Give the gift of local: Downtown Bellingham gift guide, from eateries to shops

Still need to grab some gifts for everyone on your list? Shop local this holiday season at these downtown Bellingham shops:

Downtown Bellingham gift shops

• Cresswell Boggs: features jewelry, stationary, accessories, kitchen items, toys, books and other gifts. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1300 Railroad Ave.
• Ideal: features accessories, art and craft supplies, books, decor, kitchen items and more. Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at 1227 Cornwall Ave.
• Third Planet Boutique: features clothing, stationary, accessories, toys and more gifts. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 200 W Holly St.
• Greenhouse: features home decor, kitchen items, dinnerware, body care items, and holiday gifts. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 1210 N State St.

Downtown Bellingham restaurants

Want to give the gift of a night out? Grab a gift card from one of these local restaurants:

• Aslan Brewing Company: housemade beer, tacos, sandwiches and rice bowls.

• Black Sheep Bellingham: A Mexican bar with tacos, enchiladas, craft cocktails and nachos.
• Sweet As Waffles: sweet and savory waffles, coffee drinks and cocktails.

• Schweinhaus Biergarten: German sausages, beer, and pretzels.
• Cafe Rumba: Peruvian sandwiches, soups, pastries and drinks.
• The Admiralty Lounge: a nautical-themed bar with craft cocktails, seafood, steak, sliders and more.

• Old Town Cafe: omelettes, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, scrambles and sandwiches.
• Camber Coffee: coffee shop and roastery with espresso drinks, pastries and tea.

• Chocolate Necessities & Gelato: espresso drinks, gelato, pastries and chocolates.
• Caffe Adagio: espresso drinks, tea, pastries and sandwiches.
• Starla’s: pizza, natural wines, salads and appetizers.

Looking for more downtown businesses and restaurants? Visit The Downtown Bellingham Partnerships’ website for more information on downtown shops, restaurants, events and more.

This story was originally published December 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM.

Alyse Smith

The Bellingham Herald

Alyse Smith is a reporter at The Bellingham Herald covering retail, restaurants, jobs and business. If you like stories like this, please consider supporting our work with a subscription to our newspaper.