New cafe opening at Chambers Bay with living roof, hot sandwiches and full bar
Chambers Bay will officially reveal its new café and restaurant, The Landing, on Friday, Oct. 10, during a free, public event with games, samples from the kitchen, drinks and a DJ.
Situated between the 1st and 10th tees, The Landing greatly expands the food and drink offerings — primarily for golfers but also anyone enjoying the miles of public trails that wind through the waterfront course. It also will be able to accommodate special events.
Pierce County Parks and KemperSports, which own and manage the green space and golf course respectively, announced the opening this week. Several local officials will speak at the Friday event, including Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and University Place Mayor Javier Figuerora.
The journey to replace the previous, temporary snack bar with a permanent space, including accessible restrooms, was years in the making, delayed in part by debate in the 2010s over a possible resort on or near Chambers Bay. That idea fizzled by 2023, after which the county requested proposals for development. Construction began late last year, and the bones were up by spring.
The parks district funded the $4 million project primarily through its biennial budget and Fund 445, with additional funding from the Pierce County Lodging Tax.
“Together with Pierce County we set out to create something that fits into the land, literally — and we mean that,” wrote Chambers Bay Golf and Pierce County Parks in August, alongside images of workers planting grasses into the living roof of the new structure.
Designed by Seattle-based SHKS Architects, which also designed the upgraded Owen Beach at Point Defiance Park, it was originally coined “The Turnstand” until the name-change this summer.
Architect Sean Kelly and his team angled the roof to blend into the surrounding berms of the links-style course. Floor-to-ceiling windows show off the Sound and Olympic Mountains, and skylights let even more natural light in while more seating is available under the roof’s awning.
The opening menu features hot sandwiches, wraps and flatbreads, with a full bar pouring local beer, cider and cocktails, including seasonal features crafted with local spirits from Chambers Bay Distilling Co.
If you’re out there early, start with a croissant sandwich with a fried egg and your choice of bacon, sausage or ham or a breakfast burrito. Moving into lunch hours, find a Beecher’s grilled cheese on sourdough with various add-ons as well a mixed seafood roll served hot or cold. Among the flatbreads, one is layered with lox and Boursin, the addictive, spreadable French cheese, and the other Mediterranean-inspired veggies. There are also soups, including the Chambers Bay Grill’s recipe for clam chowder. On-the-go options include a chicken Caesar wrap and snack boxes with dried fruit, cheese, nuts, crackers and a hard-boiled egg.
If you still just want a hot dog or bratwurst, don’t fret — all-beef bratwursts or Polish dogs await. Prices range $9 to $32 (the going rate for a seafood roll of crustaceans), but most hit around $12-$14.
Staff are finalizing specific menu details, and options could shift in the coming weeks — and even look quite different by the time high-season kicks off again next spring, said Matt Cohen, general manager of Chambers Bay Golf Course.
“We’re obviously thrilled about the opportunity to introduce something new to the experience,” he told The News Tribune earlier this year. “It’s really critical — a more intentional space to use as the hub of the center of the wheel.”
The Landing at Chambers Bay
- Chambers Bay Golf Course and Chambers Creek Regional Park, University Place
- Details: counter-service cafe and bar with sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads and apps, plus coffee/tea, wine, beer and cocktails
- Winter hours (November-Feburary): Wednesday-Monday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)
- High-season hours (March-October): daily, extended hours; peak of summer 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Reporter’s Note, 12/5/2025: This story has been updated to reflect expected seasonal hours to align with the golf course. They shorten in the winter and will expand slightly in spring and fall, peaking for most of the day in the height of summer. The cafe, intended primarily to support golfers but open to all, is counter-service only. If not using the park trails, non-golfing guests can park in the lot next to Grandview Drive and Chambers Bay clubhouse, walk through the Central Meadow tunnel. Complimentary shuttle service is available if needed.
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM.