What are the best restaurants right at the Icy Strait Point cruise port?

The best dining options at the port are The Crab House for fresh crab, The Cookhouse Restaurant for halibut and burgers, and Duck Point Smokehouse for pizza. These venues are located within the private cannery complex, making them incredibly convenient but slightly pricier than options in the local village. If you want authentic Alaskan fare without traveling far, they are excellent choices.

How much does it cost to eat at Icy Strait Point?

Dining at the official port restaurants is somewhat expensive due to the remote island location. A casual meal of a burger or fish and chips at The Cookhouse will cost between $18 and $28. Premium seafood at The Crab House, such as a fresh Dungeness crab cluster, typically starts around $40 or more depending on current market prices.

Can you walk to restaurants in the town of Hoonah from the cruise ship?

Yes, you can easily walk to the local village of Hoonah where authentic, cheaper food options are available. It is a scenic, flat 1.5-mile walk along the waterfront that takes exactly 30 minutes at a moderate pace. Alternatively, you can take a local shuttle bus from the port's Excursion Hub for about $5 round-trip.

How much time should I budget for a sit-down meal at Icy Strait Point?

You should budget at least 60 to 90 minutes for a sit-down meal at popular port venues like The Crab House or The Cookhouse Restaurant. Because staffing in rural Alaska is limited, service runs at a relaxed island pace. It is best to eat during off-peak hours, like 11:00 AM or after 2:00 PM, to avoid the massive lunch rush when multiple cruise ships are docked.

Are the restaurants in Icy Strait Point wheelchair accessible and family-friendly?

Yes, the entire Icy Strait Point port complex is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring flat boardwalks, ramps, and paved paths leading to all restaurants. Venues like The Cookhouse and Duck Point Smokehouse are highly family-friendly, offering approachable menus with smash burgers, pizzas, and fries. This makes it easy to feed children who may not have an appetite for expensive seafood.

Icy Strait Point Restaurants — Alaska Cruise Guide

What to Know Before You Eat in Icy Strait Point

Icy Strait Point is a private, Native-owned cruise destination located 1.5 miles from the Tlingit village of Hoonah. Because the port is a purpose-built complex and not a traditional town, your food options are strictly divided into two camps: eating directly at the cruise port, or heading down the road to Hoonah.

If you are booked on the ZipRider or a whale watching tour, consider bringing pre-packaged snacks from your cruise ship. Lines at port restaurants swell rapidly when multiple ships are docked. You do not want to miss an expensive excursion because you were stuck waiting 40 minutes for a cheeseburger.

Best Restaurants Right at the Cruise Port

If you choose to stay within the private port complex, you will pay a premium for the convenience, but the seafood quality is exceptional.

The Crab House (Best Premium Seafood)

Cruiser Note: Outdated guidebooks often recommend a place called “Mackie’s Saltry” here. That business does not exist. The actual spot for premium crab at the port is The Crab House.

If you have the budget for one big seafood meal, go here. The Crab House serves fresh Dungeness, King, and Snow crab. During the summer, the local Dungeness crab is caught offshore and kept live until ordered—you literally cannot get fresher crab on your Alaska cruise.

Vibe: Dockside seating and a casual indoor dining room with sweeping waterfront views.
What to Order: A cluster of Dungeness crab (market price, generally $40–$50+) or the legendary “Alaska Crabby Bloody Mary,” a massive cocktail garnished with a snow crab leg, shrimp, celery, olives, and a pickle spear.
Logistics: Located at the main Cannery complex, a 5-minute flat walk from the Wilderness Dock.

The Cookhouse Restaurant (Best for Casual Fare)

Cruiser Note: Often mislabeled online as the “Icy Strait Point Grill,” the real establishment serving burgers and seafood in the cannery is The Cookhouse.

For a sit-down meal without the massive crab price tag, The Cookhouse is your best bet. Located inside the restored 1912 Hoonah Packing Company cannery, it serves hearty, accessible Alaskan food to hungry cruisers.

Vibe: Historic cannery architecture with high ceilings, exposed wood, and harbor views.
What to Order: The signature Halibut & Chips ($24), made from local halibut bought right at the adjacent dock. They also make excellent smash burgers ($18) and Alaskan reindeer chili.
Logistics: Dead center of the retail shops, roughly 200 yards from the oceanfront.

Duck Point Smokehouse

Cruiser Note: Do not search for the “Huna Heritage Café”—it does not exist. Duck Point Smokehouse is the actual restaurant nearest to the Adventure Center.

If you need a fast meal between your gondola ride and your forest hike, Duck Point Smokehouse is the most strategically located venue near the excursion hubs.

Vibe: Open-air, covered oceanfront deck overlooking Port Frederick.
What to Order: House-smoked salmon dip, brick-oven pizzas, or the “Icy Strait Point Surf and Turf” featuring crab tater tots and Alaskan Blue sliders.

Dining in the Local Village of Hoonah

To escape the cruise crowds and cut your food budget in half, leave the port and head into the real town of Hoonah.

How to Get There

Hoonah is 1.5 miles from the port. You can take the local shuttle bus ($5 round-trip, picking up right outside the Excursion Hub), which takes 5 minutes. Alternatively, walk the flat, paved coastal path. It takes exactly 30 minutes at a moderate pace and offers fantastic bald eagle spotting along the way.

Hoonah Trading Company (The Grocery & Deli Option)

Cruiser Note: Hoonah does not have an “IGA grocery store.” The main local market is the Hoonah Trading Company.

If you want to eat cheap and see where the locals actually shop, walk straight to the Hoonah Trading Company. It is a standard rural grocery store, but the deli counter in the back serves hot, no-frills grab-and-go food. You can get hot sandwiches, fried snacks, and basic deli salads for a fraction of the price of the port restaurants. It is also the best place to stock up on bottled water and cheap snacks for your cabin.

The Fisherman’s Daughter

Located just past City Hall in Hoonah, this is arguably the best locally owned restaurant on the island. Operating out of a small, rustic building, they serve massive, fresh portions that the cruise crew swear by.

Vibe: Hyper-local, unpretentious, with both indoor and small outdoor seating areas.
What to Order: The beer-battered halibut fish-and-chips ($17) or the sweet chili glazed salmon tacos ($14.50).
Logistics: A 1.8-mile walk from the cruise dock. Take the $5 shuttle into town, then walk 2 blocks.

Icy Strait Brewing

If you want a pint with a view, Hoonah’s local microbrewery sits right on the water. They brew everything on-site using pure, glacier-fed water. Grab a Cannery Red Ale or a Mexican Lager, pull up a stool by the massive front windows, and watch the commercial fishing fleet roll in. They offer basic bar snacks, making it a perfect final stop before walking the 1.5 miles back to your ship.

Final Dining Logistics for Cruisers

Island Time is Real: Rural Alaska operates at its own pace. Staffing is incredibly tight in remote towns. Budget at least 60 to 90 minutes for any sit-down meal.
Check the Clock: Hoonah businesses base their hours entirely around the cruise ship schedule. If the last ship leaves at 4:00 PM, restaurants will close their kitchens by 2:30 PM.
Bring Small Bills: While the port takes credit cards, having $1 and $5 bills is necessary for the town shuttle, tipping your bartender at the brewery, or buying fry bread from roadside pop-up tents along the walk to Hoonah.