If you’re wondering where the best nightlife is on Bainbridge Island look no further than right across Agate Bridge.
The Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort has everything anyone would want in nightlife. Of course, there is a hotel with water views and a casino with slot machines and gaming tables. There’s also a sports bar with betting on games. There are a number of restaurants to choose from.
And there’s also live music often. Tribute bands to Bob Seger, Queen, Abba and Michael Jackson are scheduled, along with the original Ken Jeong and Sheila E. More local bands, like Harmonious Funk and Groove Nation, play every weekend.
On BI proper there aren’t many places for the big party scene, but there are plenty of quaint spots where you can have a great meal and some drinks. Some close fairly early to be considered nightlife, so often it’s more of an evening life.
Only a few spots are open past 9 p.m.: The Islander on Madison, a steakhouse with a large bar and big screen TV; The Plate and Pint on High School Road; Joe’s Restaurant at Pleasant Beach; and Isla Bonita on Winslow Way.
Romantic nightlife is available along the waterfront. The Harbour Public House on Parfitt Way is one of those where you can eat and have drinks inside or out on the deck. Same goes for Doc’s Marina Grill on Madison.
Other restaurants are more for eating and drinking like Bruciato on Winslow Way. There are a number of wineries and breweries on BI. Many just have tasting, but some have room for early evening nightlife. Eagle Harbor Wine Co. is one such spot.
Not far from Winslow a little south is Lynwood Center, which has more good restaurants with food and drinks. Earth & Vine Wine Bar is one. At times they offer live music. Treehouse Cafe in Lynwood Center periodically offers some of the best concerts on BI. And Manor House/Marketplace at Pleasant Beach Village is another great location for music.
Sunday afternoon is another good time for music on BI. Both Eleven Winery on Day Road and Eagle Harbor Winery on Three Tree Lane NE have it then.
Others that offer music, mostly on weekends, include: The Bar at Cafe Hitchcock, Weave shows at Rolling Bay Hall, Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse, The Ravine, Pegasus and Fletcher Bay Winery on Winslow Way, which offers rooftop seating along with music.
Monthly events that offer music include the Art Walks and Moonlight Market until 9 p.m. the First Friday of each month.
Coming Soon: Bainbridge Performing Arts will have concerts in its main auditorium, along with small studio shows.
North Kitsap
Although the northern part of the county doesn’t have as much nightlife to offer as the central and south ends, there are some offerings in Poulsbo, Kingston, Hansville and Suquamish.
The Point Casino & Hotel, ran by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, is located near Hansville. While smaller in size than Clearwater, it offers gambling, dining, lodging and entertainment. Karaoke is popular here.
Downtown Kingston has recently enhanced its nightlife. The new Sunset Market takes place the first Saturday of every month at Thistle Floral & Home/Cleo’s Landing, featuring artisans, makers and live music. Many local businesses showcase products there.
Many restaurants/bars are also popular downtown such as The Ale House, Filling Station and Downpour Brewing. You can also catch an evening showing at the Firehouse Theater.
While quite small, Port Gamble has some popular nighttime activities, such as tours of the historic and haunted Walker Ames House, catching a show at the Port Gamble Theater or grabbing a drink at House 11 Taproom.
Poulsbo offers the most nightlife in NK, most of which are downtown. The Viking City has recently become “Brewery City” with all its recent additions such as Slippery Pig Brewery, Brass Kraken Pub, Echoes Brewing, Rainy Daze Brewing, Western Red Brewing and Valholl Brewing.
The One Ten Lounge downtown is also popular at night. There are also plenty of restaurants in Poulsbo fit for a night out including The Loft, JJ’s Fish House, Dalla Baia, Tizley’s EuroPub and Crabtree Kitchen + Bar, among others.
Also downtown is the Jewel Box Theatre, which offers community productions. You can also catch a movie at Regal Cinemas on Viking Avenue.
Central Kitsap
The cities of Central Kitsap have a way of complementing each other. So given the close proximity between Bremerton and Silverdale, it’s no surprise that reisdents travel between the two to enjoy the full potential of their nightlife.
Any good night on the town starts with eating. Silverdale has a vast selection of late-night chain options such as Applebee’s and Red Robin, and The Trails at Silverdale is a hub of some more regional options such as Blazing Onion.
If you’re after a more local spot, Silver City Restaurant & Ale House in Silverdale offers an incredible menu alongside beers crafted just a few miles away in west Bremerton. Silverdale is also home to Our Place Pub and Eatery, where pool tournaments are regularly hosted, and customers can occasionally hear live music.
Bremerton has a few spots such as McCloud’s Grill House and Chaos Bay Brewing Co. In addition to Bremerton’s Silver City, Crane’s Castle Brewing also makes up the local drinking scene. It’s also hard not to overlook the Tracyton Public House, which offers live music.
Ashley’s Pub in downtown Bremerton offers a variety of board and card games. Pinball and arcade fans can bring their quarters to bars such as Another Castle Arcade Edition in downtown Bremerton or north of the bridge at Tik Tok’s Workshop. Those into escape rooms can have late-night fun at Kitsap Great Escape, which is open later on weekends and offers multiple rooms to choose from. Gamblers can find a small selection of poker and other card games at the All-Star Lanes & Casino.
Movie lovers have plenty of options as Silverdale is home to one of AMC’s 600 movie theaters nationwide, while the local theater scene in Bremerton offers SEEfilm Cinema and Tracyton Movie House, among others.
South Kitsap
The Bay Street strip in downtown Port Orchard offers lots of action, but some of the restaurants and bars close as early as 9 p.m. The Dock Bar and Eatery, and Brickhouse 714 Bar and Grill are two of them, although Brickhouse extends its hours for weekends and offers live performances. Peninsula BevCo is a great option for anyone wanting a waterfront view, and wine lovers enjoy Holy Water A Heavenly Lounge on weekends, along with Bay Street Bistro.
Locals enjoy the Port Orchard Night Market. Held once a month by the downtown waterfront, the market gives vendors the chance to shine from 6-10 p.m. While there is plenty of food and things to buy, it’s not uncommon for games of cornhole among all else to break out.
The Manchester Pub a short drive away offers a great selection of food and drink, and full schedule of live events and music is always offered.
Not here yet, but coming soon is Peninsula Axe and Brew, which should add some late-night fun to town. In the meantime, the Hi Joy Bowl has continued to offer late-night bowling.
As for movies, Regal South Sound has closed, but if you’re looking for some nostalgia just a few miles to the West is the Rodeo Drive-In Theater.
Kitsap News Group reporters Tyler Shuey and Elisha Meyer contributed to this report.
