11 Best Coffee Shops for a First Date

Ohh! A date! I’m cheering you on through the internet! Seems like you’ve done all the hard work: the who, what, and now to decide the where! You really can’t go wrong with any of the coffee shops in town. I’ll dive into some ideas, in no particular order, to give you some inspiration.

Mercato delle Bontà

Located in the Granary Building they have such a great location to sit and chat on a sunny day or wander the small park to Trackside. Their coffee and bites are phenomenal. I will daydream about their Black & White cookies regularly. A decent option for a first date in Bellingham simply because it’s on the quieter side if that’s what you’re after but with a small amount of shops to cruise through just in the Granary Building like Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress — which m y husband and I have lost half an hour too easily just wandering through.

COF&

100% Colombian coffee cultivated under shade in of trees in tropical forests! The atmosphere is amazing in there. Their Cappuccino Gold is so delicious. Plus all the Matcha-Lovers in my life swear they have the best Matcha. This location is open but offers an air of privacy to each table. They also have some food if your date is falling between that “to eat or not to eat” time of day. Bonus: you can visit the Neko: Cat Cafe which is nearby if you discover your date is a fan of cats or go for a wander to Trackside which isn’t terribly far.

The Coffee Shop by Hammerhead Coffee Roasters

This spot took over the old Co-op Bakery space and have turned it into The Coffee Shop. My stomach literally rumbled thinking about their biscuit sandwiches. I’ve recently been picking The Italian lunch sandwhich as my Go-To. For a date, you’ll have plenty of space to pick from with both indoor and outdoor seating and great coffee. Nothing beats standing next to your date and ordering asking for a “16 oz ‘Birch, Please’ Latte” say it with swag to really impress your date.

Ashuri Baklava Cafe

Ashuri serves up authentic traditional baklava, coffee and more. This coffee spot offers really cool intimate atmosphere that is few and far between. I love the cups and real coffee connoisseur are in for a treat.

Woods Coffee at Boulevard

This is a fun one for a date because you can get your coffee and sit in the upper level, by the fireplace, outside, or a window seat overlooking the water. If the date is going well you can go for walk around Boulevard park, the Boardwalk, and end up in Fairhaven for a bite to eat. Or start on the go! Get your coffee and wander if you’re not sure you can sit still! Mother nature is one of the greatest “wingmen” out there and this space offers all of that. People watching, dogs galore, and the water to be mesmerized with.

Adagio

This has some great coffee and a quiet atmosphere in my experience. It’s very close to the Bus Station so if you’re coming from Western or somewhere else in town it’s very accessible in that regards. I will warn, resist ordering the Hot Chocolate if it’s a date! They put DELICIOUS cocoa powder on the top of the whipped cream but it will 100% stick to your face and I’ve had that awkward experience so you can decide if you’re ready for that — Or just ask to not have the powder on the top.

Avellino Coffeehouse

This is a smaller spot that I’ve only been to occassionally. But it really showcases your local knowledge for choosing this easily skipped spot. So if you want to show off to your date, this could be an option but you might have to be ready to pivot if it is full. They also offer signature baked goods and according to them — their, “best kept "secret"- homemade biscuits and gravy!” which, sounds so tasty!

Pure Bliss

OH. MY. GOD. Pure Bliss. Is truly an experience true to it’s namesake: It is pure bliss. They offer great slices of cakes to go with your coffee, have beautiful mugs that just make you feel classy, a fun an quirky decor that lends itself to a chatty-atmosphere. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options and a rotating option of cakes. For date purposes, one draw back could be that it does get noisy and there is a huge range of folks that come through. So, this is a more public-date than some of the other options listed for sure.

ROAM Coffee + Beer

I love the bright pop that ROAM offers. They have picnic tables outside and a cozy inside as well. For a date it offers a bright and sunny vibe with coffee that is delicious. It’s a quieter space but they do host some fun events so be sure to check their calendar to make sure you want that to collide with your first date. Bonus: they have board games you can play while you’re there.

Cafe Velo

Are you and your dates into bonding over your love of bikes? Or maybe you’re like me and never learned how to ride a bike but you love a good cup of coffee! This vintage-themed bike themed coffee shop is a real treat and a great spot to chat and find a small community. Their French-style menu includes decadent lattes and delicious grilled sandwiches. Bonus: You’re near Maritime Heritage Park and can stroll through there and find a nice little walk and if the season is right you can watch Salmon jump on the Fish Ladder of Whatcom Creek.

Makeworth

I love the upstairs space for dates — I’m not sure there is an elevator though, so make note of that! This shop is bright and almost always full — Yet there will be table waiting for you to find. If for some reason this is a “working” date, you can certainly lay out papers and laptops and take over a table. I’ve seen folks sit in there for hours.

In Summary — You can't go wrong on a Coffee Date in Bellingham!

I think this list could go on and on and on, but I’m going to stop there for now. In writing this list, you can’t really find bad coffee in Bellingham. They all have differences and yeahhh sometimes it’s not roasted the best, but across the board there are plenty of places and local roasters to explore and try. So my best advice is to check out the aesthetic of the places, decide if your date is a quiet conversation kind of date or one where you’re up for exploring! Have a lovely date!