Downtown Bellingham offers a wide variety of cafes and shops to explore. When I have family or friends visit me, there are a few places I want to take them. If you’re lucky enough to visit Bellingham on a sunny day, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible walking around outside so, be sure to wear comfortable shoes!

Breakfast

For breakfast, Daisy Café is a must. Their unique menu always hits the spot whether I’m craving salty or sweet. The retro style diner will take you back in time for a morning. Little Cheerful is another classic breakfast joint that’s guaranteed to deliver. It has a true grunge Bellingham vibe.

Daisy cafe

Order: My usual order is the twin sisters. It’s an open English muffin with an egg on each side. Kalamata olives sprinkled on top add a delicious Greek twist.

Location: Daisy Café is in the heart of downtown at 114 W Magnolia St.

Little Cheerful

Order: Farmer’s Scrambled Breakfast gives you a taste of everything. Meat, veggies, eggs and cheese work together to create this satisfying dish.

Location: Little Cheerful is located down the street from Daisy Café at 133 E Holly St.

Coffee is a must for a day spent exploring Bellingham!

Caffeine

Coffee is a major part of PNW culture, and Bellingham is no exception. Bellingham is home to many local coffee shops, each one offering a different experience. Scattered throughout downtown, you’ll find coffee shops big and small.

My personal favorite, Café Blue, feels like your eccentric aunt’s quaint retro home. Vintage records, hand-painted pottery and indoor plants adorn the shop to create an inviting atmosphere. Their coffee and homemade pastries are to die for.

On a sunny day, Makeworth Market is the perfect coffee shop to be in. Two entire sides of their large space are made up of windows to maximize your intake of the rare Vitamin D we get here in the Pacific Northwest.

cafe Blue

Order: The coffee is so smooth that I like to keep it simple by ordering an americano with a splash of oat milk. You can add as little or as much as you want.

Location: Café Blue is in the Fairhaven district of Bellingham at 1319 11th Street. Fairhaven is a short car ride from downtown or about a 25-minute walk.

Makeworth Market

Order: The honey lavender latte is a balance of creamy and sweet. The hint of lavender adds a gourmet element to regular coffee.

Location: Makeworth Market is located at 1201 State Street.

Horticulturists rejoice! Babygreens is a plant enthusiast’s paradise.

Shops

After breakfast, we’ll walk around and explore all the local shops downtown. From home décor to clothing boutiques, downtown has it all!

Babygreens, an adorable plant shop and café, is my personal favorite. Nearly every inch of the shop is covered in various plants. The aesthetic atmosphere is perfect for an Instagram picture if that’s your thing! If you’re anything like me and you lack a green thumb, the employees are happy to point you to a low-maintenance plant.

Location: You can find Babygreens at 1201 Cornwall Ave #103

Lunch

Cosmos Bistro is the perfect lunch or brunch spot. Nearly every dish is packed with flavorful vegetables so, if health is your thing, you’ll love this place. They also offer a variety of burgers if you’re craving something a little heartier. The Bagelry is always a classic lunch option. They offer various flavors of bagels and cream cheese, ranging from sweet to savory. Stepping into The Bagelry is like stepping into New York for a quick lunch break.

Cosmos Bistro

Order: The Pork Adobo sandwich never disappoints. The spicy pork adobo paired with sweet onion slaw is such a delicious combo.

Location: Cosmos Bistro is located at 1151 N. State Street.

The Bagelry

Order: My absolute favorite pairing is the rosemary-salt bagel with the Italian cream cheese.

Location: The Bagelry is located at 1319 Railroad Ave.

Squalicum Boathouse at Zuanich Point Park. Photo courtesy of Port of Bellingham.

Must See

Sitting on the bay, Bellingham is full of beautiful outdoor places to explore. I’m a big fan of the ocean, so one of my favorite places to go on a walk is Zuanich Park. It’s just a short drive from downtown, making it the perfect post-lunch destination.

On any given day, you’ll see families flying kites or having a picnic in the grassy area in the center of the park. A walking path follows the curve of the bay that hundreds of sailboats are docked along. If the skies are clear, you’ll get a breathtaking view of Mt. Baker.

Location: Just a quick drive from the heart of downtown, plug 2600 N. Harbor Loop Dr. into Google Maps for directions to the park.

Brandywine Kitchen features a fresh farm-to-table menu.

Dinner Time

Downtown boasts an impressive number of gourmet restaurants. D’Anna’s Café Italiano has some of the best Italian cuisine in Bellingham. It’s one of the few upscale restaurants downtown. Their exquisite menu offers fresh homemade pasta and traditional Italian dishes including eggplant parmesan and gnocchi.

Another great dining option is Brandywine Kitchen. Their farm to table menu offers various fresh cuisines ranging from fish tacos to sandwiches.

D’Anna’s Cafe Italiano

Order: The butternut squash ravioli is an experience you’ll never forget. The fresh pasta encases the melt-in-your-mouth squash and Italian cheese, all tossed in a walnut, garlic, butter and sage sauce. I’m still dreaming of it from when I ate it three years ago!

Location: D’Anna’s Café Italiano is located at 1319 N State street.

Brandywine Kitchen

Order: The fish tacos are topped with their signature cucumber-mango salsa. I’m all about non-traditional food combos, so this dish is right up my alley. The burgers are also just as flavorful!

Location: Brandywine Kitchen is located at 1317 Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225.

Grab a pint to-go at Mallard’s Ice Cream.

Dessert

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, there a couple places that are sure to satisfy.

Pure Bliss Desserts is a gourmet cake and dessert shop. They also serve drinks like champagne, wine and beer to go with the desserts. The servers are very knowledgeable of the products, so they’re able to suggest which drinks pair well with which desserts. They have rotating monthly cake flavors as well as cookies, dessert wedges, cupcakes and more. Select desserts are gluten-free and vegan friendly.

If you’re in the mood for ice cream, Mallard’s is the way to go. Their funky flavors like avocado and ghost pepper peppermint dominate the menu, but they also have basic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, of course.

Pure Bliss Dessert

Order: Their carrot cake is the best carrot cake I’ve ever had. It’s fluffy, moist and sweet but not overwhelmingly sweet. The cream cheese frosting adds a whole other layer of perfection!

Location: Pure Bliss Desserts is located at 1424 Cornwall Ave.

Mallard’s Ice Cream

Order: The lavender brownie flavor is everything I could ever want in ice cream. It’s rich, smooth and creamy with a hint of floral.

Location: You can find Mallard’s at 1323 Railroad Ave.

Nightcap

In between restaurants, bars and breweries are scattered throughout downtown. From cocktails to microbrews, downtown has it all.

Gruff Brewing takes the cake with their beer garden overlooking the bay. What better way to watch the sunset than with a beer? Their beer never disappoints, and their rotating ciders sip well on a summer night. L&L Libations serve unique cocktails with flavors like lavender, peach, rose and more. They also serve champagne cocktails which I’m a huge fan of!

The exterior of L&L Libations is just as refreshing as their drinks.

Gruff Brewing

Order: If they have the pineapple cider, I highly recommend it! As for beer, I always enjoy the mid-90's pale ale.

Location: Gruff is located at 104 E Maple St Bellingham, WA 98225.

L&L Libations

Order: The Blue Lavender Fizz cocktail is the perfect mix of sweet and refreshing. A bonus – the muddled blueberries turn the drink into a fun purple color!

Location: L&L Libations is located at 1107 North State Street.

That’s a wrap for my one day in Bellingham itinerary! If you have more time, I recommend making a whole weekend trip out of it to fully explore all the shops and restaurants downtown Bellingham has to offer. Thanks for following along!

About the Author

Hello! My name is Maddy Redman and I’m a senior at Western Washington University. I am earning my bachelor's degree in journalism, specifically the public relations track. I was born in Bellingham but grew up in Walla Walla, Washington. I just knew I had to return to Bellingham for college. Nothing is better than being surrounded by mountains and the ocean!

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A day with Maddy: A WWU student's must do's in Bellingham