Darwin’s Theory

Small feel which is cool and all but the place needs a serious scrub down and thorough dusting. I truly believe this is a hidden gem of Anchorage but it is seriously neglected. Everyone seemed to know each other and was very friendly. I just wish it was cleaner.

Its a cozy place. Has that old downtown character kind of feel. Maybe for a drink and then move on.

A gal friend and I stopped in and expected a great time. We like notable dives and this place has some creds. But we ran into some messed up people. A Native American that was cut off by the bartender pleaded with us for some drinks in the back in the bar. My bad… I did, just one, and she left w/​o issue. Then comes along some in-​your-​face 21-​yr-​old skanky sleaze who talked up a nice story, and again, we bought her a round. Meanwhile, my gal friend goes to the bar up front and gets seriously dissed by the bartender… something about being too buzzed to order any more drinks (believe me, she was fine). Then I went to the restroom, came out, and my $ 175 jacket was gone, as was the sleaze. She came back later with a smirk and when I mentioned being ripped off, she said to get over it. Obviously a set up. What a messed up, dopey place.

Good beer/​drinks, loud music, crowded the time I walked in… During the day!
There’s a little shop in front that sells cool Alaskan T-​shirts and other gifts/​touristy souvenirs. The staff and service is not bad. TV and sports all here.

just a cool place to have a drink, eat some popcorn and catch the game. It has that «Cheers» Vibe for Anchorage. Great location to start your evening or place to go after dinner.

My boyfriend is an avid regular of this place, and was actually the one to introduce me to it. He’s in the military and doesn’t like visiting places ‘ridden with Joes’. This isn’t one of those places. Darwin’s Theory is a local bar filled with all types– but mostly scruffy men, middle age women, and an eclectic array of characters that like that kind of scene. I guess I’m one of those characters, because this place definitely appeals to me as well. It’s a small bar with very limited seating, so if you’re unlucky enough to get there at a crowded moment, you’re going to have trouble finding a place to sit your butt down (or even walk for that matter). With that being said, it’s rarely overcrowded, and on your typical weekend night it’s going to be a semi-​quiet, but fun place to grab a drink and just hang out with some interesting people.
Almost everyone who goes here has an interesting story. There are a lot of older, scruffy, single men. A lot of fisherman, pilots, slope workers (oil workers), and rural-​living Alaskans who just want to come into town and grab a drink. The people are interesting, friendly, talkative, and willing to tell you their life stories at a moment’s notice.
The drink selection is good. I’m a wine drinker– and I think they have like 7 wines total. With that being said, that’s fine for me. I like the crowd and I’m not usually too worried about drinking. They have a good selection of beer, but nothing on tap. They also carry just about every other hard liquor you could ask for and the bartenders are pretty good about making your drinks strong if you like that sort of thing. The bartenders are all female (I’ve never seen a male bartender here) and are ridiculously friendly. I appreciate bartenders who even amidst a hectic crowd can smile and be courteous. The bartenders here are exactly that. By far the sweetest bartenders I’ve found in Anchorage. They also make a point to get to know the regulars and treat my boyfriend and his ‘buddies’ really well.
As other reviewers have mentioned there’s free popcorn from a popcorn machine. I don’t know what it is about that popcorn, but it’s by far the most delicious popcorn I’ve ever had. You have to have a bowl. There’s also a jukebox with an array of songs. Everything from Johnny Cash to 90’s hip hop. A fun collection that’s worth spending a few bucks on (and you can get a couple dozen songs for a few bucks!).
The place is usually kept semi-​clean, but has that rustic home-​town small bar feel that can get a bit grungy. With that being said, I like it. I love the quirky people, the nice staff, the laid back attitude, and the stupidly good popcorn.

I liked it! Had to go back several times to make sure.

Solid dive! Definitely one of my favorites! Quirky locals, strong handed bartenders, and tasty local brew! Plus the free popcorn, not that microwave shit.
This is quite the place, if you’re looking for fancy keep moving.
The juke box is loaded with good music, never a dull moment.
It’s a great place to grab a drink or three anytime of the day. Evenings are always better. :-) personal preference.

Love Darwins!!! Best drinks, one of the most, bang for your buck, places in town! Sunday, day is the best time to go.

This is a very solid dive bar. Cheap drinks, attentive yet fierce bar staff, lots of locals and free popcorn. Bonus points for the alley-​way restroom access too.

Fun staff and good atmosphere. Small place so getting a seat can be challenging, but it’s a great stop for a few drinks.

I was visiting Anchorage and spent hours aimlessly walking the streets of downtown. The people I encountered in shops and on the street all recommended Darwin’s Theory, saying «it’s the best for people watching,» «it’s awesome to grab a drink after work,» & «It’s got a rad juke box with real CDs!»
So I came, I drank, I spent about $ 5 in the jukebox (~30 songs=DEAL)
They have Campari, which is the secret to unlocking my cold bitter heart. And also seems to be a weird thing to request. Personally I love Gin + Campari + Soda + Lime
I racked up a hefty bar tab but would 100% return again when given the opportunity.

We stopped by this hole-​in-​the-​wall local hideout really quick while on our bar hopping expedition. The tiny horseshoe bar only has a handful of seats and there’s a few more at small tables along the walls.
After squeezing in at the counter we had one Mystery Shot (nothing more than a bottle hidden inside a brown paper bag with the words «Mystery Shot» written in sharpie) at a lowball $ 1.75 to get things rolling. We ended with a friendly Irish Car Bomb while a few strangers cheered us on. After powering down we snagged some awesome matches and carried on to the next one…

This is my favorite bar in Anchorage. Cheap stories from locals and interesting beers; wait that’s backwards.
The bartenders are great, the juke box is perfect and there is free popcorn. What more could you need?

This was the last stop on our voyage through Alaska before heading back to the lower 48. Real cool spot with cheap drinks, popcorn, and a juke box. We struck up conversation with some of the locals – people who has seen some things and had stories to tell. The bartender (Lonnie?) was a real sweet gal and made a couple of out-​of-​towners feel like regulars. I couldn’t think of any better way to end the trip. Darwin’s is high on my list of places to revisit when i find my way back to Anchorage.

This place is an awesome, little hole in the wall, dive bar downtown!
I’m pretty picky when it comes to dive bars. A few of my dive bar requirements are:
1. Carpet
2. Some sort of wood paneling — CHECK
3. Dark, dingy, and possibly a faint weird smell — CHECK
4. Neon signs — CHECK
5. String lights — CHECK
6. Crazy/​interesting locals — CHECK
7. Cozy/​forced to be uncomfortable in a small space — CHECK
8. No food — CHECK (but BONUS points for free popcorn)
9. Juke box with decent music — CHECK
10. Decent but more on the side of standard/​poor beer choices — CHECK, however they had a better selection than I thought
11. Bartenders who can hold their own — CHECK, there is always a crazy that makes everyone uncomfortable and they aren’t afraid to lay down the law so their more sober paying patrons are comfortable
Please Note: that if you plan on using the women’s restroom you will have to sit/​squat sideways. I’m not a tall person but there is no possible way you can sit/​squat on that toilet, there is barely 3 inches of space from the front edge of the toilet to the wall. Just another random quirk to add to my list of requirements for awesome dive bars!

Favorite dive bar in anchorage. (2^nd favorite if blue fox has karaōke that night) great service. Relaxed, chill feel in a quaint little hole in the wall. It’s like my grandpas basement. You can’t help but feel at home here.

How have I not reviewed DT yet?
HOW?!
This is *THE* (pronounced: ThEEE) quintessential Alaskan dive* bar.
You’re not going to find food here, you’re gonna find free popcorn.
You’re not gonna find a wall of taps, you’re gonna find cans and bottles.
You’re not going to find a crowd composed mainly of non-​Alaskans, you’re going to find mostly locals and fun, brave tourists interested in doing some *partyneering* with said locals.
Just go here.
The bar is filled with regulars, many of them characters.
This is the type of place you can only go a handful of times and they say to someone else «I was at Darwin’s and there was this guy who was _​_​_​_​_​_​_​» and the other person will finish your sentence and say something like: he was there when I went, too!
Only downside is that it can get a little packed. But, don’t be afraid to squish up to the bar, people here will want to talk to you. If you’re not a local they will probably sniff you out and ask you something like «how long you in Alaska for?»
This is the point where you make a new friend, ready, steady, GO!
*in the original sense… I feel like dive bar has been re-​appropriated by hipsters to mean «a place that tries to look dingy in order to appeal to hipsters, but is really just a total poser bar». This is NOT one of those types of dive bar. This is the real deal.

Local bar in downtown. If you’re visiting chances are good you will hear «North to Alaska» play a few times on the jukebox, which has a good selection. if you’re there long enough. Kinda «dive-​ish» but not not as much a dive as you might think. The locals are friendly and there are a few characters in the mix. The staff is overly friendly and will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the beer menu but, if you order a second round, know what you want. They will not wait if it’s a full bar. There is a popcorn machine and it’s help yourself. The restrooms are small and the mens is a tight fit. It’s a small place that’s fun. Sometimes drunk military guys or pilots make fools of themselves but they are cool. Best time to go is 4:00 — 9:00. After 9:00 it gets packed and full of the younger folks.

Dive bars are always the way to go. This is a fun, somewhat kitschy, small, dive bar in downtown. It’s got seating around the small bar, a couple of high tops, and then a few tables in the back. There’s no smoking. The only food option is popcorn. It gets tourists when there are events downtown. But otherwise, it seems to be primarily locals. Isn’t too crowded when there aren’t big events downtown. Beer options are far from plentiful. But they’ve got enough options to keep you drinking. All in all, a good place to grab a beer.