Best local clubs in Anchorage: top rated picks for 2025 nights

TL;DR:

Start at Koot’s for classic multi-room party energy.
Catch Williwaw Social for DJs, rooftop, and speakeasy hours.
See Mad Myrna’s DIVAS show, then stay to dance.
Gaslight keeps a late dance crowd on weekends.
Bernie’s patio, Van’s live bands, and Downtown pubs round it out.

This is a helpful content guide to Anchorage, Alaska nightlife. It focuses on well rated, active venues inside city limits. Updated on 14 October 2025. You get quick picks by vibe, what to expect, and planning tips. Facts are verified with official pages or trusted listings.

Quick picks by vibe

Biggest all-in-one club: Koot’s (Chilkoot Charlie’s), multi-room complex with themes and late close.
Downtown venue with layers: Williwaw Social, main stage, rooftop, and a speakeasy.
Drag show, LGBTQ+ dance: Mad Myrna’s, Friday and Saturday DIVAS show at 9 p.m.
Late dance crowd: Gaslight Lounge, DJs and a busy floor on weekends.
Cocktails and patio: Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, martini lounge with a large courtyard.
Live bands most nights: Van’s Dive Bar, local musicians and open mic.
Classic downtown bars: Darwin’s Theory and F Street Station for pre-game and nightcaps.

Koot’s (Chilkoot Charlie’s)

Why go: Koot’s is an Anchorage fixture with several rooms, from the Birdhouse to rock and country spaces. It runs late seven days a week and posts themed nights across the calendar. Koot’s notes that it is employee-owned and lists daily hours and room schedules on its site.

Where and when: 2435 Spenard Rd. Daily from late morning to last call, later on Friday and Saturday.

What to expect: A choose-your-own-party layout. You can bounce between rooms, each with its own DJ or band. Expect crowd shifts by theme night.

Pro tip: Check the event feed before you go. Facebook and the site post drink specials and no-cover promos on weeknights.

Attribution: Koot’s official site and social feeds.

Williwaw Social

Why go: Williwaw calls itself a multi-faceted venue with a main room for shows, The Roof for outdoor nights when weather allows, and a downstairs speakeasy with set hours. It hosts touring acts, tribute nights, silent discos, and DJ parties. The venue page lists address, contact, and speakeasy hours.

Where and when: 609 F St, Downtown. Hours vary by event. Speakeasy opens Thursday to Saturday with late closing.

What to expect: Club-style lighting, a strong sound system, and a downtown crowd. Rooftop hours are weather dependent.

Pro tip: If you want a quieter start, hit the speakeasy first, then move upstairs when the main room gets hot.

Attribution: Williwaw Social website and events page.

Mad Myrna’s

Why go: Anchorage’s best known LGBTQ+ nightclub and show lounge. The house DIVAS variety show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. with seated tickets, then the room turns to dance. Myrna posts tickets and updates on its site, Instagram, and Eventbrite.

Where and when: 530 E 5th Ave. The showroom opens in the evening, and the dance floor goes late on weekends.

What to expect: Drag shows, themed parties, and an inclusive dance crowd. Expect a line for headline nights.

Pro tip: Arrive by 8:45 p.m. if you have show seats. That is the posted check-in time.

Attribution: Mad Myrna’s website, events page, and ticket listings.

Gaslight Lounge

Why go: A downtown standby for dancing, strong drinks, and late hours. Listings show 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. most days, with later close on weekends. Social posts tease guest DJs and theme nights.

Where and when: 721 W 4th Ave. Busiest Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m.

What to expect: Open-format DJ sets, a packed floor, and a door line after midnight. It is loud, lively, and central.

Pro tip: Use rideshare and set pickup on 4th Ave. The block fills at close.

Attribution: Yelp hours page, TripAdvisor notes, Instagram feed.

Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge

Why go: A local martini lounge since 1997 with a big patio and chill party vibe. The venue highlights 24 taps, food, and live entertainment. Hours run to 2 a.m. on weekends during the season.

Where and when: 626 D St. Patio is the draw in summer. Inside seats go fast during shoulder seasons.

What to expect: Cocktails, DJs or small live sets on select nights, and groups that move between Bernie’s and nearby bars.

Pro tip: Watch the venue’s Instagram for patio openings in spring and fall.

Attribution: Bernie’s website, Instagram, and listing pages.

Van’s Dive Bar

Why go: A musician hub with live music on Fridays and Saturdays plus open mic and rotating local acts. The bar’s site and socials repeat the live-music focus and location near Lucky Wishbone on 5th Ave.

Where and when: 1027 E 5th Ave. Music most weekends, open mic midweek.

What to expect: Tight stage, friendly regulars, and bar-band energy. Sound is loud and close.

Pro tip: Bring cash for band tips and the door when a touring act drops in.

Attribution: Van’s Dive Bar website, Instagram, and Facebook.

Downtown classics for pre-game or nightcap

Darwin’s Theory

Small downtown bar known for popcorn and cold beer. The house page lists the address at 426 G St and daily hours. It is a friendly stop to meet up before a show.

Attribution: Darwin’s Theory official site and TripAdvisor.

F Street Station

Bar-restaurant with a lively counter and late kitchen. A reliable landing spot if you need food after music. The tourism board and listings include it in nightlife guides.

Attribution: Anchorage tourism page and TripAdvisor listing.

Handy table: pick your spot fast

Vibe	Venue	Address	Good for	Cover or booking
Multi-room party	Koot’s	2435 Spenard Rd	Theme nights, bands, DJs	Some events no cover
Venue + rooftop + speakeasy	Williwaw Social	609 F St	DJs, shows, silent disco	Tickets for bigger acts
Drag show + dance	Mad Myrna’s	530 E 5th Ave	DIVAS show, LGBTQ+ nights	Reserve show seats
Late dance crowd	Gaslight Lounge	721 W 4th Ave	Open-format DJs, weekends	Cover on select nights
Patio cocktails	Bernie’s Bungalow	626 D St	Martinis, patio parties	Walk in, check hours
Live local bands	Van’s Dive Bar	1027 E 5th Ave	Bands, open mic	Usually no cover
Pre-game dive	Darwin’s Theory	426 G St	Cheap drinks, popcorn	Walk in
Food + bar	F Street Station	325 F St	Late kitchen, pints	Walk in

Planning tips that save nights

Check hours the day of. Alaska weather and touring acts shift schedules.
Bring a physical ID. Many doors deny photos of IDs. Bernie’s listings note strict checks.
Arrive early for shows. Myrna’s asks ticketed guests to check in by 8:45 p.m. for the 9 p.m. show.
Pick walkable clusters. Downtown lets you move between Williwaw, Bernie’s, Gaslight, Darwin’s, and F Street on foot.
Use rideshare after midnight. Winter roads and late crowds make it the safest play.
Cash helps. Small covers and band tips are common at Van’s and club rooms.
Dress for the dash. You will walk between venues in the cold. Bring a compact layer.

One-night sample routes

Classic downtown hop

7:00 p.m. Drinks and food at F Street Station.
8:30 p.m. Walk to Williwaw for a show or DJ set.
11:00 p.m. Dance at Gaslight.
1:30 a.m. Nightcap at Darwin’s.

Show night with drag and dance

7:30 p.m. Patio cocktails at Bernie’s in season.
8:45 p.m. Check in at Mad Myrna’s for DIVAS.
11:00 p.m. Head to Koot’s for multi-room party hopping.

Why it matters

Search results often mix old or closed spots with current ones. This guide focuses on venues that post active calendars and late hours in 2025. It shows where to dance, see a show, or grab a lively drink without guesswork.

Sources:

TripAdvisor, “The 10 Best Nightlife in Anchorage,” https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60880-Activities-c20-Anchorage_Alaska.html, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Koot’s, “Home and hours,” https://www.koots.com/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Koot’s Facebook, “Event posts and promos,” https://www.facebook.com/kootsak/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Williwaw Social, “Venue overview,” https://williwawsocial.com/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Williwaw Social, “Events and hours,” https://williwawsocial.com/events, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Mad Myrna’s, “Events,” https://madmyrnas.com/events, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Eventbrite, “Mad Myrna’s Diva Variety Show,” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mad-myrnas-diva-variety-show-tickets-148700726877, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Gaslight Lounge, “Yelp hours,” https://www.yelp.com/biz/gaslight-lounge-anchorage, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Gaslight Lounge, “TripAdvisor listing,” https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60880-d5088895-Reviews-Gaslight_Lounge-Anchorage_Alaska.html, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, “About and hours,” https://www.bernieslounge.com/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, “Instagram hours post,” https://www.instagram.com/berniesak/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Van’s Dive Bar, “Official site,” https://www.vansdivebaralaska.com/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Van’s Dive Bar, “Instagram,” https://www.instagram.com/vansdivebar/?hl=en, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Darwin’s Theory, “Official page,” https://www.alaska.net/~thndrths/, accessed 14 Oct 2025
F Street Station, “TripAdvisor listing,” https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60880-d1381175-Reviews-F_Street_Station-Anchorage_Alaska.html, accessed 14 Oct 2025
Visit Anchorage, “Nightlife,” https://www.anchorage.net/things-to-do/nightlife/, accessed 14 Oct 2025