Best Cocktail Bars in Downtown Bellingham

Discover Downtown Bellingham’s worst kept secret! Amendment 21 is a prohibition themed cocktail bar and restaurant located inside the historic Hotel Leo. 

Bar Cicotti is a family-friendly eatery, inspired by the traditional coffee and wine bars found in Italy! They are open for both lunch and dinner, serving coffee, domestic and international wines, and fun, simple Italian-style eats. Their cocktail menu is limited but they offer a variety of delicious spritzes and wines. 

Jonathan's Cicotti family originates from Cento in Northern Italy and they are the source of many of his recipes found on the bar's menu. The restaurant works with local producers and organic farmers to source all of their ingredients.

Founded in 2011, Chuckanut Bay Distillery is located in a historic, 18,000 sq. ft. building in downtown Bellingham. The distillery's tasting room is open six days a week for cocktails, bottle and merchandise sales with weekly distillery tours available as well. 

The Penny Farthing Restaurant & Bar features locally inspired dishes and a large event space. In 2025, the restaurant opened a seasonal rooftop bar with views of downtown Bellingham and the bay. The rooftop bar is the perfect spot to wind down with a summer cocktail featuring Chuckanut Bay's spirits.  

In true speakeasy fashion, Jack’s keeps the lights (and the hype) on the down-low. Inside the long, narrow space you’ll find barstool seating and comfy booths.

At Jack’s, the menu is simple. There are a handful of local beers on tap (woohoo!) poured in 10 oz and 20 oz sizes. But we’re here for cocktails. A dozen are listed on the black and whiteboard, from Tom Collins and Old Fashioned to French 75 and Corpse Reviver.

A tiki bar in Bellingham, you say? That’s right: Red Rum is a bonafide tiki bar, with an emphasis on “bar”. Think fruity, tropical drinks (some can be served with flaming lime) balanced out by the dimly-lit atmosphere and tiki decor. Visit during happy hour to try the Mai Tai and Painkiller. The full menu includes tons of tequila and rum drinks, as well as appetizers and sandwiches. Handcrafted and made with fresh fruit, the drinks (and vibe) at Red Rum provide a fun way to get away in downtown Bellingham.

One can never go wrong with Temple Bar. A longtime favorite happy hour spot, the Temple has been a Bellingham favorite since 2002. Here, small groups of friends gather to enjoy wine and cheese on the sunny sidewalk, or cozy up inside after dark. Temple Bar offers a treasure trove of classic cocktails, as well as new and rotating creative concoctions.