Fine Dining in Bellingham

So often our guests are looking to taste the eclectic flavors of our region and fortunately there is plenty to choose from. In the last twenty years we’ve developed an array of local cheeses, vegetables, beers, liquors, breads, pastas, and meats, produced by artisans and farmers in Whatcom and nearby Skagit and San Juan counties. And this on top of the seafood from the beaches and waters of the Salish Sea, Canada, and Alaska: mussels, Dungeness crab, clams, salmon, halibut, and oysters. While these foods are plentiful here, what is far more rare, is the category of fine dining restaurant in Bellingham. Most of our foods and experiences are served in a more casual dining atmosphere, but when guests are looking for a cut above, here are the places we recommend:

Rock and Rye Oyster House 

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 a  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.

Carnal

This gem was recently opened by three Brooklyn chefs who decided to bring Bellingham the fine dining we were missing. Each and every dish we’ve tried has been so delightfully flavored and well-served in a crisply appointed dining room and side patio we can recommend it highly. Only one block from Hotel Leo you’ll find their obsession with flavor, locally sourced ingredients, beautiful craft cocktails, and professional service a refreshing change…even inspiring. The chefs had a popular food truck back East with lines down the street. We’re fortunate they came West to provide us a new take on what a restaurant can be.

Keenan’s at the Pier

Keenan’s is a full-service restaurant in the Chrysalis Inn. Featuring large windows, patio, and deck overlooking the water and the Taylor Dock overwater walkway, Keenan's serves excellently prepared and inventive cuisine all day long, with a full bar and a pleasant modern atmosphere. We often bring out-of-town guests here who are looking for more than casual dining and a great view of Bellingham Bay.

Saltine

Seattle restaurateurs, Craig and Val Serbousek, created Saltine to rise above casual and into the fine dining category – and they have done it successfully. From the well-designed dining room to the craft cocktails and wine list, to their fresh and delicious take on New American cuisine, your experience at Saltine should meet even high expectations. The dining room is small, yet feels light and airy. The menu is not extensive but is big on quality, variety, and excellent flavors. The well-curated wine list is everything the diner will need to pair with a memorable meal.

The Fork at Agate Bay

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

One of the longest lived, most successful restaurants in the area is the Oyster Bar on famed Chuckanut Drive. It is a well-regarded and well-reviewed fine dining restaurant featuring fresh seafood, steak, and vegetarian dishes, and a notable, and an award-winning, 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.

The Willows

While The Willows Inn is on Lummi Island and is a short ferry ride away, the NYT famously called this one of the top ten restaurants worth flying to. The award-winning head chef Blaine Wetzel has described his approach to food as a “story about the land.” The prix fixe menu is both seasonal and local — fished, foraged, and farmed daily. If you can get a reservation, it will be a memorable meal.

Visit us at the Hotel Leo front desk for advice on where to find specific fine cuisine in the Whatcom area.