Where to Enjoy a Fun Night Out in Puyallup, WA
When The Coaster opened in 2023, it filled a niche for nightlife in Puyallup, WA. “Puyallup has always had a strong bar scene, with dive, country and sports bars all playing an important role in downtown’s personality,” says Rachel Vincent. “What was missing was a destination centered around craft cocktails.”
Rachel Vincent
So, she and her business partner transformed a beloved, long-closed bakery into a different kind of sweet spot. The Coaster offers more than 25 cocktails with sassy names like The Fig is Up, Smoke & Mirrors and Berry the Hatchet. Vincent also develops a 12-drink specialty menu each month. There are plenty of non-alcoholic libations, too.
Vincent grew up in Puyallup, WA, and so launching a business in her hometown was a natural fit.
“Opening it has been one of the most rewarding adventures of my life,” she says. “I often joke that I have a Ph.D. in restaurants. I’ve spent more than 25 years bartending and working in hospitality. It’s all I’ve ever known professionally, so while owning a business was new, creating experiences for guests has been second nature for decades.”
To keep the fun constantly flowing, The Coaster is open daily with weekly events such as musical bingo, karaoke and trivia. “We also host singalongs, women-owned business bazaars, drag shows, craft nights and other community-focused events,” Vincent says. “We like to say we’re always finding new reasons to celebrate.”
Fun Night in Out in Puyallup: Tastes and Sounds of the Bayou
Mike de Alwis is equally passionate about his business, customers and city. “Puyallup is one of the safest, friendliest places to live. It’s still small-town America where people get to know one another and neighbors help each other.”
He went to college in Louisiana and then lived for 20 years in New Orleans, where he learned to love and cook Cajun and Creole food. “It’s the cuisine I grew up with most of my adult life,” he says.
After moving his family to Puyallup in 2010, de Alwis realized the city needed some gumbo, jambalaya and jazz, so he opened Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen & Bar in 2013. The business has taken the whole family to great heights.
“My sons, Jehan and Michael, were involved in opening Bourbon Street,” he says.
Jehan went on to get a culinary arts degree in England and now works at a top restaurant in London. Michael became an expert bartender and oversaw the opening of the de Alwis family’s second restaurant in Tacoma. And daughter Ronalie worked in the White House for many years before coming home to run the front of the house at Bourbon Street.
“When we moved to Puyallup, we hardly knew anyone,” de Alwis says. “We’ve made so many great friends, and I’m grateful we chose to live here.”
The family’s devotion and success have made Bourbon Street a prime pick for a fun night out in Puyallup.
“We’ve become a destination for our food and music. We have oldies on Fridays and jazz on Saturdays, and it’s always a party on the deck in the summer,” de Alwis says. Of course, it’s always a rockin’ good time during Mardi Gras, too. “We put up a heated tent where the Buckshot Brass Band plays every year,” he says.
A Roundup of Nightlife in Puyallup
If you’re looking for high energy year-round, Big Whisky Saloon has a large dance floor and full bar. Country is the theme with line dancing, and there’s even a mechanical bull! The saloon is open 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday as well as some Sundays during holiday weekends. Free line dancing lessons start at 8:30 p.m. Big Whisky also hosts live events and concerts, posting the most current info on its social media channels.
Top Gun Bar & Grill is another unique Puyallup entertainment venue. Located south of town at the Pierce County Airport, this aviation-themed pub features amazing daytime views of small planes taking off and landing with Mount Rainier in the distance.
In the evening, there’s live music, trivia and jukebox bingo. You must be 21 years or older to enter, and the bar also offers more than 60 pull tab games. In addition to beer, wine and cocktails, the menu has a big selection of American favorites, from patty melts and nachos to ribeye steak and cobb salad. You can also fly into the sky by ordering The Discovery Flight, which includes a one-hour introductory flight training experience along with a burger of your choice.
Scotty’s Grub & Pub is an oldie but goodie just up the street from The Coaster. Outside, the sign says, “Serving Puyallup Since 1933.” Inside this self-proclaimed five-star dive bar, you’ll find a large beer and cocktail selection, several big-screen TVs, a pool table and dart boards. For grub, the pub serves American fare like burgers, tacos and flatbreads. Scotty’s is open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily with local rock and cover bands regularly playing on Friday and Saturday nights.
TK Irish Pub is another downtown mainstay that’s been serving Reubens, fish and chips, and corned beef and cabbage since 2011. Open daily, this traditional Irish pub pours pints of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s, and frequently hosts live music and themed events.
And Finally, Get Ready to SIP Your Way Through Puyallup
Each spring and fall, the biannual SIP Puyallup entertainment event features more than two dozen stops for sampling wine, beer and cider. A ticket buys participants a souvenir glass and 10 tastings to sample while exploring downtown shops and admiring outdoor art.