Excellent food! Wait staff is friendly. My husband had an Old Fashioned (which was very good) and a sandwich. I had the flat bread with prosciutto, apples and arugula. Really delicious. The atmosphere is cute with the jail cells. Nice place! read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

We had a margarita and old fashioned with a grinder sandwich and clam chowder. Food was great and drinks were amazing! It was very busy here but service was still great! Love the cells in the building creates a cool environment! Definitely recommend! read more

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This place is not permanently closed? (Although they may be getting ready to wrap up for the season - could very well just be a "peak season thing"). We had drinks and appetizers here today! It was very nice. Staff was super friendly. Drinks were good, hummus plate was excellent. Ambiance and location amazing - top notch! read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Patio - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Unique location on the Fort Worden campus . . . maybe takes a little effort to get there and worth it. The place has a nice selection of brew and drinks, a casual and clean ambiance. Definitely can be a fun outing! read more

We just finished walking the park and were ready for a quick bite and beverage. Walked into the Taps at the Guardhouse and instantly felt welcomed. We ordered the Fall Bruschetta and Smoked Salmon Crostini. Both were amazing. The flavors were perfection at every bite. Fresh ingredients, light and flavorful with the right amount of fresh bread to complement the toppings. Can't wait to come back for more. Thank you read more

Great location and ambiance, friendly and a bit funky. Music evenings and a restored menu and alcohol chiices. Very nice read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Nice cozy place for a drink or bite to eat within Fort Worden State Park. We were glad to see them re-open. Excellent beer tap list and a variety of food to choose from. Great place to visit if you're staying in the park. read more

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Wed 7/30/25: Shocking! bad service provided by male -- obviously new to hospitality industry & bartending --told to leave!! Did not know basics ! Martini He "free-poured" lots of vermouth into a shaker filled with vodka to make a classic martini. -- I noticed and said, "that's not vermouth is it?" His reply, "yes." Mine, "oh! You just wave it over meaning put little in-- I stated my career was spent in F&B after he stated the "recipes call for..." I said, "we didn't make it that way where I worked or patronized..." Bartender dramatically throws all contents of shaker into sink & told me "to leave" & said, "I will not tolerate anyone being rude to me" I said, "Are you kidding?! All I said was we didn't make a martini that way & I didn't like all that vermouth & I just said my career..." His final reply, "I don't give a shit what you did for a living & leave!" Professional servers & owners know to create a friendly environment & never allow employees to bash customers. Employees do not get defensive, are good listeners & make things right for their customers. This was a fireable event-- per basic industry standards. If you think otherwise, own, work, patronize at a dirty dive bar. Taps supposed to be better than that But actions indicate otherwise. What would International tourists think? A 40 yr old male bartender getting defensive then telling a female senior citizen to "leave" after she states basic facts. The Owners want business then-- treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. Be kind. Employ knowledgeable staff. Negative word to mouth spreads quickly. It's moving now! read more

Great pulled pork sandwich. Wonderful huge soft pretzels. Good beer and drinks. Nice spot to sit outside on a sunny day.

Unique, wonderful surprise in an unexpected location! We've been camping at Ft. Worden on Memorial Weekend for the past 10 years and just discovered this hidden gem. With outside seating and a jailhouse interior, this place is a must see if in the area. There were three of us and we ordered just about everything on the small menu. It's okay that the menu is small, they get to perfect everything on it! We started with the chowder, sadly the only picture I seem to have taken, and were blown away by the flavor. The star had to be the bread and butter though, could have eaten a few mini loaves of that and been super happy!! We also had a meat and cheese plate that had very unique items that we've not found before, some good some not but well worth the testing tasty samples! There was a Poblano Pepper dish that was spicy and delicious, cooked meltingly soft! The sliders were tasty but maybe just a bit dry, the only thing that wasn't perfect! And finally, our salad was fresh, crisp, loaded and a pleasure to eat! Again, the use of unique ingredients give everything on the menu a special flavor. With a full bar and some very unique concoctions, we can't wait until next year to see what's new! read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

If you are a history buff and like beer and spirits, well then you are in luck. Fort Worden is an amazing place to explore. After your exploration, you have an amazing bar that was once a jail. They offer a few small , but tasty bites. But an large selection of beer and whiskies; not what I was expecting in the park. I plan on coming back with a camper or tent. Spending a few nights on the beach and exploring. Then mostly likely ending up here every night looking at pictures and drinking a few pints or glasses of whiskey. read more

After a chilly day of walking the beach at Fort Worden, we came to Taps for a few drinks and to warm up by the fire. The chowder here is wonderful, you get a huge bowl of it. The salad was really good and fresh, added chicken was cold, not fresh cooked. Great atmosphere for a couple or small group. read more

My wife and I dined here for dinner while staying at Alexander's Castle. Free parking can be found in the parking lot. Discover is an accepted form of payment. There is outdoor seating on the deck during the warmer months. Indoors is unique in the way the old jailhouse/cells have been converted into a dining area. This is a very small and intimate restaurant. Every table was taken and or being rearranged to accommodate larger groups. No minors are allowed. Noise levels are high here: music and conversations. Service was a bit awkward due to the cramped quarters. Staff members had a hard time navigating around tables and often times would hand items across the bar for us to grab. Happy Hour is offered Monday-Friday from 4pm-6pm. It would be helpful if a happy hour menu was available to view during the stated hours. It pleased me to see that local sips and food are offered at Taps. My wife ordered a couple pints of Iron Horse Irish Death (Ellensburg, WA) for $5 a pint. I ordered a couple pours of Christopher Michael Pinot Noir (WA) for $8 a glass. For our meal we chose the Pretzel with Queso Dip for $5 (hh): Three warm chewy pretzel bread-sticks topped with coarse sea salt served with a rich warm queso. We both enjoyed this treat. We also shared a cup of Razor Clam Chowder for $5. The chowder was stocked full of potato chunks, clams and bacon. Nice and hearty. The complimentary Rye bread with herbed butter that was served with our chowder was a pleasant surprise, although it would have been nice to know before ordering the Pretzel sticks. Overall, Taps fit the bill after a long day of exploring Fort Worden. Staff members were friendly enough. Great job Taps on showcasing local Northwest food and drink. read more

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This is the first time I ever ate in a jail house and I loved it. Friendly service, good basic menu, and a nice beer, wine and cocktail menu. The ploughman's platter was solid but not interesting, and the chowder was fantastic. Do not miss it if you visit. Crispy bacon and a nice flavor of clams throughout. Good place. read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

We've been wanting to try this place for a long time! Am I glad we did!! Chef's spicy wings were fabulous- just the right heat & blue cheese for dipping. The house chips & queso were also delightful. Very crispy- think Kettle Chips- with a light spice dusting & cheese dip! We also tried the BBQ Chicken flatbread- delicious, cheesy & smokey!! The beer selection was smaller than I expected, but 4 of 7 were from one of our favorite breweries- Fort George, Astoria! read more

Anxiously awaiting your reopening! We very much look forward to lazy afternoons on your porch.

Originally we wanted to go to Reveille for brunch this morning, but, unfortunately, Reveille is essentially impossible to find, as it seems to phase in and out of reality at will. The sign for Reveille is in front of this place, making it a confusing consolation prize for the lost and uninformed. We ordered a mimosa, a bloody mary, a lemon orzo salad, and (shudder) a dozen wings. The mimosa was fine, the bloody mary was tasty but weak, and the salad was fairly good, if not a bit overpriced. But then, there were the wings. The chicken wings were coated in their house dry rub, consisting of a frankly fever-dreamed combination of brown sugar, salt, and some ungodly combination of spices we couldn't quite place. They were cooked in what appeared to be a microwave, as they were boiling hot but not crispy at all - more like soggy, soft, chewy, slimy disappointments to their egg-laying mother hen. I would absolutely not recommend the wings, as they are vastly overpriced at more than a dollar apiece for easily the worst tasting wings we have ever experienced. (P.S.) We went across the sound to Seattle to find some better wings to cleanse the taste of these sweetened culinary abominations, but since it was Sunday, every good wing place was closed. We finally found a brewery that serves wings, but by the time we arrived they had sold out for the day, leaving us hungry and sad, mourning our ruined Labor Day weekend. read more

Cool venue, good quality food, but slow service. Waited for service, waited for food, waited for check. Finally asked another person to get our check. Menu was good, but limited number of options. Drinks were good and well made. read more

Great atmosphere and music right in the middle of a state park just a step away from the beach. Very good recommendations from the bartender and the cocktails were on point. Very interesting old jail cell that you can sit in, really liked the fact that there is a game corner at the back, enjoyed a lovely game of chess during my visit , giving them 5 stars read more

I went here with my parents one afternoon to enjoy the weekend barbecue ribs special, and I was very impressed. The service was excellent and there was live blues music playing as we enjoyed getting our hands messy and our bellies full. Their potato chips as an appetizer are a must! read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - The Barbecue is AMAZING! - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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Taps is reason alone to visit Fort Worden! Chose from the cool modern jailhouse indoor decor or outside tables with pictuesque park views to savor fine libations (craft beers, quality wines and top-shelf spirits) and delicious foods that range from snacks to meals. A very friendly professional staff that makes each visit feel special. The unique atmosphere along with free parking makes it a good choice for casual meetings and gatherings. Excellent spot for visitors and locals. read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Cozy inside seating areas. - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

A really cool place, steeped in history. Where else can you get a drink and a bite sitting in a cell? On second thought, don't answer that. I doubt the quality of the offerings from the Washington Department of Corrections measures up to this place, operated under license from the Washington State Parks. Very worthwhile visit. read more

Looking for a place to eat with three dogs underfoot, we came across this hidden wonder on a very busy warm holiday weekend. Soon the vegan daughter was ordering a salad with lavender water, her mom (that would be me) had an excellent apple salad with an excellent bottle of ubiquitous lavender water . The doggy-daddy, three leashes in tow, was cozied up to a glass of chardonnay though I've forgotten what food accompanied his libation.. Three generous pieces of chocolate cake rounded out our meal which had been served promptly on the "green" just outside the quaint jailhouse/turned restaurant by a smiling server. You'll be wondering what the dogs ate for their noontime snack? "Greenies" never fail to please...add a handful. of Hill's Kibble, a drink of (not-so-lavender-flavored) water and you are good to go. This is what walks in the park are for if you are a dog. Nice place...we've been back twice, and will be there again. read more

We came to have dinner and the sign said "see bartender for service ". We walked in and stood for 10 minutes being ignored by both bartenders. No one said "will be with you in a minute ". We stood and stood and then we left. Have no desire to come back. One star service. read more

I loved this cozy little pub located on the grounds of Fort Worden. And for a little trivia, Fort Worden is where the movie "Officer and a Gentleman" was filmed. We were there on a gloomy Saturday afternoon in January, and practically had the place to ourselves (at least for a little while). We sat in one of the jail cells by a warm stove and got comfortable for a few hours. The drinks were great, and the small plates perfect. Awesome service, too! I don't recall our server's name, but she was fun - I even got an impromptu swing dance lesson from her! This place is worth the trip from Detroit - see you next week! :) read more

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Got there early so no issues at all. Hung out in the comfy leather chair with a beer while working in my laptop. I could see the customers coming in late (after 6) get frustrated with the service as it was quite busy and servers were rushing about (felt bad for them). Drinks reasonably priced. Pub grub decent. For the location quite a find. Oh, and you can sit in the jail cell if you want. read more

Taps at the Guardhouse - Pubs Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Terrific ambience, ample seating and family friendly. Waitstaff, not overtly customer service oriented (at least that Is the staff behind the bar) which is too bad as the bar business is completely customer centric. My glass of wine was lovely. read more

Jacked up their prices for the music festival. $15 for a shot of Bulleit bourbon. Expected more integrity.

When I see a clam chowder on a menu, I order it. The Taps Razor Clam and Andouille Chowder is mind blowing, and easily makes my top 5 chowder list. The Shiitake Flat Bread is also wonderful. Great atmosphere read more

Drinks were ok, the selection could accommodate a wide variety of craft cocktails and draft beers. Plus, the location was really cool and kitschy. However, the customer service was garbage... not worth the visit. read more

Came in for lunch with my husband and our little guy while we were exploring Fort Worden. Looks great for drinks, and I was pleased they had konbucha on tap. Our server was friendly, but definitely overwhelmed as he was the only one there. The food looked good from the menu, but ours was definitely microwaved. Very disappointed. read more

Warning: Small Plates! At my visit, the majority of other tables had come just for drinks - of which there are delicious craft cocktails and a long wine list. We had been walking around the Fort for the afternoon and needed a big boost of eats and didn't want to go far from our campground. Taps had a cool atmosphere, although it was very loud. Doesn't everyone else in the place realize it's loud and they're contributing to the sound? I was embarrassed to talk at a regular volume for fear of the neighboring table overhearing our every word. Can you please post a sign to keep it down? "Prisoners: guards don't want to hear your escape plans. Keep your voices down." Something? How can people think? There are a few nice relaxing chairs in the jail cell, I imagine to read an article and have a drink. But who could stay there with the noise? I supposed it would only be used in the early afternoon when they first open. For dinner we ordered crab cakes, Dabob oysters and a bowl of clam chowder. Crab cakes - two cakes accompanied by a small green and tomato salad and a dipping sauce. They were the size of small cake pops and were loaded with crabmeat fibers although no solid chunks. I was amazed at how they stayed together with so little filling and other fluff. I felt like hound dog; I ate my share in a flash and quickly wanted more. Oysters - served room temperature on a bed of rock salt. If you get the salt on your hand - inevitable - it's a very strong salty taste. While I prefer many things room temperature, not my oysters. Apet peeve; they were served with the sauce already in each oyster, not in a cup on the side. I occasionally like to taste simply oysters - but I was prevented from it. Clam Chowder - the highest caloric item we selected thank goodness it finally filled our bellies. Served with dark bread and herbed butter. I don't remember how it tasted, I was too hungry and scared it wasn't going to fill me. Service: Only complaint is that the plates came out almost all at the same time. The tables for two are on the smaller side and it was challenging to switch plates around for tasting, not to mention the items getting cold. read more

Great little spot at Fort Worden. Nice combination of food and beverages. I give it a "Loud" rating for noise, but only because it can get a bit noisy sometime inside, as the walls are pretty hard and sound can get loud quickly. They have acoustic bands sometimes, usually at night. Parking is ample and free because of the Fort. Kids might be able to be turned loose in the area outside. A nice part of this is that you can sit outside if the weather cooperates. I put down that it's good for lunch and dinner, but I don't think they serve what you would consider full dinners. They have plates of various stuff, and sandwiches. Good bar selection of drinks though! Full bar. Downside (and upside) is that it's not near the downtown of Port Townsend. You will have to drive, take the bus, or the shuttles around the area, or you can walk to downtown if you have the stamina and time. Wifi I believe is available if you are staying at the Fort. It might work at the bar. read more

This is my second time eating at this restaurant. I ate the crab cakes and roasted vegetable salad and they were both great. Everything was fresh and very tasty. The atmosphere is also very nice as is the staff. I'll be going again! read more

Don't bother going here if your party is 6+. They accept no reservations and there only two potential areas where a party of 6 or 8+ could be easily accommodated (inside). And OMG do not negotiate with your fellow patrons to open up a table for your party of 9 because the tall bartender dude will get TICKED with you...even though my fellow community members were cool with it. Those in my party said he leered as they passed the bar for the restroom. Canceled our reservations at Silverwater Cafe when we found out about TAPS...not gonna happen again. You're welcome, TAPS, for directing a fairly hefty tab in you direction. Wife and I usually take pictures of our dishes when we go out...not here. Attitude ruined it. Btw: someone at our table referred to the "house chips" as flavored Lays and the Maple Bacon Glazed Nuts were a concrete dome mass...needed to break them apart with a butter knife. Positive note! Impressive draft choices (c'mon, it's the PNW!) Call ahead...if they have Finnriver on tap, go! read more

Three strikes and you are out! Since moving here, we have heard nothing but good things about this restaurant. On our first visit, they were sold out of their BBQ specialty menu items, so we had to resort to a substitute item and planned to come back for another try. On the second try, we got the BBQ ribs we wanted to order earlier and received an unpleasant surprise - who puts yellow mustard on top of BBQ sauce??? We found out later that they "experiment" at times with their recipe, so we decided to give it one more try. What is that old saying? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Well, we went with the old adage "third time's a charm" and lost. This time, the experiment consisted of dousing the ribs in a pound of pepper. Not good even if you like lots of pepper. We are done. Of you go, don't say you weren't warned. read more

Menu is very limited drinks are on point though not a lot of seating indoor but outdoor seating has huge fire pits friendly service great food decent prices . read more

We went here twice because the food and service was soo amazing! The smoked pork ribs were so tender and delicious! The pizza and chili were also yummy!!! They have amazing bartenders and waitresses that take care of their customers! Local beer and wine selection... I can't wait to go back to Fort Worden to eat here again!!! read more

I mean to give Taps a 4 1/2 review. Was staying at the Fort for the weekend and ended up at Taps the first night of the Modest Mouse concerts. Not having planned to be in the midst of a concert crowd I was concerned that the place would be too busy. We enjoyed a great table on the patio and had some nice food and drinks while people watching before the concert. I was impressed with the staff managing the increased number of people, keeping up with orders and staying so pleasant. Food quality was very good. We had their homemade chips and dip, salad, chowder, pizza and smoked salmon. My only suggestion would be a few more vegetarian options. I recommend. It's a fun place to hang out. read more

What happened to Taps? Drinks were watered down and tasteless. The chicken wings were a bit like chicken jerky. Staff seemed a bit confused and disorganized. I think I will wait a few months before returning. read more