(thewoodscoffee.com) – Bellingham
How I heard of this place: My sister, Mojgan. When Woods first opened its Boulevard Park doors, I’m convinced that Mojgan was among its first customers. While visiting our parents in Bellingham, she discovered, and couldn’t stop raving about this perfect coffee shop; a cafe in the middle of Boulevard Park, overlooking Bellingham Bay and serving delicious java! I have marked this particular Woods Coffee (one of ten locations in Whatcom County) as a place to venture often.
Type of cuisine: Cafe fare – coffees, teas, blended, iced and hot beverages. Tasty treats from sandwiches to scones and muffins. Pastries, gluten free as well as the real stuff.
Ambiance: Cozy, comfortable, homey. The Boulevard Park location has high ceilings with loft seating upstairs for those wishing to be out of the way of the leather sofas and bustling crowds placing orders. Outdoor seating just ten feet away from the bay can be enjoyed in the summer and in the winter near the double-sided fireplace. Rustic feel with a modern vibe.
What I ordered: On my most recent visits, after walking in the sun and heat of a beautiful Bellingham summer with family, I enjoyed the Avalanche ($4.50) – a blended concoction of espresso (double decaf ristretto for me), white chocolate, vanilla ice cream, caramel and coconut. The 16-ounce size is deemed the Cedar. I also sampled a gluten free brownie ($4), which was creamy, soft, moist and fudgey, though still had the lingering grittiness of tapioca flour. My sister enjoyed an iced Americano ($3).
On a subsequent visit just two days later, our group had the following: two Avalanches, two mocha shakes ($4.50) – with espresso, chocolate and ice cream, one large, iced Americano with cream and whipped cream, and an iced tea with lemonade (unsweetened).
What I loved: The Avalanche was the perfect frozen beverage for a hot afternoon sample of sweet and caffeinated deliciousness! The 16-ounce beverages were downed by everyone in record time and happily talked about for hours afterward!
Why I loved it: The environment, the view, the proximity to a walking path, frisbee players and a playground make this the ideal spot for coming to people watch, to study, enjoy conversations with friends, or share a romantic day out with your sweetie. It’s the best thing that could have come from an abandoned pottery studio in the midst of Boulevard Park.
Cost: Average ($3-$5 for coffee beverages)