Alaska Bush Pilots’ Sights & Bites Experience
Gourmet Alaskan Cuisine & Bush Pilot History Tour
Located in downtown Ketchikan, Bush Pilots' Lounge is where local Bush Pilots come home to roost. Enjoy a varied, multi-course tasting of our scratch-made local cuisine, including Alaskan ingredients such as Dungeness Crab, Halibut, Spot Prawns, and Salmon, along with pairings of Alaskan beer and wine from our extensive collection. (House-made non-alcoholic beverages and soda available). Much of our fish is bought right off the boat from local fishermen, and many of our other ingredients (like hand-harvested spruce tips) are delivered by Bush Pilots from around Alaska.
Dine Overlooking a Working Floatplane Dock
Our restaurant is in a historic, waterfront building overlooking the busy float plane docks of multiple Ketchikan bush plane operators. They're our neighbors, our friends and family. We love watching them take off and land, and we know you will too.
Discover Alaskan Bush Aviation History
Our walls are covered with local historical Bush Aviation photos. Most were discovered in private archives of retired pilots in the area, and are seen nowhere else on earth. Each photo tells a unique story about the unique way of life that Bush Aviation has fostered in Southeast Alaska.
Learn about the first flight to Alaska from the lower 48, whose pilot and navigator sat outside in wicker chairs as they piloted their floating boat Northbird from Seattle to touch down just outside our windows. Discover what it was like to grow up on a float camp, a floating neighborhood that was moved from inlet to inlet, with weekly supplies delivered by Bush Pilots. And hear about the early days of Alaska Airlines (whose precursor started right next door).
See Your Alaskan Entire Journey in One Place
See your entire Alaskan journey with the world's most detailed map of Alaska's Inside Passage. A labor of love for our owner, it took over a year to research and design using dozens of mapping sources, including historical atlases and navigational charts. The map took almost a month to 3D print, and includes over 2000 place names. See all of your journey's destinations including Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm & Endicott Arm, Misty Fjords, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka as well as Ketchikan. It's the definitive adventure planning (and reminiscing) destination for both locals and travelers alike.
Pssst, if you're here in the evening, you might overhear the best fishing and hiking spots from Ketchikan locals having dinner (maybe after you've bought them a drink or three).
Additionally, our bar boasts a map of all of Ketchikan and Tongass Narrows (the portion of the Inside Passage that runs through town) inlayed by hand in the reclaimed redwood top. (Pro Tip: If you spot the typo in the bar top map, you'll receive a complimentary pained grimace from our owner).
What's included
Multi-course tasting of authentic, scratch-made local cuisine
Wine or Beer pairings (Your choice. NA beverages also available)
Experience the history of Bush Aviation in Southeast Alaska
Enjoy the world's most detailed map of Alaska's Inside Passage
Watch our resident bald eagle pair scope out fish from their perch just outside the dining room
The swankiest restrooms in all of Ketchikan, if we do say so ourselves
If you're lucky, you'll see a whale right outside the window!
What's not included
Transportation. We're located downtown next to Berth 4 at 1245 Tongass Ave.
Gratuity. You'll see our delightful staff working hard to provide an exemplary experience. All tips are welcome, but completely optional.
Additional beer and wine is available for purchase.
Float plane rides (but we can help you book a same-day excursion).
