The Fireside Martini & Wine Bar

This is the place to come if you want to be part of a «friends» family. Very personable and great food and drinks.

This is one of the best bars in Bellingham! They make fantastic drink and have wonderful food! I come here as often as I can. They have live music some nights which is nice. The staff is wonderful! The owners J.D. and Becky are super nice and go out of their way to make sure that you are having a good time. If you go there more than once they will remember your name! Its my version of Cheers!

The drinks were great, but the ambiance was more of a sports bar. The dress code was very relaxed, and even inappropriate for this «trendy» place, and the live band was very loud, overpowering any conversations that you might have come here to enjoy with your friends. It is definitely only my opinion, but this place did not meet my expectations of a martini bar.

(We posted same on TripAdvisor) :-) Myself and fiancé at the time (now husband :-)) looked everywhere in Bellingham for a space to accommodate a party size of about 45 for our Rehearsal Dinner. We wanted something easy to wander around and mingle with also good food and drink selection. The owners were enthusiastic about providing us the space, closing their doors for our private party, and constantly staying in communication with me about menu ideas. When we arrived, the place was beautifully set up. Martinis were AMAZING, staff was friendly and inviting, and food was DELICIOUS. Our family and friends had such a great time during this «rehearsal mingle» that it is still being talked about today (weeks later).
I definitely recommend this stylish yet quaint restaurant for a casual time with family and/​or friends as well as if you are looking for a group event. Contact the owner and you will see why we are so impressed! :-)
Thanks you, Fireside!!!

This is in response to Laura and Tanya who apparently are offended by common sense courtesy. And, by the way, only one of them were present when the owner asked very politely for her to relocate if she didn’t need 4 seats. As the party of FIVE who were looking for space to celebrate a birthday, we so appreciated being seated and had a super great time. So try to grow up ladies and get over yourselves. There were plenty of cushy chairs for a party of two. She didnt ask you to sit in the parking lot.
This bar serves up fabulous food and drinks… and strives to do so for all of their customers. We will be back again and again, so who needs crabby clientele.
Thanks JD!

This awful, unforgivable experience happened to my Lovely Cousin, Friday the 16^th, 2015
PSA: I will NEVER go to Fireside Martini Bar again!!! I was sitting on a 2 seat couch waiting for my friend & when the waitress finally came over she asked if it was just me. Told her I was waiting & she asked me to find somewhere else to sit, they get really busy during happy hour & should find somewhere for 2 people. I slowly said OK being a little shocked by her approach. She walks away & I hear her talking about me at the bar! She comes back, sits 3 women down & looks at me «are you going to move?». I ask to speak to a manager ’ she informs me she’s the OWNER… I’m still calm at this point & let her know I’ve never been here & her talking about me at the bar was very unprofessional. She ask me to leave as I was already getting up to leave… then starts talking about me to the group of ladies she just seated!!! I’m honestly in shock… I’ve had some bad customer service before but this is definitely the WORST EXPERIENCE EVER.

Fun, relaxing place to go. Great place to go to hang out with a few people as it’s very comfortable. The food and drinks are great too.

I had passed this little place a number of times on my way to school. Being a fan of great mixed drinks I was curious to check out this little bar and see if it had a good vibe. The inside décor is great. It has a sophisticated feel and the bar counter is a beautiful gray/​brown granite. I went at around 1pm and I was happily greeted by the bar tender. The bar tender was extremely helpful and was knowledgable in all the liquors they carried. He even let me try a couple and explained the history and science begin

Very annoying they are open till 10pm but have a late night food menu starting at 8 with no mention of this on the menu posted online.
Having the bartender who admits she does not like to cook be the only option for 2 hours shows the owner is not interested in being a food service venue just drinks. Was sad to also hear profanity in an environment that advertises with relaxing music and a wine setting not a bar.
The server was nice and recommended other places to eat it is not her fault the owner will not give her a cook. The owner really needs to be upfront on their website and not say you are open till 10 if you are on a Non existent menu posted online.

Frequent visitor, awesome music, great setting. Probably one of the best bars in Bellingham. Food is good, drinks are always on point.
Bartender was mentioned as being «bitchy», she most definitely is NOT. In fact, she is great and lovely and very easy on the eyes. Go check this place out. You won’t regret it.

I really want to love this place because of its potential! The location and ambiance are great! However, the wine is bottom shelf grocery store wine. The cheese plate comes with sandwich slices and Club crackers. If they would just carry more high end wines, I would make this my weekly hangout.

Love this place! The atmosphere is comfortable, relaxed, classy and sophisticated all at the same time. The owners are amazing people who really get to know their customers! The owner JD, loves to pick your brain on what you like and dislike. The staff they have hired are down to earth people who love to make their clients smile! If you like a little spice in your life have the Marilyn Martini… if it’s not spicy enough just let them know!

This is a great little place in a part of town that has very few (if any) great little places to go for a drink. The bartenders are friendly and make a mean martini (or whatever else you want to drink), and their tiny kitchen can whip up some yummy deliciousness for your tummy. The ambiance is dark and modern, and definitely more upscale than other Bellingham establishments. It’s a good place for a ladies night out, or a romantic date. They also have a good happy hour ($ 5 martinis!) and are open for lunch.

Service was lacking. Served food without providing dinnerware and napkins first. Food took forever to prepare. Quality of food was so-​so. Nothing exceptional here. Will not be back anytime soon.

Pro: place is cool inside and has good food and drinks…
Not Pro: with all the great décor if the curtain is open the kitchen looks disgusting from the bar. Boxes and crap disorganized
Bad: the Bitchy bartender. Rude, disorganized and the reason we won’t be back. They seemed way understaffed so maybe that’s why but a bar with attitude is so 90’s …be nice to your customers.

We LOVE the Fireside!
My boyfriend and I love going to the Fireside and is our absolute favorite place to stop in for a few drinks, food, and music.
Since the very first time we went to the Fireside, Becky and JD have been amazing and their service is the best! We were so impressed after coming in for the second time after a few months had past since we had last been in, they remembered us by first name, remembered our favorite drinks, and felt like we were amongst friends and always feel welcome. Ever since, this has been our go-​to place!
The atmosphere is classy yet cozy, they have live music, which is always so much fun, and their drinks and food are the best with great drink specials! JD is amazing at making drinks and will make them just how you like them or create a new concoction!
Whenever we get a chance to go out for a few drinks, this is the place we love to always come back to!

This place lost points with me. This time when I went there I got a hair in my food. My wife took the plate to the guy working and showed him the hair. The guy said to her, «What do you want me to do about it?» I think this guy has quite an attitude and is not very customer service oriented. That is by far one of the worst answers I’ve heard in response to a complaint. And it’s a very legitimate complaint.
Last time we were there it was a different guy and he was very friendly and accommodating.
I think next time we go there I won’t stay if I see that guy with an attitude is working.

Ask for the FAIR Quinoa Vodka in any Martini they make. Its a bit more pricey to use it, but OMGee. Mind blown. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. Ask anyone in Bellingham, «Where do you go to drink Martini’s?» And the first place they say is «The Fireside». There is a reason for that. Matt Lane makes a mean cocktail and JD really knows his stuff.

This is my favorite place in Bellingham to grab a drink. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming the owners make your drinks so you know they care about what they are giving you. The selection is amazing for a little place like this and their hot food was surprising pretty amazing. Service was prompt and polite. Overall this is exactly I’m looking for when I want a causal well crafted drink in Bellingham.

I’ve been here four times and tried to like it. Really. The owner/​bartender was increasingly hostile — the last visit he flat ignored me, and made a snide comment about my visit to boot. I will never go back.
Note: I will add there were few people in here at 8PM on a Friday night. I question the validity of some of these reviews. There are superb bars and pubs in downtown Bellingham that cater to a wide variety of people.