50 Best Bars in Bellingham

“Best fish and chips in town right now. Exacting yet friendly bartenders. Really nice atmosphere. Maybe my favorite bar kitchen in Bellingham ever. $$ but for $$$ quality“

“My partner Amber and I visited Redlight, and we really loved our experience. We soaked in the vibrant atmosphere with happy patrons and locals alike. We really appreciated the exceptional service from our server Mercy. The food was really tasty. We had shrimp and pork wantons, hot noodles, chicken pot stickers, and the fried chicken bau was really good as well.
The drinks were very well prepared by a bar staff that obviously knew what they were doing. We loved the recommendations by our server and we will definitely be visiting again when we return to the area.“

“JUXT is such a great spot in downtown. Always hosting fun events, conveniently located, phenomenal service, and their food/drinks are amazing. They've got a great list of craft cocktails and a delicious food menu, too. I especially love getting to enjoy a cocktail flight (either with a friend or solo) while hanging out before a show downtown. Menu Faves: House Fries, Poutine, Loaded Nachos, Falafel, JUXT Mac Cocktail Faves: Love Letter, Time Forgot, Eiffel 75, Bees Markel“

“This place does pizza so differently from other spots in town and it's AWESOME! Love that you can either get a whole pie or individual slices and love how fun the different menu items are. I never would have thought to put HUMMUS of all things on a pizza, but their hummus + goat cheese pizza is easily one of my top 10 things to eat here in town. Also, they have a baller cocktail menu and the crew there is always so welcoming and fun to visit with. 10/10!“

“A friend of mine informed me that this particular lounge recently acquired Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, one of my favorite rhythm games, so I decided to visit the establishment. The bar undoubtedly possesses a gamer theme, as they offer a diverse selection of video games, encompassing both classic and contemporary titles. Additionally, they have a few other arcade gaming machines!

From the Nintendo Entertainment System to the latest Nintendo Switch, they even have the original Xbox all the way up to the Xbox Series X! They also carry the PlayStation 1 up to the PlayStation 5! Whether you desire to play classic games or explore newer releases, this gaming lounge caters to your preferences.

The service provided is pleasant, and the employees exhibit a relaxed demeanor.

Although I have primarily visited the lounge to play Dance Dance Revolution Extreme, it is also a delightful place to simply relax and enjoy oneself.

I wholeheartedly award this establishment a full 5-star rating and would undoubtedly continue to frequent it.“

“Sweet intimate stylish venue/bar with surprisingly good sandwiches and friendly staff.“

“unique and relaxing water front location for all“

“They are wonderfully talented and all around nice guys! Everyone had a blast listening to them play in Belize!“

“One of my favorite places to go in downtown Bellingham. A great space inside and out with frequent music and events. I attended the Arts & Ales Holiday Market and enjoyed a pint as well as a cup of mulled wine while I shopped the market. Also fueled up with one of their famous bowls, the Banh Mi bowl.“

“I had such an amazing time Thursday night playing mini golf then playing bingo! I will definitely be coming back! Also was the best pizza I've ever had! Ate almost the entire thing to myself, also the salad was very good!!!!“

“Black Sheep has easily become an iconic "Bellingham" restaurant with how much of a staple they are to so many. Love that it's 21+ and that they not only have a mega-awesome (and delish) cocktail menu, but additionally has food that's so good people constantly talk about it. Additionally fun to enjoy their breakfast menu when you swing by earlier in the day, and constantly just enjoy the atmosphere and service by staff. Faves Off the Menu: - Tacos: Carne Asada, Carnitas, Fried Chicken, Baja Fish, Pork Belly, Mushroom + Kale - Snacks: Chips + Guac, Queso Fundido, Salsa Trio, Queso Nachos - Breakfast: Potato & Black Bean Taco, Breakfast Burrito - Drinks: House Grapefruit/Raspberry-Lime/Blueberry-Lemon Soda (non-alcoholic), Dude-A-Rite (any flavor), House Paloma If you haven't yet checked out Black Sheep, consider it next on your list!“

“great atmosphere, highly recommended“

“This is my favorite bar in Bellingham! The servers like Mikayla and the owner Jessie always make me feel so comfortable and welcome while figuring out what to drink. They have a wonderful selection of beers and ciders as well as non-alcoholic drink options. We've been coming here weekly for almost a year now and love it! Don't miss their oyster pop-ups with Drayton Harbor - they're soooooo tasty!! And definitely check out their other special events like their Silent Book Club - such a fun event for introverts!“

“I'm usually not a fan of hotel bars, but checked out A21 during First Friday (art walk), and the vibe and service were outstanding. Bartender was friendly and knowledgeable.

I never thought I'd be saying it, but I'll be back at this gem of a hotel bar“

“……………….DO IT!! ……………………..“

“This is seriously a great space for a company outing, date night, or afternoon/evening activity with friends! They have 14 different pinball machines (all maintained by the Bellingham Pinball Collective) with various movie and video game themes, and are such a blast to play! Plus, they've got great food and drinks to enjoy either standalone, or while you're pin-balling upstairs. We had a blast here and 1,000% recommend it to everyone else in town.“

“love love love this little bar“

“Fun people (especially Glynn!) and great food!“

“What initially drew me in was the atmosphere—that is, they keep the lights very dim here, exactly how I like it.

It should go without saying the nachos are the best I’ve ever eaten, anywhere—I strongly suggest the carne asada street nachos.

The music list is really awesome, especially if you enjoy 90s/00s era indy and industrial rock.

Should also say, there’s a pretty good karaoke each Friday, starting at 8pm.

(There's been a few mishaps with the queso sauce, I admit, but don’t let that be a dealbreaker—ie I’ve gotten it where it was boiled down to rubber on one occasion. The owner was extremely understanding and massively generous—ended up giving me some carne asada nachos as a “reparation”. A few other people were upset about this in the other reviews, but they fixed it)“

“why have you not come in the Beaver yet? unbelievable.“

“Massive improvement over the old owner—old owner was a delusional bully and a weird conspiracy theorist. I like being able to enjoy a beer here without being lectured about how I’ll get cancer from a vaccine or hear why Putin was justified to invade Ukraine.(Good riddance little bully—I don’t miss you ?. Btw, TV backlights burn out if you keep them on for 40 hours a week for 5 years! It’s the same as a lightbulb, silly.)“

“This place is so cool! Definitely the best bar I’ve ever been to. The layout and theme is different then other bars, makes you feel like you’re in a tropical place. Not to mention their drinks are delicious! 10 out of 10. Next time we go definitely will try their food. Awesome place!“

“Great views! Great history! Fish and Chips and Booze, what's not to love?“

“Once again, a big bucket of chicken and jojos from Alger Bar & Grille saved us from our Sunday "what's for dinner" dilemma! Delicious as always. We appreciate you EVERY SINGLE TIME. *Edited to add... the pic is what's left. stoked for lunch tomorrow!*“

“Cheap drinks, not over crowded and a unique decor. I love the black light painted constellations.“

“Great service, fun vibe, full bar and fresh food. We will absolutely be back. We were presently surprised to be able to enjoy a beer and cocktail with our sandwich and salad. Highly recommend it for a quick healthy bite to eat.

Vegetarian options: Fresh salad options with a great vegetarian menu and lots of subs“

“D'Annas is AMAZING! Incredible Italian with a menu full of classic dishes that are sure to please everyone. Everything tastes like that perfect "made-from-scratch" taste that you love in Italian cooking and their pasta is DELISH! Plus, their desserts are SO GOOD and make for a great ending to your meal. A definite stop to make next time you're downtown. Menu Faves: Bruschetta, Puttanesca, Spaghetti Marinara, Chicken Parmesan, Gnocchi, Tiramisu, Cappuccino Cream Chocolate Mousse“

“Extremes was just steps from the Holiday Inn Express! Food was excellent and service from Ryan “Scooter” was amazing!!“

“This is my favorite restaurant in Washington. From the atmosphere to the food, everything is perfect“

“We’ve been going to the Wild Buffalo for over 15 years! It’s our go to spot for live music! It’s our go to spot in general. Regardless of the lineup! Great sound, great music, great people, great vibes, great drinks! Guaranteed great time!“

“Great place! Very detail oriented, personable and kind. Amazing work! ⭐️⭐️“

“Had a lovely time at Penny Farthing. Very cool metal decorations. Cocktails were amazing and nicely priced. I definitely recommend the gnocchi Mac and cheese and the pull apart. The sirloin sliders were delicious but hard to take a bite. Maybe if they cut the pieces. Once you get a bite it was very tender to chew. Crab bisque was delicious with a couple bits of shell which don’t bother me but knocks it down from perfection. We obviously chose some pretty heavy dishes and were glad the portions were modest. We’ll definitely go back!“

“Our server Ms. Georgia was an absolute delight. Everything was fabulous!“

“Very awesome place! friendly and fun bartenders. food is great!“

“I recently tried tandoori bites's , and I must say, it was an absolute delight! The flavors were authentic and bursting. Each dish was cooked to perfection, and the presentation was impeccable. The service was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend“

“First time here. it was delish!! salsa good. chips were coldish. service was fast and pleasant! recommended and we will be back!!“

“The best bar in Bellingham if you want cheap drinks and good atmosphere. Drinks here are half price as other bars down the street and that’s not even happy hours. Also, can’t go wrong with an illuminated Danny DeVito portrait and free popcorn!! It definitely gets crowded on weekend evenings because it’s so cozy but if you can get a table it’s easy to spend a couple hours here.

Wheelchair accessibility: No stairs, chairs at the tables are movable. Have seen wheel chairs here.“

“Amazing food and service. Great prices. Pork skins are so yummy“

“I had friends down from Canada, we decided to do dinner and a show. Dinner was fantastic at the Bellingham B&G. Two of us ordered the Scallops Bruschetta and it was perfectly cooked for both our plates. Our companion ordered the Melbourne Chicken? It was coked to perfection as well. It was a little wait for the food but our server was also the bartender, and was very kind and accommodating. We had just the right amount of food and he kept our refreshments coming till we got our food. I highly recommend this place for a meal that should have cost way more than it did! Fantastic !It's a sports type bar, so it was a bit boisterous , but that's to be expected on a Wednesday night in Bellingham. I'll definitely be back !“

“Always friendly great service. Their specials are great!!“

“Always a favorite! I don't make it here as often as I would like to, but I try to go when I am in town. Wonderful people, great atmosphere.“

“I was expecting lame diner food, as we were only here cause it's the oldest restaurant.
But the food was great. Even the tots have effort in them with some herbs and something else in there. I got the chicken fried chicken with a side biscuit and it was banging. Flavorful moist chicken breast with a crispy crust.
Queso is passable, but I grew up in Texas so I am pretty biased.“

“We visited during Western’s Family Weekend and we thought we’d be waiting for a while but they are so efficient that there was barely any wait when we arrived. I had the black bean hash and it was delicious! My husband had the chicken and biscuits and he loved it too. The service was great too.“

“Consistently been to Naan & Brew the last few years and would hands down mark them as one of the best places for Indian food in BHAM! Quality is consistently high with a variety of delicious options (including some great vegetarian/gluten-free dishes) and we always have great service when we come here! Menu Faves: Garlic naan, veggie samosas, chicken samosas, veggie pakoras, paneer pakoras, butter chicken, chicken tikka, lamb palak, channa masala & coconut chicken curry. Definitely a must-try here in town!“

“went there for some drinks after work and the staff there was super friendly“

“Food was goodBar server was fantasticShe (name started with J) (I called her Courtney?) was simply fantasticVery good at this job, took great care of us and had a few laughsBreakfast was also pretty good, Tuesday breakfast server was fantastic, Wednesday breakfast server was there...but other 2 gals made up for her lack of service with exceptional serviceCourtney aka (don't remember) had a guy helping her on TuesdayHe was also good serverRooms were perfectBeds amazingClean as a whistleCheck in on Monday night was perfect Tony lil gal with dark hair...she busted us thru the check process very quickly and gave us a complete run down of hotel and servicesLike she knew we were going on 15 hrs of work...Check out was also a positive experienceFunnySpent a week at a Sheraton in WaikikiThis place in Bellingham had better food, way better service from staff and hands down 100% nice rooms and bedsThank you all so much“

“I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh Ahi Tuna Salad.

I was also surprised at the accommodating service staff who made me feel welcome and filled my every request.

I’ll go back, especially on a sunny day when I want to hang out watching the boats, ducks and seals and drinking a NA beer.

I hear the fish tacos are the best!?

PS Sit at the bar and talk to Ray or Isaac. You won’t be sorry.“

“Whether dining in or taking to go, Filling Station is one of my favorite places to get a burger in town. You can definitely tell they use high quality ingredients and I love the variety of specialty burgers/sandwiches they offer. Their fries are also phenomenal; a thick curly potato that go amazing with their ranch. The shakes are great, and their cocktails are fun and are always great pairings with our entrees.

They additionally offer a veggie pattie/vegetarian-friendly burger option for vegetarians which is awesome, and the service there is always phenomenal.

Definitely a go to spot in my opinion!

Menu Faves:
- Drinks: Mint Oreo Shake, Chocolate Shake,
- Jump Starts (Appetizers): Grill-Cheese strips, Hub Cap fried pickles, Station Fries
- Burgers/Sandwiches: El Camino Burger, Thunderbird Burger, Jaguar Burger, Wrangler Burger, Ferrari Chicken Sandwich“

“Always good for a preflight cocktail“