Waterfront Tavern image

Waterfront Tavern

Bar

Fish ’n’ chips & simple seafood eats served in an enduring, comfy hangout with a pool table & darts. People often mention order, Great, good, chips, bartender, friendly, great, Good,


Address

521 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225, United States

Contact

+1 360-676-1755

Price rating

$ $$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.30 (395 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 9 am to 12 pm
  • Monday: 10 am to 12 pm
  • Tuesday: 10 am to 12 pm
  • Wednesday: 10 am to 12 pm
  • Thursday: 10 am to 12 pm
  • Friday: 10 am to 1 pm
  • Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: order (9) Great (8) good (8) chips (6) bartender (6) friendly (6) great (6) Good (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Spencer C. 1 year ago on Google
    This has become one of my all-time favourite bars. Great place to grab a Ranier and some kind of deep fried sea creature and hang out. Friendly vibes, classic local pub feel and the location can't be beat. Staff are always fantastic.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 LEGION A. 9 months ago on Google
    An old-school watering hole, on the water, with a reputation for having good fish'n chips and a jukebox. What could go wrong, right? Turns out, a lot. But before we get to the bad and the ugly, I must say that the fish'n chips were good; and the chips were made in-house from fresh potatoes. The bad/ugly began as I stood at the bar waiting to order a drink. The bartender kept going back and forth from end to end, taking care of newly-arrived patrons and completely ignoring me. Then after I grabbed a seat at the bar, I finally grew weary of being ignored and proactively called out that I'd like to order a drink. That didn't get me a drink, but it did get me nasty look from the bartender, who didn't like her negligence being called out. To be fair, I don't think she was trying to be rude or neglectful per se. She was simply more interested in being attentive and friendly to people who were obviously regulars. And then to top it off, a different bartender took pleasure in bumping her song selections ahead of the songs I was playing on the jukebox. Call me crazy, but when patrons are paying money to play the jukebox, employees should not be cutting their music ahead in the cue. A memorable experience, just not for the right reasons. Oh well.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Alice D. 3 years ago on Google
    We ordered a Captain's Platter, Fish and Chips, and Calamari and Chips. Food arrived hot, but way too many fries and the calamari were these tough, chewy sticks. Fries were really dark, greasy and limp. Enjoyed their outdoor picnic tables seating area, staff was friendly, but food not so much.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hofbrauhomee 1 year ago on Google
    Best dive bar in the Northwest!!!! But better yet, the food is great!!!! The two bartenders working tonight were spot on. Fun, great customer service…you know, the $&@) you were used to before China sent Covid to us?!?! Enjoy this place, they’re rare.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 mharri333 H. 1 year ago on Google
    Always have fun here. Great pulltabs and great service. I did not eat this trip but have eaten here many times before. Always enjoy it and the wings are the best. Great stop. Great drinks. Got to see my favorite bartenders.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 T L. 6 months ago on Google
    Great Food. Great Atmosphere. Fun Locals Who Love Showin You Their Big Game Photos. Can't Wait To Come Back
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Audra S. 5 months ago on Google
    We wanted to visit Waterfront as an iconic spooky place. It wasn't, but the Bayview was nice. 5 stars are for the best clam chowder ever, in my life, and I've had probably a hundred. Lots of fresh clam, not thick, brought to us piping hot by a native cook who said she just finished cooking it. Unbelievable! There was one server/bartender at Noon Saturday, so we had to wait and the atmosphere is very vibe - but we will be back for that chowder. Also cheap beer on tap and good specials. It's a Cheers type place where everyone knows everyone. Oh, and the fresh cut fries were hot and tasty!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Finn P. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a manly man bar for rough tough and gruff people. When I went in several heads turned. If there had been live music it would have stopped at my entrance. This ain't a place for sissy's, don't let the candy machine with $0.25 jelly beans or banana flavored runts fool you. SpongeBob may be playing on the TV but it's the most manly SpongeBob episodes. Truly is a spot for people who are the salt of the earth, or rather, the salt of the ocean.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Devin O. S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great local dive bar. Good beer selection and fried foods. Good service, had a lot of fun playing pull tabs.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Miguel E. 8 months ago on Google
    I would only recommend this place for the food, Take out through the outside window. The bar is not great usually just end up ignored, the atmosphere is more for the older and regulars than new comers. Good fish and chips!

  • 4/5 Gary R. 3 months ago on Google New
    Nice historic bar and restaurant on the Bellingham waterfront. Good menu and good amount of food offered. They have a outside order window if you want a order to go, and some outside seating to enjoy the views. Opposite there is a park with trails along the sides of the Whatcom falls outlet to Bellingham Bay where you can observe offers and sometimes salmon going to spawn upriver.

  • 5/5 Baker H. 8 months ago on Google
    Perfect little dive bar, great food and the bartender Mike made us right at home.. pretty sure this is our new spot

  • 5/5 Liam Blodgett (L B. 1 year ago on Google
    This is the platonic ideal of the PNW harbor dive bar. Rough but friendly customers, pool tables, darts, pull tabs, delicious fried seafood plates. Special mention to the red-haired guy running the kitchen (Friday evening), who was thorough and thoughtful and kind and damn good at his job. Our fish and chips were perfect.

  • 1/5 Jillie J. 1 year ago on Google
    Received the wrong order, which was no big deal....BUT when I called the restaurant the manager/owner Lynne argued with me on what I received. She then proceeded to tell me I was yelling at her (I'm in an office and definitely wasn't yelling or even raising my voice in the slightest). She yelled at me, then hung up on me. I received an extra order of something I didn't order and the wrong order for what I did order, so I was just trying to make sure they knew for whoever possibly didn't get their correct food. Very odd interaction.

  • 5/5 Gordon M. 1 year ago on Google
    Chardonnay from a can, great scratch-made food, "dive-bar" vibe and TERRIFIC behind the bar service, the Waterfront offers one everything you could expect from a dive bar. Pull tabs were also a plus. Will we return, YOU BET!

  • 4/5 Lance R. 1 year ago on Google
    The Waterfront has kind of a bad reputation on account of some of their past clientele. The fried food is delicious, drink prices are reasonable and the people super are friendly. People smoke, but that's not a crime and it stays outside. It's the only place I'll play pull tabs and my brother Diego is well known by the staff.

  • 5/5 American C. 1 year ago on Google
    Captain Plate was Delicious. Everyone is friendly. There's a bit of a Waterfront view and pool table and darts. Great music.

  • 5/5 Ted S. 1 year ago on Google
    Gump! Greatest place to have seafud!!!, hands down!!

  • 5/5 Tj M. 1 year ago on Google
    Captain's plate was delicious. We walked up to the window and sat outside. Beautiful day and food and service was very good. They do a panko breading on their seafood, not battered. Or might have been a combo of both techniques but seems primarily panko. Fries were home cut style.

  • 5/5 Migo R. 1 year ago on Google
    Best place I've seen to throw darts! Very modern new machines, easy to navigate with big bright monitors. Helpful and friendly (easy on the eyes as well🙄) bartender. Good atmosphere and good people!

  • 4/5 Bob D. 1 year ago on Google
    Good fish & chips. Everyman vibe; more bar than pub. Service was good in this visit. In addition to usual mass market beers, had Manny's and M&J African Amber.


Call +1 360-676-1755 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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