The art galleries of Olympia are the centerpiece of the downtown experience, with local works displayed throughout, adding a personal touch to every block.
The Heart of Childhood Ends Gallery
Downtown Olympia is home to a variety of galleries that showcase the community’s vibrant art scene. One such place is Childhood’s End Gallery, which was established in 1971 and represents over a hundred artists, primarily from the Pacific Northwest. Their dedication to the community can be seen through their collection, which shows the culture and stories of Olympia.
“In many ways, Childhood’s End Gallery is a reflection of Olympia and the surrounding area. We show the creations of local artists, who, like everyone else here, are members of our community,” said Jonathan Happ, director of Childhood’s End Gallery.
Selling art often means compromising the artistic freedom of the artist; however, galleries like Childhood’s End Gallery prioritize giving artists space to create. As Happ said, “Childhood’s End Gallery is proud to offer a variety of mediums… we get to let [artists] follow their instincts and make things they are excited about, which is not something many other locations around the entire U.S., let alone Olympia, get to do.”
Splashing into creativity
Another downtown space that connects with the community is Splash Gallery, a cooperative run by Olympia-based artists. Each member is in charge of a different medium, and all share their respective pieces through the gallery and at local events.
“One kind of set event we have every year is the unveiling,” said Splash Gallery member Grace Duda, describing a tradition where special works are revealed at a community auction. “It’s a great way to connect with the community and let them see what we’re working on.”
Art is not a particularly profitable profession, and finding steady ways to profit from artwork can be more than difficult. Galleries such as these allow artists to have a place to work on their art while making a stable income.
As Duda explained, “After I was laid off from my marketing job, I decided to fully dive into art. I fell in love with the medium of scanning and started creating art full-time. Joining Splash Gallery was a perfect fit. I could have my work available six days a week without constantly hustling at festivals. It allowed me to focus on my art and less on chasing the next gig.”
The Gallery Experience
Art galleries offer more than a shopping experience. It’s a chance to admire the creativity and emotion within the Olympia community. “Art offers a connection to each other and the spirit of a community that is not easily found in other ways… experiencing an object that triggers new ways of thinking… keeps us sane and reminds us of our connection to each other,” said Happ.
Whether displayed in a gallery or woven into community traditions, Olympia’s art scene reflects the creativity and culture of its people, shaping both downtown and the city itself.
The skies above downtown Olympia are gray, but the streets are bursting with color.
Murals tell stories
On the side of the Plum Street YMCA is a 100-foot-long mural with the words ‘You Are Not Alone.’ According to artist Elisa Del Giudice, “this mural was about capturing real emotions and experiences, and using art as a platform to start important conversations.”
Giudice said that the hands that wrap around these words symbolize “how this community has literally wrapped around [her] in tough times.” The white trillium flowers, native to LBA park, represent recovery, and the yellow flowers that bloom from concrete walls are “a reminder that resilience is powerful.” The arches represent the community holding her up.
“I’ve gone through times of deep sadness, loss, and isolation, and other times when I was lifted up by the people around me,” Giudice said, “I hope this mural reminds people they’re part of something bigger, even when it feels like they’re carrying it all alone.”
Another massive mural adorns the wall of Thomas Architecture Studio, a short walk away from the Plum Street YMCA. Between Mt. Rainier, the salmon, and the wildflowers, any Pacific Northwesterner would see their home in the brushstrokes.
“With this mural, I was thinking about how were we come from impacts, who we are,” said artist Fern Tallos. “The plants and animals, and mountains of the Pacific Northwest are constantly impacting how I express my work.”
It is impossible to take a walk through downtown Olympia without being told a story. The Plum Street YMCA tells Giudice’s story about community. Thomas Architecture Studios tells Tallos’s story about the Pacific Northwest. There are stories about history, climate change, culture, pride, and social justice. There are stories about Star Wars and superheroes. With over 70 murals downtown, there are over 70 stories to choose from.
Murals and Community
Tallos left a career in herbalism 5 years ago to pursue art, and they said the community’s response was “incredibly positive.”
Giudice felt this support as well. “Whether it was a tiny art show or a huge mural project, this community has shown up for me,” she said.
Cultural wealth, however, is a two-way transaction. Just as Olympia’s community supports murals, murals help build Olympia’s community.
“There is a connective element to public arts,” said Tallos, “because it’s out there and it’s free for everyone to enjoy.” They added that “we all need beauty.” According to Giudice, “The murals aren’t just art, they’re part of the city’s personality.”
With the themes of community and connection in mind, it makes perfect sense why downtown Olympia is a gem of public art. “Olympians share what we have, show up for each other, and hold space for people to be themselves,” said Giudice, “that spirit runs through everything I create.”
The Olympia music scene was once a thriving punk-filled environment, emanating talent like Nirvana and Bikini Kill. Now the scene is quieter, but just as passionate.
The Music
Replacing the likes of the grunge legends are local bands like Baptation, (Add other bands), and another one. Throughout the downtown Olympia area, there are several live-music venues to see these bands in person and connect to the live music community.
Le Voyeur hosts all types of artists in a little room behind the bar and restaurant. It’s the venue for people who are just starting to see live music. There are rock, folk, metal and punk artists. It’s easy to find good music there, and there is good variation in genre. Le Voyeur is also next to several other restaurants and venues like The Clipper and McMenimans, lining 4th Ave with food and music.
The Mortuary holds heavy rock music for fans of metal and punk. The venue is certainly more for hardcore fans. The lighting can be harsh and the music is heavy and loud. However, for fans of punk, it’s a welcome environment for mosh pits and crowd-killing.
Rhythms has live open mics and other live shows. While it functions as a coffee shop, it doubles at night as a venue for young artists to play. Due to it being a functioning cafe, the music is usually less harsh and punk is less common there than in some of the other venues. However, Rhythms has held hardcore shows.
Of course, the Capitol Theater is a hallmark of the Olympia music scene. For over 100 years, Capitol Theater has been a consistent spot to find high-quality live music. The theater is one of the only venues in the area that has big artists playing. Over the past few years, it has seen the likes of Sleater Kinney, Snail Mail and Car Seat Headrest. Mac DeMarco is also set to play there in September 2025.
Although some venues may have more star power, almost none have more heart than Decay, a little venue built from the need for a safe environment for all ages to enjoy the visual aspect of music. Decay stands for ‘Diverse Events & Creative Arts Yard’ and sits with a little sign across from the boardwalk. The space has a very homely atmosphere; couches, chairs, TVs, and VHS lining the walls.
The Venues
Started in the summer of 2024, Decay usually hosts experimental noise-rock shows, emphasizing the visuals and experience that an experimental show can give. Decay also hosts other events, from political meetings to creative workshops. The owner, Moon Fery, wanted the space to be open and inviting, hence the comfortable furniture.
Fery previously had a career in live events, music venues and festivals. “I do visual art in my spare time and wanted to do that more.” Fery said the current state of venues is “limited to just some bars,” and he “saw the need for [an alcohol free environment].” Fery stressed, “We don’t have a bar, we don’t have alcohol,” which is a big draw for underage concert goers.
The scene is diverse with a “healthy mix of both young and old, ranging from teenagers to people in their forties.” According to Fery, allowing for both youth and experienced musicians to enjoy live art. “The noise and experimental scene here is really strong and I think having visual elements to that is just really cool, even if it’s pretty simple.”
While there are several good local bands, Fery’s favorite shows have been “Hypnotic Sphere, that’s something that’s been happening roughly every month since we started and it’s like experimental music and audio-visual experiences, and it’s generally locals only.” There’s also been themed shows with performance art as another cool aspect of Decay’s scene.
The music at Decay is generally very experimental and visual. “I really like it when people curate their own visuals,” Fery said. There are also interactive elements with places for people to sit and gather before shows or during other events. “[We have] like the only couch downtown. This was inadvertent, it was kinda like a happy accident that it has this lived-in vibe.”
The layout of the venue is also unorthodox: “a lot of businesses usually set up some kind of a storefront, and we just kind of cobbled together, and I think that’s a part of it, why it has good vibes.” The environment has a very chill and communal vibe to it.
Fery is also open about “not being in it for the money,” and the reason there aren’t more places like it is that “people aren’t interested in opening something that’s going to cost them money.” Which is a very important and noble aspect of Decay.
The Scene
One thing that makes Olympia unique is its close-knit scene. Fery said, “There’s something cool about Olympia where a lot of people feel free, relaxed and comfortable expressing themselves in different ways here. Which you can’t say about many different cities.”
Decay also has a major respect for analog visual media. According to Fery, “Analog stuff is like a lost art form and there’s something really special about it and trying to keep that alive is very much the spirit of [Decay].”
Another great and quaint local venue is Lamplighters. Lamplighters recently relocated after the previous location had to shut down. Christian Billstrom, drummer for Baptation, works at the venue and performs there as well. Billstrom started out trying to find a place to play in California, “no one was booking [our band], so I just started putting on my own shows.”
Billstrom has been drumming for 15 years and has been performing for 10, starting in California before moving up to Olympia. Billstrom likes several venues in Olympia, highlighting Lamplighters and the backroom at the Capitol Theater. “[The backroom] is the best venue for what it can offer sound-wise.”
Billstrom agreed with Fery that “there are just too many bars that do all ages shows and that’s just not safe, I think there’s only a few other spaces that do it well.”
A good thing about Olympia that Billstrom pointed out was that “when we do things, the community will show out. When there’s something with a cause, we show up.” Billstrom also talked about the history of Olympia, “there’s a lot that people don’t know. Like Nirvana played on the corner, so the whole town is history-filled.”
He explains that in California, he “was definitely spoiled” due to the scene being so “oversaturated.” He continues, “Like every show you do would be hundreds of kids in a backyard.” It was hard adapting to shows of only 35 people in Olympia, but once he started to “get to know everybody and [is] seeing them every week, [he’s] like oh cool, you’re more a part of this than I thought.”
Billstrom has advice for young drummers and musicians in general. He says, “Start a band, no matter what you play, and if you don’t play anything.” He gives us more insight, “I had no music lessons or like theory or anything- It’s just if you wanna do it, you can do it.”
His final piece of advice was, “I encourage everyone to go to every type of show. Like if you are in death metal and go to an Indie show, you’re gonna catch a dude that can write riffs, but he has a different flavor on it.”
He describes the point he’s reached now, where he isn’t always excited to play a show, but afterwards, he knows he had a good time. There are pieces of great fun in every show.
Billstrom said, “Usually what happens is I’ll see a kid head-banging and I start crying. I’ll cry, I cry a lot when I play drums. I love that.” His passion for music and performance gives a welcome spark to the Olympia hardcore scene.
The Olympia Yacht Club: haven for power-boaters, supporter of community sailing and sharer of beautiful sea views for all. While their fences turn many away, a closer look shows an active facility with rich history.
Much of the activities at the Olympia Yacht Club go unnoticed by the rest of downtown Olympia, as most find other marinas in the area that are more accessible to the public. Nonetheless, the yacht club hosts active boaters, runs member get-togethers and supports Olympia’s youth sailing program.
Four years ago, a local business was burned down in either an act of arson or just a simple mistake. Revival Motors (RevMo) Chopper & Coffee is a cafe and motorcycle shop in downtown Olympia.
The cafe is located on 606 Union Ave SE, Olympia, WA, serving coffee from Caffé Umbria, a coffee roasting company from Seattle. However, they offer a unique secondary service; they exist as an inclusive motorcyclist meeting place, “where no prejudice is allowed.”
However, the business has a unique history. On December 15th, 2021, the original shop that was known as Revival Motors and Coffee Company was burned down, destroying almost everything inside. Even though spirits were low, owners Audrey Henley and Jimmi Davies kept the community alive and reopened the shop in a new location in 2023.
RevMo has served the local Olympia biker community by providing custom build, restoration, and repair services for customers. Pete (last name not mentioned), a local motorcycle rider, loyal customer, and friend of the owner, describes the place as “A common ground for a lot of folks, a safe place where you’re not gonna get judged.”
Even though Pete became a part of the Olympia biker community three years ago, he feels like RevMo is an important part of the culture. Pete remarked, “I think there are a lot more people who are supportive of small businesses and communities in Olympia than any other place I’ve lived.”
This brings up the importance of small businesses in the local community, many small businesses are keystones for connecting and meeting people who share similar interests. RevMo serves as a safe haven for bikers and people of all backgrounds and identities. Even though the shop is a motorcycle shop, Pete says, “You don’t have to ride a bike to be welcome here.”
RevMo has served the Olympia biker community by providing custom build services, restorations and repairs for customers. Pete (last name not mentioned), a motorcycle rider, loyal customer, and friend of the owner, describes it as “a common ground for a lot of folks, it’s a safe place where you’re not gonna get judged.”
RevMo has centered its business around inclusion and being a “welcoming place for people with a diverse mindset,” Pete stated. While it is still a motorcycle shop, Pete says people “don’t have to ride a bike to come here.”
Downtown Olympia is known for its beautiful docks, intriguing shops and good food stops. With new flavors around every corner, Olympia has plenty of hidden gems and local classics.
Asahi sushi on Legion Way Street, across from Sylvester Park, is nestled in the center of countless restaurants in downtown Olympia, but none are quite comparable to the relaxing and peaceful environment it brings, and the freshness of the cuisine.
The inside of the restaurant is mostly booth seating that feels very private and restful. The music in the background is calming, classic renditions of pop songs, which makes for an amusing experience, guessing which song is playing. The service is fast and very polite. Overall a bit more formal than other places downtown, which makes for a great date spot or a family dinner.
Sophomore Jude Bailey says that his favorite menu item is the California roll because he doesn’t like fish, and that Asahi “ had a nice atmosphere… it is pretty mellow there, and [he] had a great time.”
Junior Maneet Baghat said that he hadn’t found decent sushi in Olympia, so when he found Asahi with 4.7 stars, he knew he had to try it. “[compared] to other Asian spots downtown, Asahi is definitely up there,” Baghat said.
Samurai Roll – $14
Rating- Nalah: 9.7/10 Sofie: 8.7/10
The samurai roll has soft rice and a creamy, tuna center. The tempura crunch on the top makes all the textures go together perfectly. It’s sweet and savory, and the tuna on top melts perfectly into the soft, rich roll. The sauces add a sweetness that cuts the spice, and the freshness of the tuna and makes it an overall breathtaking and addictive role.
Spicy California Roll – $8
Rating- Nalah: 8/10 Sofie: 8/10
The California roll has soft, creamy imitation crab and tasty ripe avocado, along with the cucumber that adds freshness. There is not a whole lot of either but it’s very well portioned with the crab. Some pieces have more cucumber or avocado than others, so you have some variety.
The rice is cooked to perfection and complements the crab, creating a very good mix of sweet and spicy. For people who only like the more basic sushi rolls, it feels very safe, but has all the components of an exquisite roll.
Rush-in Dumplings is a splendid restaurant downtown with a chill vibe and lots of different flavors. It is a skinny building with an open kitchen and minimal barstool seating downstairs, with more seating and complimentary water upstairs.
The layout gives it a very communal feel, and the staff is quite friendly and the service is pretty good. Overall, the inside had a very tight-knit feel, but as amazing as the inside was, it didn’t compare to the flavor of their food. Sophomore Jethro Elledge Burke says, “Go to Rush In Dumplings because their piroshkis are very good,” sophomore Jethro Elledge Burke said.
Buffalo chicken dumplings – $11.80 Rating- Nalah: 8.6 Sofie: 8.5
The buffalo chicken dumplings are very tangy and vinegary, the potato and cheese filling is very well seasoned so rich and creamy, the dumpling wrapper melts in your mouth. The rich creamy cheese with potato makes for a decadent bite with tart sour cream to dip in, and amazing Russian dumplings.
Pahlava – $3.50
Rating- Nalah: 9 Sofie: 9
The Pahlava is similar to Baklava, but it is not as sweet. Pretty small in size but very flavorful. It is baked very well and is nice and chilled when served. The big walnut in the middle is luscious, a little overdone, but overall cooked well. Layers are very thin and satisfying to eat. The flavors are very evenly distributed between sweet, buttery and nutty.
Dos Hermanos is tucked into 222 Market along with some of the most delicious restaurants downtown. It’s difficult for many people to find cheap, quality Mexican food in Olympia. Many resort to a taco truck, so for downtown Olympia, Dos Hermanos is one of the best choices. The seating is very open and casual, and the music is upbeat and sets the mood for a fun and laid-back eating experience.
“I would choose to eat here because they have really good chips and salsa… My favorite menu item would be their nachos. I would say they could put a little more chips in them, but it’s really good meat,” senior Harper Miller said. She also mentioned how the location is “so cool” because once she’s done eating, she can go right next door to Sofie’s Scoops for a sweet treat!
Pork taco – $5-6
Rating- Nalah: 7.5/10 Sofie: 8/10
The pork taco had very tender meat, it had a good amount of cilantro and onions. The tortilla was really delicious, not too thick or thin. Not super flavorful but the sweet jammy salsa kicks it up a notch. 10-11 dollars for both tacos is relatively cheap.
Chicken taco – $5-6
Rating- Nalah: 6.7/10 Sofie: 6/10
The homemade tortillas are soft and don’t break, while the chicken is tender and well pulled. The toppings are generous with lots of onions and cilantro. The salsa is very savory and slightly spicy with enough salsa, all the flavors work really well together. The chicken could be a bit more flavorful and moist but with all the toppings it was overall a good taco.
Well 80 is a family friendly brewery and restaurant with great indoor and outdoor seating, along with a wide selection of extremely tasty food. The indoor seating in the large dining area is vast and the outside seating is a little counter with bar stools facing downtown Olympia. It is a great place to bring a family or a big group of people.
They have many kinds of food, ranging from sandwiches and burgers to smaller things like pretzels and brussel sprouts. They are typically known for their beer and burgers, and the manager of the restaurant, Matt Trotter, talked about the history of his love for beer and why he started working at Well 80.
“I had graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, but knew that I wanted to change gears. I had enrolled in South Puget Sound Community College’s inaugural Craft Brewing & Distilling Program cohort and thought a job at Well 80 Brewhouse would be a great foot in the door of the craft beer industry,” Trotter said.
Smashville Chicken Sandwich – $15 Rating- Nalah: 8/10 Sofie: 9/10
The Smashville Chicken Sandwich bun is soft and holds the components really well. The chicken is juicy and crunchy on the outside, it’s not dry and fried to perfection. The lettuce and tomatoes are fresh and crunchy, and the sauce is slightly spicy and vinegary. It was the perfect level of spice. The inside of the bun was crispy and buttery, it was such a delicious and filling chicken sandwich.
Pretzel – $8
Rating- Nalah: 9/10 Sofie: 8/10
The pretzel was fairly large. The dough is soft and pillowy but not too doughy. It’s perfectly cooked and salted. The cheese sauce is delicious, with some very flavorful spices that kick up the taste of the pretzel. It wasn’t too buttery or too dry, like some other pretzels, it was just perfect.
S’more waffle – $9 Rating- Nalah: 6/10 Sofie: 7/10
The S’more waffle had a yummy chocolate sauce. The waffle is delectable, very bouncy and crunchy with a perfect amount of sweetness. The marshmallow is the best part, quite a lot of it and it’s superbly sticky with a hint of burnt marshmallow, giving it a campfire feel. The crushed graham cracker on top is a little unorthodox but goes extremely well with the rest of the dish
