It’s no secret that most of the folks reading this flock to the outdoors. They find their party at the top of a ski slope, seek the solitude of a rustic cabin, and determine their destinations by the proximity of hiking options. But humans contain multitudes! And sometimes, the most avid outdoors people have a partner who would rather seek city lights during the holidays. Boy do we have great news for you both.
Tacoma is a place where you can hike before dinner, change into your going-out clothes, and dine on the waterfront…exquisitely, may we add. The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the best food and drink in the country. Best of all, we keep it casual around here, so no one minds if one or both of you want to keep your hiking boots on!
DINE IN STYLE
Copper and Salt: Perfect for a Group
With pasta, seafood, cocktails, and a sprawling view of Point Ruston waterfront, Copper and Salt sets the scene with modern decor and tall ceilings. Perfect for meeting friends or family, thanks to a large dining room and crowd-pleasing menu that vacillates between approachable (Caesar salad, crab cakes, spaghetti pomodoro) and a foodie’s delight (crispy octopus, Brodetto clams).
Harbor Lights: Platters and Nostalgia
Kick it old school. Open since 1959, Harbor Lights is the place to score tasty seafood in big portions with an equally big view of the Sound. Share the Shrimp Louie and a Captain’s Platter with a precariously-full martini in hand.
Corbeau: Be Seen at the Hottest Place in Town
If you’d rather avoid the past and head to what’s cool at this very moment, look no further than Corbeau. Chef Derek Bray captured our attention at the excellent and James Beard-nominated restaurant The Table; when it closed in 2024, we were devastated until he announced the arrival of “Franco-Tacoman” restaurant, Corbeau. Renowned for their steak frites, it’s already a hit, and now’s your chance to dine there before James Beard takes note once again.
Cuerno Bravo: Celebrate with a Proper Steak
If your New Year’s Eve calls for steak, well first of all, may we commend you on your great taste? Second, waste no time and head to Cuerno Bravo immediately. With a Mexican slant (heaven is a place where guacamole and bone marrow coexist on the table), this steakhouse doesn’t just want you to choose your cut of steak; you get to select between barley-fed Angus, American Cross-Wagyu, Australian Wagyu, and Japanese A5 Wagyu, aka the highest-possible grade of Japanese beef. Oh my.
DRINK WITH THE BEST OF ‘EM
Boom Boom Room: Vibey
Boom Boom has violently red walls and a retro twist, like you’ve found yourself in a pleasant 70’s underworld. Their house cocktails, like the Boulevardi-yay and the Sazerback, often riff on classics, and that’s a perfect reference point for the Boom Boom Room experience overall; you can count on great drinks and snacks, but somehow it’s unlike any bar you’ve ever been to before. Don’t forget to take a photo in an electric red booth, or you’ll be kicking yourself the next day when you recount the whole surreal experience.
Nosy Nif: For the civilized set
Scandalized by the mere thought of a Jagermeister shot? Finally, a thinker’s wine bar! Perch in an overstuffed leather armchair, play chess with their handsome set atop an antique trunk, and drink wines from Washington, the greater US, and abroad.
Juniper Botanical Bar: Don we now our gay apparel!
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies are invited to one of Tacoma’s newest cocktail bars. Exposed brick walls, bodacious 70s floral wallpaper, and a fun cocktail list with house drinks like the Friend of Dorothy set the tone immediately. The ceiling is covered with sprawling greenery, and in an unexpected twist, you can customize your own charcuterie board. Name a more fabulous way to ring in the new year?
Busy Body: Rock around the Christmas tree
Busy Body is Tacoma’s new rock and roll bar with live music, but lest you think they’re too cool for holiday festivities, their space is decked out in decorations from ceiling to floor. Same goes for their cocktail list; we recommend the Snowball Old-Fashioned with gingerbread and allspice bitters, adding jolly dimension to the stiff classic.
Tacoma Wine Merchants: A thing worth doing, is worth doing well
If holiday-themed cocktails make you cringe, allow us to direct you to Tacoma’s Old Town where the finest wines in the world can be had alongside elegant cheese and charcuterie boards. Tacoma Wine Merchants will fix you up with a glass, bottle, or flight of excellent wines, served without a hint of snobbery. All experience levels welcome.
Field Bar: N/A or Not
If someone in your party doesn’t drink, make a stop by 6th Ave’s Field Bar. In addition to the loveliest natural wines in the Pacific Northwest and inspired cocktails, Field Bar has non-alcoholic wines, beer, and mocktails, and a retail section in case you want to take something back to the hotel to keep the party going, sober or not!
MEMORABLE NIGHTS CALL FOR LEGENDARY STUNTS
Destiny Harbor Boat Tours
Doesn’t matter whether you choose a wildlife, history, or eco tour, as long as you choose a tour with Destiny Harbor. Watch the sun set over the Puget Sound and drink in the view with only your favorite people on hand.
South Sound Scenic Flight with Kenmore Air
Want to put the drama in your new year’s eve, truly making it a night to remember? In partnership with the Puyallup Tribe, Kenmore Air wants to take you on a 25 minute private tour of (and atop) the Puget Sound from their sea plane.
Tacoma Light Trail Downtown
If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, head to downtown Tacoma for the annual light art festival that you can walk or drive through. A typical Christmas lights show this is not!
SLEEP IN STYLE, TOO
Hotel Murano
Sharp and cool as its glass displays, Hotel Murano is located in downtown Tacoma and contains a bar lounge in the lobby. This is where James Bond would stay, should his adventures take him to the Pacific Northwest.
Silver Cloud Point Ruston
If it’s a dreamy getaway you’re seeking, wait til you see the Silver Cloud Point Ruston. The hotel overlooks the Salish Sea and is walking distance from shopping and all the food and drink you could ever want.
Courtyard by Marriott
If you want to stay near the action of Tacoma’s Museum District and downtown attractions, the Courtyard by Marriott is the perfect intersection of quality and convenience.
Happy New Year! How will you be spending the first hours of 2026? Tag us at @visittacomapiercecounty!
