We decided to check out this spot and instantly liked the vibe. It sits right by the water and has that fun, lived-in history feel, like it has seen some good times and remembers them fondly. The pool tables were a hit, the live music was a hit, and the crowd was just right. Busy enough to feel lively but not so packed that you're apologizing to strangers every five seconds. Personal space still existed, which deserves recognition. We ordered a few appetizers, and my favorite was the hummus plate. I was genuinely excited to find something healthy at a bar, which feels rare enough to celebrate. Fresh, flavorful, and perfect for snacking while watching a pool game or listening to the band. The bartenders were attentive without hovering, and the waterfront views through the windows gave it that classic pool, beer, and food by the water vibe. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed, like a true neighborhood bar where you can settle in without trying too hard. Great place for live music, casual food, good drinks, and an easygoing night that turns into a longer stay than planned. read more

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Came in for an early dinner. There's seating in the front and in the back where there was a pool table and a view of the water. We sat ourselves and were given paper menus even with the QR code on the table. Ordered the panko crusted Alaskan halibut with fries. It was alright. The fries were crisp. The fish had a good crunch cause of the panko but the fish itself was dry. I'm curious to come back and try another entree. read more

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I am biased. I've been wanting to stop by this bar for so long. I kept hearing about it and just hadn't had the chance. This place is touted as the first bar in Tacoma, located in Old Town. For me, the food and service was Ok however what I was looking for was to play pool. As a person growing up with a pool table, I wanted to see if these two tables would do the game justice. Let's say- it did! Although the felt was worn, and the walls were closer than expected - overall the table, sticks, chalk were able to deliver. Now, granted one ball would get stuck when you racked it up, but the servers were helpful to unstuck the last ball. The food itself was pretty good. I ordered the Greek salad with hummus plate and it was plenty for the cost $15.50. That's a steal nowadays. I didn't know there would be a band playing the night we went but although it was too loud to have a conversation, it was fun to see a local group playing and their followers. Definitely recommend to try at least once! I'll be back for their 50 cent pool games (: read more

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I believe this is the oldest tavern in Tacoma, but it is not dusty and stodgy. Instead it is lively and friendly. Good food, great selection of cold beer and we love to catch to regular live music! read more

The Spar - Three Guitars Blues Band - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Great pool tables, lots of good players, attentive staff, good food. I recommend:) Nice view of the Tacoma Bay as well. read more

So unless you are collecting social security or you can swing an axe like a pro this isnt the bar for you. With a single pool table that looks like it hasnt been serviced since 1995 this has serious dive bar vibes. If thats youre thing no judgement but the crowded musicians in the corner reflected the retiree vibe. Theres got to be better options if you are anywhere under 45. If ur in your 50-110nds youll feel right at home. Welcome to your new after work hangout. read more

I would always recommended this spot to anybody. Beautiful views of the water front in the back bar area, great music selection, and an even better draft selection. From ciders to ipas they have it all. I've never tried the food here but it looks good so maybe next time. It's in a really neat spot to walk around as well, not far is some other great restaurants and places to grab a quick drink. read more

The Spar - Playing pool sipping brews - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This place has good food but the service is really slow, as there was just one person tending to the restaurant. The ambiance is okay in the restaurant side, but if you're 21 and over I'd go by the bar towards the back; you'll get some BEAUTIFUL views of the sound. read more

The Spar - Fish Sandwhich with French Fries - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Went on a Sunday afternoon, well after lunch. There was one server covering the entire back dining area. It took the better part of an hour for the food to show up. The server, who was working her butt of did discount the bill. read more

My friend took me to lunch today and we were so disappointed in the food. I recommend it to her because I use to go there years ago ( it was our to go place) I told the waitress how bad our meals were. I had a fish witch and it was served on hamburger bun and you couldn't find the fish. No tarter sauce just mayonnaise pickle slice of tomato. My friend had fish tacos and they were so spicy they burned your mouth. The fish was cut up in little cubes. I asked to taste hers and it was spicy hot. We wanted the waitress to know about the food when she brought the bill and she just looked at us and said "Do you want me to take something off the bill " i tried to explain to her but now maybe she will see this. There are to many good restaurants on the water front. I suggest everyone try them. read more

This review is not about food.It's Sunday night and Stevie and The Blue Flames are playing rocking Blues.Band area(The Annex) is busy with a mixed age group,well,over 40+ enjoying the live music with a beautiful view of Commencement Bay.Amazing that this bar isn't packed to the rafters seeing as there really aren't any venues close by offering an extremely high quality of music.Jazz on a Wednesday and Rock n Roll and just about anything goes on a Saturday night.No cover charge,reasonable prices and decent pub grub.Top notch salads,fish n chips,homemade soups and clam chowder which tastes completely different to anywhere in Tacoma.Or anywhere else for that matter. read more

Food was pretty good, small portions however....Beer was a bit expensive as well....I was a bit taken back that I was sitting so high from the street, very hard to track cats and birds. Outside seating would be nice in order to track rodents. The place is a bit expensive for my taste, no chew bones either...3 barks for the Spar due to a bit pricey and no good spot to track and point. read more

Ordered Fish and Chips......Yuk, so greasy it was not edible. Big disappointment \. Would not recommend the Spar to anyone....Don't take my word for it, you might be one that likes greasy fried fish. A local Dive bar may be a good place to go for a beer. I would not give it one star. If I must give it a rating then 1 star. read more

After spending my morning working at the coffee shop next door, I thought I'd give The Spar a try for lunch. The Spar is located right in the heart of Old Town. The server was alone and really busy. I sat down and it took quite awhile for her to come over. Being busy is a great thing! I ordered a mushroom burger and a side salad. The burger was great- hot and good quality. The salad was also good. Overall, a good lunch spot. Looking forward to coming back and trying some of their fish and chips. read more

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If you're looking for great pub fare, friendly service, and a welcoming vibe, then head over to The Spar in Tacoma's Old Town. They have some of the best halibut & chips in town. The panko crusted halibut is hand coated in house, and I recommend pairing it with their Spar Chips, sliced in house and lightly seasoned. It just elevates the experience. And definitely check out some of their great local IPAs on tap. Cheers! read more

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It was my first time here and the food was great! Poor bartender was alone and swamped but she did great under the circumstances. The cheese curds were SO good! I loved the French dip too and my boyfriend liked his chicken as well. We'll be back for sure! read more

The Spar - Cheese curds - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Nice bar over in Tacoma with 22 on tap and a plethora of other drinks. Pool tables are available. It's not too busy and that can be both a pro and con. Ordered a green tea (the drink not actual tea) and was pleasantly surprised when the bartender asked if I'd like the cocktail or just a shot. I usually don't get that question and just go with whatever they make. It was also pretty cheap for a green tea (wells whiskey). Most bars do it one way and so I loved that effort. Alongside drinks, the fish and chips were pretty solid. Nothing surprising but very fair and something to order again in the future. Unfortunately, they do close fairly early (8 PM). I understand it's Tacoma and it might not be busy, but for a bar that's pretty early and disappointing. Busy days may end in late night drinks but there are no late nights here. read more

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Ah, the panko crusted halibut! Delicious. Light coating, moist, the best halibut I have ever tasted, and it's my favorite fish. The accompanying chips were a tad too thin, thus more than a bit too brown and not tasty. I usually swap fries or chips for coleslaw, but split this order with my partner who agreed the fish was excellent, the chips; not so much. A great pint of draft ale Blue Moon Stayed for music from Chad Rup and his band, along with his talented cousin who has a great voice. With a view of the sound and the setting sun, who could ask for more. read more

Ordered "Hand Battered" Fish and Chips.. Ive had better fish at home out of a box. It looked and tasted suspiciously like Gortons who must have hand battered it. 2 small pieces of cod. A tiny cup of lousy coleslaw made up for by a large plate of fires that were very good. But $24 + tax and tip for this. Never again, we wont be back. read more

I love the spar. It's a cozy atmosphere and any food item I've ever had is always great. It's a cozy atmosphere in a great location. Great staff. Always a good choice. read more

This is a great place to go and listen to live music. The food is fine for a tavern.

The food is great. Service is on point and friendly. The bathrooms are clean. It's a nice little spot to drop in and get your mcmenamins fix in. I personally find it to be a very cozy place to have a drink and a chat with my wife at. read more

0 stars we went there for dinner with friends chicken and jos were overcooked drinks were way below average for the price. Our waitress we could never find had to approach the bar to get service. Bad experience not going back. We have been several times worst service ever. Music was loud not enjoyable. One star because I was forced to. Has far as I am concerned 0 stars for sure! read more

My husband and I came here on Saturday 3/29/25. My husband had not been there in years but customers at his work talked good things so he suggested it. We sat down and drink order was taken. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. After over 20 mins of being ignored, my husband asked for them to take our order. The bartender took our drink order and another lady took our food order. They were busy but the staff wasn't hustling. We got our food and it was decent, but then no check. I finally went up to pay and no apologies about the delay in taking the order or getting the check. I mentioned something about it being busy and they were behind and she made the comment "it's better to be busy than slow". Yeah I guess, if you ignore your customers because of it. First and last time for me. read more

Well we'll well... haven't been here in quite a few years...(20?). Things haven't changed much which is nice. They still have great food and some staples are still here!! Yeah. We went to the movies and decided to come here for dinner 4:30. I saw they still had the broasted chicken yum and a side of Spar chips. Those are still to die for. He got that and I got patty melt with a side salad. There was a ton of chicken and had to take a small box home. I ate all my melt tho hehe. It was really tasty. We just had water so no one came around much. Once to see if everything was ok. Will prob be back. read more

The Spar - Broasted Chicken and Jos - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Yelp asked "What could improve?" We seated ourselves which was not a problem. Located a menu ourselves. Hmm. Another 10 minutes and the server finally made an appearance. Took our food order. We waited over 30 minutes for the food. I had fish and chips and my friend had a French dip. Batter on the outside of the fish was pretty good but very greasy and it turns out the fish was undercooked. French fries were good though. My friend said his French dip was good. His came with Spar chips. He thought they were cut too thin and way overcooked. We thought 1 hour & 15 minutes was a little long. Service was very slow. We had to go look for the server in order to pay our bill. I wouldn't go back. read more

Great food, if you don't finish your food have fun waiting 25 minutes for a box Spar chips - fish tacos read more

The Spar - Wonder where the waiter is - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

The food was decent, but service was really slow. They were a bit busy and not sure if they had many waiters available so might be why. Nice little older style pub. read more

Date had roasted chicken and joes Cobb salad was so good Friendly service, yes, friendly Old establishment with nice atmosphere, water views in rear dining room read more

The Spar - Cobb Salad - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I was very happy to get a solid meal that was gluten-free, soy-free, and vegetarian. The veggie burger and fries were very good. We also got a free order of Spar chips (homemade potato chips) when we checked in on Yelp. Others were happy with their hummus platter, burger and fish & chips. Free parking. Great service. I had my Diet Coke refilled 3 times and our server was quick to bring over extra ketchup, napkins, and waters. This was only my second meal in a restaurant since the COVID pandemic started, and I felt safe. The menu is accessed via a code on a phone. Servers, host, and cooks all wore masks. There were only two tables of people eating inside so we were well-spaced and left as soon as we finished eating. Everyone wore masks, unless eating or drinking. Outdoor seating available too, but it's 92 degrees in Tacoma today so we chose to eat inside. read more

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2 words: surly waitress! Uninspired in engaged staff. Disinterested in the patrons, rarely making eye contact or reviewing other tables in room on way to serve one table. Remarkably poor customer engagement for such a popular old time neighborhood spot - seems like it's riding on its laurels and maybe the bayside location read more

The Spar - Even the front doors aren't customer friendly with poorly opening hardware making overlapping doors - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We had a very enjoyable evening at The Spar. I haven't been in years and was delighted to see quite a few vegetarian options. You could sub any burger with a veggie patty or black bean burger, they have a Mediterranean plate, a hummus plate, a hummus and veggie pita (with feta), or you can make a veggie sandwich. My choice may have been the most boring choice, but I was craving a sandwich and something reasonably healthy. I'm very glad I added hummus and cheese. They have very standard vegetables, so it needed something a little more. Wow! The hummus is fantastic. It is made in house. I will definitely get that next time. My partner had the chicken strips. He thought they were very good and finished them quickly. I raved about the spar chips even though he wanted fries, but unfortunately they were a little burnt. A few were good, but overall, we were not impressed and I have had them before. Our server was super nice, also. It's a very chill place with nice views, but not uptight in the least. read more

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Early lunch for me today. Came in for a bite. 1. Bacon cheeseburger - crispy bacon, flavor packed sandwich. 2. Fries - also crispy and warm with Sriracha ketchup 3. Beer - great selection, I had a smoked Alaskan Porter that went great with my burger. 4. Restaurant - great music, beautiful view, staff friendly and engaging but not pushy. 5. Other stuff - there's a table of gentlemen across from me having the soup and salad which consists of a garden salad and clam chowdah. Looks great, will have to come back for that later. This is a great spot. read more

Good food, friendly service, great music and atmosphere. This is what the other music pubs wish they were.

The restaurant has a fun friendly vibe.Their is pool table that is their for everyone to enjoy.The restaurant has a good selection of beers. The Waitress was very knowledgeable about the beers and recommended a full flavored stout. We chose a Stout beer without any bite and had coffee flavor. We had a bacon cheeseburger and tater tots cooked perfectly. Friendly staff and good food we'll be back again. read more

Amazing bar! Nice atmosphere and good views of the Puget Sound. I had the French dip and it was phenomenal!! My husband had fish and chips and that was equally as good!! We will come back for sure. Outstanding Old Fashioned!! Excellent service, very busy on a Saturday at lunch. read more

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Ordered the Chicken and Joes, which I have had here many times in the past. Was very, very disappointed. They came out way overcooked. The chicken was not golden, but dark, dark brown, almost burnt. The Joes the same. Both were terrible, dry and tough. Sadly, a tradition is gone. Don't know much about the rest of the menu, because I always had this. read more

3 stars because the spar chips are delicious and they had friendly staff. Two stars taken off because my chicken strip was raw. I would come back to try something different because the rest of my tables food look really good. read more

The Spar - Menu - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This is a tough review to write. We've lived in the area for a lot of years and finally made it to the Spar. Its quaint inside and has been here forever and obviously has a faithful following. That said I felt obligated to remove one star. I did so because none of the cooks and one of the servers were not wearing required masks. My husband questioned one and she said well I've been working at the computer and then was a bit snippy and said you know if you're not actively eating or drinking you should have one on too. Never mind we were sitting waiting for our food and drinking tea. We also saw many customers come in not wearing masks and no one said a word so apparently this establishment does not take COVID and the precautions seriously. That said, the food was really good. My husband had a burger with Swiss and mushroom and he said it was juicy and a both hands burger. He got fries as his side and they were pretty darn good since I felt necessary to sample a few. I had a BLT which was one of the best ones I've had in ages. Got the Spar chips with mine just to try and they were ok. A bit over fried and tasted like unsalted potato chips. Not sure I understand the allure. I would have given them four stars except for their non compliance with COVID precautions and the fact the the server we spoke to obviously didn't care. read more

Love this place! I am back again for great food and beer!! I had the best Patty Melt ever loaded with grilled onions. The beer is nice and cold. Beautiful view too. I visit every time I am in the area. read more

The Spar - The best Patty Melt!! Love the chips too! - Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington