Love Fairbanks
Food Scene
historic riverfront restaurant, with great deck, full bar, excellent brunch and very good Alaska food, even an Oyster bar.
135 locals recommend
The Pump House Restaurant Fairbanks
796 Chena Pump Rdhistoric riverfront restaurant, with great deck, full bar, excellent brunch and very good Alaska food, even an Oyster bar.
best Thai food in Alaska (in my opinion, the world). Uses local Alaska ingredients (King crab, scallops, halibut, salmon) in unique Thai dishes. Fresh and very flavorful food.
74 locals recommend
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
388 Old Chena Pump Rdbest Thai food in Alaska (in my opinion, the world). Uses local Alaska ingredients (King crab, scallops, halibut, salmon) in unique Thai dishes. Fresh and very flavorful food.
a local favorite, rustic “fine” dining in the nearby Mining Town of Fox. Full of character and simple menu (Alaska Seafood and Prime Rib). Not haute cuisine but as Alaskan as they come.
86 locals recommend
Turtle Club
2098 Old Steese Hwy Na local favorite, rustic “fine” dining in the nearby Mining Town of Fox. Full of character and simple menu (Alaska Seafood and Prime Rib). Not haute cuisine but as Alaskan as they come.
best place for local, fresh, pita falafels, great outdoor seating and friendly staff. My lunch favorite.
42 locals recommend
Pita Place
3300 College Rd best place for local, fresh, pita falafels, great outdoor seating and friendly staff. My lunch favorite.
Lavelle's Bistro
575 1st Avenot cheap, but great Alaska bistro food downtown.
multiple purpose venue (art gallery / coffee shop) with the “best” most barista – level coffee in Fairbanks. As close to pretentious coffee house as Fairbanks gets. Located right downtown
17 locals recommend
Venue
519 2nd Ave multiple purpose venue (art gallery / coffee shop) with the “best” most barista – level coffee in Fairbanks. As close to pretentious coffee house as Fairbanks gets. Located right downtown
great bakery and coffee shop on the west side. Closes early but great for breakfast
43 locals recommend
LuLu's Bread and Bagels
364 Old Chena Pump Rdgreat bakery and coffee shop on the west side. Closes early but great for breakfast
local favorite near the university. Great coffee and food, always full of locals.
55 locals recommend
Alaska Coffee Roasting Company
4001 Geist Rdlocal favorite near the university. Great coffee and food, always full of locals.
Good, well-priced Thai food downtown. There is plenty of space so its not necessary to get a reservation. The food is fresh, flavorful and big portions. Its a good, solid choice downtown
19 locals recommend
Bahn Thai
541 3rd AveGood, well-priced Thai food downtown. There is plenty of space so its not necessary to get a reservation. The food is fresh, flavorful and big portions. Its a good, solid choice downtown
Drinks & Nightlife
As "nice" as they come for downtown bars. 50 beers on tap, fun scene and smack dab downtown
50 locals recommend
Lavelle's Taphouse
412 2nd AveAs "nice" as they come for downtown bars. 50 beers on tap, fun scene and smack dab downtown
basement bar popular with university students and “hippies” who live in dry cabins nearby. Often have live music, and is a fun place to meet locals.
28 locals recommend
The Marlin
3412 College Rdbasement bar popular with university students and “hippies” who live in dry cabins nearby. Often have live music, and is a fun place to meet locals.
local roadhouse and bar in the Goldstream valley, essentially a log cabin in the middle of nowhere where the locals go to drink. Serves food til 2am!
26 locals recommend
Ivory Jacks
2581 Goldstream Rdlocal roadhouse and bar in the Goldstream valley, essentially a log cabin in the middle of nowhere where the locals go to drink. Serves food til 2am!
a bikers bar in the nearby mining town of Fox, fun and full of colorful characters
15 locals recommend
Howling Dog Saloon
2160 Old Steese Hwy Na bikers bar in the nearby mining town of Fox, fun and full of colorful characters
great urban brewery, open from 3pm to 8pm daily with great beers on tap and fun biergarten with daily food trucks in the summer. A local favorite for after-office drinks.
133 locals recommend
HooDoo Brewing Company
1951 Fox Avegreat urban brewery, open from 3pm to 8pm daily with great beers on tap and fun biergarten with daily food trucks in the summer. A local favorite for after-office drinks.
great brewery and pub in nearby mining town of Fox. Good food and great beer. Good brunch
48 locals recommend
Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co.
2195 Old Steese Hwy Ngreat brewery and pub in nearby mining town of Fox. Good food and great beer. Good brunch
A great local distillery that serves local crafted cocktails with a distinct Fairbanks flavor. The tasting room is great and a good place to have an after-work cocktail. Definitely recommended. A new local favorite.
23 locals recommend
Ursa Major Distilling
2922 Parks HwyA great local distillery that serves local crafted cocktails with a distinct Fairbanks flavor. The tasting room is great and a good place to have an after-work cocktail. Definitely recommended. A new local favorite.
The best new "bar" in Fairbanks! It's an Airstream Trailer converted into a bar. They have it located in a great spot downtown but also take it out for events. They are open 2pm to midnight every day and is a great place for good-priced drinks and friendly people.
12 locals recommend
Goldie's AK
659 5th AveThe best new "bar" in Fairbanks! It's an Airstream Trailer converted into a bar. They have it located in a great spot downtown but also take it out for events. They are open 2pm to midnight every day and is a great place for good-priced drinks and friendly people.
Good local brewery, and they have the food truck, Hungry Robot (wood fired pizzas) daily. They have a good selection of beers and friendly staff. Worth a visit.
38 locals recommend
Black Spruce Brewing Company
3290 Peger RdGood local brewery, and they have the food truck, Hungry Robot (wood fired pizzas) daily. They have a good selection of beers and friendly staff. Worth a visit.
They just opened up a microbrewery upstairs which is great, and downstairs is the classic dive-bar which has great Fairbanks ambience. Its downtown near the Morris Thompson center and good for a beer after sightseeing downtown
7 locals recommend
Midnite Mine
308 Wendell AveThey just opened up a microbrewery upstairs which is great, and downstairs is the classic dive-bar which has great Fairbanks ambience. Its downtown near the Morris Thompson center and good for a beer after sightseeing downtown
A new cocktail bar in town, with great small plates. Started by the best bartender in town, this is THE place to get a good creative drink, great food and hang out with friends. A step above the normal fairbanks fare.
24 locals recommend
The Library Bar & Bites
603 Lacey StA new cocktail bar in town, with great small plates. Started by the best bartender in town, this is THE place to get a good creative drink, great food and hang out with friends. A step above the normal fairbanks fare.
Parks & Nature
wildlife refuge right in Fairbanks, great nature walks on boardwalks to see boreal forests and wildlife. Great for families
121 locals recommend
Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
1300 College Rdwildlife refuge right in Fairbanks, great nature walks on boardwalks to see boreal forests and wildlife. Great for families
very close hike to fairbanks, up Ester Dome with views of Fairbanks and surroundings
Ester Dome Singletrack
very close hike to fairbanks, up Ester Dome with views of Fairbanks and surroundings
great 3 mile roundtrip hike. Close to Chena Hot Springs. Neat rock formations at the top
52 locals recommend
Angel Rocks Trailhead
15450 Chena Hot Springs Rdgreat 3 mile roundtrip hike. Close to Chena Hot Springs. Neat rock formations at the top
great running/hiking trails in summer and free cross country ski trails in winter. Rent gear at TRAX nearby
18 locals recommend
Birch Hill Recreation Area
101 Wilderness Drgreat running/hiking trails in summer and free cross country ski trails in winter. Rent gear at TRAX nearby
A great place in town for year-round activities. In the summer you can rent kayaks/paddleboards, go swimming or fishing.
in the winter they maintain an outdoor ice skating rink. you can also ice fish here. it's great if you need to see a bit of nature close to town.
20 locals recommend
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
4400 S Cushman St ExdA great place in town for year-round activities. In the summer you can rent kayaks/paddleboards, go swimming or fishing.
in the winter they maintain an outdoor ice skating rink. you can also ice fish here. it's great if you need to see a bit of nature close to town.
Great trails from the University and Ballaine lake parking lot. They loop throughout the woods behind the campus. Highlights are smith lake and the T-field. I recommend parking at the lookout above the Botanic Gardens and starting from there.
8 locals recommend
UAF Trail System
Great trails from the University and Ballaine lake parking lot. They loop throughout the woods behind the campus. Highlights are smith lake and the T-field. I recommend parking at the lookout above the Botanic Gardens and starting from there.
Arts & Culture
stunning architecture and fascinating museum of all things “north” – archaeology, natural science, native art, geology etc.
127 locals recommend
Museum of the North
1962 Yukon Drstunning architecture and fascinating museum of all things “north” – archaeology, natural science, native art, geology etc.
Free Visitor center with museum-level exhibits of Alaska Life throughout all 4 seasons
114 locals recommend
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
101 Dunkel StFree Visitor center with museum-level exhibits of Alaska Life throughout all 4 seasons
Great FREE museum. It's a short visit, but right downtown near shops and cafes. Worth a brief stroll to see a bit of Fairbanks history, hosted by locals who love their town.
Fairbanks Community Museum
535 2nd AveGreat FREE museum. It's a short visit, but right downtown near shops and cafes. Worth a brief stroll to see a bit of Fairbanks history, hosted by locals who love their town.
A special museum in an unlikely place. If you are a fan of antique cars, its a must.
75 locals recommend
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
212 Wedgewood DrA special museum in an unlikely place. If you are a fan of antique cars, its a must.
Shopping
Bad Mother Vintage
511 2nd Avegreat local vintage store. great finds and right across from Venue
Our favorite "gift shop" with high quality things that you actually would use. Highly recommended
7 locals recommend
If Only...a fine store
215 Cushman StOur favorite "gift shop" with high quality things that you actually would use. Highly recommended
Essentials
Where the locals go for EVERYTHING. Groceries, hardware, clothing, etc. It has all you could ever need.
98 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
3755 Airport WayWhere the locals go for EVERYTHING. Groceries, hardware, clothing, etc. It has all you could ever need.
Co-op Market Grocery & Deli
526 Gaffney RdGreat local co-op for healthy, organic local food.
Entertainment & Activities
Pioneer Park
2300 Airport Waygreat local park with tons of activities for kids
Great day trip or overnight trip 1 hr from Fairbanks. It's a pretty drive, usually lots of moose along the way. It's an all-season resort, with activities year round. Lots of great hikes, and the outdoor rock pool is perfect to relax your sore muscles. The restaurant/bar is a great place to hang out.
221 locals recommend
Chena Hot Springs Resort
17600 Chena Hot Springs RdGreat day trip or overnight trip 1 hr from Fairbanks. It's a pretty drive, usually lots of moose along the way. It's an all-season resort, with activities year round. Lots of great hikes, and the outdoor rock pool is perfect to relax your sore muscles. The restaurant/bar is a great place to hang out.