We all know the feeling of having guests coming into town and totally drawing a blank as to where to wine and dine them. Well, lucky you! We’ve done all of the legwork and we’ve got your go-to restaurants (by category, no less!) to take your out-of-town guests to when they come to Tacoma.
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Where to take your parents for a fancy dinner:
If you want to give your ma and pa the star treatment when they visit, take them to Pacific Grill! Located right on Pacific Ave in the heart of Downtown Tacoma, this must-visit spot serves up American classics and the menu is packed with surf and turf. Call ahead and make a reservation (let them know that this is a special occasion!) and ask for a booth.
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Where to take your hip friends:
When your super hip friends come to the City of Destiny, it’s time to pull out all of the (trendy) stops. If they’re here for lunch, head to INDO Street Eatery for Southeast Asian cuisine in the Stadium District (and swing by Stadium High School/Stadium Bowl while you’re there to show off where “10 Things I Hate About You” was filmed!). For dinner, head to En Rama in Downtown Tacoma. En Rama serves up Italian cuisine, but this is not your typical “spaghetti and meatballs” type of place—browse their menu here. After dinner, grab a late night cocktail at 1022 South J in Hilltop, a dimly lit speakeasy-inspired bar.
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Where to take your coffee snob friends:
Valhalla Coffee Co. on 6th Ave is THE place to take your friends when they need a caffeine fix. We’ve got a few coffee roasteries in Tacoma now, but this one has been around the longest and it’s basically a Tacoma institution.
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Where to take your beer snob friends:
Tacoma Brewing Co. in Downtown Tacoma not only has an extensive selection of beers on tap, but they’re always concocting something new. You can expect your classic ales and stouts, but there are also brews for the more adventurous—beers like “Barrel Aged Imperial Chocolate Chili Stout” and “Dr. Alexander’s Hard Lemon Ginger Ale” have been in rotation in the past, and you can also enjoy cider when you stop in, too. Plus, they allow outside food, so pick up something along the way. Speaking of which…
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Where to get some quick, delicious takeaway:
Infinite Soups is another one of those Tacoma classics, and it’s perfect to grab as you head to a picnic along the waterfront (or on the way to the previously mentioned Tacoma Brewing Co., since they allow outside food!). Meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike can all find something at Infinite Soups, and it’s especially ideal for a rainy day when you need to warm up a bit.
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Where to grab some old-school Tacoma brunch:
Shakabrah Java on 6th Ave is where the locals love to grab a no-fuss brunch. You can expect hearty helpings and solid comfort food, all for a very reasonable price.
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Where to grab some “NEW school” Tacoma brunch:
Tacoma’s gotten kind of fancy in recent years, and you can show off our newfound glamour by taking your brunch buds to Honey Coffee + Kitchen in Alma Mater (Downtown Tacoma). Brunch is a bit fancier here and you can enjoy vegan scrambles, ebelskivers, German-style pancakes, jackfruit huevos rancheros, maple-brined pork belly hash, and more.
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Where to show off Tacoma’s waterfront splendor:
When the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, you’ve gotta seize the day and let your guests drink in all of the exquisite beauty that the Northwest has to offer! Boathouse 19 in Tacoma’s West Slope neighborhood is right on the water, and here you’ve got prime views of the water, including the Narrow Bridge. Boathouse 19 has a *huge* menu and a fab happy hour, and we recommend you enjoy it all while basking in the sun on the patio.
Another top choice is Duke’s Seafood & Chowder, a classic Puget Sound choice where you can sit out on the overwater deck when it’s nice out and feel like you’re *right* on the water (’cause you are!). As the name suggests, you can get all manner of seafood here, and they’ve got a great happy hour, too.
