Fantastic outing! Great spot for dinner and drinks. Would love to come back for a distillery tour and try more items on the menu.

Stopped by for a Saturday dinner with my wife. Street parking available though we walked from where we were staying. Not very busy though WWU is out for the summer. Seated promptly. Orfldered a margarita and coffee Martini. App was the queso which was excellent. Main was a Capri sandwich and a meatball sandwich , both with a side salad. Salads were fantastic. My meatball sandwich was okay, missing something. Capri sandwich I was told was good. Ambiance was nice, rustic and not too loud. Overall a good experience. read more

Eh. Food was ok. Nothing to write home about Service was great. Bourbon tasted more whiskey than bourbon. Honestly, not worth it. read more

I had the pleasure of attending the Pastime Event - Prohibition era themed at Chuckanut Bay Distillery . The fee was $20 which included a fantastic table of Charcuterie and Salmon Canapés . Live Jazz tunes from a trio of very talented musicians entertained us for the evening. The owner Ethan was in attendance and was very attentive to every detail, making sure everyone was having a great time and even gave private tours to view the rooftop bar. The bar tenders were fantastic and attentive, and the prohibition era cocktails were great! I especially love how they went the extra step and made the old fashioned and served them in a flask, hidden in a faux Bible. The whole experience was phenomenal! Their Spirits speak for themselves! If you haven't done a tasting in the beautiful tasting room.. what are you waiting for? I can't wait for all the upcoming events like the Krampus celebration and many others! read more

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Valentine's Day and this was our backup lol. It was worth it tho! Amazing bourbon crab bisque! I had the shrimp with polenta cakes and my bf had the winter squash salad. OMG their Aperol citrus spritz are the BEST! I had 2 of those in mocktail form! Drinks are pretty good here. We will definitely be back! read more

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Beautiful menu, beautiful interior, and a wonderful cocktail menu with fantastic drinks. Loved speaking to the bartender about their specialty cocktails they all come up with. Can't wait for the patio to open if it hasn't already! read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Sliders - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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We came for drinks before going to dinner. They have a lot of great drink options. And their food menu was also pretty extensive. I chose the flight that included 4 different liquors they make at the distillery. They were all great but my favorite was the hazelnut liqueur. I bought a bottle to take home. Service was great at the bar. read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Our experience was nothing short of spectacular! We started off, sharing the whiskey queso, which did not disappoint. We then shared a traditional Chicago style pizza that was flipped in front of us, and had all the right flavor without being overpowering. We also shared the honey Dijon chicken wings that were perfectly sauced! The ambience is trendy with cool views of the distillery! FYI they host special events as well! read more

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Bellingham did not disappoint! Wandered into this place starving and intrigued by the backstory. Bustling, noisy but fun on a Friday night. Shockingly we only waited 30 seconds and our lovely human of a server sat us. We chose our drinks from the draft cocktail list and they were absolutely delicious. We got a few plates from the small but interesting menu. Everything tasted great and thoughtful and the people watching was fantastic. read more

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Disappointed and Frustrated -- Won't Be Returning My friends and I (a group of six mature, respectful women) went out on Friday, 7/11 to celebrate a birthday at Chuckanut Bay Distillery's rooftop in Bellingham. The experience started off fine--I arrived early and was told there'd be a two-hour wait, but surprisingly we were seated about 20 minutes later. The elevator ride up was charming, the rooftop view of the city and bay was lovely, and the baby seagulls nearby were a fun bonus. So far, so good. Unfortunately, once we were seated, things took a sharp turn for the worse. Our server, Shelby, gave off an immediate sense that she didn't want to be there. She was short, unfriendly, made little to no eye contact, and clearly had no interest in engaging with us--even when we asked basic questions about the menu or drinks. Her energy cast a negative shadow over the entire birthday celebration. We tried to shake it off. The food, while tasty, came in small portions. The cocktails? Weak, watery, and forgettable--not what you'd expect from a distillery. We each ordered one round, and that was more than enough. Then came the final straw: we asked ahead of time to split the check, but were instead handed one bill over $200. When we asked for it to be separated, Shelby bluntly said no, and pointed out that a 20% gratuity was already added. It felt like we were being forced to tip for service that had been cold, disengaged, and frankly, off-putting. With no help from her, we spent 20 frustrating minutes manually splitting the bill among ourselves. This experience was incredibly disappointing. We go out frequently and have never encountered this kind of energy or treatment in Bellingham--ever. Fortunately, we salvaged the night by heading to Bellingham Bar & Grill, where we were welcomed with genuine hospitality and great drinks. My Advice: Skip the rooftop. Enjoy the food downstairs if you must, but be warned--the drinks are weak, the service was poor, and the overall atmosphere was soured by a server who clearly didn't want to be there. We won't be back. read more

First time there. Went relying on reviews and we were not disappointed! Shrimp and pot pizza (don't remember the real name) were so so delicious. Cocktail was fantastic. Beef slider wasn't impressive. We go back again read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Shrimp and polenta cake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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This place is fantastic! We came for an early dinner and we're served (at a table) by the bar staff and the ladies were absolutely phenomenal. Service was great, the food was impeccable. All the way good. read more

Someone may have remarked at this review wasn't positive --and it was wonderful. My comment at the end had everything to do with the Yelp app requiring 125 characters to make a review. Sometimes you just don't have that much to say or you're in a hurry, but did not want to have that reflect on the business-- it's a great place to eat. read more

Bartender was great a very customer service oriented. Food was also very good. I had the shrimp. read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Iron skillet shrimp - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The restaurant experience was great, the food, the service, the beverages. I did not enjoy the tasting however, I go to distilleries wherever we travel, and just returned from one in Whistler Canada, enjoyed that, everything tasted unrefined at this Distillery. read more

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A great spot that my family loved checking out in Bellingham! We made it for happy hour which has some great deals and a variety of drinks for all. Service was kind and attentive, they even gave us a free sample of their aged Krampus holiday spirit which won us all over with its smooth and spicy flavor. The space is large and welcoming - would recommend coming here to unwind after a busy day exploring Bellingham. read more

I loooooooooooooooooooove this place!!!!!!! The happy hour is fantastic, and if you only listen to me once, make it this time: Get the Mezze plate. Presentation is GORGEOUS and it's even more delicious. I'm not embarrassed to say we ate every single drop of food and dip on the two plates. It's also enough food to suffice as a small meal - they have really knocked it out of the park with this one! Drinks are very inventive and I love that they use all the Chuckanut Distillery goods - which are fantastic and you should probably buy some, because the Krampus is the best holiday spirit in coffee, hot cocoa, straight up.... There's a mix of classic and signature cocktails, and the bartenders are able to create something off the cuff for you too. It's a stunning building with lots of history and I know they have big plans for the next few years - rooftop bar, speakeasy, renting out for events....I am thrilled that something like this opened downtown and it's fast become one of my go-to places. Excited to see what is coming up next! read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Mezze Plate - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This is a combo distillery and restaurant (Penny Farthing.) Nice atmosphere, comfortable, friendly staff. Portion sizes were on the small side. Just a few beers, to be expected in a distillery. Small lunch menu. We thought the food was good, not great. Thought the pot pie was undercooked. The meatball sandwich with pesto didn't work for me. The caprese sandwich was great. read more

Checked out the rooftop bar today. The view is awesome. However, we weren't impressed with the food and drinks. My bacon shrimp dish was barely grilled enough.. the bacon seemed borderline cooked. The drinks were underwhelming for the price. I would go back only for the view. Expected so much more! read more

Downtown Bellingham gem. This restaurant, attached to Chuckanut Distillery, is pretty inside - dark wood and black steel and a great vibe. Serves a great Old Fashioned and offers a lot of small dishes that hit the spot - just the right amount of food. Friendly service. Can see this little place emerging as a true local hangout. read more

We went with a big group over parents weekend with a group of boys plus 3 sets of parents. Immediately when I got there I needed to use the restroom and I stood in line because they were busy and I couldn't open any doors in the bathroom. My friend came in and we found a the restaurant staff to help in the restroom. So the staff said the doors were really hard to open. Unfortunately I'm disabled, so that is no good for a disabled person. Beautifully and tastefully done bathroom, but not functional. Everyone had pretty much ordered by the time I made it to the table and I ordered a couple light things which I didn't think the menu spelled out very well. I will definitely try it out again the next time we visit my son during his college journey. read more

Nat was an amazing mixologist and entertainer at the bar. Had to take at least one bottle home. Thank you for the experience:) read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Nat - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Wonderful service, wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere, everything was great! I really appreciated the specialty cocktails with an eclectic twist. 5 stars!! read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Distillery - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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This is a great find in old downtown Bellingham. We arrived late afternoon on a Sunday and there were only half the bar stools and 3 tables occupied. This was fortunate for us as we had a very attentive server and the bar tender stepped in for additional drinks. The food menu is very enticing. We settled on the sliders and a special of a grilled chicken flatbread. The sliders are perfectly spiced and divine with the dipping sauce. I am glad I stayed with the menu option of three, although the server offered that I could add a fourth. I was quite satisfied with three! The chicken flatbread is incredible with all of the vegetables and spices. It needs to be a regular menu item. I am getting that next time if it is available. I skipped the cocktails this night but my dining partner enjoyed two off their menu selection. The cocktails were perfectly done although pricey. If I'm paying on the next visit, I'll skip the cocktails again and indulge in the chicken flatbread. read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Grilled chicken flatbread - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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The ambiance is fantastic. Food was not bad but not great. The menu seemed very limited. Choices were carb heavy pizzas, sandwiches and salads. We had the bisque which was initially delicious but then the salt kicked in and we were both reaching for our drinks. The meatballs starter was bland, too tough, just overall flavorless. We had a couple of sandwiches for our entrées. The bread was nice so kudos to the bakery they were bought from. Other than that the filling for the sandwiches were not memorable or filling. Even before we asked for the check we were already planning on having to stop elsewhere to get something more substantial. We aren't big eaters but we were hoping for more protein in our meals. I think we may return to check out the rooftop vibes in better weather but then again having to avoid the human excrement, trash, homeless and drug dealers on the walk from the street parking to the distillery isn't enjoyable. I hope downtown Bellingham cleans things up because businesses like this deserves a chance. read more

We might stop in for a drink here, but we won't be back for the food. Eating here is a tedious affair, and "tedious" should never be amongst the adjectives used to describe a $100+ per-person meal. Their food is served as "share plates", to be passed around. That can work if the food is generous and the flavors all make sense together; neither is the case, here. I disliked the piles of ingredients, unidentifiable condiments and fiddly ramekins of things. If you're with a group (there were four of us, celebrating a birthday) it's really hard to get anything resembling a recognizable meal; it's all just disconcerted bits of things that don't really compliment each other, and everyone picking off the same platters. It's like trying to eat buffet style without the buffet, everyone trying not to take too much of anything so that your companions get to try everything too. Everyone ends up with tiny bits of whatever on their plates, and nobody is happy or satisfied. Service was very professional in demeanor but a bit disjunct. Drinks came out randomly, making toasting the birthday girl an exercise in timing and patience. Although the place was mostly empty, there seemed to be a real disconnect between front and back house, and between dining staff and bar, food and drink appearing sporadically, with no thought given to order of service or readiness of customer. The cocktails are artisan and expertly made. The only other patrons there were seated in the bar...now we know why. It's a pleasant and interesting environment, and will be fantastic once they work out a more pleasant and thoughtful food program, iron out the disparities in timing, and focus on the customer's experience. And it's a really, really, really expensive experience. Everyone felt like they were still hungry (if a bit tipsy) $500+ later...we went out for burgers after! Nope. I cannot recommend this place for anything other than a swank after work cocktail once in a while. read more

Don't miss their Mac & cheese! The service was great, food was good, the beer garden music was a bit too loud, but always a great experience to visit this place. read more

Penny Farthing is the new restaurant side of Chuckanut Distillery, a long beloved Bellingham staple. The inside is new, with simple lovely wood decor. The dining room was somewhat crowded and loud with such a high ceiling. Service was good and food was better. We had the Mezzo platter ($25) which came with grilled vegetables, fruits and pita, and dipping sauces such as hummus, tzatziki and babba, feta and olives, SO GOOD! It was the perfect grazing plate with a glass of wine. read more

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Unbelievable everything! Penny Farthing has incredible food, especially if you like cheese! But their signature pizza is awesome, trust the process! Drinks are as amazing as you would guess given they're a distillery, can't go wrong. And the atmosphere is so cool, from the classic interior to the incredible rooftop deck. Service is great and the events, like the Krampus Party, are a not to be missed! read more

Penny Farthing is the place to be if you are looking for a classy, fancy, and relaxing bar experience. They are a bar & restaurant branch from the main Chuckanut Distillery. The building itself has a lot of history and used to be home of the old JC Penny in Bellingham. I would recommend going on the distillery tour as it gives interesting information on the history of the building as well as the whole distillery process. This place offers a great selection of cocktails with most ranging from around $11-$13. I would describe the drinks HIGH QUALITY. They also offer a shareable food (appetizers) and dessert menu. The service I have received every time I come here has been great. They always have great recommendations on drinks to try. This time I got the 'Jungle Cat' which was a nice grapefruit tasting rum based drink. I would recommend this place being best for small groups or date night! read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Jungle Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Nice small menu with surprisingly nice flavors. A little too expensive. Beer and drink were good. read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Mezze platter - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The chicken and pork skewers were way over done, super dry and the elote corn was mushy and cold like it was left over from the day before. We told the server, not returning. To bad because it's a beautiful space. read more

I came here for a work dinner and ate some truly excellent food. It comes out tapas style, so it's definitely best for a larger group setting. Given the bigger group, we tried everything on the list. Everything was delicious, but I'm going to touch on my favorites below. The mezze platter was an awesome starter and the presentation was stunning, with pita chips, cheese, yogurt, hummus spreads, seasonal veggies, and more. The pear salad unexpectedly stole the show - while I normally scoff at salads in a restaurant setting, this is one of the 2 places I have been in my life that have worked their hardest to change my opinion. The goat cheese in the carrots was a unique touch that added another dimension to the dish, on top of the poached pear and other delicacies. The shrimp was also phenomenal, with around 8 shrimps per order. Incredibly juicy and fresh and phenomenal presentation on a small cast-iron. We also tried their custard risotto, but something about the peach jam + chocolate + heavier texture just didn't sit right with me, so I'd probably try the crepes the next go-around. I got a virgin daiquiri and sparkling lemonade, with my preference being the sparkling lemonade due to the cherry syrup at the bottom. Some downsides to this place are the price. As someone with a larger appetite, I would suggest 2-3 dishes per couple at a minimum, and at around $20-23 a dish, it adds up, so probably best saved for a special occasion situation. I also felt the service could have been better. We had to ask multiple times for additional water, drinks, food, etc, but I can appreciate it is not always the easiest to wait on a larger group. All in all, I would recommend this place to folks looking for a classier dining experience and drinks in the Bellingham area. read more

Would like to see more options on the food menu. They seem to be so far from each other, if that makes sense. Not like a "wide variety" but more random. Greeeaaaat drinks!!! If they had better food options I'd be there more. I did have some kind of wrap there and it was amazing so don't get me wrong, the food is awesome... if they have what you're looking for. The lunch meals also don't come with sides and they are $$$ but who isn't now Otherwise, 4 stars. read more

Come for the drinks and the atmosphere, grab a bite to share for the table, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny. The prices are high for the portion size and while the food is tasty, the menu lacks variety when looking for a dinner option. The staff was friendly and attentive, but there were not enough servers to keep up. read more

It was pretty empty when we walked in around 5 pm but as the time passed, the place got busier. I really enjoyed the whiskey distillery view next door and the trendy pub feel in small town of Bellingham. Obviously I would rather have the old Washington state paps and ma shops but this was a nice change. We bought a bottle of Red wine and a bottle of whiskey to take home. Food wise, I think all were decent, but it was the vibe that I was feeling more with my Manhattan. Honestly, my Manhattan was too sweet for my liking but just overall, this place is a good place to have a decent food and drinks. The patatas bravas and the spicy shrimp was fine. So was the steak salad. It was nothing spectacular but good food to pick on. I will be back. read more

This review is based on a private event where I didn't pay myself. But I will go back and spend my own money, because I liked it. But I want to be upfront. If you are looking for nice food and interesting cocktails, going to the Penny Farthing is a good move. On top of that, the team behind Chuckanut bay Distillery is rejuvenating one of downtown Bellingham's old buildings, and I can't wait to see what they do next. I am personally a big fan of Negroni cocktail, and their take on it is tasty and interesting. Replacing the red vermouth with white and aging it for 6 weeks in spent oral barrels makes it somewhat smoother, but still delicious. The tapas inspired food is delicious, and I left bare satisfied in both body and spirit. read more

Chuckanut Bay Distillery - Penny Farthing restaurant building history. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

We were really looking forward to trying this place, so we finally came last night for our anniversary. While the ambiance is wonderful the food was overpriced and just ok...we got the filet medallions and while the presentation looked beautiful the filet was thin and more medium, and bland the herbed butter was OK but needed a balsamic reduction or chili honey. We got the shrimp as well it had more flavor but again 20 dollars for 9 shrimp is a little outrageous..but the drinks were fantastic I had a wheat vodka dirty martini and an espresso martini.. i had to stop at jack in the box on the way home my huspand was worried i didn't get enough to eat.. needless to say I'll come for drinks and eat prior read more

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Awesome place great food and decor. Wonderful staff and tasty treats. The drink menu is amazing and clever. A wonderful addition to downtown read more

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I really loved our experience at Penny Farthing. It was my 30th birthday and they set us up at a lovely private table under the stairs on a last-minute reservation. They kept my birthday bottle of champagne cold in the fridge while we were on our Chuckanut Bay Distillery tour next door (and then served it for us for a $22 corkage fee). The food was outstanding, and portions were perfect for the price/quality. They also had plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options, which is very important to us when choosing a place to eat. The mezze platter was our favorite, and was easily made gluten free! We also loved the caprese salad. The ribs were a bit too smoky, but fell off the bone. Dessert couldn't be beat. read more

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