Bellingham restaurants have an emphasis
on local and a bias for flavor.

LaFiamma

200 E. Chestnut Street, Bellingham 

La Fiamma serves great thin crust pizza, panini, pasta, and salads in a beautiful building with a wraparound deck. In the heart of downtown, just half a block from Hotel Leo, La Fiamma's woodfired pizzas are some of the best you'll find in Bellingham. Dining in, you'll enjoy their cool aesthetic and vibrant atmosphere. You can enjoy take-out in your Hotel Leo room, in our social lounge, or deck. And if you get a craving for a late-night bite and the restaurant is closed, no problem: Fiamma's Pye Hole slice window serves until late.

Bantam 46

1327 Railroad Avenue, Bellingham

Bantam 46 specializes in chicken and southern cooking, and craft cocktails. Both its upstairs bar area and downstairs dining room provide a great atmosphere for couples, family or groups of friends. The fried chicken, roasted chicken, and chicken sandwiches are some of the best you'll find anywhere - Fortune magazine said: "It’s unlikely you’ll find any other chicken so impeccably fried this side of the Louisiana state line." The apps and sides are deliciously creative, and vegetarian fare with flare is served as well. Owner Ben Sholtz knocked it out of the park with his Mallard Ice Cream shop next door, and his attention to detail, dedication to flavor, and excellent staff shows in Bantam 46. Winner winner, chicken dinner.

Roe

207 Unity Street, Bellingham

A newcomer on the Bellingham restaurant scene, Roe has entered with a bang. Serving elevated comfort food with huge flavors and fresh ingredients. Have you ever wanted to try caviar on an artisanal made chicken nugget with creme fraiche? How about fresh Dungeness crab salad with pea and fava puree on a homemade hashbrown? Now is your chance to pair their playfully delicious dishes with more recognizable favorites such as fresh halibut, bavette steak and local salmon cooked to perfection. They bring cozy and down-to-earth vibes with knock-your-socks-off flavors. 

Rock and Rye Oyster House

1145 N State Street, Bellingham  

For years, we've directed diners looking for an excellent Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant to Rock and Rye. Since they opened in 2014, their combination of airy classic/modern atmosphere, pleasant deck dining, and stellar regional cuisine has delighted visitors and locals alike. Oysters and seafood are a specialty, but their menu is diverse and each dish is cooked and plated with intention. They have a full bar with craft cocktails, many beers on tap, and good wine list. Situated in the old brick-walled press room of the Bellingham Herald, the two-level restaurant has an excellent feel about it, and the food and service to match.

Storia Cucina

109 Grade Ave, Bellingham 

If you are looking to be wowed by your dining experience we recommend Storia Cucina. Owner Jonathon Ciccotti is a San Juan Island-born, Italian family raised, experienced San Francisco restauranteur. We recommend you arrive hungry and splurge on a wide array of anti pasti, contorni, pizza, pastas, cocktails, and appertifs. But save room for the chocolate panna cotta or affogato. Then come back to the Hotel Leo for a good lie down and camomile tea.

D’Annas

1319 N State Street, Bellingham  

For the discerning diner, anything but fresh pasta is a travesty. D'Anna's handmade pasta, gnocchi, and ravioli are fresh, flavorful, and filling. D'Anna's has been so successful they have expanded several times, making way for more diners who savor made-from-scratch sauces, fresh breads and salads, and a small but well-stocked bar.

Aslan Brewing

1330 N Forest Street, Bellingham  

If you choose only one brewery to visit in Bellingham (though why would you?), try Aslan. Their whole operation - beer, food, atmosphere - is exquisite. From their Batch 15 IPA, to their poutine, kale caesar salad, and bison burgers, Aslan satisfies any appetite or occasion. While its bright, clean and lively restaurant has plentiful seating, Aslan's deserved popularity makes this worth squeezing into one of their long indoor tables or summertime outdoor seating. The food and diverse menu has been stellar from the beginning, and their commitment to organic beers is unique. We're big, big fans.

Bellingham Cider Company

205 Prospect Street, Bellingham  

Though their rotating cider selection is outstanding, they also offer stellar food, full bar, outdoor seating, water views, and a great location in the same building as the Sylvia Center for the Arts. We recommended the Bellingham Bay Cider Company to nearly every guest we host, and those that go come back happy. Close your eyes and point to the menu and see what happens. It's all good!

Ovn

1148 10th St, Fairhaven  

Ovn serves excellent Neapolitan-style pizza baked in a huge woodfired pizza oven at 800 degrees, cooking off their pizzas in two minutes. They make their dough from naturally leavened unenriched flours and hand-stretch their mozzarellas every day (we basically ripped this info from their website, because we were trying to figure out why their pizza is so unusually good, and this must explain it). Their toppings are creatively delicious. We recently went to one of their once-a-month all-you-can-eat dinners where you can sample every one of their pizzas. It was a taste sensation and enlightening overview.

Black Cat

1200 Harris Ave Ste 310, Fairhaven  

Situated on the third floor of a classic 1890s brick building in Historic Fairhaven, The Black Cat's atmosphere is remarkable. Most tables have a window to the west, the ceilings are high, and the bar and dining room feel so comfortable, dark, and elegant you can settle in for a long evening of great food and conversation. The menu has many excellent seafood dishes; the caesar salad, burgers and steak are always a go-to; and were such old favorites as the fondue, french onion soup and pot roast taken from the menu, a riot would ensue among long-time patrons. Whether for sunset drinks and appetizers, candle-lit special occasion dinner, or late-night whiskey, the Black Cat has been bringing locals in year after year.

The Fork at Agate Bay

2530 Northshore Road, Bellingham 

The Fork at Agate Bay is well outside the central Bellingham core, but we include it because it's worth the drive. Plus, in uber-casual Bellingham, it's one of the few examples we have of fine dining. The Fork features a well-served, delicious seasonal PNW menu with craft beers, an extensive wine list, and a lovely dining room. The drive around Lake Whatcom is enjoyable, and breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Fork can be combined with a walk along the North Lake Whatcom Hertz Trail, which winds languidly along the lakeshore. Seasonal outside seating.

Oyster Bar

Chuckanut Drive, Bow  

Bellingham has a vast array of excellent casual dining, but our fine dining options are limited. Fortunately, we have the Oyster Bar on famed Chuckanut Drive. It is a well-regarded restaurant featuring fresh seafood, steak, and vegetarian dishes, and a notable, award-wining wine list. Perched on the edge of the Chuckanut Coast and nestled in the madrona, fir, and cedar, their elegant dining room and deck look out over Samish Bay and the islands beyond. Reservations a must most nights.