Your 24 to 48 hour itinerary of where to go, stay, and eat in Fairhaven Village

From the first moment we visited Fairhaven in 2022, when we moved to Washington, Andrew and I both thought this part of Bellingham felt like a little Stars Hollow. If you’re a Gilmore Girls girlie, you’ll love Fairhaven, and if not, you’ll still love this little gem of a coastal town. It just feels like you’re walking through a ’90s or early 2000s comfort show with great food on every corner, genuinely great shops with items from local artists, cute little coffee shops with delicious coffee, and, of course, incredible bookstores to get lost in. Below you’ll find a full 48-hour itinerary in this quaint village in Bellingham, WA.

A little history on Fairhaven Village

The original plat of Fairhaven was filed on January 2, 1883, by Daniel J. Harris, or "Dirty Dan” as many famously know him. He was born in 1833 and was the official founder of Fairhaven. Dirty Dan is known for his unkempt appearance and crude manners, which is where his nickname stems from. He named this area Fair Haven from the native "see-see-lich-em”, meaning "safe port” or "quiet place”. Dirty Dan was only one of the many colorful characters that comprise the rich fabric of Fairhaven. Beginning in 1888, the town of Fairhaven on Bellingham Bay was experiencing rapid growth and significant development, largely due to promoters eager to see Fairhaven selected as the western terminus of the Great Northern Railroad. These promoters, led by Nelson Bennett and joined by C.X. Larrabee, Edgar Cowgill, E.M. Wilson, and J.J. Donovan, formed the Fairhaven Land Company. In 1977, the Fairhaven Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The District includes 16 historic commercial structures built between 1890 and 1929. You can learn more about those buildings and additional history here.

How to spend 48 hours in Fairhaven Village in Bellingham, WA — the west coast Stars Hollow

DAY ONE

Grab some fresh pastries from Iron Rooster Bakery for breakfast

We had heard so many good things about Iron Rooster Bakery, so when we knew we would be staying quite literally next door at Fairhaven Village Inn, we put going for breakfast on our itinerary. The Iron Rooster Bakery is an artisanal bakery producing the finest hand-made pastries, croissants, cakes, and French-inspired fare. The owners of the Iron Rooster are Miran and Fred Schang. They’re originally from the East Coast and decided to leave in 2016 for Washington State. Miran was classically trained by the French Culinary Institute in New York and has experience working in fine restaurants, bakeries, and catering kitchens. Their hand-shaped croissants are of the highest quality and are the foundation from which everything else springs at Iron Rooster. They use the best chocolates from Europe to create their pain au chocolat, cakes, and ganache.

I’m such a sucker for a good croissant and cheese danish, so I was beyond excited to try their pastries. The thing you need to know about Iron Rooster is that you’ve gotta be there early because they do sell out of a lot later in the day. They’re only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, and before 8:00 am, there will absolutely be a line forming. We asked one of the lovely front desk workers at Fairhaven Village Inn what they like to get, and they suggested the chocolate croissant and the rooster roll. We ended up getting a butter croissant, pain au chocolat, rooster roll, a blueberry danish, and a chocolate cinnamon snail. They were all delicious, especially the danish and croissants, but the rooster roll was extra unique, with it being sweet and savory. I don’t even know how to explain it, but it was good, and I recommend grabbing one when you visit. I will say that the pastries are fairly expensive, ranging from around $5 to $8, but if you’re willing to splurge, it’s worth it. I ordered a small latte, and it was fine, but it took a long time to receive. We ended up getting our pastry order very quickly and then had to wait about 15 minutes for just my small coffee. Next time we visit, I will probably just grab coffee from somewhere else more quickly and stick to pastries only at Iron Rooster. The bakery is a grab-and-go where you order at a window, then they call your name when your order is ready, so keep that in mind. It is located right across the street from the Fairhaven Green which has numerous benches to sit on and enjoy your pastries.

Walk to Taylor Dock and enjoy the views

Something I really enjoy about Fairhaven is how walkable it is to trails, docks, parks, etc. There’s a trailhead starting near Övn Wood Fired Pizza and going all the way to Boulevard Park. We took a stroll to Taylor Dock, where you can walk along the water and then end up in gorgeous Boulevard Park. There are benches along the boardwalk where you can sit and enjoy the views of the boats passing by, crack open a book, or watch the various wildlife that live nearby, such as otters, seals, birds, and maybe even some whales. I’m not completely sure how long the walk is; I would guess maybe half a mile total. It’s absolutely worth it to take a walk to the water and maybe even grab a coffee along the way.

Enjoy a cozy lunch at Colophon Cafe

If you’re looking for a cozy cafe with great food and bottomless Arnold Palmers, then look no further than Colophon Cafe. This perfect lunch spot is connected to Village Books and Drizzle, making it very easily accessible from quite literally every angle haha! We end up here when family and friends visit, on my birthday, or honestly any time we’re at Village Books. From their creative, award-winning soups to the freshest salads and sandwiches to savory quiches and pot pies to their decadent desserts and delicious beverages, they aspire to bring you a delicious meal any time of day, but it’s our GO-TO for lunch. They actually have one of my all-time favorite sandwiches, the Village Turkey. This sandwich is piled high with turkey breast, Swiss, aioli, Dijon, greens, and tomato, but I get it without tomato and then ask for cranberry sauce on the side. Oh my gosh, I’m drooling just thinking about this sandwich. Be sure to check out their rotating pastries and cookies at the front, and I’ve heard their peanut butter pie is great, so I really need to try it next time.

Walk around the corner for a little sweet treat at Sweet Haven

After lunch, you’ll definitely be hankering for a little something sweet, so it’s a good thing one of my favorite sweet shops is just around the corner from Colophon Cafe. We love stopping into Sweet Haven for their caramel apples, French macarons, and the magical Oreo cheesecake. I’ve had Oreo before, but there is just something about this one that is so much better. Maybe it’s the richness of the chocolate crust or the Oreo pieces in the cheesecake itself; I’m not sure, but man, if you like Oreo, you MUST get a slice. They have a ton of options for every sweet treat, girlie pop, which is awesome because everyone can find their fix, including a cup of coffee if that’s how you indulge. The overall aesthetic and vibe of the shop is just adorable, too, with its aqua-colored walls and green velvet chairs. You just feel so cute eating your dessert in this charming shop.

Grab an afternoon cocktail at Southside Bar

After exploring Fairhaven a bit in the morning, grabbing a cocktail and relaxing a bit is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours. Southside Bar is a local favorite because of its overall vibe and, of course, the cocktails. During the nice weather months, they open up their patio, and it’s such a nice place to hang out, people-watch, and enjoy the gorgeous Washington weather. Southside Bar is the sister bar to downtown Bellingham’s Jack’s Bar, which we also love and highly recommend. Both give that moody, intimate feel, with Jack’s having a little darker vibe we love before or after dinner, whereas Southside we love to visit during the afternoon or even right before dinner. At Southside, they make great cocktails with whiskey sours and amaretto sours being our personal favorites, but they also have local beers and ciders if that’s more your thing.

Walk around downtown and explore all the unique shops

If you’re a plant lover, then you must go to Babygreens plant shop. Even the freaking building is chic and adorable, and once you walk in, you’re greeted with a ton of plants and cute pots. Fairhaven Toy Garden is an incredible toy and game shop you’ll absolutely want to pop into. They’ve got awesome gifts for kids and the avid board gamers in your life. Honestly, it’s a cool shop to just stroll through or grab a deck of cards to have on hand. We love keeping a deck of cards and Uno in our car at all times to bust out while visiting parks, breweries, bars, you name it. For clothing, I really enjoy Adored Boutique for its cute and affordable clothing. I feel like most boutiques are pretty expensive, and this boutique has very reasonable prices with pieces that you don’t see in every other boutique.

Fairhaven Village Green isn’t a shop, but it’s a staple. The Fairhaven Village Green is a park located right in the heart of Historic Fairhaven Village. The park may be small, but it's a gathering place for many visitors and events, including a farmer's market, concerts and shows, and the very popular summer outdoor movie series. Make sure to check out the Village Green Mural and the statue of Dirty Dan Harris, too!

Enjoy a delightful dinner at Estelle

Estelle is the place for an incredible date night with your significant other, friends, or family. It’s Bellingham's destination for creative cocktails, thoughtfully crafted plates, and a warm, vintage-inspired dining room that truly makes every visit feel like a special occasion. The last time we dined at Estelle for dinner, we opted for the bartender’s choice cocktails, where they create a cocktail based on the vibes you’re feeling and flavors you’re craving. I told our server I was in the mood for a drink that tasted like berries and cream, and ended up with a raspberry gin fizz that was to die for. I slurped that drink up so fast it was actually dangerous! Andrew told our server he loves whiskey drinks and would love any kind of whiskey cocktail, and they brought him a bell pepper whiskey sour, which he loved! We’ve been to many mixology-type bars that do this, so when we saw this option on the menu, we knew we HAD to try it out, and it was well worth it.

For starters, we had the bread, which I would say was too expensive for what it was, at $5 per roll. Then we had the roasted carrots, which I need again ASAP because they were incredible! The carrots are in coconut-date sauce, with shallot, carrot top, and Calabrian chili, and the flavors were spectacular. For mains, we had the steak frites, which was good - definitely what you expected at a French-inspired restaurant, but the star of the show was the duck, which was cooked perfectly and with the seasonal flavors and kimchi underneath, wow. I’ve had a lot of duck, but never served this way with these flavors. Dare I say it might be my favorite way to eat duck now? Their menu does change seasonally, so I’ll be hoping they bring this version of the duck dish back, but I’m sure it’s delicious in every season. Then, you can’t say no to dessert at a restaurant like this, and I’m so glad we didn’t because the panna cotta they offer is 12/10. The panna cotta was coconut with passion fruit and tequila-infused mango and jalapeño and HOLY MOLY. The flavors were perfect. It reminded me of the panna cotta we had at Carnal way back when! If you know, you know. Overall, we will be back, and you’ve gotta put Estelle on your list of dinner spots, but do know it is a splurge dinner, but again, SO worth it.

DAY TWO

Start the morning slowly with breakfast at Magdalena's Creperie

I love starting the morning with a sit-down breakfast. Honestly, it might be my favorite meal of the day. Magdalena’s is a great little cafe to spend some time in, especially when they put their cute patio tables outside during the late spring, summer, and early fall. I’ve sipped many bellinis outside, and people watched at Magdalena’s. We started with coffee and some fresh-squeezed mint lemonade, both of which were yummy. Typically, when we get crêpes, we go for one sweet and one savory and eat half, then switch. However, this time we were both feeling sweet, and oh my gosh, were they sweet and absolutely delicious. Andrew had the number 6, which is rich Belgian chocolate paired with caramelized brûlée banana topped with fresh whipped cream, and I had the number 7, which is ricotta, blueberry lavender compote, fresh berries, and mascarpone cream cheese. I’ve had the number 7 multiple times, and it’s pretty much my go-to because of the flavor and how they roll it up and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Be sure to check their chalkboard near the door for their daily specials, too. We’ve had some great savory crêpes from the daily special list before. The inside is relatively small, so I recommend getting there when they open, or close to 9:00 am on Thursday and Friday, or 8:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to breakfast, Magdalena’s is known for their hand crafted pierogies, soups, and sandwiches.

Walk over to Village Books when they open after breakfast

This three-story bookstore is an absolute must for your bookish visit to Fairhaven Village. Village Books was one of the first places we ever visited when we first moved to the area, and it’s quickly become a staple for us to take friends and family when they visit us. You can truly get lost in this bookstore, which we love to do often, especially in the science fiction and fantasy section. Near this section, you’ll find a lovely little cafe on the third floor called Next Chapter Cafe. It’s a combination of Bry's Filipino Cuisine and It's the Sweet Things, both of which have their own spaces downtown. Some of my favorites to get are the Chicken Avocado Ciabatta sandwich (which they pile high with meat), their pumpkin cheesecake (in the fall), and any of their seasonal drinks (they’re always SO good). They have an area with tables where you can sit and eat while enjoying a great view of downtown Fairhaven and even crack open your latest read.

While walking around the bookstore, be sure to check the random carts full of books on each level! This is where they have their used books for sale, and I ALWAYS find a book that’s on my to-read list. This bookstore is truly such a gem, and what’s great is that they’re always having events and book signings with authors, too, so be sure to check their website for updates during the dates you visit, because you’ll never know who you might be able to meet!

In addition to being a three-story bookstore, Village Books also has a fantastic gift shop connected to the main floor called Paper Dreams. They have old school gift shop toys for kids (not junk), Washington merchandise, home decor, cards, old-timey candy, you name it. It’s a wonderful place for gifts or to take someone for souvenirs. Andrew’s mom loved it and actually found one of her favorite Bellingham, WA sweatshirts here!

Try various oils and vinegars at Drizzle

Drizzle is one of our favorite shops to visit because of their variety of oils, vinegars, seasonings, meats, cheese, crackers, wines, you name it! You can taste as many oils and vinegars as you want, as well as meats and cheeses, making it the perfect spot to stop before heading to a park for a little picnic, which we’ve done a couple of times before. At Drizzle, they’re passionate about olive oil and only select olive oils that meet their strict standards, which you can very much taste. They have fun flavors that are great for pairing with various cheeses they have in-house. We love a watermelon white balsamic for summer or an apple balsamic for fall. In addition, I have been obsessed with their wild dill olive oil recently and pretty much use it on everything, including all my salads. Another one of my favorite household staples is their white truffle salt… oh my goodness, it’s so delicious if you’re a truffle lover. Overall, I highly recommend just popping into Drizzle while walking around shops in downtown Fairhaven.

Explore the most magical used bookstore to get lost in

Eclipse Bookstore and Fine Art is a must for every book reader, but I have to warn you… You might end up in there for a while because it’s HUGE and PACKED to the brim. We got there right when they opened and walked around the entire top floor, then headed downstairs to another huge floor overflowing with books and books, and guess what? MORE BOOKS. Like, truly, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in such a big and packed-full used bookstore. It’s definitely overwhelming at times, but again, so worth it, and the owner is the kindest human. We found some awesome books that were on our list and some that we read the backs of and found interesting. Overall, it’s a great bookshop to get lost in, and you truly never know what you might find while meandering the stacks.

Check out the Whatcom Art Market

As you’re heading back over to the main downtown area of Fairhaven, you have to stop by the Whatcom Art Market. It’s a wonderful place to support local artists. It’s set up booth-style, with each artist having their own space to showcase whatever they want. From jewelry, prints, pottery, to even hand-made luggage tags, you’re sure to find something for yourself or a gift for someone you know. I love picking up some gorgeous cards with birds on them for my grandma. What’s great is that the artists change out their booths pretty frequently for each season, so it’s worth it to visit each time you’re in Fairhaven to see what they might have that’s new.

Head over to Marine Park to read and enjoy the ocean views

I love spending time at Marine Park, especially on a good-weather day. It’s about a thirteen-minute walk from the main downtown area or a three-minute drive. I highly suggest walking if it’s a nice day because of the views along the way. The park isn’t huge, but it’s usually pretty quiet and secluded and RIGHT on the water. Sometimes we’ll see people bringing their kayaks down to the water and pushing off from this point. I believe there are kayaks to rent at the park, too, which we may do next time. This park has been a staple for us for relaxing days, reading by the water, or bringing lunch and picnicking on the grass. You also never know what you might see swimming by in the bay, an orca, an otter, maybe even a seal!

Head over for some of the best pizza in Fairhaven for lunch

One of our go-to spots for lunch and for pizza in Fairhaven has to be Övn Wood Fired Pizza. We were recommended Övn when we first moved to the area in 2022, and it’s basically been a staple for us ever since. They have unique wood-fired pizzas that are just absolutely delicious. My favorites are the Maplesmith, which includes caramelized onions, mozzarella, Granny Smith apples, bacon, ricotta, lemon zest, and maple syrup, and the Sebba, which includes olive oil, marinated figs, mozzarella, smoked prosciutto, blue cheese, arugula, and balsamic glaze. Also, you can’t go wrong with their basic margarita pizza. We just love the overall vibe of the place, but it is fairly small and pretty popular for dinners, so be sure to get there early or go for lunch like we typically do. We actually prefer lunch because they have great specials: an 8-inch personal pizza and a house salad for just $18. Andrew likes to upgrade his salad to their kale salad for a couple of dollars more because it’s SO good!

Grab some pre-dinner cocktails at Galloway’s

Galloway’s Cocktail Bar is a lovely Art Deco themed cocktail bar connected to Fairhaven Village Inn and a must-visit while in Fairhaven because of its unique and delicious cocktails and light bites. The inside is perfect for conversations with friends and family, or even for a solo date with a book, thanks to its dim lighting and comfortable atmosphere. They have various little corners to escape to with a delicious cocktail in hand. When you first walk in, you gotta take a peek at their special board with their bartender’s choice cocktail for that evening. They’re usually what I end up ordering because they’re unique and sound delicious. Once, they had a mole (traditional Mexican sauce made from a blend of chiles, spices, nuts, seeds, and fruits) margarita that was SO freaking delicious. I still think about that drink years later. This time, we had one of their drinks from the specials board along with a drink from their Fairhaven Village Guest menu. I believe each hotel guest gets a complimentary cocktail or mocktail at Galloway’s, which is a nice little perk.

Regarding food, we love getting some light bites when we’re at a cocktail lounge, and this particular place has some good options. We’ve tried the baked Brie, charcuterie plate, stuffed jalapeños, and the olives, and I would absolutely get them all again - especially the charcuterie board that comes with salami, prosciutto, pistachios, olives, apples, pepper jelly, and some crackers. They also have a happy hour menu with discounted food items as well, and that’s the baked brie we love, with, I believe, pesto on top and served with apples and bread. I will mention that the food items on the happy hour menu are smaller than the normal menu food items, but honestly, we love it because we end up ordering two to three things to snack on and try, versus just one entree or shareable. In addition to their main inside area, they also have a patio space outside that’s great for sunny days when you can enjoy the gorgeous Washington weather.

Wander into some local shops on the way to dinner

Some of my favorite shops in all of Whatcom County are actually located in Fairhaven. My first stop when I visit is always Good Earth Pottery. They have been supporting clay artists in Fairhaven since 1969. The gallery regularly represents more than 35 curated artists, so there are always plenty of unique pieces to look at every time you visit. If you see a piece you love, you'd better buy it because next time it will be gone. This has unfortunately happened to me twice, and I’m so bummed about it, but you live and learn- twice for me, I guess, haha.

Get dinner and drinks at The Black Cat

The Black Cat is located on the 3rd floor of the old-world historic Sycamore Square building and offers a warm and welcoming charm, accented by exposed brick, original hardwood floors, and oversized windows showcasing views of Fairhaven & Bellingham Bay. It’s a wonderful place for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and we partake in all three fairly often. Their American bistro-style menu has something for everyone, literally. From Nana’s Pot Roast, Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese, and Beef Stroganoff to French Onion Soup and salads, they’ve got such a diverse menu. We take everyone who visits us here because of our love of the food, views, vibes, drinks, and the fact that it’s located in such a cool historic building.

For brunch, I love their fried chicken & waffles, biscuits & gravy, Dungeness crab cake eggs benedict, and their house bloody mary. When it comes to dinner, oh man, I’ve got a ton of favorites. We like to start with the Dungeness crab cakes, bacon-balsamic Brussels sprouts, and tempura-fried green beans (they are some of the best things ever)! For cocktails, they do a wonderful job! I love getting drinks from their staple cocktail menu, like an amaretto sour with egg white, but I have also had them make me something like a watermelon Moscow mule with a Tajin rim before. The entree options are vast, but some of my go-to staples are Nana’s pot roast, beef stroganoff, fish & chips, the French dip, French onion soup, and the signature cheeseburger. I highly recommend making reservations on their website or by calling, as it gets extremely busy due to its popularity with locals and visitors.

Additional things to do around Fairhaven

These are a few additional things to do in or near-ish Fairhaven you could add to your itinerary that I didn’t quite know where to put in an itinerary but were cool enough to mention!

Drive up or hike to Samish Overlook or Oyster Dome

Some of my all-time favorite views of the San Juan Islands in Bellingham are from Samish Overlook and Oyster Dome. You can drive up to Samish Overlook or hike to it from Chuckanut Drive. If you’re looking for an intense hike up some switchbacks from the highway, then go for the hike, but once was enough for us not to want to do that again, haha! We’re average hikers, but for me, I want a good view on the way up, and it was mostly just trees. From Chuckanut Drive to Oyster Dome and back, I think we did about 9 to 10 miles. When you drive up to Samish Overlook, you can start at the Oyster Dome Trailhead and head up, which is a little easier. In addition, there are some other trails you can find that make a circle and have some pretty views. We kinda just got on AllTrails or followed signs and followed a couple of different trails until reaching Oyster Dome, which had incredible views over the water. We always drive our friends up to Samish Overlook because of the amazing views, and it’s just a great place to show off where we live!

Check out one of our incredible state parks

About a seven-minute drive from downtown Fairhaven, along Chuckanut Drive, you’ll find a beautiful little oasis. Larrabee State Park is pretty iconic because it was established as Washington's first state park, which makes it especially special. Set on the seaward side of Chuckanut Mountain, Larrabee State Park is known for its postcard views of Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands. Visitors can enjoy a 2,748-acre camping park and explore 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline. I love grabbing a book or my Kindle on a nice day and heading to the park to sit on a giant boulder to read along the coastline. You can even pack a lunch and bring it with you to enjoy a picnic outside with a gorgeous PNW view.

Head over to one of our go-to breweries

Stone’s Throw has been a staple for us since moving to Washington in 2022. It feels as though they’re always throwing some sort of block party or event, which is so cool. We love some live music and even more food trucks than they usually have at their block parties. Even when they’re not throwing a block party, you’re sure to have a wonderful time walking from downtown to sit out and grab a beer, cider, or even some frosé. We love trying food from the various food trucks they have daily, and the last time we went, we had awesome Filipino food from That’s What I Like! Island Grill. I highly recommend their Chicken Lumpia with the sweet chili sauce.

Drive about 25 minutes to the ICONIC brewstillery, Terramar

We absolutely love this brewstillery, which is why I added it to my Fairhaven itinerary: it’s technically not in Fairhaven and actually in Edison, WA. However, from Fairhaven, you can drive along the iconic and beautiful Chuckanut Road all the way to Edison and take in the epic views of the ocean and the San Juan Islands. We found out about Terramar when we had their Harvest Cider and were like “wow, this is amazing where is this from?!” We ended up driving to the brewstillery right after to check it out and have been coming back periodically ever since. What’s awesome about Terramar is that they’re an award-winning brewery, distillery, and cidery that pays tribute to the fertile farmlands of Skagit Valley. They have a brewery area, a speakeasy, and then a big backyard area. We’ve experienced all three and love that there are options for whatever mood you’re in. In addition to drinks, they have great food! Some of our favorites are Ralf’s Bavarian Pretzel, the Margarita Pizza, the Forager Pizza, and the Spicy Bella Pizza. Overall, we HIGHLY recommend Terramar for a date night, groups, you name it!

Walk the trails surrounding Fairhaven

One thing I always talk about and love about the Pacific Northwest is that there’s always a trail or place to walk around every corner. That’s the joke here, that you’ve always gotta be dressed for a hike when you go out, haha! While you’re in Fairhaven, pull up AllTrails to see a ton of interconnecting trails that even lead into Larrabee State Park, I believe. If you’re looking for a shorter walk, I highly recommend starting on Harris Street and heading along Larrabee Trail. Then the trail turns into the Interurban Trail and head into a gorgeous little park.

Attend some local events in Fairhaven

There are always events that are going on in Fairhaven, so be sure to follow along here. There are numerous events held by local businesses or even Fairhaven itself. We just did the annual Chocolate Walk for Valentine’s Day, and it was so much fun. You walk around like you’re trick-or-treating and gather gourmet chocolate from local businesses. We can’t wait to participate next year too!

Overall, Fairhaven Village is the cutest little Stars Hollow town and great to visit any time of year, but my personal favorites are Summer and Fall! Have you ever been to Fairhaven before? Are you now planning a trip here?

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THE ULTIMATE 48 HOUR ITINERARY IN FAIRHAVEN VILLAGE IN BELLINGHAM, WA