Overview
Tacoma, a major port on the Puget Sound, is the third-largest city in Washington State, with about 220,000 residents. It has a dynamic art scene and a great ballet.
14 sights · 4 things to do · 21 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 14 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Tacoma
Point Defiance Park
A 700-acre city park in the north end, featuring old growth forests, gardens, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Owen Beach, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, as well as a playground, picnic areas and countless hik…
LeMay – America's Car Museum
More than 400 cars are on display in this densely-packed four-story museum. Vehicles of note include a 1948 Tucker, of which less than 21 are on public display, and the Flintmobile used in the 1994 Flintstones film. Expe…
Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma Children's Museum
Tacoma Museum of Glass
Contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking, alongside the West Coast’s largest and most active museum glass studio. Don't miss the Chihuly Bridge of Glass - no, the bridge is not made of glass - 500 ft lo…
Washington State History Museum
Founded in 1891 and now into its second century of service, the Washington State Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history. The Historical Soci…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Wettest: Nov and Jan. (climate data from nearby Kent)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TIW Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma — 6 mi away. Directions
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 16 mi away (major hub). Directions
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) (SEA) is the nearest airport for commercial flights. It is 25 mi/40 km north of Tacoma. The airport serves much of the greater Seattle Metropolitan area and the Pacific NW. Options besides taxi/limo or rental car are:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Point Defiance Park, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- Lunch Farreli's
- Afternoon Tacoma Musical Playhouse, LeMay – America's Car Museum
- Dinner Silk Thai
- Evening Top Pot Doughnuts
Day 2
- Morning Foss Waterway Seaport, Tacoma Children's Museum, Tacoma Art Museum
- Lunch Indochine Asian Dining Lounge
- Afternoon Tacoma Museum of Glass, W.W. Seymour Conservatory
- Dinner The Rock, Wood Fire Kitchen
- Evening Club Silverstone
Day 3
- Morning Stratford House, Tacoma Rainiers, Washington State History Museum
- Lunch Wild Orchid
- Afternoon University of Washington Tacoma Campus, Tacoma Defiance
- Dinner Asado
- Evening Engine House 9 or 'E9'
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
6th Avenue has some affordable restaurants. Most of the suggested venues below are along 6th Ave between Sprague and Union. Sixth Ave divides north from south so some of the listed establishments in the below may be in the north or the south side of 6th Ave.
Downtown Tacoma has a wide range of restaurants, from fine dining to casual. Most of the downtown restaurants suggested in the below are in the immediate areas surrounding the University of Washington Tacoma campus, Tacoma Convention Center and Union Station which are along the Link Light Rail route. They are also found elsewhere such as towards the Stadium District north of downtown such as Maxwell's (one of the suggested venues).
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Tacoma adopted its name after the nearby Mount Rainier, called təˡqʷuʔbəʔ in the Puget Sound Salish dialect. In the late 19th century, the city was chosen to be the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, influenced by its deep-water harbor at Commencement Bay, which became Washington's largest port. The city gained notoriety in 1940 for the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which earned the nickname "Galloping Gertie" due to the vertical movement of the deck during windy conditions.
Tacoma has a negative reputation among some long-time Washingtonians, owing at least partly to its industrial port district along the interstate, with (now-closed) paper mills contributing to the "Aroma of Tacoma". These negative vibes are out-of-date, as its arts and culture scene is staring to rival that of the much-larger Seattle to the north.
Get in
By plane
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) (SEA) is the nearest airport for commercial flights. It is 25 mi/40 km north of Tacoma. The airport serves much of the greater Seattle Metropolitan area and the Pacific NW. Options besides taxi/limo or rental car are:
Place ShuttleExpress
Operates shared and private shuttle services between the airport and hotels & residents within the Tacoma-Seattle-Bellevue-Everett corridor and its vicinity. Catch them at the 3rd level of the parking garage. During the morning commute hours (7-10AM), it may not be best to take this transportation if you go to downtown Seattle unless you have a lot of baggage to take care of; the more spacious Link Light Rail trains will get you there for about the same duration or even quicker. Walk-ins are allowed for trips from the airport (shared vans only), reservations necessary for trips to the airport.
Place Bremerton-Kitsap Aeroporter
Connects the airport to Tacoma, Gig Harbor and the Kitsap Peninsula. They go south on I-5 to Tacoma and over the Narrows Bridge along WA Hwy 16 to get to the Kitsap Peninsula rather than going across on the ferry from Seattle. They also have a separate run between the airport and the Lewis-McChord Joint Military Base. Be sure to have a valid DoD ID card to enter Lewis-McChord.
Go Kenmore Air
Operates seaplane flights from Tacoma's Commencement Bay up to the San Juan Islands, Seattle's Lake Union and the Inner Harbour of Victoria BC . Travelers going to Victoria will change planes in Seattle.
By car
Tacoma is approximately 35 mi south of Seattle (35 min), 293 mi (5 hr) southwest of Spokane, and 143 mi (2½ hr) north of Portland.
- Tacoma is along Interstate 5 (I-5), the most direct way to the city from Portland or Seattle. Tacoma is accessed from exits #136 ("Port of Tacoma") through #127 ("S Tacoma Way/WA-512 to Puyallup").
- To get to downtown, take Exit 133 to Interstate 705, just beyond the Tacoma Dome. Continue along I-705 past downtown to Schuster Pkwy to get to old town, north Tacoma and the Ruston Way waterfront.
- To get to Joint Base Lewis McChord, use exits #125 ("Bridgeport Way/McChord Field"), #123 ("Thorne Ln"), #122 ("Berkely Ave nearest access to Madigan Hospital and Camp Murray"), #120 ("Joint Base Lewis-McChord") to the main gate and visitors center, or #119 (Dupont-Steilacoom Rd). Access to the military base is controlled and a valid Dept. of Defense (DoD) ID and vehicle decal are required to be allowed through. Otherwise see the visitors center off of exit 120.
- From Kitsap Peninsula, go south on State Route 16 (SR-16) through Gig Harbor and across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There's a toll to cross the Narrows Bridge south into Tacoma but no toll north into Gig Harbor. There are 5 exits into town from along WA-16 between the bridge and where the highway ends at I-5. Follows signs for I-5 "To Seattle" and exit at the next exit to I-705 to get downtown otherwise follow signs for I-5 south "To Portland" to get to the south or east part of town.
- N Pearl St connects the Washington State Ferry from Vashon Island to SR-16.
- & From Interstate 90 (I-90) and Spokane, take Exit 25 to State Route 18 (SR-18), and continue through Tiger Mountain, Convington, Maple Valley and Auburn to Federal Way, and merge onto I-5 South.
By bus
The bus station for Greyhound, Northwestern Trailways, Sound Transit, Intercity Transit, Pierce Transit & Link Light Rail is at the Tacoma Dome Station Parking Garage Buildings at 510 - 610 E Puyallup Ave (facing E Puyallup Ave), between East E St and East G St, one block north of Freighthouse Square (2501 East D St). Greyhound, NW Trailways and a taxi stand are at the west building while Sound Transit, Intercity & Pierce Transit buses are next door in front of the east building. The Link Light Rail to downtown Tacoma is at the opposite side of the parking buildings along E 25th, between the E Parking Garage Building and the Freighthouse Square building:
- 574 Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Kent-Des Moines Hwy (SR-516), S 272nd St, Federal Way, Tacoma Dome & Lakewood
- 590,594 Downtown Seattle, Tacoma Dome Station, Downtown Tacoma/UW Tacoma & Lakewood. Rt 590 travels only between the Tacoma Dome and Downtown Seattle during weekday rush hours only.
- 592 Downtown Seattle, Lakewood Park & Ride, Lakewood Sounder, Dupont. Northbound only during morning rush hours and southbound only during afternoon rush hours. No stops in downtown Tacoma or Tacoma Dome.
- 595 Downtown Seattle, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Community College (TCC), Gig Harbor, Purdy. Operates during weekday rush hours only.
- Link Light Rail 'T' Line runs frequent trains from Freighthouse Square to downtown Tacoma (just north of 9th & Commerce). The train goes by UW Tacoma, several museums, several downtown hotels and the downtown convention center. The stop is along E 25th between the parking garage buildings and the Freighthouse Square building.
Place King County Metro
Operates buses in and around Seattle and the surrounding cities and suburbs in King County. Nearest transfer points to King County Metro from Tacoma are in Auburn, Federal Way/NE Tacoma (Rt 182) and the Tahlequah ferry terminal (Rt 119) in the south end of Vashon Island.
Go Pierce Transit
Operates local routes on buses that run on natural gas and connect with other regional transit systems. Pierce transit can also be tracked with a free smartphone app from One Bus Away that provides easy access to real-time transit information for the Puget Sound region and beyond. From the Tacoma Dome Station they go out to the surrounding cities and towns of Federal Way (#500,501,574); Fife (#500); Lakewood (#574, 594 or #3 from downtown); Point Defiance Pk & the Ferry Terminal (#11, The #41 bus going from Tacoma Dome Station to downtown becomes the #11); Puyallup (#400); Gig Harbor (#102 during weekday rush hour or the #1 or #2 from downtown to TCC Transit Center & transfer to Rt #101); downtown Tacoma & UW Tacoma (13, 14, 41, 500, 501, 586, 594 & Link Light Rail)
Go Intercity Transit
Bus routes 600 & 610 operate daily trips from Lakewood (SR-512 Park and Ride, and Lakewood Sounder Station to Olympia. Route 610 makes more stops in Lacey while route 600 goes more direct to Olympia via Lacey P&R. Passengers connect to ST 594 to get up to Downtown Seattle via downtown Tacoma. Transfer to ST 574 if going up to Seattle Tacoma International Airport via downtown Tacoma and Federal Way.
By train
There are two train stations, adjacent to each other in the Freighthouse Square Building. Both are well marked.
- Routes stopping in Tacoma:
- Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, and Albany. There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene. No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.
- Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank. Between Seattle and Eugene, it makes the same stops as the Amtrak Cascades, except it skips Tukwila and Oregon City.
By ferry
Go Washington State Ferries
There is a ferry connecting from Point Defiance Park in North Tacoma and Talehquah in the south end of Vashon Island. You'll need a car to get anywhere on the island worth seeing as the island is more rural and the distances are great to walk for most people to walk. Some people bike around the island, but be prepared for major hills. You can continue to Seattle or Port Orchard by crossing the island to the other ferry on the north end of the island. There are no ferries from Point Defiance to Seattle, Bremerton, Port Orchard, or anywhere further north.
Get around
By car
The area's roads are more or less on a grid system, numbered based on their distance from Tacoma's city center. Nearly all streets run with the compass directions. "A" St, one block east of Pacific Ave (SR-7), divides east from south while Orchard St divides south from west. 6th Ave and Division Ave divide north from south. The numbered roads run east-west, parallel to 6th Avenue, while the named roads run north-south (except for one corner in the North End where everything is rotated by 60°).
By public transit
Place Pierce Transit
Operates local and regional public transit bus routes in Pierce County. Communities within the county served by this operator's routes include Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Tacoma.
- Tacoma LINK A light rail/streetcar line that runs between Freighthouse Square (near the Tacoma Dome and the train station), downtown, Tacoma General Hospital, and St Joseph's Hospital on Hilltop with a stop that serves the Washington State History Museum / University of Washington, Tacoma area. Trains run every 10-20 minutes, and the fares are free.
See
Point Defiance Park
See Point Defiance Park
A 700-acre city park in the north end, featuring old growth forests, gardens, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Owen Beach, Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, as well as a playground, picnic areas and countless hiking trails.
Museums
See Foss Waterway Seaport (Working Waterfront Maritime Museum)
The Foss Waterway Seaport celebrates & exhibits Tacoma's rich maritime heritage—past, present and future. Located on the waterfront in a century-old wooden wheat warehouse, built for cargo arriving by rail and departing by sail ("where rails met sails") during the early years of Tacoma.
See LeMay – America's Car Museum (ACM)
More than 400 cars are on display in this densely-packed four-story museum. Vehicles of note include a 1948 Tucker, of which less than 21 are on public display, and the Flintmobile used in the 1994 Flintstones film. Expect to spend 2 hours or more to see the whole museum. The permanent collection can be a bit repetitive, while rotating exhibits like supercars or alternative propulsion are more engaging. Fairly educational, but younger children may be bored by the "do not touch" displays, with only a slot car track ($3) and a racing simulator ($8) to break the monotony.
See Stratford House
The home of the Stratford family in the high school romantic comedy movie 10 Things I Hate About You (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 1999). Though the house is occupied, it offers a wonderful view of the house and of downtown Tacoma. Filming is also set at Stadium High School, 10 minutes away by car. Both the house and the school can only viewed from the outside from the street. Please respect the privacy of the occupants of the house. Inside viewing of the school is limited and can be done by permission of the school administration.
See Washington State History Museum
Founded in 1891 and now into its second century of service, the Washington State Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history. The Historical Society is comprised of a family of museums and research centers, offering a variety of services to researchers, historians, scholars, and the lifelong learners.
Architecture
See W.W. Seymour Conservatory (Wright Park Arboretum)
The W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is a Victorian-style conservatory in Wright Park. Built in 1907, it was named in honor of donor William W. Seymour. Designed by Isaac J. Knapp, its wings and twelve-sided central dome contain some 3,500 panes of glass. The arboretum contains over 700 mature trees, representing about 100 native and exotic species.
See Tacoma Union Station
The Union Passenger Station in Tacoma, Washington, United States, opened in 1911. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The distinctive architecture, dominated by a copper dome, is a landmark for the area. The Union Station facilities are available for rent for weddings, school dances, reunions, holiday parties and other public or private gathering.
See University of Washington Tacoma Campus
The 46-acre campus is on a hillside at the southern edge of downtown Tacoma, overlooking the Port of Tacoma and Mount Rainier. Set in the historic Union Station District, UW Tacoma renovated century-old, brick buildings that were built by businesses that depended on the railroad in the late 1880s and early 1900s. The university has earned architectural awards for transforming these buildings into modern classrooms. In the design of the campus, the UW Tacoma honored the traditions of the Northern Pacific Railway and its part in establishing the city of Tacoma. It is now a full-fledged university under the governance of the University of Washington Board of Regents along with the UW campuses in Seattle and Bothell. The UW Tacoma offers majors in business, education, nursing, computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, information technology, criminal justice, social work, environmental science, urban studies and interdisciplinary arts and sciences. Classes are offered day and evening, for full or part-time students.
See Tacoma Dome
The dome opened on April 21, 1983. The arena seats 20,722 for basketball; 530 feet (160 m) in diameter and 152 feet (46 m) in height, it is able to seat 23,000, and is the largest arena with a wooden dome in the world by volume. It has also became a landmark for Tacoma and had since been a venue for concerts, sporting events, school graduation ceremonies, police/first responder funerals and other conventions and trade trade shows. For most travelers there may be an event scheduled at the Dome that may be of an interest. For others the event IS why they came to Tacoma for.
See Tacoma Narrows Bridge
The gateway to Gig Harbor and the Kitsap Peninsula, was remodeled to include a second span. The original bridge, built in 1940, and known as "Galloping Gertie", is well known because of its collapse.
Do
Do Tacoma Defiance
USL Championship soccer team, and the official reserve team for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC. This team plays in Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.
Buy
Shop Freighthouse Square
It was built as a warehouse and train station for the Milwaukee Railroad in 1909. It features ballrooms for rent, antique shops, small art galleries, a coin shop and eating places inside. It is also the location for the Sounder Train Station. See "#By Train" above.
Shop Highland Hill Shopping Center
Tacoma Place is a very popular place amongst locals living in nearby neighborhoods and travelers passing along the freeway (SR-16) or staying nearby (with a local or in an Air BnB rental). Shops & restaurants include Dollar Tree, LA Fitness, Bank of America standalone ATM, Firestone, Carl's Jr, Panda Express, Subway, PetCo, Winco, etc. There are other strip malls and free standing establishments nearby (such as McDonalds, Chase, Jack in the Box, T-Mobile Store, Super Supplements, YMCA, Grocery Outlet, Starbucks, Popeye's, etc) along 6th Ave and along Pearl St.
Shop Tacoma Central
Tacoma Central hosts shops & restaurants such as Target, Dollar Tree, Office Depot, Game Stop, Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Subway, GNC, Pet Smart etc. There are other strip malls and free standing establishments nearby (such as Wal Mart, Shari's, Jimmy Johns, McDonalds, Starbucks, T-Mobile Store, etc) along N Union between SR-16 & S 19th St
Shop Tacoma Mall
Tacoma Mall hosts Nordstroms, Macy's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods and numerous other shops & restaurants in the mall and in the immediate surrounding area not part of the mall (Best Buy, Chick fil-A, Costco, Pier One Imports, Dollar Store, Ashley Furniture, REI, Albert Lee Appliances, amongst others). There are other smaller strip malls & free standing establishments radiating east-west along S 38th from I-5 to S Union; and south along Tacoma Mall Blvd, that parallels I-5, from the 4700 block down to the 7200 block. Construction underway to rebuild the space left vacant by Sears. Mall is still open for business.
Shop Tacoma Place
Tacoma Place is a very popular place amongst locals living in nearby neighborhoods and travelers passing along the freeway or staying in nearby hotels south of S 72nd. Shops & restaurants include Winco Foods, LA Fitness, Mattress Depot, Olive Garden, Popeyes, Applebee's, Pho Ever, Dairy Queen, Shari's, Starbucks, Subway, etc. There are other smaller strip malls, hotels and free standing establishments nearby (such as Home Depot, Bass Pro Shop, Burger King, Hooters, and IHop) south of 72nd along S Hosmer between the 7200 and 8400 blocks and along Tacoma Mall Blvd, that parallels I-5 (at the other side), from the 7400 block up towards the Tacoma Mall at the 4700 block.
Shop B&I Public Marketplace
Almost anyone who grew up in the Tacoma area has fond memories of the B&I Circus Store, a landmark on South Tacoma Way for more than 60 years, where once you could wrap your face in cotton candy while exchanging stares with a live gorilla named Ivan. Ivan is gone now (having moved to the Atlanta Zoo in 1995 and died in 2012), and B&I has morphed into a new kind of wonder — a primarily Latino marketplace where fancy boots, wigs and costumes, retro video games, streetwear, and a large arcade are interspersed with dollar stores, used computer parts, and other niche bargain vendors. Photos and newspapers commemorate B&I's history, a stark contrast to the dilapidated structure that remains.
Shop Tacoma Farmers Market
At the markets, farmers, ranchers and nursery growers offer various conventionally and organically grown fruits, vegetables and pre-cut, pre-packaged meats (usually fish, pork or eggs) and live ornamental and food plants for gardening. There are other artisan food producers offering prepared products, ranging from fruit jams to farmstead cheeses, breads and pastries, pickles, pasta, chocolate, and more. The markets occur once weekly in different neighborhoods from the first week of May or June to the last week of August or October in the following locations:
*Thursdays 10AM-2PM along Broadway between 9th & 11th Ave in downtown from May to Oct.
Eat
6th Avenue has some affordable restaurants. Most of the suggested venues below are along 6th Ave between Sprague and Union. Sixth Ave divides north from south so some of the listed establishments in the below may be in the north or the south side of 6th Ave.
Eat Primo Grill
Moderately priced, Italian/Mediterranean, lunch & dinner.
Eat Asado
Pricey Argentinian dinner.
Eat Gateway to India
Inexpensive Indian lunch & dinner. They serve lunch buffet
Eat Shakabra
Casual breakfast spot with hearty English-style breakfast dishes such as egg dishes, sausages & pancakes all day, plus burgers & sandwiches at lunch.
Eat Southern Kitchen
Inexpensive Southern/Soul lunch & dinner.
Eat Wild Orchid
Inexpensive pan-Asian lunch & dinner.
Eat Silk Thai
Mid-priced, lunch & dinner, delicious Thai dishes.
Eat Farreli's
A pizzeria that is a popular hangout place for college students from the nearby UPS and UW Tacoma.
Downtown Tacoma has a wide range of restaurants, from fine dining to casual. Most of the downtown restaurants suggested in the below are in the immediate areas surrounding the University of Washington Tacoma campus, Tacoma Convention Center and Union Station which are along the Link Light Rail route. They are also found elsewhere such as towards the Stadium District north of downtown such as Maxwell's (one of the suggested venues).
Eat El Gaucho
Pricey, steaks & chops, dinner.
Eat Indochine Asian Dining Lounge
Not pricey (and rather enjoyable), pan-Asian, lunch & dinner.
Eat The Rock, Wood Fire Kitchen
It offers a great lunch or dinner, inexpensive pizza and pasta
Hilltop just up the hill from Downtown Tacoma has many choices for dining. Most of the mentioned venues in Hilltop are clustered around S Martin Luther King & S 11th St. They can be located further north or south along S MLK and east or west along the cross streets too.
Eat LeLe
Vietnamese cuisine with a mix of Thai. The spacious dining room allows for large groups. LeLe is a popular spot for lunch with downtown workers.
Eat Pho Boc Cafe
A popular spot for pho in Tacoma. Cash only.
Eat Pho King
Popular pho & Vietnamese food. Very affordable. Has vegetarian pho.
Eat Quickie Too: A Vegan Cafe
Tacoma's only all vegan restaurant adds a Jamaican flair to all of their food. Service can be slow but is worth the wait. Meat eaters will love the flavors and won't know the meat is missing.
Eat The Fish House
offers Southern cooking at affordable prices. Small place so you can always get orders to go.
Eat Bob's Bar-B-Que Pit
A popular BBQ joint in Tacoma.
South Tacoma has wonderful Asian restaurants.
Eat The Palace Restaurant
Informal Korean restaurant. Cook at the table or order ready to eat. Lunch, dinner, drinks. Open late.
Eat Tacoma Szechuan
Authentic Chinese food. Moderate prices. Lunch, dinner, bubble tea.
Lincoln District has international flavor.
Eat Vien Dong
Excellent & authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Low to moderate prices. Well known locally & busy at lunch. Excellent pho soup.
Drink
Drink Airport Tavern
Pinball, brews, pool table, and intimate venue for live shows. Although they don't serve grub, they do take food orders. They also serve as an entertainment venue in South Tacoma with various local bands playing throughout the year.
Drink Engine House 9 or 'E9'
In the trendy 6th Avenue area. A great beer list and karaoke on Thursdays make this bar very popular with college students from the local University of Puget Sound.
Drink McMenamins Elk's Temple Brewery
Drink The Mix
In Downtown's St. Helens Neighborhood caters to a mostly gay crowd. On weekend nights The Mix is packed with 20- and 30-somethings having a good time.
Drink Club Silverstone
Tacoma's largest gay nightclub, in the Theater District in Downtown Tacoma. During the week the club is low-key but on the weekends the club gets busy with dancing all night long.
Drink Tacoma Wine Merchants
Located in the Stadium District, this cozy, European-style wine bar offers over thirty wines by the glass. Cheese plates, panini, soups and salads available.
Drink Top Pot Doughnuts
Nestled into the neighborhood and a favorite weekend hang-out for locals. Incredible doughnuts (try the feather boa doughnut!) in a very "Seattle like" atmosphere in Tacoma. Drip coffee isn't so hot, but the freshly-brewed options are all good.
Sleep
Downtown
Stay Courtyard Marriott - Tacoma Downtown
The hotel is connected to the historic Waddell building. The Waddell building's ground floor features the Pacific Grill, run by famed chef, Gordon Naccarato. Above Pacific Grill are 2 luxury suites. On the lower level of the hotel is the new Pacific Grill Events Center that host many events year-round.
North End
The North End neighborhood is an upscale neighborhood especially those east of Pearl, in old town and up along N Ruston Way. Except the Silver Cloud by the waterfront most of the accommodations in the North End are in large (historic) homes that have been permitted and converted to board guests as a Bed & Breakfast and are located in quiet residential neighborhoods.
South Tacoma
The South Tacoma accommodations are near some of the large shopping complexes as well as quicker access to the Lewis McChord military reservation. The accommodations are typically lined up along S Hosmer from the 7400 block (accessed off of S 72nd at Exit #129) through 9200 block where S Hosmer become S Steele (accessed from Exit #128 if going north bound I-5). The area have also been an epicenter of crime particularly at the 8800 of S Hosmer. Safer to be closer to S 74th. They're the typical national chain hotels and motels surrounded by different restaurants such as Ihop, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Subway:
Stay safe
While Tacoma's crime problem has improved over the past decade, the city still has a high crime rate relative to other Northwest cities. Much of the crime is concentrated on the Hilltop and Eastside neighborhoods and the hotels along S Hosmer/Steele St between 8400-9900 blocks, particularly at a boarded up hotel on 8820 S Hosmer St and its surrounding areas. The Stadium District area towards the north end has the lowest crime rate in the city and Downtown has a low crime rate compared to downtown areas of other cities (including Seattle), however visitors should be cautious as in any urban area. Visitors should also be careful when entering the surrounding suburbs of Lakewood, Spanaway and Parkland. Crime problems in Lakewood sometimes run over into nearby Parkland. As always when traveling alone or at night, avoid poorly-lit areas with little foot traffic.
Go next
- Gig Harbor, just across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, has a charming waterfront and great views of the bridge and beyond.
- Federal Way, northeast on I-5, has the Pacific Bonsai Museum, an extensive Rhododendron Garden, and the region's largest water park.
- Seattle, further north, is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest.
- Lakewood, to the south, has the Lakewold Gardens Estate.
- Eatonville, to the southeast, has the Northwest Trek, a park that is home to more than 200 North American animals, and the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.
- Mount Rainier National Park, home of Tacoma's namesake peak, is the tallest mountain the Cascades and the most "prominent" mountain in the lower 48 states.
- Olympia, to the southwest, is Washington's easygoing capital city.
Nearby
Fife
City / town · 7 listings · 5 mi away
Federal Way
City / town · 35 listings · 8 mi away
Fox Island
Rural area · 12 listings · 8 mi away
Steilacoom
City / town · 7 listings · 8 mi away
Gig Harbor
City / town · 36 listings · 8 mi away
Puyallup
City / town · 13 listings · 9 mi away
Vashon Island
City / town · 28 listings · 12 mi away
Auburn
City / town · 17 listings · 12 mi away
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