The Bubbly Mermaid is a fabulous champagne and oyster bar in downtown in Anchorage. It is slightly hidden on a tiny side street; They do not advertise and it is one of those gems that makes living in Anchorage enjoyable. Like many of the best places in Anchorage, its outside demeanor does not portray the greatness of the inside. Despite its lesser known status to many Alaskans, it was– surprisingly– one of the first places I tried after moving here two years ago. Somehow we learned about this magical little bar and went to celebrate my 30th birthday with Waverley (only 8 weeks old then!) in tow. It may have been highly inappropriate to bring Waverley there then, but I was hooked and The Bubbly Mermaid is still my favorite place to go downtown– although now I leave the babe at home.
We typically venture there for drinks and appetizers before dinner, a show, or for a midday pick-me-up. I’ve never left disappointed. The oysters are absolutely delicious and the bubbly is never warm! The oysters are as local as possible, brought in from Halibut Cove (Alaska), Kachemak Bay (Alaska) and Washington State. They are prepared raw on the half-shell or baked with impeccable pairings. My favorites are the Bruschetta (tomato, basil, cilantro, garlic, balsamic, and olive oil), Oscar (snow crab, Béarnaise sauce, and asparagus), and Saint Jacques (sea scallop, mushroom, Mornay sauce, and parmesan cheese). Yum! The owners, Apollo and Lisa Naff, are always there to greet new guests and make you feel as if you’ve known them for years. The intimate yet unpretentious setting forces conversation among the patrons and we always meet a few interesting people during our visit. Despite its small size and revolving guests, I’ve never had to wait for a seat.
The handmade bar (meant to resemble the bow of a boat) is perfectly cheeky for a bar bearing the name The Bubbly Mermaid. The rest of the decor coordinates with the theme to provide an intimate, relaxing ambiance with the most important and prevalent decor– the champagne!– taking up the entire wall. It’s functional, charming without being too precious, and inviting.
Lisa dreamt up the concept of The Bubbly Mermaid from a favorite spot in her home country of Australia. She felt Anchorage was missing something fabulous like a champagne and oyster bar (it clearly was!) and wanted to create a more welcoming environment than the one she frequented at home. That is why there is a range of champagne options and all oysters are the same price, which makes for easy ordering and guiltless indulging. (I’ve definitely had a few encounters where I literally ate one of each oyster option.) They also offer a few small plates options, but the oysters are the main attraction.
One of the most interesting aspects of the bar is a super secret back room. It’s dark and windowless and perfect for private parties. It’s definitely begging for a great themed party, like a Prohibition-era costume soiree, to take over the moody vibe! Who wants to throw one with me?
The Bubbly Mermaid is on my must-do list when visiting Anchorage. If you find your way here, you absolutely have to enjoy a glass of bubbly + an oyster! And make sure to chat with Lisa, because she’s the sweetest. Just don’t try to look them up online or give them a call– there’s no website, so just come on over to 417 D Street, Anchorage, Alaska. Cheers!
Thank you for reading! And a special thanks to The Bubbly Mermaid for collaborating on this post and the beautiful photography by Kristian Irey.
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