Avenue Bar

This is a really popular bar in downtown Anchorage that seems to appeal mostly to people in their twenties and early thirties (although you’ll find a mix of everyone here). There’s a nice long bar area and some comfy bar table seating. They have a snack machine near the front and a dance floor in the back. I’ve been here early on a Thursday night when it’s been relatively empty, and I’ve also been here late on a Saturday evening when it’s ridiculously packed. Either way, the aura of this place never changes. It’s a relatively laid back bar with a very casual feel. You don’t need to dress up, to show up– but you’re going to have a good time anyways.
The bartenders here are very friendly. They do a pretty good job of trying to cater to everyone even on busy nights when the bar is surrounded with drunks hounding them for another drink. I’m usually the designated driver, so I’m sober enough to realize that these poor bartenders are OVERWORKED (and probably under-​tipped). Even so, I’ve never seen them be rude or mean to any of the customers yelling at them for their next shot. Tip these guys more than 20%- they deserve it!
The place is usually clean earlier in the evening, but by late in the night there’s typically a sticky floor from spilled drinks. When it gets later on a weekend night you can guarantee the dance floor here is going to be intense. It’s usually crowded, but they have great lighting and always have extremely talented DJs. As other reviewers have mentioned the music changes from DJ to DJ. Some nights it’s R&B, other nights it’s more techno, sometimes they veer into rock. Whatever your style, eventually you’ll hit a night where the Avenue is playing your music. I, personally, love it all– and I’ll dance to anything. And the DJs are so talented that it’s nearly impossible to stay seated when the dance floor is as active as it is here. You’ll want to get over and dance. With that being said– the dance floor is THICK with drunk people, and I suggest finishing your drink before you head over to dance– because you’re going to get bumped around (and your drink will spill).
One of my favorite things about this bar is that the walls are repainted often, and because of this, people write on the walls A LOT. Not gonna lie, I bring a marker every time I come here and scribble something in the corner (watch out for messages from the Lone Alaskan Gypsy *wink). It just goes to show the casual feel of this place. It’s not upscale by any means and it’s kind of a mix between a casual dance club and a divey sit-​down bar. It’s fun, and uniquely Alaskan in the fact that it’s so casual yet so upbeat later in the night on the weekends. It’s not necessarily my favorite spot in Anchorage, but it’s definitely a fun place to occasionally check in at.

This bar is quite the local downtown local dive. There is a stench as soon as you enter into the bar. But if you can get used to the smell, the heavy handedness of the bartender will certainly keep you forgetting about the awful aroma.
A pool table & darts would make the evening enjoyable, especially for large groups.
Just don’t touch anything if you wanna collect the ‘coodies’!

I had a few beers with friends and decided to go out. The bouncer said I had been «stumbling» and wouldn’t let me in. The bouncer acted quite rudely. My friends and I were acting respectfully, especially compared to the locals around us. I really don’t know why we weren’t let in.

I absolutely adore this bar! Every time i go out i immediately think of the AVENUE and make a point to at least stop by for a while. I can always count on seeing someone I know and i have never had a bad experience. The bartenders are all very nice and I love that I’m not just waiting forever to order. It just has this comfortable vibe. come as you are and have a great time! I definitely recommend it to everyone i speak to! :)

This used to be a good spot, not anymore. First of all the place smells horrible, the bartenders think its the law to hassle 50 year olds about their ID when the law is simple, don’t serve minors. 2 bartenders and 8 customers and it still takes 5 minutes to get a drink. One bartender drops an F-​Bomb every third word. Really liked this place years ago but never again. Filthy dump with horrible staff.

This place should be called the chameleon because it’s a different bar every night! lol Sometimes its Hip Hop and other times its Bad Ass Metal, but the bartenders are always fast and friendly.

I went here last night (on a Saturday) for the first time in a few years, and this place is awesome. The last time I was here, it was divey (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), but it’s somehow become the new hot spot for 20-​somethings in Anchorage.
I can’t say much about the drinks, except that they didn’t make us wait long.
There’s a photo booth for $ 5, a vending machine full of snacks, lots of seating, and a dance floor with one of the best DJ’s I’ve ever heard in Anchorage. The music was a solid mix of house/​rap/​trap/​dubstep, and I couldn’t have been happier. Solid.

They overcharged me for $ 24 from my credit card
All i had it was a 2 beers. But later on when i checked online my credit card balance i saw that they charged me extra $ 24 besides that 2 bears

What would you do if you were stranded in an unfamiliar city with friends and family thousands of miles away? If you said «bar crawl,» you’re awesome. Avenue was one of the stops along my Tour de Anchorage, and I lucked out because this place is awesome! The attentive bar staff and rockin’ band are all well and good, but it’s the patrons here that make Avenue the excellent place that it is. I’ve visited many a bar in my day, but rarely have I encountered such friendly people inside. I walked in by myself, had a few rounds, recruited some brave souls who agreed to be my liaisons to Anchorage’s Saturday night scene, and the bar crawl rolled on.

This former dive bar has become the new hipster hot spot. They usually have decent music with a DJ on the weekends (with a petit dance floor). The drinks are reasonably priced, just make sure to order something simple. I like it because it’s off the main downtown bar route and there always seems to be a random assortment of people.

I liked the space, I liked that they had pool, I liked that it was easy to order drinks, I liked the many seating options, and I LOVED the games in the back where I got to practice fake hunting things like sharks and bats. Things I was entertained by– the locals all knew each other even thought they all seemed like such different types of people, the jukebox switched form Kid ROCK to Nelly to Wyclef to Guns and Roses to _​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​– all VERY LOUD, there were lots of wasted people on a Sunday night to watch, and lastly~ a few patrons wore sleeveless shirts while throwing darts or wrestling with each other even though it was in the 20’s outside. To a Seattle person the avenue reminded me of a place in Ellensburg, Wa that we used to go to in college– only with the randomish mix of people and music ever– let’s just say I was entertained and had a fun time with my friends.