VISIT: 5 Reasons to Visit Manette

Manette is probably Kitsap’s coolest, calmest and most collected community.

Small though it may be, there’s a lot to love here. 

Manette Has a sense of Community

You can feel it. Manette loves Manette. That’s to say, you can tell residents and business owners feel a sense of community identity and connection. This sense of collective neighborhood stoke was on full display at the 20th annual ManetteFest. Not many tiny neighborhoods could pull off its own thriving micro-festival, but Manette makes it look easy.

360 Views

Occupying an elevated point jutting to Sinclair Inlet, Manette is blessed with gorgeous views on all directions. Watch the sunrise or set. Watch ferries pace to and fro from Seattle to Bremerton. Watch the tiny cars in adjacent Port Orchard crawl slowly along Beach Drive.

Manette is Super Walkable

If you live in Manette everything is basically walkable. Churches, bars, stores, studios, parks, bridges, ferries, and restaurants galore can all easily be accessed by foot. The streets are relatively quiet and even without sidewalks in some places it feels safe and welcoming. Walk across the Manette Bridge to downtown Bremerton to catch a movie or performance at the historic Roxy Theater and Admiral Theater or some happy hour at Toro Lounge.

…and You Can Walk to Seattle

You can’t mention how goshdarn walkable Manette is without highlighting the fact that you can walk to Seattle…well you can walk to the Bremerton/Seattle Ferry Terminal. A 20 minute walk across the bridge, along Washington Avenue and you’re on the next sailing to the Emerald City. Perfect for carless commuters or just a jaunt to the Hawks game!

Great Food and Drink

You’d be hard-pressed to find more amazing food packed into such a small neighborhood in Kitsap County. This is truly one of Manette’s distinguishing features, it’s a foodies dream. You have to give respect and start with the institution which is the Boat Shed Restaurant. Seafood and Steak right on the water (and when the season allows - out on their beautiful deck and dock). Larry and Kristi’s Bakery whips up fresh donuts. Hound and Bottle have drinks and happy hour on lock and La Fermata is the picture of refined Italian fare. Saboteur Bakery tastes as good as it smells from the sidewalk and Der Blokken Brewery - now called Chaos Bay Brewing will make any beer fan happy as a clam. Also, the Manette Saloon is exactly what you’d want from a neighborhood bar - worn in, friendly, and cozy with great live music. All of this, and more, within a few hundred paces of each other.

Photo provided by @houndandbottle

come hungry.

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