The Real McCoy

Bellingham, United States

4.8

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 360-392-8051
Website:
therealmccoybar.com
Address:
114 Prospect St, Bellingham, WA, 98225
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1 miSouthbound WWU - Viking Union
1.1 miNorthbound WWU - Haggard Hall
1.5 miSouthbound WWU - Birnam Wood
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Dinner
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
No
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Good For Dancing
No
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No
Has Pool Table
No

Today

Today 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Bellingham) 3:49 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thursday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

At The Real McCoy Home Bar & Kitchen we provide good drink, good food and good company in a comfortable setting. Come celebrate both the speakeasy barrooms of the prohibition era and the innovative barman of today. We hope your experience was as genuine as the spirits we pour!

History

Established in 2012.

In the year 1919, the Volstead Act prohibited «intoxicating beverages» within the United States. The American cocktail was forced into underground bars and hidden rooms, where patrons raised their glasses in defiance of the ban on alcohol.

How were these people getting their illegal drinks? Thanks in large part to bootleggers like William McCoy. A sea captain by trade, McCoy turned his affection for boats into one of the most famous bootlegging businesses of all time. The key was that McCoy’s liquor was genuine imported spirits, not bathtub gin or moonshine.

He was known for never watering down his liquor or changing labels on bottles to increase profits. This forced his competition to try and seize his legacy by claiming their own illicit drinks as the «The Real McCoy.» Despite the desperate efforts of his competitors, the genuine quality of William McCoy’s imported spirits stood on its own, and the story remains as true now as it did then, everyone still seeks… The Real McCoy.

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20 reviews of The Real McCoy

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Ferndale, WA
I like this place. I would have given it 5 stars except for the unclean table knife I got when I ate there last. We usually have sliders and a mixed drink, both of which are done well. Service is good. Beware. It caters to the lawyer and poncy college professor crowd, but it is sometimes quite hilarious when Nancy «Jane Austen is the greatest writer in the English language» the English prof has a little too much to drink and goes off on one of her rants.
Place rating: 5
Bellevue, WA
Ok, This is my umpteenth time here but first review. Outstanding place with amazing atmosphere and amazing drinks and amazing food. The oxtail dish is their absolute best. Also enjoyed the salad and mussels. All really delicious.
Place rating: 5
San Antonio, TX
Delicious! Not a long wait time, cocktails are one of a kind, entrees are even better!
Place rating: 5
Maple Valley, WA
Outstanding specialized menu. Cocktails are very well thought out and simply fresh and delicious!
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
What a great spot for some delicious craft cocktails!
As you step inside, it’s spacious enough, although there is limited seating.
I had the Jungle Bird — gin, lime, pineapple gum, Campari. YUM! Refreshing for a warm summer day.
I also tried their slider (not sliders — as it only comes with one). Delicious and the perfect complement to my cocktail.
Parking can be tricky, but after 5:30pm there is a lot next door with their reserved parking. Free parking is always a plus!
Definitely stop by for some serious cocktails.
Place rating: 5
Vancouver, Canada
I had 3 small dishes to share, and it was the perfect amount for 2 people. The food was AMAZING. Very inventive dishes, great combination of flavours and textures. If this place was in Vancouver it would cost double the price.
I came in for dinner and found the place on Unilocal.Had a fantastic experience, way beyond my expectations. The menu is small, but does’t lack in great options to choose from. It seems they have well crafted drinks as well, but I didn’t try it. Will definitely come back whenever I visit Bellingham again.
Place rating: 5
Thorp, WA
Yes! Craft cocktails. Very well done. The owner cares very much about the drinks he makes, and it shows.
Place rating: 5
Lynnwood, WA
It’s like someone built this place specifically because someone decided I needed a happy place.
Place rating: 5
Anacortes, WA
First time for my wife and I – Amazing. Great food, service, and cocktails!!! The spot for the discerning palate. Great atmosphere. Best in Bellingham.
Place rating: 4
Bellingham, WA
I have got to come back here for food!
Pros?
–delicious drinks
–friendly service
–cute place
Cons?
–hungry Sarah got the kitchen closed early on her…
Place rating: 5
Bellingham, WA
Excellent food. Best cocktails in town. Their bartender knows every special drink you can think of, or will improvise according to what your in the mood for. Dim lit, perfect ambiance, great for a date. Dress up or down! A must see in Bellingham.
Five stars easy. Love it!
Place rating: 5
Bellingham, WA
This was my first visit to The Real McCoy and I was instantly a fan. Brandon was an excellent host at the bar. He listened to my interests and suggested the best cocktail for me. Even though patrons quickly entered, he was engaged and active with each group. I will consider this establishment my primary happy hour/​after work experience.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Stopped in for some small bites and a drink. The Oxtail was recommended to us (never something I would order on my own!) and it was divine, so tender! House special Old Fashions were great as well. Atmosphere is swanky, but really comfortable at the same time. Wish they had more tables though, it’s tiny and accommodating more than 4 people would be tough; would be a really perfect date spot though
Place rating: 4
Belltown, Seattle, WA
Love the ambiance here. The waitress was friendly but kept her distance, the lights were low, the drinks were fancy. My only complaint was that the drinks on the menu seemed a little too «designer» for my liking.
Place rating: 5
Bellingham, WA
This is such a sweet space. The service is attentive (and if you live in B’ham, you know that isn’t all that common), the food — a limited menu of small tapas — is really great, the beverages are inventive and very good (yay for wine on tap) and the space is friendly and welcoming.
We’ve been here a few times, after stumbling on it during a walk and it is rapidly becoming one of our very favorite places, because it hits everything that’s important to us on a night out.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
This place is fantastic. The food is great and so are the classic cocktails
The clams are probably the best clams I have ever had. Smokey.
We also had baked chorizo wontons and blistered poblano pepper. Wow !
Their food is amazing and so are their cocktails. and the atmosphere is fabulous. Tv for sports, small and quaint.
We might even make Bellingham a destination just to come to this place.(from Seattle)
Place rating: 4
Bellingham, WA
Super cute spot. My husband and I went there, and had to share the wall counter with another couple which was fine. I just wish they had more seating!
I had the Whiskey flight (YUM), and my husband had some beer I can’t remember, but I tried a sip and it was really smooth and delicious. We tried their slider and mushroom tacos. Will definitely get those again.
Place rating: 5
Bellingham, WA
Simply the freshest, tastiest and certainly most creative craft cocktails north of Ballard. No need to leave the City of Subdued Excitement for a taste of exceptional tapas and prohibition-​era libations… simply wander into The Real McCoy, relax in the comfortable, laid back setting and use the coinage you saved for a couple extra drinks or another amazing small plate. Sure beats sitting in a car for 3 hours dodging traffic and the occasional sinking bridge… am I right?
Brandon, Marin and their talented, über-​friendly crew got it dialed in from the get-​go and it just keeps getting better. Exceptional service, wonderful attention to every detail and a great vibe will ensure your first visit will not be your last. Oh yeah… don’t forget to «Obey the Giant».
Place rating: 5
Bellingham, WA
I was finally able to check out this new little hole-​in-​the-​wall place last night, and while it doesn’t look like much from outside, appearances can be very decieving! While fairly small, the décor manages to feel cozy and modern at the same time. The service was excellent, our waitress taking the time to explain food and drink items in detail even with a packed house. And the most important part of course — the drinks were amazing, we tried three different specialty cocktails and we loved each one. And the food really blew our minds too. Small dishes, just a few select choices, but each really packed with flavor. The lamb skewers in particular, you just have to try.
Can’t wait to go back, I hope this place does well because it’s a real jewel.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
I came in here with a few friends on Saturday. For their grand opening week things certainly went off without a hitch! Great drinks, superb service, and a packed house. This bar has a very laid back yet classy vibe which I am a fan of.
The drink menu is great. They have prohibition-​era cocktails, wine, and beer. Including an Old Fashioned cocktail and some wines on tap which I had never seen before, even in Seattle. I had more than my fair share of cocktails and they all went down easy and tasted amazing. My favorite was the Nasturtium — you must try it! We munched on some lavender almonds and they were so good. I definitely want to try their small plates in the future … if they’re anything as good as the cocktails then I will be in for quite a treat.