Upstage Theatre & Restaurant

Really nice venue for entertainment. Super reasonable in contrast to Seattle or Portland. Very accommodating staff, that even mid-​show came over to tell us there were some better seats available should we want to switch. Service was excellent.
Just had wine, no comment on food.

Went out to listen to some music, ended up I went to the wrong place and found this one instead. Drinks selection was decent and the food was not bad. I didn’t get food but was offered a free pizza and I ate it… decent.

Upstage, the coolest place in the state to hear live music… and dance if you so desire. I’ve visited Port Townsend only twice, and both times I’ve gone to the Upstage Theatre and Restaurant, and both times have been outstanding. Ok, the first time was incredible, and this last time was just plain fun, but added together that makes outstanding. I don’t know if you’ll have the same luck as my boyfriend and I, but we’ve gone to Upstage with no reservations (on a Saturday and Friday night), no clue who was playing, and have gotten in for dinner and a show both times. The first time it was Michael Kaeshammer. A young, jazz, piano player on tour with bass player and drummer. We were asking around for good places to eat and maybe hear music, while browsing the shops on Water Street, and the woman in the puzzle shop (all this will makes sense when you visit PT) recommended we check out Upstage. We went in first for a glass of wine to scope it out and to see if anything interesting was going on musically. We were strongly encouraged by the staff to return later to hear this Michael Kaeshammer. One of the girls said, «Michael is so good he makes me want to cry.» Good enough recommendation for us, so we went back later that evening, and we were blown away. While sitting almost front row to the band, we ate pizza and salad drinking a nice pinot noir, while listening to this unknown (at the time) German/​Canadian piano playing, probably was a prodigy, musician and his band. Maybe we just got lucky, but I think Upstage is one of those places that increases the odds.
Upstage is a two level bar and restaurant that seats people U shape around the stage and sometimes dance floor. It is not fancy or trendy, and it attracts a diverse crowd. You’re likely to see people ranging in age from 20 something to 60 something, wearing fleece pullovers and hiking boots, with an occasional date night outfit thrown in here and there. I love those kinds of places, but so few exist. Last week we were in PT and the Annual Country Blues Festival was going on. Just our luck again, we got into Upstage with no reservations, got a seat behind the band, and enjoyed blues grass, New Orleansish, good olé boys band playing it up (sorry, I never did get the band’s name, but the bass player, a local, convinced us we need to move to Port Townsend). We opted for the pizza and salad combo again, and enjoyed local IPA and Amber on draft. The food is good, not great, but when you throw in live music, a crowd who appreciates it, great service, friendly staff, and a comfortable place to let your hair down, who cares if the food isn’t great, it’s good enough. Have another beer or glass of wine and smile, you’re probably listening to some of the best live music in the Pacific Northwest in one of the coolest towns in Washington.