you're looking for a restaurant with a laid back feel. My personal favorite item to get at their downtown location is their "The Aleutian" - a delicious, grilled Alaskan Cod sandwich with a side of their awesome sweet potato wedges. They also have a fantastic (and giant) Chuli Stout Brownie for dessert.

If you missed the brewpub, you can stop at their tasting room that's closer to the Parks Highway, about 12 miles out of town. My husband and I usually order their pizza and caprese salad!

​​​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 in Alaska. You can find their permanent food truck set up just off main street in downtown Talkeetna, but only during summer months when it's not Alaska State Fair season.

​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! They have all kinds of fresh baked goods, which is what I recommend getting here.

​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, but it's worth a stop.

​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 after a too-long night.

10. Brown Bear Espresso
​Located right at the Parks Highway turn, this little coffee hut has great breakfast options if you're heading out early on some adventures towards Denali. I'll be honest their coffee wasn't very strong (my husband got a drip coffee and said the same) but their Alaska Reindeer Sausage Croissant and Biscuit & Gravy were delicious.

11. Alaska Birch Syrup
​Another stop located closer to the Parks Highway is the Alaska Birch Syrup & Wild Harvest Products. Most of their store is locally made products & gifts, but they also have some fun Maple Birch Sodas and Ice Creams to try - my favorite is their Birch Brittle Ice Cream!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Best Things to Do in Talkeetna
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> Visiting Denali NP For the First Time

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