Local guide

Where to Eat in Gig Harbor

Fifteen minutes from the house, and worth every one of them. Here is where to eat.

Written by the Olalla Bay editor.

If you are staying in Olalla, Gig Harbor is your town for eating out. It is about fifteen minutes to downtown, and the harbor packs a surprising amount of good food into a few walkable blocks: waterfront seafood, breakfast in a historic netshed, a wood-fired pizza place locals argue about, family-run Mexican, proper Italian, a waterfront brewery, the local roaster, and a wine bar that wins best-of lists every year. This is the list we give friends. Every place on it is open, verified, and worth the drive.

A few notes before you go. Parking downtown is mostly street parking and small lots; summer weekends fill up, so go early or be patient. Two of the best spots, Tides Tavern and Morso, are 21 and over. And if you would rather stay close to home one morning, Olalla Bay Market does breakfast and coffee five minutes away; see the Olalla guide for that. Pair a morning paddle with brunch after: the kayaking guide has the timing.

Anthony's at Gig Harbor

The waterfront classic, and the one reservation that never disappoints out-of-towners. Anthony's sits in the Finholm Marketplace right on the harbor, with the marina on one side and Mount Rainier on the other when the sky cooperates. The menu is Pacific Northwest seafood done properly: Dungeness crab, wild salmon, halibut fish and chips, and a clam chowder that regulars swear by. There is a Sunday brunch starting at 10am, and the downstairs Shoreline Room lounge feels like being on the water itself.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 8827 N Harborview Dr. Hours: Sunday 10am to 9pm, Monday through Saturday 11:30am to 9pm. Parking: lot across the street plus street parking. Reservations: yes, especially weekends. Best time: sunset dinner, or Sunday brunch. anthonys.com

Tides Tavern

The building went up in 1910 as a general store, and the Tides has been pouring since 1973. In 2026 it became part of the Anthony's family, with a promise to keep the grill hot and the taps flowing. It is a proper waterfront tavern: scratched wooden tables, a deck over the water, harbor views from every seat, and a menu of pub food done well. The clam chowder and the fish and chips are the order. One important detail: it is 21 and over, so this is the adults-only night, not the family dinner.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 2925 Harborview Dr. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm. Parking: street parking on Harborview. Best time: a sunny afternoon on the deck. tidestavern.com

NetShed No. 9

Breakfast in a historic netshed, right on the water. The building is the attraction and the food earns it: lemon and blueberry French toast, ricotta sourdough pancakes, and a skillet of warm cinnamon rolls that feeds the table. They also do dinner Friday and Saturday evenings, which is the sleeper pick on this list. Note the midweek closure: no Tuesday or Wednesday.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3313 Harborview Dr. Hours: breakfast and lunch 8am to 2pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday); dinner Friday and Saturday 4pm to 8pm. Parking: street parking. Best time: the patio on a clear morning. netshed9.com

Brix 25

The special-occasion pick. Seasonal Northwest cooking on the waterfront, with an award-winning wine list that pours Washington and Oregon exclusively. The room is small and the view is big, and it is only open Thursday through Sunday evenings, which tells you everything about how to plan: reserve ahead, dress a little nicer than the tavern, and order whatever the kitchen is excited about that week.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3315 Harborview Dr. Hours: Thursday through Sunday 4pm to 8pm. Parking: street parking downtown. Reservations: yes. Best time: Friday or Saturday evening. harborbrix.com

El Pueblito

Family-run Mexican food a block off the water, and the Gig Harbor location has been a local favorite for years. Big portions, fair prices, and a dining room that feels like the family actually wants you there. The chile relleno and the super nachos are the orders, and the strawberry margaritas have their own following. Vegetarians are well covered: chile rellenos, bean burritos, and veggie fajitas are all on the menu.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3226 Harborview Dr. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to midnight, Saturday 11am to 10pm. Parking: street parking. Best time: weeknight dinner, easy and unhurried. elpueblitorestaurant.com

Morso

Voted the best wine bar in Gig Harbor every year since it opened, and the food keeps up with the list. A waterfront bistro doing seasonal small plates and pastas: cacio e pepe, gnocchi, warm goat-cheese dip, and a burger people order by name. The deck overlooks the harbor, and summer evenings here are the argument for the whole town. Like the Tides, it is 21 and over, and parking nearby is tight, so walk from downtown if you can.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 9014 Peacock Hill Ave. Hours: Monday through Saturday noon to 8pm, Sunday noon to 7pm. Parking: limited; street parking nearby. Best time: a summer evening on the deck. morsobistro.com

Millville Pizza Co.

The pizza argument in Gig Harbor ends here for most people. Wood-fired, thin crust, good char, and toppings that taste like someone cared: the Mustang and the margherita are the orders, and the artichoke dip is the starter you will fight over. Small room, friendly people, open daily. Eat it there; wood-fired pizza does not travel well.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3409 Harborview Dr. Hours: daily 11am to 8pm. Parking: street parking downtown. Best time: lunch or an early dinner before the evening crowd. millvillepizzaco.com

Devoted Kiss Cafe

The breakfast split in Gig Harbor is between this place and NetShed No. 9, and Devoted Kiss is the one with the marina view and the playful streak. Everything is made from scratch in house, the coffee is Cutter's Point, and up to ninety percent of the menu can be made gluten-free. Mimosas and brunch cocktails are part of the deal, like the Leprechaun Mimosa below. Open at 7 every single day, and no reservations, so weekends reward the early.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 8809 N Harborview Dr #203. Hours: daily 7am to 2pm. Parking: street parking. Reservations: none; no call-ahead seating either. Best time: weekday morning, or before 9 on weekends. devotedkisscafe.com

Cutter's Point Coffee

Gig Harbor's own roaster. The flagship on Olympic Drive has a big stone fireplace, a garden out back, and small-batch beans worth the detour off the waterfront. The iced salted caramel latte has a real following, and the affogato is the right call on a hot afternoon. You may have had their coffee already: Devoted Kiss Cafe pours Cutter's Point, so breakfast and this place are one continuous caffeine loop.

Drive: about 15 minutes, flagship at 5500 Olympic Dr (other locations around town). Hours: Monday through Saturday 6am to 7pm, Sunday 7am to 6pm. Parking: lot and street. Best time: first thing in the morning, before the day starts. cutterspoint.com

7 Seas Brewing

The beer stop on the waterfront. 7 Seas' Gig Harbor taproom is all ages, dogs are welcome outside, and there are fire pits for the gray days and a Mount Rainier view on the clear ones. The tap list rotates through IPAs, lagers, and seasonals; the pilsner is the steady hand. Open every day from 11, which makes it the easy rally point when the group cannot agree on dinner.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 2905 Harborview Dr. Hours: daily 11am to 10pm. Parking: lot and street. Best time: golden hour on the patio. 7seasbrewing.com

Il Lucano

The Italian pick, and a genuinely good one. Chef Michele is from southern Italy, and the menu reads like it: penne Lucane, gnocchi Sorrento, and a tiramisu people write home about. Small downtown dining room, gluten-free options, outdoor seating, and half-price wine on Tuesdays. Closed Mondays, so plan around that.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3119 Judson St #B. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday lunch 11:30am to 3pm and dinner 3pm to 10pm; Sunday 4pm to 9pm; closed Monday. Parking: street parking downtown. Reservations: yes, takes them. Best time: Tuesday for the half-price wine. illucanoristorante.com

Questions people ask

How far is Gig Harbor from Olalla?

About fifteen minutes to downtown Gig Harbor, with no traffic. Every restaurant on this list is in or near downtown, so one drive covers all of them.

Where should we go for a special night out in Gig Harbor?

Brix 25 for the best cooking in town; reserve ahead. Anthony's is the classic pick for a waterfront dinner with the harbor and Mount Rainier in view. Morso is the wine-bar night, 21 and over.

Which Gig Harbor restaurants have the best water views?

Anthony's, Tides Tavern, NetShed No. 9, Brix 25, Devoted Kiss Cafe, and 7 Seas Brewing all sit right on the harbor. Ask for a window or patio table.

Where can we get breakfast near Olalla?

Devoted Kiss Cafe on the Gig Harbor waterfront opens at 7am daily. NetShed No. 9, also on the waterfront, does breakfast and lunch until 2pm but closes Tuesday and Wednesday. For something closer, Olalla Bay Market serves breakfast and coffee five minutes from the house.

Are there good vegetarian options in Gig Harbor?

Yes. El Pueblito has chile rellenos, bean burritos, and veggie fajitas; Millville's margherita pizza is excellent; Morso's pastas and salads cover the wine-bar night; Il Lucano's Italian menu has vegetarian-friendly dishes; and Anthony's lists vegetarian-friendly options.

Do we need reservations in Gig Harbor?

For Brix 25 and Anthony's on weekends, yes. Il Lucano also takes reservations. Devoted Kiss Cafe, on the other hand, takes none at all. Tides Tavern and Morso are both 21 and over, so plan accordingly with kids.