Tacoma & PNW recommendations
Our favorite restaurants that we can walk to
Argentine chophouse with amazing food and candlelit ambience. Reserve a table online! If you only have one night and you can get in, we highly recommend this place. Pro tip: Even if you can't get reservations, you can just walk over there and check the bar - it has open seating and you can often find a table or a spot at the bar and it's the same great food & drinks!
61 locals recommend
Asado Restaurant
2810 6th AveArgentine chophouse with amazing food and candlelit ambience. Reserve a table online! If you only have one night and you can get in, we highly recommend this place. Pro tip: Even if you can't get reservations, you can just walk over there and check the bar - it has open seating and you can often find a table or a spot at the bar and it's the same great food & drinks!
Contemporary bistro featuring locally sourced, unique "new American" fare in a nice but casual atmosphere. This small restaurant is awesome. Call 253.327.1862 for a reservation.
27 locals recommend
The Table
2715 6th AveContemporary bistro featuring locally sourced, unique "new American" fare in a nice but casual atmosphere. This small restaurant is awesome. Call 253.327.1862 for a reservation.
House-brewed beer & ale plus great burgers, salads, pizzas & comfort food! Total "go-to" place for great food, friendly people and no reservations necessary.
37 locals recommend
Engine House No. 9
611 N Pine StHouse-brewed beer & ale plus great burgers, salads, pizzas & comfort food! Total "go-to" place for great food, friendly people and no reservations necessary.
Local Japanese restaurant featuring cooked dishes, specialty rolls & an all-you-can-eat sushi deal. If you're a sushi fan you will definitely like this place!
Trapper’s Sushi Tacoma
3120 6th AveLocal Japanese restaurant featuring cooked dishes, specialty rolls & an all-you-can-eat sushi deal. If you're a sushi fan you will definitely like this place!
Neighborhood eatery serving simple Chinese fare. We usually just get take-out or delivery from here and it's always really good and reasonably priced.
North China Garden
2303 6th AveNeighborhood eatery serving simple Chinese fare. We usually just get take-out or delivery from here and it's always really good and reasonably priced.
We love this locals only bar just a two minute drive or maybe fifteen minute walk from our house. It is awesome.
30 locals recommend
Hank's Bar and Grill
524 N K StWe love this locals only bar just a two minute drive or maybe fifteen minute walk from our house. It is awesome.
This place has great atmosphere, great drinks, and great small bites. Perfect place to meet someone!
Field Bar & Bottle Shop
2614 6th AveThis place has great atmosphere, great drinks, and great small bites. Perfect place to meet someone!
Amazing healthy offerings! If you are into juice bars, you will love Gather!
7 locals recommend
Gather Juice Co.
2612 6th AveAmazing healthy offerings! If you are into juice bars, you will love Gather!
Super cool “locals” vibe breakfast all day place. Hungry for a big breakfast? This is your place!
39 locals recommend
Shakabrah Java
2618 6th AveSuper cool “locals” vibe breakfast all day place. Hungry for a big breakfast? This is your place!
Really great PNW food with a nice atmosphere, good cocktails and not over priced!
25 locals recommend
Primo Grill
2701 6th AveReally great PNW food with a nice atmosphere, good cocktails and not over priced!
Best comfort bar food in town (in my opinion) and great, unique drink offerings. Definitely worth walking an extra couple blocks from our house for “DOA”.
82 locals recommend
Dirty Oscar's Annex
2309 6th AvenueBest comfort bar food in town (in my opinion) and great, unique drink offerings. Definitely worth walking an extra couple blocks from our house for “DOA”.
Great, local coffee shop if you’re up for a little 20 minute stroll through the neighborhood!
10 locals recommend
Lander Coffee
2716 N 21st StGreat, local coffee shop if you’re up for a little 20 minute stroll through the neighborhood!
Another great, local coffee shop on 6th Ave - maybe a ten minute walk.
68 locals recommend
Bluebeard Coffee Roasters
2201 6th AveAnother great, local coffee shop on 6th Ave - maybe a ten minute walk.
Great local Brewery that also offers some good wines. Family friendly and a perfect place to meet up!
11 locals recommend
State Street Beer Company
606 N State StGreat local Brewery that also offers some good wines. Family friendly and a perfect place to meet up!
This is one of the coolest local bars in Tacoma. You have to go check it out. Trust us.
40 locals recommend
Parkway Tavern
313 N I StThis is one of the coolest local bars in Tacoma. You have to go check it out. Trust us.
Our favorite restaurants a short drive away
This is our favorite Italian restaurant but be sure to get reservations because it is usually full. Awesome food and authentic italian ambience.
13 locals recommend
Macaluso’s Italian Restaurant
5101 N Pearl StThis is our favorite Italian restaurant but be sure to get reservations because it is usually full. Awesome food and authentic italian ambience.
We love all the food at WildFin but (for us) they have the best calamari anywhere! This is also a great place to eat because you can combine it with a walk along the waterfront at Pt. Ruston.
36 locals recommend
WildFin American Grill - Tacoma
5115 Grand LoopWe love all the food at WildFin but (for us) they have the best calamari anywhere! This is also a great place to eat because you can combine it with a walk along the waterfront at Pt. Ruston.
This is our favorite mexican restaurant with great food, great family atmosphere and great margaritas. It is also worth the drive to Gig Harbor because you should check out "the harbor" anyway and go for a walk downtown.
9 locals recommend
El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant
3226 Harborview DrThis is our favorite mexican restaurant with great food, great family atmosphere and great margaritas. It is also worth the drive to Gig Harbor because you should check out "the harbor" anyway and go for a walk downtown.
If the weather is nice, you HAVE to eat lunch or dinner (before dark) at the Tides and get a seat (if possible) on the large deck overlooking the water. Great, fun atmosphere and good bar food.
103 locals recommend
Tides Tavern
2925 Harborview DrIf the weather is nice, you HAVE to eat lunch or dinner (before dark) at the Tides and get a seat (if possible) on the large deck overlooking the water. Great, fun atmosphere and good bar food.
We love this small, romantic, quaint restaurant in downtown Tacoma. Get reservations and enjoy a unique, one-of-a-kind experience in this tucked away gem.
15 locals recommend
Over The Moon Cafe
709 Opera AlleyWe love this small, romantic, quaint restaurant in downtown Tacoma. Get reservations and enjoy a unique, one-of-a-kind experience in this tucked away gem.
Great Mexican bar & restaurant with the best, cheap happy hour nachos in town!
116 locals recommend
The Matador
721 Pacific AveGreat Mexican bar & restaurant with the best, cheap happy hour nachos in town!
Best fish tacos in town and a great location right on the water on Ruston Way. Also has a great outside deck!
43 locals recommend
Duke's Seafood & Chowder
3327 Ruston WayBest fish tacos in town and a great location right on the water on Ruston Way. Also has a great outside deck!
Things around Tacoma to check out
This is a great area to go for a walk along the water, shop, see a movie, go out to eat, or just hang out on the beach or the grass along the boardwalk.
109 locals recommend
Point Ruston
5020 Main StThis is a great area to go for a walk along the water, shop, see a movie, go out to eat, or just hang out on the beach or the grass along the boardwalk.
This is a great little Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and the Proctor shopping district itself is definitely worth checking out - some great restaurants and local shops.
45 locals recommend
Proctor District
This is a great little Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and the Proctor shopping district itself is definitely worth checking out - some great restaurants and local shops.
Definitely check out this bridge if you have not been here before. You can cross the bridge to go to Gig Harbor which is worth checking out anyway too. (Beware that there is a toll on the way back)
37 locals recommend
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Tacoma Narrows BridgeDefinitely check out this bridge if you have not been here before. You can cross the bridge to go to Gig Harbor which is worth checking out anyway too. (Beware that there is a toll on the way back)
The Met (as we call it) has an awesome deli and lots of freshly prepared food to take back to your room but best of all you HAVE to try THE COOKIE!
96 locals recommend
Metropolitan Market Tacoma
2420 N Proctor StThe Met (as we call it) has an awesome deli and lots of freshly prepared food to take back to your room but best of all you HAVE to try THE COOKIE!
This is a great, quirky collection of unique, local shops and restaurants that is definitely worth checking out. Located right next to the main bus station and Amtrak it is also handy if you are traveling with them.
28 locals recommend
Freighthouse Square
2501 E D StThis is a great, quirky collection of unique, local shops and restaurants that is definitely worth checking out. Located right next to the main bus station and Amtrak it is also handy if you are traveling with them.
If you are into cars, you can’t come to Tacoma and miss this incredible collection!
157 locals recommend
LeMay - America’s Car Museum
2702 E D StIf you are into cars, you can’t come to Tacoma and miss this incredible collection!
Museum of Glass
1801 Dock StThis is definitely pretty cool if you have the time.
Chihuly Bridge of Glass
Chihuly is very famous and worth a look!
If you like arcades, this place is literally a couple blocks from our house!
9 locals recommend
The Triple Knock
2713 6th AveIf you like arcades, this place is literally a couple blocks from our house!
Sightseeing
Gig Harbor is a cool little fishing village on a small inlet just on the other side of the Narrows Bridge. Lots of unique shops and restaurants and be sure to walk all the way to the end to get the full view of “the harbor” and Mt. Rainier!
53 locals recommend
Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor is a cool little fishing village on a small inlet just on the other side of the Narrows Bridge. Lots of unique shops and restaurants and be sure to walk all the way to the end to get the full view of “the harbor” and Mt. Rainier!
City advice
Getting around
How to get to the airport without a car
We like to take the "Kitsap Airporter" shuttle. Starting at 4am they do pick-ups every hour at a location very near our home (short uber) and it is the safest, most comfortable, most reliable and not that expensive way to get to SeaTac Airport. But make sure you go to the website and get all the details including how to reserve your seats in advance as they can fill up!