Whether you and your favorite person are looking to savor the best of PNW cuisine, take time to spend relaxing, quality time at the spa, enjoy dinner and a movie in a historic 100+ year old movie theater, or watch the sunset over Puget Sound from a kayak or stand-up paddle board...we’ve got you covered!
We’ve put together several Port Townsend date night suggestions for you and your partner to enjoy our sleepy, seaport and just a few of the romantic ways to celebrate love on the Olympic Peninsula.
Photo Credit: Finistere
Foodies
Start your Port Townsend foodie date with the Olympic Peninsula Cider Route. Three local cideries, Finnriver, Alpenfire, and Eaglemount, are all within 10 miles of one another and offer unique and charming tasting experiences. I recommend starting at Finnriver in Chimacum, heading over to Alpenfire, and finishing the cider route at Eaglemount. (Note: not all of the cideries are open daily year round. Make sure to check their hours before heading out to all three.)
After your cider tasting, it’s time for a quintessential Pacific Northwest meal at Finistere. Finistere proudly serves native Olympic Peninsula cuisine including shellfish and produce and poultry from our local farms. Their menu offers entrees like SpringRain Farm Half Chicken, Cape Cleare Coho Salmon, and Gnocchi with Dungeness Crab. Located in the city’s historic Uptown District, the restaurant is open Wednesday - Sunday for dinner and Happy Hour and brunch on Saturdays & Sundays.
Cinemaphiles
Photo Credit: Rose Theatre
There is nothing quite like seeing a movie at the Rose Theatre’s Starlight Room. The 21+ theater is decorated with loveseats and couches perfectly for snuggling and sharing snacks during the film. For those not 21 or traveling with kids, there is the Rosebud Room for those of all ages (unfortunately minus the food and drink). Click here to see what’s currently playing at the historic, 111 year old theatre.
When you arrive to the Rose Theatre, you will purchase your tickets and ascend a long staircase up the beautiful bar where you can order delicious cocktails and dinner.. You’ll be given a photo of a glamorous actress from decades and when they call the beautiful woman’s name you’ll pick up your tasty meal from local favorite, Silverwater Cafe.
After you finish your movie, end the evening with nightcap at Silverwater Cafe’s Mezzaluna Lounge, downstairs from the theatre. Mezzaluna Lounge an intimate space on the mezzanine level of the restaurant, offering lighter fare and custom cocktails. The lounge is open Sunday - Thursday from 5pm to 10pm and Friday & Saturday from 5pm to 11pm.
Photo Credit: Soak on the Sound
Romantics
Port Townsend truly is for lovers and Soak on the Sound is the place to be. Soak itself is a beautiful place to be in. The brick building juxtaposed to the copper tubs is just beautiful. Reserve a private, saltwater soaking tub for you and your person to relax and unwind. Salt water baths are known to be healing and restore the body with anti-inflammatory properties. I recommend booking a Sweetheart Soak for $68/couple which includes a private tub for two, post-soak skin serum, and two drinks of your choice (cider, beer, kombocha, coconut water, or sparkling water). Soak also offers a steam sauna and massage
After your relaxing Soak experience, head over to the Fountain Cafe about a three block walk away from the spa. The intimate and delicious cafe is aptly named after the nearby Haller Fountain and serves locally-sourced seafood and fresh produce supporting small farms and local businesses.
Share appetizers like Roasted Garlic with melted Brie, salsa fresca, and grilled local baguette or Mediterranean fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil served with balsamic reduction, extra virgin olive oil, olive tapenade, and grilled crostini and entrees including Wild Mushroom Risotto, Baked Gorgonzola Chicken, and Vegan Black Bean Cakes.
Photo Credit: Fort Worden
Adventurers
If Soak on the Sound is for lovers, than Fort Worden is for the adventurer in all of us. From the miles of rugged coastline to forested trails, historic military bunkers and beautiful buildings steeped in rich history, and multiple on-site restaurants it’s the place to be.
Start your Fort Worden date with lunch at either Taps at the Guardhouse or Reveille at the Commons. If you’re looking for lighter fare, head over to Taps if you’re want appetizers/elevated bar food & cocktails. If you want an authentic PNW meal, Reveille is the place for you. I love eating at Taps because it is the Fort’s original military jail and has a funky, jailhouse vibe with unique cocktails and tasty plates to share like housemade potato chips with leek dip, oysters on the half shell, flatbread pizza, and pork sliders.
After your lunch, head down to the beach to Port Townsend Paddle Sports to rent a kayak, paddleboard, or bicycle to further explore all the Fort has to offer. Whether you enjoy the Fort from the water or the land, there is so much to explore! Tip: make sure to bring a flashlight if you plan on exploring the old military bunkers. Port Townsend Paddle Sports is open Thursday - Monday.
Photo Credit: Jefferson County Farmers Market
Free!
One of my most favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning with my husband is to stroll the aisles of the Port Townsend Farmers Market in Uptown Port Townsend, a National Historic Landmark District. We get to meet our local farmers, support small businesses, and best of all try the most delicious samples from farmers, foragers, artisan cheese makers, as well as wineries & cideries.
Uptown was originally home to the Port Townsend elite who built their homes on the bluff. The neighborhood had its own shopping district, churches, schools, hospitals, and parks. This is in opposition to downtown Port Townsend known for its wild ways with boarding houses, saloons, theaters, and brothers. Due to the economy in the late 1800s many of the homes and buildings in Uptown were abandoned and were well preserved like a living time capsule. It always fun to walk around the Uptown district and look at the Victorian homes and historical sites including the Rothchild House.