Where to Drink in Bellingham, Washington

A historic port city just 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Bellingham, Washington, sits adjacent to the North Cascades mountain range, with snow-capped Mount Baker practically on its doorstep. With a population hovering above 90,000, Bellingham embraces its unofficial motto as the “City of Subdued Excitement”—an accurate reflection of its hidden-gem status when it comes to arts, music, and an evolving culinary scene. “Bellingham’s drinks scene has gone through a major flux over the last 20 years,” says Jabriel Donohue, co-owner of The Admiralty Lounge and a Bellingham native. “Nobody knew what the rules were, and so Bellingham became a young hub of creativity fueled by affordable rents—long gone, sadly—the local university, and the advantage of being the last major U.S. stop between Seattle and Vancouver.” Donohue notes that the beer scene has matured considerably, but the city’s craft cocktails are still in their infancy, though the enthusiasm is there. “I’m convinced that young college towns lead the way, and I’m excited to be back here and watch as the next big thing develops.”

The Admiralty Lounge

After spending most of his 20s and 30s behind the bar in cities like Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle, Jabriel Donohue returned to his hometown and opened his dream bar and restaurant with business partner Daniel Pagard in the spring of 2023. “The space evokes a nautical theme that shies away from kitsch, which is a hat tip to Bellingham’s history as a port town,” says Donohue. “The menus are based on common stops on old nautical routes of the 1800s, in which sherry and rum get a lot of use, while a large back bar of bourbon and rye gives opportunities for curious patrons to expand their palates.” That includes cocktails like the Dry Dock (aged rum, scotch, Campari, tamarind, and orange bitters), which can be enjoyed alongside dishes like the citrus-stuffed porchetta dubbed “Imperial Swine.” Regular live music performances round out the ambience.

Uisce Irish Pub

Operating for nearly two decades before a pandemic-induced closure in 2022, Irish bar Uisce (pronounced ish-kah, the Gaelic word for water) recently reopened in its new location in downtown Bellingham, with original owner Molly McGarry still at the helm. “While Irish pubs are often overlooked on drinking lists, what Uisce does better than anyone is act as a gathering space for the town’s hospitality workers for a Guinness and a shot,” says Donohue. “It’s a beautiful, intimate space with no TVs, attentive bartenders, and an instant feeling of coming home.” In addition to an expansive whiskey collection, Uisce also preserved its original, custom-made mahogany bar. As McGarry notes about the space, regardless of location, “What we’ve created here is my little piece of Ireland in Bellingham.”

Cafe Blue

In Bellingham’s historic neighborhood of Fairhaven, a bohemian vibe from the ’80s and ’90s has mostly been replaced with a modern shopping district. But Donohue is always looking for spots that remind him of the neighborhood’s original spirit. “Cafe Blue is just such a place, with exceptional coffee, including their own partner roasts, excellent baristas, and the wonderful sensation of stepping into its own world the moment you walk through the door,” says Donohue. In 2023, one of the café’s former baristas, Micah Jones, bought the business and doubled down on a commitment to inclusivity and community, as well as highlighting coffees from BIPOC, queer, and women roasters. When ordering your coffee or house-made pastry, be prepared to answer the “question of the day” and have a conversation with your neighbors.

Goods Local Brews

“Bellingham is a beer town, with an exceptional amount of excellent microbreweries, so it’s hard to pick among them,” Donohue says. “Goods makes it easier by instead being a neighborhood tavern that only carries local microbrews on draught.” In 2018, Goods Produce opened the taphouse on the same property as their farm stand, with an enclosed bar for cold months, expansive beer garden, and multiple food trucks on site. With 10 rotating taps serving both cider and beer, Goods can provide a pint of local lager and a pound of tomatoes in one easy visit. “Goods is the perfect expression of Bellingham’s beer culture: easy and affable, where all are welcome and the beer is always excellent,” says Donohue.

Redlight

Initially a small downtown bar focused on infused spirits, Redlight evolved exponentially when they started making dumplings—a business move that serendipitously sustained them through the pandemic. They outgrew their old location and now operate as what Donohue describes as “a fully realized restaurant experience, offering South Asian cuisine that bleeds into as lightly enormous cocktail menu.” That menu includes house creations like the Kid Silver (mandarin orange–infused gin, yuzu sake, Calpico syrup, lime juice, egg white, and absinthe) to enjoy alongside pork and scallion wontons or crispy eggplant bao. “Seeing Redlight’s growth and success was a big part of what made me feel like a return to Bellingham would be possible,” says Donohue.