Liz’s guidebook
EATS
Some of our personal favorite places to drink, nosh, and caffeinate.
One of my favorite local coffee shops and roasters. Perfect spot to get some work done, read a book, or grab a cold brew on your way to an adventure!
68 Einheimische empfehlen
Bluebeard Coffee Roasters
2201 6th AveOne of my favorite local coffee shops and roasters. Perfect spot to get some work done, read a book, or grab a cold brew on your way to an adventure!
Right next door to Bluebeard, this local spot is one of our personal faves. Delicious craft beer selection, wine, tasty bites, and kid-friendly to boot!
11 Einheimische empfehlen
State Street Beer Company
606 N State StRight next door to Bluebeard, this local spot is one of our personal faves. Delicious craft beer selection, wine, tasty bites, and kid-friendly to boot!
Another kid-friendly spot, this is a great spot to grab some breakfast and coffee, or a bite for lunch. They've got a little play corner in the back for the little ones to entertain themselves as well!
12 Einheimische empfehlen
Red Elm Cafe
1114 M.L.K. Jr WayAnother kid-friendly spot, this is a great spot to grab some breakfast and coffee, or a bite for lunch. They've got a little play corner in the back for the little ones to entertain themselves as well!
If you want something a bit fancier, Asado is a great spot for a date night. Amazing steaks, a great wine list, we like to hit this spot up for fancier occasions.
61 Einheimische empfehlen
Asado Restaurant
2810 6th AveIf you want something a bit fancier, Asado is a great spot for a date night. Amazing steaks, a great wine list, we like to hit this spot up for fancier occasions.
Need some tacos and margaritas? El Borracho is smack dab in the heart of the 6th ave strip and is a favorite date night of ours. They're also open for lunch, but they are 21+ so it's not family-friendly if you're looking for a spot to take the kiddos.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
El Borracho Tacoma
2717 6th AveNeed some tacos and margaritas? El Borracho is smack dab in the heart of the 6th ave strip and is a favorite date night of ours. They're also open for lunch, but they are 21+ so it's not family-friendly if you're looking for a spot to take the kiddos.
Another upscale spot nice for a fancy date out on the town. Great food, great wine, great atmosphere.
27 Einheimische empfehlen
The Table
2715 6th AveAnother upscale spot nice for a fancy date out on the town. Great food, great wine, great atmosphere.
Love this spot in the heart of Tacoma's Hilltop district! Great coffee, cool vibes.
9 Einheimische empfehlen
Manifesto Coffee
1003 S 11th StLove this spot in the heart of Tacoma's Hilltop district! Great coffee, cool vibes.
One of the best craft cocktail bars on the west coast, they also create from-scratch pasta dishes and wonderful apps. A bit on the pricy end, but it's got amazing atmosphere and the cocktails are hard to beat!
22 Einheimische empfehlen
En Rama
1102 A StOne of the best craft cocktail bars on the west coast, they also create from-scratch pasta dishes and wonderful apps. A bit on the pricy end, but it's got amazing atmosphere and the cocktails are hard to beat!
McMenamins just opened the revamped Elks Lodge in Downtown Tacoma this spring and it's stunning! From their pub, to the secret Vault bar, to the tiki experience of The Hangout, it's a great spot to explore, bar hop, and enjoy a show at the Crystal Ballroom!
60 Einheimische empfehlen
McMenamins Elks Temple
565 BroadwayMcMenamins just opened the revamped Elks Lodge in Downtown Tacoma this spring and it's stunning! From their pub, to the secret Vault bar, to the tiki experience of The Hangout, it's a great spot to explore, bar hop, and enjoy a show at the Crystal Ballroom!
The food is scrumptious and the atmosphere is lovely. My mouth waters thinking about this place!
15 Einheimische empfehlen
Over The Moon Cafe
709 Opera AlleyThe food is scrumptious and the atmosphere is lovely. My mouth waters thinking about this place!
The decor and vibe of this place are incredible, but the food situation is definitely different, so take note! They serve the food raw and there is a large grill in the middle of the bar where you grill it yourself! It's very fun and communal, plus their cocktails are pretty delicious too. If you like sharing a big punch bowl with friends, check out this spot!
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Zodiac Supper Club
1116 Martin Luther King Junior WayThe decor and vibe of this place are incredible, but the food situation is definitely different, so take note! They serve the food raw and there is a large grill in the middle of the bar where you grill it yourself! It's very fun and communal, plus their cocktails are pretty delicious too. If you like sharing a big punch bowl with friends, check out this spot!
One of my all-time favorite brunch spots. Absolutely delicious.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Montamara Kitchen
2208 N 30th StOne of my all-time favorite brunch spots. Absolutely delicious.
Classic pub in Old Town Tacoma, with live music on the weekends and a view of Commencement Bay.
22 Einheimische empfehlen
The Spar
2121 N 30th StClassic pub in Old Town Tacoma, with live music on the weekends and a view of Commencement Bay.
My favorite Thai in Tacoma! Delicious food, great atmosphere.
12 Einheimische empfehlen
Silk Thai Cafe
3401 6th AveMy favorite Thai in Tacoma! Delicious food, great atmosphere.
Super fun classic burger, fries, and shake joint! Outdoor picnic table seating available as well!
47 Einheimische empfehlen
Shake Shake Shake
124 N Tacoma AveSuper fun classic burger, fries, and shake joint! Outdoor picnic table seating available as well!
PARKS
If you want to get outside, here are some great spots!
Just a few blocks away from the house, this park has a huge field, basketball courts, a baseball field, playground, and splash pad. Perfect spot to let the kids or pets run around.
Franklin Park
1201 South Puget Sound AvenueJust a few blocks away from the house, this park has a huge field, basketball courts, a baseball field, playground, and splash pad. Perfect spot to let the kids or pets run around.
This is a huge park with lots of fun to be had for the kiddos, and makes for a beautiful spot to go for a run or walk. Playground and splashpad on the south end for the kids, and then walking paths around the entire park, plus a pond in the center. Lots to do for kids, plus there's the conservatory in the park as well, which is a cool spot to visit!
84 Einheimische empfehlen
Wright Park
501 S I StThis is a huge park with lots of fun to be had for the kiddos, and makes for a beautiful spot to go for a run or walk. Playground and splashpad on the south end for the kids, and then walking paths around the entire park, plus a pond in the center. Lots to do for kids, plus there's the conservatory in the park as well, which is a cool spot to visit!
W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory
316 S G StBeautiful conservatory in Wright Park!
Point Defiance Park is huge, but right when you enter the park there's a huge field, a pond, and a rose garden, which are all fun for walking around.
20 Einheimische empfehlen
Rosengarten von Point Defiance
5400 N Pearl StPoint Defiance Park is huge, but right when you enter the park there's a huge field, a pond, and a rose garden, which are all fun for walking around.
Also within Point Defiance Park, this is a great PNW beach to visit. Like most PNW beaches, it's not sandy, but there are boats to watch, driftwood to climb on, and if you're feeling brave, you can take a dip in the (usually very cold) Puget Sound.
36 Einheimische empfehlen
Owen Beach
5605 Owen Beach RoadAlso within Point Defiance Park, this is a great PNW beach to visit. Like most PNW beaches, it's not sandy, but there are boats to watch, driftwood to climb on, and if you're feeling brave, you can take a dip in the (usually very cold) Puget Sound.
If you've got smaller kids, the Fircrest Tot Lot is fully fenced, and the equipment caters to younger kids.
Fircrest Tot Lot
527 Ramsdell StIf you've got smaller kids, the Fircrest Tot Lot is fully fenced, and the equipment caters to younger kids.
Dog Parks
For your 4-legged companions.
This one is within Point Defiance Park, which is huge and has hundreds of trails which are perfect for leashed walks, but if you want an off-leash spot to let your dog roam this one is pretty great!
Point Defiance Dog Park
Five mile RoadThis one is within Point Defiance Park, which is huge and has hundreds of trails which are perfect for leashed walks, but if you want an off-leash spot to let your dog roam this one is pretty great!
This one can get pretty muddy if it's wet, but it's large and has small and large dog sections.
Wapato Park Off-Leash Dog Park
6802 S Sheridan AveThis one can get pretty muddy if it's wet, but it's large and has small and large dog sections.
SHOPPING
Beautiful clothing boutique with tons of independent designer clothing, fun accessories, candles, jewelry, and other goodies. Amazingly curated and the owner is a gem.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Satori
1734 Pacific AveBeautiful clothing boutique with tons of independent designer clothing, fun accessories, candles, jewelry, and other goodies. Amazingly curated and the owner is a gem.
Wonderful vintage and secondhand clothing shop with both men's and women's clothing. One of my favorite shops in Tacoma!
UrbanXchange
1932 Pacific AveWonderful vintage and secondhand clothing shop with both men's and women's clothing. One of my favorite shops in Tacoma!
Skate-inspired clothing shop with lots of unique Tacoma-branded clothing and lots of chic street clothes.
Bleach
1934 Pacific AveSkate-inspired clothing shop with lots of unique Tacoma-branded clothing and lots of chic street clothes.
A beautifully curated vintage clothing shop in the heart of Tacoma's 6th ave district, just a short walk from The Brave House!
Scorpio Rising
2709 6th AveA beautifully curated vintage clothing shop in the heart of Tacoma's 6th ave district, just a short walk from The Brave House!
Tons of perfect goodies if you're looking for a gift, or just something cute and fun for yourself. Lots of stationary, jewelry, a great little kids section, journals, mugs, candles, etc.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Stocklist
1934 Pacific AveTons of perfect goodies if you're looking for a gift, or just something cute and fun for yourself. Lots of stationary, jewelry, a great little kids section, journals, mugs, candles, etc.
Chic local clothing shop in Opera Alley. Grab a bite at Over The Moon Cafe, or McMinnemans and then browse around the shop!
Cocobolo
626 St Helens AveChic local clothing shop in Opera Alley. Grab a bite at Over The Moon Cafe, or McMinnemans and then browse around the shop!
For any plant-lovers out there, this shop is so gorgeous, the staff is super knowledgable on plant care, and it's just a beautiful space to check out.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
The Fernseed
2703 N Proctor StFor any plant-lovers out there, this shop is so gorgeous, the staff is super knowledgable on plant care, and it's just a beautiful space to check out.