Bringing Nautical Charm to Downtown Bellingham

Admiralty Lounge

WRITTEN BY TAYLER ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY COCOA LANEY

IF YOU PASS by the Mount Baker Theatre, you may ask yourself, what happened to the bar next door?

Replacing Snowy River Cocktail Lounge is the Admiralty Lounge, a nautical-themed bar with a mouthwatering menu that ranges from a savory tomato-based seafood soup called the Fisherman’s Stew to the Harvest Plate consisting of leafy gai lan, bok choy, smoky grilled squash, and sweet potatoes. All in all, Admiralty Lounge reflects the nautical nature of Bellingham and the waters of Puget Sound.

But before officially opening the bar in March 2023, Admiralty sat on Owner Jabriel Donohue’s mind for a decade.

“An old buddy of mine and I had talked about doing a bar called Holdfast, and then somebody else beat us to it, but the notion of having a little cocktail lounge in the back of it called the Admiralty Lounge as the fancy portion has always stuck around,” Donohue says.

Luckily, Donohue was presented with an opportunity to purchase a spot in Downtown Bellingham.

“We looked at it and it was such a beautiful space and it had so much potential that we decided to go for it,” says Donohue. “I grew up here. I grew up partly on the water. My dad and I lived on his sailboat for quite a while in the

‘80s and there’s something about the nautical nature of Puget Sound that just felt right.”

With Donohue’s youth being spent on and around the San Juan Islands, he knew he wanted a menu that reflected the culture and history of the region.

“They [sailors and people in the navy] would often set up farms about every week on their voyages. So, we think about them getting out to sea and sailing for months and months, and that just wasn’t the case,” says Donohue. “They couldn’t keep provisions that regularly, so they would just bounce off of coasts.”

That’s why customers can taste vegetarian options, seafood options, and meat options.

You’re in good hands regarding drinks, as Donohue acted as the president of the Oregon Bartender’s Guild in the early part of the 2010s before moving back to Bellingham. He works with his general manager to create potent and refreshing drinks with names that fit the theme, like The Sailor’s Delight, made with Grey Goose Strawberry, lemongrass, bitter orange, and Cremant (a sparkling wine).

Focusing solely on creating delicious meals and drinks, the menu is straightforward but promising.

“We’re starting a little simple with this we have a pretty extensive cocktail background, but we don’t want to come in and just terrify people,” says Donohue. “Right now, we’re just focused on being delicious, on brand if you will, with our themes and just as good as we can make it.”

If you are at Mount Baker Theatre, don’t hesitate to pop into Admiralty next door. Donohue suggests getting the “iconic” Imperial Swine, a succulent deep-fried porchetta paired with roasted potatoes and tangy sauerkraut. Pair it with the Wellerman, a Jamaican rum-fronted drink with a hint of lime and lemongrass. Perfect for an opening act! 100 N. Commercial St., Bellingham, theadmiraltylounge.com 