Palmer is a beautiful small town located in Southcentral Alaska in the stunning Matanuska-Susitna Valley. This agricultural hub has a lot to offer visitors, including incredible scenery, mountain views, farms, and some fantastic restaurants. From trendy cafés and bakeries to fine dining establishments to burger joints and breweries, there is something for every taste.
This article will highlight the top 12 best restaurants that you absolutely must try when visiting Palmer. For each entry, you’ll find details on the ambiance, signature dishes, and what makes these eateries stand out from the competition. Whether you’re a local, visiting from elsewhere in the state, or a tourist looking for a memorable dining experience, these Palmer restaurants are sure to delight and satisfy.
Vagabond Blues – Best Overall Restaurant
Location: 44 E Stolen Horse Dr, Palmer, AK 99645
Set in the historic Colony House and featuring breathtaking views of the Matanuska and Chugach Mountains, Vagabond Blues is Palmer’s premier restaurant. The modern farmhouse decor and cozy fireplace make this a perfect location for celebrating a special occasion or having a gorgeous at-home date night.
The seasonal menu emphasizes fresh sustainably-sourced local ingredients with standout dishes like Alaska King Crab and halibut paired with drinks from their extensive wine list. They also have a nice selection of handcrafted cocktails. Vagabond Blues has an elegant vibe with top-notch service and the best quality meals, making this gem the top choice for an outstanding dining experience in Palmer.
Turkey Red – Best for Lunch
Location: 550 S Alaska St, Palmer, AK 99645
When in the mood for a fantastic midday meal, Turkey Red is the go-to lunch destination in Palmer. Their menu has all your classic sandwich and salad options using house-roasted deli meats and cheeses. The Turkey Pesto sandwich with sun-dried tomato pesto, provolone, bacon, roasted turkey, spinach, and garlic aioli on a baguette is mouthwateringly delicious.
You should also try their Broccoli Turkey Salad or Kale Power Bowl for lighter but equally satisfying fare. To drink, try their famous Hibiscus Lemonade. The food quality and flavors at Turkey Red are always top-notch, making this modern deli a standout for lunch in Palmer.
Hilltop Restaurant – Best Breakfast
Location: Mile 3.5, Glenn Highway, Palmer, AK 99645
For a wonderful hearty breakfast or brunch before exploring the Mat-Su Valley, head to the Hilltop Restaurant just outside Palmer on the Glenn Highway. Their Lumberjack Breakfast with three eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, hash browns, and toast will fuel you up for a full day of adventures.
If you have a sweet tooth, then you must order their Sourdough French Toast topped with Alaska blueberries and whipped cream for a delicious local twist. With its clean mid-century design, cozy booths, and attentive service, Hilltop Restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere is the cherry on top of any great breakfast. What’s more, the panoramic views of the Alaska Range and farmlands are breathtaking.
Reinbold Wine Bar – Most Scenic Ambiance
Location: 550 S Alaska St #172, Palmer, AK 99645
For the most stunning scenery while dining in Palmer, check out Reinbold Wine Bar. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows give panoramic views of farm fields, snow-capped mountains, and that beautiful big Alaska sky above. The clean, bright interior features charming details like a fireplace, exposed beams, and a comfy lounge space.
While Reinbold offers excellent fare, including a cheese board with Alaska cheeses and charcuterie platters, the star of the show is their drink menu. They offer the largest wine list in the valley, with over 500 selections from wine regions all over the world, flights, and craft cocktails. Whether you want brunch with bottomless mimosas or a fancy evening out watching the sunset, Reinbold Wine Bar’s jaw-dropping views provide a gorgeous backdrop for drinks and dining.
Fireside Dining – Most Romantic
Location: 11313 E Nikolai Loop Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
For an incredibly romantic evening, book a table at Fireside Dining. From the name alone, you know that glowing, crackling fireplaces set the mood here. The dark wood paneling, intimate booth seating, candle lighting, and soft piano music complete the ambiance. You’ll feel worlds away as you dine on Pacific Northwest and Alaska cuisine such as Filet Mignon cooked to tender perfection or succulent King Salmon.
One standout is their Surf ‘N Turf made with a petite filet paired with jumbo prawns or giant Alaska King Crab with drawn butter. For dessert, their Crème Brûlée is exquisite. Exceptional service and stunning presentations make Fireside Dining the top choice for a special intimate meal with your sweetheart in Palmer.
Three Bears Gourmet Ice Cream – Best Dessert
Location: 550 S Alaska Street, Palmer, AK 99645
Nothing beats locally-made artisan ice cream, and Three Bears in downtown Palmer serves up batches chock-full of Alaska ingredients like wild berries and birch syrup. They’re most well-known for their Bear Claw flavor, featuring buttery toffee chunks and almond slices for a sweet and nutty treat. Another signature offering, the Midnight Sun, swirls rich chocolate ice cream with fudge ripple and brownie pieces – delicious!
For a real local twist, try flavors like Moose Tracks with peanut butter cups or Glacier Berry Blitz showcasing wild blueberries and cranberries. The team handcrafts each batch, focusing on high quality and fresh ingredients for intensely creamy and flavorful ice cream you can only find in Alaska. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Three Bears Gourmet Ice Cream in Palmer.
Glacier BrewHouse – Best Brewery
Location: 606 Debarr Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
Glacier BrewHouse serves up fantastic craft brews in downtown Palmer. From the outside, it looks like a cabin-style home with beautiful wooden features, fireplaces, a spectacular bar, and fun décor inside. Their brewmasters make beer using glacier water and the freshest ingredients to create signature options like the Salmon Berry Blonde Ale with Alaska salmonberries and Alaskan Birch Bitter made with birch syrup.
Food-wise, you can’t miss their halibut fish ‘n’ chips, loaded nachos, and juicy burgers also made with Alaska flavors and ingredients. With an unpretentious vibe and welcoming staff, Glacier BrewHouse is the top choice for fantastic local brews paired and elevated pub food in the Mat-Su Valley.
Palmer City Alehouse – Best Gastropub
Location: 320 E Dahlia Ave, Palmer, AK 99645
If you want finely crafted beers and exceptional pub grub in a lively but laidback setting, the Palmer City Alehouse is a must during your stay. This gastropub offers 24 rotating taps pouring a range of IPAs, porters, stouts, wheats, ciders and more – nearly all from Alaska breweries. Pair your pint with their Pretzel Bites served with beer cheese sauce or Beer Battered Cheese Curds.
For your main course, their Smoked Brisket Sandwich hits the spot, slow-smoked for 14 hours before getting topped with their signature BBQ sauce. With vintage flair and hospitable service, Palmer City Alehouse brings big flavors and plenty of local personality to the gastropub scene.
Lucy’s Cafe – Best Breakfast & Brunch
Location: 325 E Dahlia Avenue, Palmer, AK 99645
For a homey, feel-good brunch or breakfast in downtown Palmer, Lucy’s Cafe is a go-to. This quaint spot prides itself on wholesome comfort food often sourced from local purveyors when possible. Their signature Sourdough King is a popular choice – thick sourdough bread stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, ham and sausage gravy for a carb-loaded delight.
Lucy’s Benedict options shine too thanks to perfectly poached eggs and silky hollandaise with your choice of wild sockeye salmon, tender reindeer sausage or classic Canadian bacon. For lighter morning fare, try the California Scramble or Fruit Bowl & Yogurt. With its warm, welcoming energy and standout scratch-made brunch cuisine, Lucy’s Cafe makes the perfect start to exploring Palmer.
Hatcher Pass Lodge – Best for Groups
Location: Mile 17 Hatcher Pass Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
For incredible sights and a unique, rustic group dining experience just minutes from Palmer, book a meal at Hatcher Pass Lodge. Surrounded by mountains with spectacular views of the valley and glacier-fed lakes, the hand-built lodge has charm and Alaskan spirit to spare. Feast family-style on their Feast of Alaska Dinner, enjoying wild salmon, reindeer sausage, roast tenderloin and more local specialties.
Or order a platter of their popular beer-battered halibut fish and chips or 10oz bison ribeye steak roasted over an open fire. Just save room for their signature dessert: a flaming Hatcher Pass Volcano topped with decadent chocolate and caramel sauce and ice cream. The friendly owner makes every meal memorable in this one-of-a-kind location.
Ivana & Olive – Trendiest Spot
Location: 321 E Dahlia Ave Suite 2, Palmer, AK 99645
For a hip dining and drinking destination in downtown Palmer, check out Ivana & Olive. This chic café seamlessly blends vintage and modern décor elements like distressed wood accents, contemporary pendant lighting, and reclaimed brick walls. The globally-inspired menu ranges from Turkish baked eggs to their take on Avocado Toast to Pacific Rim Rice Bowls.
Standouts include the Smash Burger served with creative dipping sauces and shareable small plates like Korean Fried Chicken Wings, Burrata Bruschetta and Falafel Bites. Ivana & Olive’s trendy cosmopolitan vibe also makes it a trendy evening lounge where you can sip craft cocktails and nibbles late into the night. This multipurpose joint’s delicious internationally-inspired fare and artsy ambiance make it the trendiest restaurant in Palmer.
Mountain View Sports Bar & Grill – Best Sports Bar
Location: 1235 W Parks Hwy, Palmer, AK 99645
With 12 big screens, Mountain View Sports Bar & Grill is every sports fanatic’s paradise while visiting Palmer. They show games and matches across hockey, football, basketball, baseball and more major sports so you’ll never miss the big plays. Their menu goes beyond standard sports bar fare with appetizers like Peppercorn Calamari, loaded fries and nachos plus filling Stand & Stuff Burritos and house-smoked ribs.
Of course, ice-cold beers including local drafts flow freely from the many taps behind the bar. The décor channels quintessential Alaskana with warm wood accents, moose and bear decorations plus fun vintage signs and license plates lining the walls. For the liveliest game day atmosphere and pub grub to please any fan, Mountain View Sports Bar & Grill is a prime spot in Palmer.
Café D’arte – Best Cafe
Location: 325 E Dahlia Ave #102, Palmer, AK 99645
For fresh, artistic takes on classic coffee and café fare in Palmer, check out Café D’arte. They take as much pride in their espresso drinks and teas as their sandwiches, soups and salads. Must-try options include their Red Velvet Mocha, Vanilla Rose Latte and fresh berry smoothies. Their menu ranges from Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches to Caprese Paninis to Protein Power Bowls, with many vegetarian and gluten-free items always available.
In addition to cozy indoor seating, Café D’arte has a beautiful enclosed patio space surrounded by lush plants and flowers. From colorful murals and paintings decorating the walls to live music, open mics and local events held regularly, Café D’arte truly celebrates art and community. It’s the top spot for coffee, conversation and creative fuel in Palmer.
Mykel’s – Best Seafood
Location: 660 S Alaska St, Palmer, AK 99645
For the finest fresh seafood in downtown Palmer, visit Mykel’s spacious restaurant just off the Glenn Highway. Their masterful culinary team sources premium wild Alaska seafood and prepares it to showcase natural flavors and textures. Specialties include house favorites like Grilled Salmon Finnegan with brown sugar glaze and Halibut Olympia baked with crab, spinach and hollandaise sauce.
Mykel’s extensive menu also offers pasta, pizza, salads and steaks if you want a non-seafood option. However, dining on their divine Baked Alaska baked stuffed halibut or Seafood Fettuccine is a must when visiting Palmer. With its classic steakhouse ambiance yet approachable style, Mykel’s refined dishes celebrate the bounty of Alaska waters.
Conclusion
From quick casual cafes to high-end fine dining to family-friendly pubs and everything in between, Palmer offers some of the best and most eclectic restaurant choices in Alaska. The top options highlight fresh regional cuisine paired beautifully with Alaskan hospitality.
Whether planning a special celebration, going out with friends or simply looking to refuel between Mat-Su Valley adventures, you now know exactly where to visit for fantastic meals during your Palmer travels. These restaurants truly capture the spirit and flavors that make dining in Alaska an unforgettable and delicious experience.