Silverbow Inn Juneau Review, a Boutique Downtown Stay

If you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Alaska’s capital city, the Silverbow Inn Juneau might be the coziest, most character-filled answer you didn’t know you were looking for. This little boutique hotel sits right in the heart of downtown, and from the second you walk in, it feels less like a standard hotel check-in and more like arriving somewhere a friend has been waiting to show off. Warm furnishings, quirky art on every wall, and a staff that genuinely wants you to love Juneau as much as they do.

I’ve stayed in my share of hotels, and what makes this one stand out is that it has a personality. It has been carefully renovated inside the historic Messerschmidt building, and it was even named the Best Hotel in Juneau in 2023. If you want somewhere that feels connected to the character of the city instead of a generic room to sleep between excursions, this is the boutique stay worth booking.

I was invited to stay at the Silverbow Inn in exchange for sharing about my experience on my blog and social media accounts. All opinions are my own.

Getting to the Silverbow Inn

The Silverbow Inn Juneau is located at 120 2nd Street, just a few blocks into downtown Juneau, which means you’re walking distance to a whole lot of the good stuff. It’s about a 12 to 15 minute drive from the Juneau airport, and the cruise terminal is roughly a 10 minute walk away, so this is a genuinely convenient home base whether you’re flying in or arriving by ship.

That downtown location does a lot of heavy lifting. You can walk to shops, restaurants, and museums, and the location makes it easy to head out for whale watching or a Mendenhall Glacier tour, then come right back to a warm room.

Check-in time is 3:00 PM, and you’ll get codes to access both the main entrance and your individual room, so late arrivals are never a problem.

Silverbow Inn Accommodations

The guest rooms at the Silverbow Inn Juneau are where the boutique charm really shows up. Every room is individually decorated, so no two feel exactly alike, and each one comes with comfortable furnishings, modern touches, and genuinely lovely linens. The property has a small, intentional collection of rooms and suites, ranging from queens to kings, which is part of why it feels so personal rather than cookie-cutter.

We stayed in room 201, a Superior King Room on the second floor just up the stairs past the lobby. It had a king bed, plenty of storage, a desk area, and a private bathroom.

Before you even arrive, they send over a really helpful digital guidebook packed with information about your stay, and you can save it right to your phone’s home screen for easy access. It’s a small thing that makes the whole experience feel thought through.

One thing worth knowing ahead of time is that there are no elevators, so if you need a hand getting luggage up to your room, the front desk staff are more than happy to help.

Breakfast at the Silverbow Inn

Breakfast was easily one of the highlights of our stay, and I don’t say that lightly. There’s a generous self-serve spread designed to get your day started right, and our personal favorites were the egg bites, the granola with yogurt, and the local Heritage coffee. Whether you want to sit and eat at the bar or grab something to go before an early excursion, there’s something for everyone.

Breakfast runs daily from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

The rotating breakfast options often include:

• Waffles
• Yogurt
• Local granola
• Steel cut oats
• Hard boiled eggs
• Avocado
• Egg bites
• English muffins
• Fresh fruit
• Cheese
• Poptarts
• Juice and milk
• Local Heritage coffee
• Hot cocoa (with fun marshmallows!)
• Selection of teas

Keep an eye out for extra treats throughout the day too, like fresh cookies in the afternoon and evening. Coming back from a cold, rainy Juneau adventure to a warm cookie waiting for you is a small welcome that makes this place feel special.

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Dining at In Bocca Al Lupo

Here’s the part that makes the Silverbow Inn genuinely special, and something that surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Connected right to the hotel is In Bocca Al Lupo, one of Juneau’s standout restaurants. It’s led by chef Beau Schooler, a multiple James Beard nominee, and it focuses on handmade pasta, wood fired pizza, and seasonal Italian dishes. It was even included in the New York Times list of the 50 best restaurants in the country in 2023.

I know that recommending Italian food in Alaska sounds a little random at first. But after a few days of salmon, halibut, and chowder, sitting down to a genuinely excellent bowl of pasta with a glass of wine feels like exactly the reset you didn’t know you needed.

Having something this good just steps from your room, without needing to plan around Juneau’s weather or coordinate a walk across town, is a real perk. And if you do want to explore, plenty of great restaurants are within a short stroll, and a few Juneau breweries are worth seeking out while you’re in town.

Other Silverbow Inn Amenities

Beyond the free breakfast and snacks, the Silverbow Inn Juneau packs in more comfort than you’d expect from a hotel this size. Guests enjoy complimentary high speed wifi, daily housekeeping, soft high thread count sheets, private bathrooms, flat screen TVs, and access to the rooftop space with hot tubs and fire pits. That rooftop hot tub, by the way, is one of the only ones in downtown Juneau and it’s open year round, which means soaking under Alaskan skies is very much on the table.

Our room came with thoughtful little extras like blackout curtains, earplugs, and cozy robes, and the shower was stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. If you like to fully unpack, there’s storage space in the room, and if you’re traveling light between stops, there’s a spot to store luggage during your stay too.

Throughout the hotel, you’ll also find fun photo walls and props, which are a cute touch if you’re capturing your trip.

There’s a coin operated laundry facility on the third floor, open daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, so pack a few quarters if you’ll need it mid-trip.

Not every room has its own refrigerator, but there’s a shared fridge in the breakfast area where you can label and store anything that needs to stay cold.

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Silverbow Inn Hospitality

What truly sets the Silverbow Inn apart is the people. The staff here aren’t just checking you in and handing over a key. They’re genuinely eager to share Juneau’s stories, point you toward their favorite spots, and help you shape your days based on what you’re actually interested in. Ask for a dinner recommendation or the best local whale watching and you’ll get real, thoughtful answers.

There’s also a bigger heart behind the whole operation. The Silverbow leans intentionally into eco-friendly practices and describes itself as a no-judgment space where every identity and every story is welcome. That come-as-you-are spirit runs through everything, and it’s a big part of why the inn feels so warm and genuine rather than transactional.

Parking at the Silverbow Inn

The inn offers a small number of on-site parking spots available to reserve for a nightly fee, and if those fill up, there’s a parking garage right across the street you can use. Depending on your plans, though, you may find you don’t need a car at all. The location is so central and walkable that many guests skip the rental entirely and get around downtown Juneau on foot, which saves money and hassle.

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Exploring Downtown Juneau

One of the biggest advantages of staying here is everything you can reach on foot. The Silverbow Inn sits right in the middle of downtown, so historic sites, museums, and that famous waterfront energy are all just outside the door. A few nearby spots worth adding to your list:

• Alaska State Capitol: Just a few minutes’ walk away, with historic architecture worth a look.
• Juneau-Douglas City Museum: A great, quick stop to learn the history and culture of the area.
• Mount Roberts Tramway: Ride to the summit for sweeping views of Juneau and the surrounding wilderness

If you’re building out a bigger itinerary, my full Juneau travel guide walks through more of what to do, eat, and see while you’re in town.

Who Should Stay at the Silverbow Inn

This isn’t a giant chain hotel, and that’s exactly the point. The Silverbow Inn Juneau is perfect for travelers who want somewhere with character, comfort, and a real sense of place. It’s a lovely fit for couples wanting a cozy, romantic base, solo travelers who’ll appreciate the friendly staff and central location, and business travelers who need walkability and a comfortable bed. Food lovers will be thrilled to have In Bocca Al Lupo right downstairs, and anyone doing a cruise and land combination will appreciate how close it sits to the terminal.

If you’re someone who wants a hotel that reflects the personality of the city you’re visiting, this one delivers. If you specifically need elevator access or a large resort-style property with a pool and full-service front desk around the clock, it’s worth knowing this is a more intimate, boutique experience by design.

Why the Silverbow Inn Makes an Easy Home Base in Juneau

After staying here, my honest take is that the Silverbow Inn Juneau is one of the most charming, well-run boutique hotels you could choose in the city. The location is hard to beat, the breakfast is genuinely good, the rooftop hot tub is a treat, and having a nationally recognized restaurant attached to your hotel is the kind of unexpected perk that makes a trip memorable. Add in staff who clearly love what they do, and you’ve got a stay that feels warm, personal, and distinctly Alaskan.

Whether you’re in Juneau for glaciers, whales, great food, or simply a slower, more scenic reset, the Silverbow Inn makes an easy and lovely home base. If a cozy, character-filled boutique stay sounds like your kind of trip, this one is absolutely worth booking.