Bellingham

The Admiralty Lounge

Downtown · Bellingham · Nautical-themed American contemporary / comfort food

The Wild Card

The Admiralty Lounge isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more with a short list than most bars in its class — half-price bottles at happy hour and actual Sherry on the menu are the kind of moves that earn goodwill. Come for the cocktails, stay for the Fino.

Roe Seafood & Oyster Bar

Downtown Waterfront · Bellingham · Seafood / Oyster Bar

The Reliable

Roe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is fair, the pricing is reasonable, and if you know to order the Riesling, you're eating and drinking well on the water. Send a friend here for oysters; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.

The Willows Inn

Lummi Island (regional destination) · Bellingham · Fine Dining / Farm-to-Table

The Rager

The Willows Inn is as serious about wine as it is about the 14 ingredients it sourced from within a mile of your table. You're paying destination prices across the board, but the list delivers at that level — this is a once-in-a-while splurge that earns it.

Aslan Brewing Company Depot

Downtown · Bellingham · Brewpub / American pub fare

The Wild Card

Aslan Depot shouldn't have a wine list this good, and yet here we are. If you're in Bellingham and want natural wines in a no-fuss setting, this is the move.

Carnal

Downtown · Bellingham · New American / Wood-Fired Seasonal

The Wild Card

Carnal is doing something genuinely rare in Bellingham: a tight, adventurous wine list that matches the ambition of the kitchen. It's not deep, but it's honest — and for a 17-bottle list, that's more than enough reason to trust it.

La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza

Downtown · Bellingham · Pizza

The Lazy List

Come to La Fiamma for the wood-fired pizza and the vibe — both are worth it. Come for the wine and you'll be disappointed. Order a cocktail or a beer and revisit when they decide the list deserves the same care as the kitchen.

Mambo Italiano

Fairhaven · Bellingham · Italian

The Reliable

Mambo Italiano isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — fair prices, genuine Italian representation, and a few bottles worth seeking out. Send your friends here for a casual Tuesday pasta night and tell them to order the Cannonau.

D'Anna's Cafe Italiano

Downtown · Bellingham · Casual Italian

The Reliable

D'Anna's wine list is a reliable companion to a genuinely good casual Italian meal — no fireworks, but no embarrassments either. If you're in the neighborhood, drink the L'Ecole Syrah and stop overthinking it.

The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive

Chuckanut / South of Bellingham · Bellingham · Fine Dining Seafood / Pacific Northwest & French

The Rager

The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive is the rare Pacific Northwest restaurant where the wine list is as much of a destination as the view — just go in knowing the markups are real and the bottle prices climb fast. If you're picking glasses wisely or splurging on something from the cellar that actually deserves it, this earns every bit of the Rager badge.

The Black Cat

Fairhaven · Bellingham · American, Bar

The Reliable

The Black Cat is a genuinely good neighborhood spot with a wine list that mostly gets out of its own way — just steer toward the Washington and Spanish bottles, stay away from the California Pinot trap, and enjoy the view. We'd send a friend here for a low-key dinner, not a wine-first evening.

The Temple Bar

Downtown · Bellingham · Wine and cocktail bar with small plates

The Wild Card

The Temple Bar is the kind of wine list that makes you wish more bars trusted their guests to handle something interesting. It's small, it's weird in the best way, and it's priced fairly — which in 2024 is its own kind of miracle.

Redlight Kitchen and Bar

Downtown · Bellingham · Asian-Inspired / Cocktail Bar

The Wild Card

Redlight isn't a wine destination, but it's a wine bar that still remembers why it became one — and that Le Piane Nebbiolo alone justifies a stop. Come for the cocktails, stay when you spot what's actually on that seven-bottle list.

The Loft Restaurant

Waterfront / Bellwether · Bellingham · American Bar & Grill, Waterfront Seafood

The Reliable

The Loft is a Reliable waterfront spot where the wine list will never embarrass you but will rarely excite you — show up on a Wednesday, grab a half-price bottle of the Columbia Crest or Ste. Michelle Riesling, and let the harbor view do the heavy lifting. Don't come here expecting to geek out; do come here expecting a perfectly decent glass of wine with a genuinely great view.

Lombardi's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Bellwether / Waterfront · Bellingham · Italian

The Reliable

Lombardi's is doing wine right for what it is: a waterfront Italian spot that wants you to drink well without making you work for it. It's not a destination list, but it's an honest one — fair prices, solid range, and enough Washington representation to feel local.

Anthony's at Squalicum Harbor

Squalicum Harbor · Bellingham · Northwest seafood, steak, farm-to-table

The Reliable

Anthony's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a reliable Northwest seafood house that keeps things local, keeps prices honest, and lets the harbor do the heavy lifting. Send a friend here for the salmon and the view; just don't expect to geek out over the list.

Keenan's at the Pier

Fairhaven · Bellingham · Northwest / Seafood

The Reliable

Keenan's is a reliable wine stop for what it is — a waterfront hotel restaurant where the list supports the meal without demanding your full attention. We'd send a friend here for the view and the salmon, and tell them to order the Talmard Chardonnay or the Orr Chenin while they're at it.

Rock & Rye Oyster House

Downtown · Bellingham · Seafood, Oyster Bar, Contemporary American

The Wild Card

Rock & Rye is a genuinely surprising find — a 600-bottle list hiding inside a casual oyster bar is the kind of thing that earns you a detour. Markups keep it from being great value, but the selection alone makes it worth exploring if you're willing to dig past the obvious pours.