Poulsbo recommendations

We are now staying in Poulsbo the night before we take the Bainbridge Island Ferry to Seattle for our cruise on ROS on 8/29. Can you recommend restaurants? Any other recommendations?

We are considering Bennett's Fish Shack, Porthole Pub Bar, Pirate's Cove Pub.

Our "must have"s"- Great microbrews, terrific chowder, fresh ingredients, not overpriced and touristy. Did I say microbrews?

I've spent a bit of time in Poulsbo as a local. The town has a lovely "old town" situated along the waterfront. Some of the shops have Norwegian items and there is an outstanding Scandinavian bakery. Norwegian immigrants settled this area - fishing, dairy and farming. A walk through old town and along the waterfront will pass by several restaurants. I would stroll through old town and look at the posted menus and peek into the restaurants. It really is hard to have a bad meal in downtown Poulsbo.

I've spent a bit of time in Poulsbo as a local. The town has a lovely "old town" situated along the waterfront. Some of the shops have Norwegian items and there is an outstanding Scandinavian bakery. Norwegian immigrants settled this area - fishing, dairy and farming. A walk through old town and along the waterfront will pass by several restaurants. I would stroll through old town and look at the posted menus and peek into the restaurants. It really is hard to have a bad meal in downtown Poulsbo.

Thank you. I am looking forward to the Scandinavian influence. Read about the bakery- people recommended the apple fritters or the strudel.

We are now staying in Poulsbo the night before we take the Bainbridge Island Ferry to Seattle for our cruise on ROS on 8/29. Can you recommend restaurants? Any other recommendations?

We are considering Bennett's Fish Shack, Porthole Pub Bar, Pirate's Cove Pub.

Our "must have"s"- Great microbrews, terrific chowder, fresh ingredients, not overpriced and touristy. Did I say microbrews?

I have lived in Poulsbo for over 33 years, and have NEVER heard of any of those places you have mentioned!! Yes, Poulsbo is a Scandinavian Town, mostly Norwegian and some swedes... We do not have an "old town", the only downtown Poulsbo IS the town... My daughter works in the " Nordic Maid" shop that sells all things Norwegian and Swedish.. the bakery in town is called Sluys bakery.... home of Poulsbo Bread, now known worldwide. they have lesfe, which is a sweet tortilla looking potatoe thingy... but very good.

it is especially good with butter and sugar... the Bakery is one of the most popular places with tourists.. Poulsbo is situated right on the water, with a marina and a nice city park with a boardwalk along the water. The new City Hall has a nice little museum that tells the history of our beautiful town, it is not open every day, but check it out and see if it is open when you are here.

for good clam chowder you need to go to JJs fish house on the parking lot side of the marina... we have a new brewery called Slippery Pig,( although I have never been there, I think they may serve food.... also at the end of the parking on the marina. there is another brewery called " Hales Ales" on the corner by the Nordic Maid... Our town is easy to walk around, and very picturesque, hopefully you will be here on a clear day when the Olympic Mountains are out in all their glory!! you can't miss them!!

We are cruising on the 28th on HAL, but have to get to Vancouver by Amtrak... how are you getting between Poulsbo and the Seattle Ferry?

hope this has helped you, if you have more questions, you can find me on

Westerdam, Sept 28th Coastal cruise. Carri

I have lived in Poulsbo for over 33 years, and have NEVER heard of any of those places you have mentioned!! Yes, Poulsbo is a Scandinavian Town, mostly Norwegian and some swedes... We do not have an "old town", the only downtown Poulsbo IS the town... My daughter works in the " Nordic Maid" shop that sells all things Norwegian and Swedish.. the bakery in town is called Sluys bakery.... home of Poulsbo Bread, now known worldwide. they have lesfe, which is a sweet tortilla looking potatoe thingy... but very good.

it is especially good with butter and sugar... the Bakery is one of the most popular places with tourists.. Poulsbo is situated right on the water, with a marina and a nice city park with a boardwalk along the water. The new City Hall has a nice little museum that tells the history of our beautiful town, it is not open every day, but check it out and see if it is open when you are here.

for good clam chowder you need to go to JJs fish house on the parking lot side of the marina... we have a new brewery called Slippery Pig,( although I have never been there, I think they may serve food.... also at the end of the parking on the marina. there is another brewery called " Hales Ales" on the corner by the Nordic Maid... Our town is easy to walk around, and very picturesque, hopefully you will be here on a clear day when the Olympic Mountains are out in all their glory!! you can't miss them!!

We are cruising on the 28th on HAL, but have to get to Vancouver by Amtrak... how are you getting between Poulsbo and the Seattle Ferry?

hope this has helped you, if you have more questions, you can find me on

Westerdam, Sept 28th Coastal cruise. Carri

NO one ever disappoints me on these threads! Useful advise looking forward to seeing your beautiful town. Thanks for sharing it with us

We are taking the Bainbridge Island ferry . Our travel friends will drop us off at the pier, then they will take the rental back before boarding their flight to AZ later in the day. We hope to see something of Bainbridge Island too. Have a great cruise.

NO one ever disappoints me on these threads! Useful advise looking forward to seeing your beautiful town. Thanks for sharing it with us

We are taking the Bainbridge Island ferry . Our travel friends will drop us off at the pier, then they will take the rental back before boarding their flight to AZ later in the day. We hope to see something of Bainbridge Island too. Have a great cruise.

Poulsbo is 13 miles away from the ferry terminal! are you taking a taxi? what pier are your friends dropping you off at?? If they are taking their car on the ferry, they can drive you to Poulsbo, and continue on to SeaTac to catch their plane, driving through Tacoma.... the cost of the ferry is double for passengers boarding in Seattle, and is only charged for the ride over, return is "free", Car and driver pay both ways... the cost is approx. $20.00 with a discount for seniors, 65 and older.... passengers are around $7.00 half that for seniors.... 65 and older... There is a shuttle from the Clearwater casino, which is a resort casino, the shuttle picks up at the ferry and returns to Terminal.... Casino is just over the Bainbridge Island bridge... in Suquamish

they probably have a shuttle to get to Poulsbo, about 6 miles farther west!

Poulsbo is 13 miles away from the ferry terminal! are you taking a taxi? what pier are your friends dropping you off at?? If they are taking their car on the ferry, they can drive you to Poulsbo, and continue on to SeaTac to catch their plane, driving through Tacoma.... the cost of the ferry is double for passengers boarding in Seattle, and is only charged for the ride over, return is "free", Car and driver pay both ways... the cost is approx. $20.00 with a discount for seniors, 65 and older.... passengers are around $7.00 half that for seniors.... 65 and older... There is a shuttle from the Clearwater casino, which is a resort casino, the shuttle picks up at the ferry and returns to Terminal.... Casino is just over the Bainbridge Island bridge... in Suquamish

they probably have a shuttle to get to Poulsbo, about 6 miles farther west!

I guess I was not clear. We have a rental car, starting from Seattle on 8/25 with our friends. So will drive thru MtRanier Park and Olympic Park before we stay overnight in Poulsbo. Then we will take the rental car on the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle. We are scheduled to board at 11:30 but can board anytime before 2:30. After the ferry ride to Seattle, our friends will drop us off at the Royal Caribbean terminal ( Smith Cove??) and they will return the rental car to the airport car rental area before boarding their flight to AZ.

Am I correct in reading your info" that there is o charge for the car TO Seattle from Bainbridge? We are all over 65. There will be 1 driver and 3 passengers.