Where to eat and drink outside around Tacoma this summer

Patio season has arrived in Pierce County, and there’s no shortage of spots to sip, snack and soak up the sun. From new parklets in Puyallup to reader-favorite waterfront decks, here’s a guide to dining and drinking outdoors.

Here are key takeaways:

• Ten new or recently opened patios have debuted in and around Tacoma within the past year, including a forthcoming “goat lot” beer garden at McMenamins Elks Temple in downtown Tacoma.
• Puyallup has built a series of street-side parklets along Meridian from Pioneer Way to Stewart Avenue, where diners can grab a cone at Lick Ice Cream, a beer at Caskcades or steak and eggs at West Pioneer Grill.
• Evergreen State moved into a spacious venue next to the Museum of Glass last summer, with We Be Smok’n running the kitchen. It also features floor-to-ceiling doors opening to a dog-friendly patio overlooking the Thea Foss Waterway.
• Duke’s Seafood on Ruston Way topped The News Tribune’s reader poll for favorite Pierce County patios, with readers praising the “great food” and “absolutely gorgeous, sweeping view” of Commencement Bay.
• Tide’s Tavern in Gig Harbor, a flower-adorned deck right on the harbor that became a tavern in 1973, also ranked among readers’ top spots — though note it’s 21 and older only.
• Bluebeard has been roasting coffee in Tacoma for 15 years and in 2024 moved production to a new facility on South Tacoma Way, with high ceilings, big windows and garage doors that roll up to create an outdoor feel.
• A coffee bar recently debuted in Opera Alley serving Manifesto coffee and Mimi’s Tea paired with baked goods from a Fircrest bakery, offering big tables and an open-air vibe six days a week.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.