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Where are the best date night spots in Bellingham? See top 10 picks on Yelp

Ruckus Room Arcade and Fun Center on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in downtown Bellingham at 1423 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Wash.
Ruckus Room Arcade and Fun Center on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in downtown Bellingham at 1423 Railroad Ave. Bellingham, Wash. The Bellingham Herald

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which means many Bellingham-area residents are looking for fun ways to spend the holiday.

Fortunately, the city offers plenty of fun activities for you and your sweetheart, according to popular review site Yelp.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 3, the top 10 options for date night in the Bellingham area ranged from an outdoor movie theater and escape rooms to video game parlors and a pottery painting studio, Yelp said.

Here’s where to go:

Pickford Cinema sponsors the Rooftop Cinema Series atop the Commercial Street Parking Garage.
Pickford Cinema sponsors the Rooftop Cinema Series atop the Commercial Street Parking Garage. Jake Holt Photography Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

Rooftop Cinema

Address: 1300 Commercial St., Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 4 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: “It’s seriously THE place to see and be seen (and see a movie)!” Yelp user Jennifer J. of Mount Vernon wrote in her review of Rooftop Cinema. “Bring yourself a chair, and a blanket ‘cuz it does get a little breezy up there.” She recommended grabbing a pizza to go and eating it during the movie.

Contact: 360-647-1300

The Eureka Room

Address: 114 West Magnolia St., Suite No. 105, Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 4.7 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp user Howard H. of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, says this Bellingham escape room offers a “great storyline” and excellent puzzles that are “challenging but not impossible.” “This was truly a great way to spend an hour together,” the Yelp reviewer said, adding that he would “highly recommend Eureka Room for anyone who wants to experience an escape room. Kudos for a great time!”

Contact: 360-626-6037

Smash Alley

Address: 930 North State St., Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 2.3 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp user Carrie V. of Vancouver, British Vancouver, said Smash Alley, which offers a “unique rage room experience,” was “super helpful, kind and accommodating to five teenage boys and my daughter. They had all sorts of fun things to break, from toilets to TVs and bottles.”

Contact: 360-800-3069

Ruckus Room Arcade and Fun Center

Address: 1423 Railroad Ave., Bellingham Average Yelp rating: 3.9 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: “This place is fun!” Yelp user Nolan L. of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, wrote in his review. “Ruckus Room has old-school video games, table games, skee ball, claw machines, pinball and a few modern games as well.” The Yelp reviewer also praised the “awesome and super friendly” staff and snack bar, calling the arcade “a great hangout spot for all ages!”

Contact: 360-255-0453

The 1-Up Lounge, a gaming bar on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 at 1121 McKenzie Ave. in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, Wash.
The 1-Up Lounge, a gaming bar on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 at 1121 McKenzie Ave. in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, Wash. Alyse Smith The Bellingham Herald

1-Up Lounge

Address: 1121 McKenzie Ave., Bellingham Average Yelp rating: 4.2 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: “This place is really special,” Yelp reviewer Patrick G. of California said, praising the Bellingham barcade’s approach to gaming. “Sharing games with your friends is what makes gaming memories last,” the Yelp user wrote. “Thanks for creating the most unique and thoughtful space for really enjoying games and employing staff that understands that.”

Contact: 360-398-6183

CreativiTea is a pottery painting and glass fusing studio at 1312 11th St., in Fairhaven.
CreativiTea is a pottery painting and glass fusing studio at 1312 11th St., in Fairhaven. THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

CreativiTea

Address: 1312 11th St., Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 4.4 stars What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp user Shana W. of Santa Fe, New Mexico, called the Bellingham pottery painting studio a “fun place for all ages!” The staff was so helpful and walk you through the process,” the Yelp reviewer wrote. “You can order tea and scones or sandwiches to enjoy while you are painting.”

Contact: 360-752-1724

Aim & Game

Address: 5610 Barrett Road, Ferndale

Average Yelp rating: 4.3 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp reviewer Kylie V. of Richland says Aim & Game, an activity center offering everything from ax throwing to classic arcade games, is “such a cool spot!” “We had a great time!” the reviewer wrote. “(The) machines/games work good and we loved the ball room.”

Contact: 360-739-2992

LockerBreaker Escapes

Address: 1208 Bay St., Suite 105, Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 5 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: “What a great escape room!” Yelp user Anne B. of Auburn wrote in her review of LockerBreaker Escapes. “The puzzles were challenging and very creative. The host was so friendly and helpful. We highly recommend this place and can’t wait to return ....”

Contact: 360-656-6887

CLO-BIZPROV
Debbie Kiene of Horizon Bank and Bill Long of Banner Bank, left, struggle to make up a story one word at a time at The Upfront Theatre, Tuesday morning , Oct. 20, 2009 during "BizProv." The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and the theater sponsored four of the workshops Tuesday that focused on using the communication and team-building skills from improvisational comedy in daily business. For more, go to bellinghamherald.com/photos. THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

The Upfront Theatre

Address: Sylvia Center for the Arts, 207 Prospect St., Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 4.2 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp user Kristen H. of Birch Bay called The Upfront Theatre a “great little, cozy theatre space” known for its live improvisational comedy. “There are snacks and drinks available for sale” and the “service was great,” she said. “(A) cast member checked to ask if we enjoyed ourselves.”

Contact: 360-200-8697

The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge

Address: 1220 North State St., Bellingham

Average Yelp rating: 3.8 stars

What Yelp reviewers are saying: Yelp user Kristen K. of Bellingham praised The Racket Bar & Pinball Lounge’s “super friendly atmosphere.” “(I) love the pinball. The tater tots are delicious,” the Yelp reviewer added.

Contact: 360- 778-1067

How did Yelp come up with top 10 list?

To create its top 10 lists Yelp highlights restaurants and other spots that are “currently most popular with Yelp users in that area,” Cece Rulon, senior public relations coordinator at Yelp, said in an email to the Bellingham Herald.

Rankings are “based on a combination of factors like overall rating, number of reviews, recent reviews, recent ratings and recent pageviews,” Rulon said.

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Julia Hawkins
The Bellingham Herald
Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
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