Yelp says "Permanently closed" - Not True!!!!! Still in Fairhaven, 1220 Harris Ave in Sycamore Square. Love the scrumptious pastries!!! read more

How I heard of this place: My sister's ventured here one morning and decided when we were next in town, they would bring us to try the yummy cafe food/drink and enjoy the historic, unabashedly Bellingham vibe. Type of cuisine: Espresso beverages, croissant-based pastries and breakfast/lunch sandwiches. Sweet pastries also available, though we were in a savory mood on this visit. Ambiance: Well, the literal hole-in-the-wall that is Shirlee Bird has very little to speak of, though the tiny space, including the display of food offerings is cluttered and packed full of everything. Merchandise, artwork, food and supplies cover every inch of the small walk-up counter space. The vibe is chill and very Bellingham from the 90s. It's sweet and nostalgic. We were happy to see that tables and chairs are available inside the building's lobby courtyard, complete with fountain feature. We took our spots and explored the historic building, climbing several floors of stairs and noticing the businesses housed within until our food/beverages were ready. What I ordered: The Croissant ($13) and The Griller ($13), as well as a sundried tomato, pesto gallette were our food orders. A dark chocolate mocha, an Americano, and two steamed milks with caramel sauce for dessert beverages. What I loved: The mocha, while way to hot to sip for quite some time, had a lovely, deep, dark flavor, not too sweet and well-balanced. The sandwiches were yummy, including herby scrambled eggs and flavorful, smoky ham. If only the croissant wasn't burnt to a blackened crisp, I think the sandwiches would have been amazingly wonderful, creamy, dreamy. Why I loved it: The service was friendly - though it seems the young barista was in a hurry, preparing for the upcoming morning rush, and eager to get us in and out. The food had so much potential for being yummy, and the space is quaint and cozy and reminiscent of my high school and college days spent in Fairhaven cafes and eateries. Cost: High read more

See all

Great chow, personable owner. Quick stop in pre-hike. I had a fruit loaded scone and my son had a breakfast sandwich (Olivier?). Scone was more heart goodness than sweet which was appreciated. Super tasty food, cool seating area. Shirlee (I assume) was also playing Rush (Xanadu) which gets her bonus points. read more

An absolute best in town! The staff is Always friendly a nice to chat with. Drinks are just perfectly great. Not too hot, not too cold, just on spot. Baked goods are to die for! Freshly made every day. By now I tried a dozen of them and still don't have a favorite. They are all so good! I would say the best pastries in town. And I tried all the bakeries in Bellingham! Perfect little shop in a nice location and great offerings. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Open, in the snow! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

I still love the food at Shirlee Bird, but I just can't take the owner anymore. It's way too much like dealing with the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld: one wrong action, and it's no soup for you. Seriously, eat somewhere else or be prepared for anything. read more

Great coffee and pastries, some novel elevated flavor offerings, friendly people, great place overall! I am to come back

I found this place on Yelp and wanted to try the baked goods. It was a pity we already ate before coming over as the smell when you opened the door was mouthwatering. I did not know what was being made, but the aroma was tantalizing and made me want to eat again. So next time, I must drop by for food instead. As we were already full, we just had a lemon blueberry danish to go. We did not warm it up but it was delicious. The taste of fresh blueberry and lemon curd was perfect. It was not overly sweet and it would be excellent with a cup of tea. Everything just looked so good in the display case. read more

See all

Yes - one of my favorite breakfast spots in Bellingham! Shirlee Bird has a great coffee and pastry selection, but my favorite thing are the breakfast sandwiches, which seem to rotate seasonally. There isn't much seating, particularly in these COVID times, so be prepared to take your food to go. There is usually only one person working, so the line can move kind of slowly during busy times of day. Don't worry - it's definitely worth the wait. My favorites: -The Wafflini -The Monte Cristo -Triple shot latte -Homemade pastries read more

Okay I will acknowledge that Shirley can be hard to take sometimes. But everyone has good days and bad days. But she is a great pastry chef and her food is very good. The pastries are good and the sandwiches of which I have only experienced The Bird sandwich, and coffee are good. if you do not want to experience Shirley come on any day but Monday. The other people working there are very nice and courteous, and if not too busy you can engage in a pleasant conversation. Don't let the less than stellar reviews put you off the food, i.e., don't blame the method of delivery read more

I came to get coffee and sandwiches here fairly often for lunch. The staff was mostly friendly, depending on who you got. The owner, Shirley, seemed friendly as well, but it always felt like she was one critique away from yelling at you and kicking you out - witnessed this with several other customer interactions and thought it was very unprofessional and rude. Sure enough, I came in today to order from outside without a mask (indoor is closed due to COVID I'm guessing). The girl ordering in front of me had her mask down the entire time, talking to Shirley and drinking coffee, no problem. I come up to order and she tells me she won't serve me without a mask, even through there is no authority anywhere requiring masks outdoors. Why then is there no indoor seating, and all this outdoor set up for? The whole interaction was very rude. The coffee is good, and the food is good. But I will not be coming back because of the attitude - which is ironic because there are signs all over the café eluting to, 'be kind' and 'no bad moods here'. I'm not going to give my money to someone who doesn't accommodate or have respect for customers, is a hypocrite, can't think critically, and has anger issues. read more

The coziness, the ambiance, everything about this place shouts Bellingham in the best way possible. The service was quick, even though there was just one girl working! My friends and I got a variety of their sandwiches and wraps and it was amazing. Each one had so much flavor, and the portion of these foods were more than enough, especially for the price! I'll definitely be stopping by here again if I'm ever in the area, and I'll make sure to try a pastry because it looked absolutely delicious. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Great sandwiches, homemade pastries and environment! The Griller on rye was amazing as were the cinnamon maple scones!

Yum. There wasn't enough me to order everything I wanted. Got the orange cardamom knot and was done to perfection. Must. Come. Again.

Wonderful food, terrific attitude from the workers. Amazing coffee! What more do you want?

Innovative and delicious. Did I mention, fast, funky and more fun than you'd think a sandwich could be?? The Hamskee is by far the beat panini to cross my lips and the presentation... THAT is where the innovation comes in. Amazing bakery, awesome coffee and Shirlee herself, a PNW gem. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Ambiance is great, the food is amazing, and they have kombucha on tap. What more could you want? I got the croissant, which was Didn't get a chance to try any of the pastries, but they all looked absolutely divine! I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a nice quick breakfast option. Oh and the service is also amazing!!! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town for work! read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - the Croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Really cool little cafe. Great espresso and the food was delish - staff were super friendly - it was well worth the detour. This is now our go to place when we are heading South or North read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Double espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

Tiny spot, a one woman show. Wonderful coffee and sandwiches! Pastries looked great too. Didn't have to wait long despite the fact that Shirlee was taking orders, making drinks and sandwiches as well as serving them. We tried the Monte Cristo, one on Sourdough, the other on waffles. My daughter and her boyfriend had amazing and unique Waffelini with mango chutney and a curry and cheese sandwich with celery. Amazing!!! read more

See all

So good! Amazing vegan options. Great coffee and beautiful service. Highly recommend!

We enjoyed this spot located in a building from the 1800s. Plenty of street parking so it wasn't too difficult. Walking in the shop itself is small and a bit crowded, with a little seating nook to the right. But there was plenty of tables outside in the indoor courtyard on the other entrance. We ordered the Monte Cristo on a waffle, a breakfast burrito with bacon, a latte, and a hot chocolate. All for about $30 after tip. We enjoyed our breakfast (which is served all day). Very unique coffee spot. Will be back! read more

See all

Super friendly service, was very helpful with my allergies! Delicious lattes with good alternative milk options!

This is the best bakery in Bellingham. At least they actually put a lot of fruit in their pastries and don't overdo the sugar. You generally can't go wrong with anything you get there. Although occasionally they burn sandwiches. Best to stick with the desserts! read more

I have a new favorite in Fairhaven. A tiny little cafe with an enormous (for its size) menu. We came intending to visit the Shirlee Bird Cafe, but I had a little trouble finding it. It's in a gorgeous building, but I was expecting more signage. I was across the street and it all blended in, but from outside it would have been easy. I wasn't expecting it to be so tiny. There one booth and a few other seats, but so full of opportunity. I recommend it as a to-go place. Saturday was quiet-ish, but I expect weekdays are frantic. Shirlee runs the place alone and does an amazing amount in a tiny kitchen. We had full toasted sandwiches that were made to order. I loved the quirky ham, Swiss and cornichons mix on the menu. My friend had a modified version of a different sandwich. She said what she felt like and Shirlee made a delicious post-hike sandwich. We chatted about different drinks. I'd already had coffee so was going for water. The ginger beer looked enticing but it's usually sweet. Shirlee took it as a challenge and poured me a sample cup. I ended up ordering and enjoying a glass. Next time, it's going to be coffee and pastries. Join me? read more

See all

I had to stop by and have another very unique sandwich from Shirlee. The little shop was buzzing with customers looking to get their special sandwich that only Shirlee can artfully create in flavor and style. This time opted for the Monte Cristo. While there, people talk to one another about things around their lives. It seems to be the energy in this place. It is so unique and inviting, it's hard not to say hello to the person next to you. Shirlee brings the dish for you and asks if you would like a drink with your meal. She is a one-woman-show. The food is always pushing the standard up higher than anyone else, and her energy is an entertaining show. You will not be bored there, find out for yourself. Oh, and I didn't forget, the Monte Cristo, of course, tasted like a pastry sandwich. You may become addicted to this place if you're not careful. Try it, and let me know if you feel the spirit here. Lots of energy, oh and phenomenal pastries. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Monte Cristo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

Such a cute spot!! the coffee was yummy and there was a great assortment of pastries, including vegan!

The person taking our order was very friendly, very personable, but was distractedly taking our order and did not write anything down. Well, about 40 minutes later, it was clear she forgot about us, had sold the last croissant that I ordered and mixed up my daughter's drink order. She shoved 10 dollars towards me to make up for sold croissant. And then proceeded to blame me for not re-ordering our food. It was a very strange experience. I mean, obviously she was busy, I get it. But it helps to write things down. It's not rocket science. Not likely to return. Good luck to everyone who does!! read more

This is a cute little place, and the barista was supper friendly and really kind! I had a White Mocha and a Monte Cristo- it was a very tasty and you can tell it was made with love! If you are walking around Fairhaven I highly recommend stopping in. It's very small but cute and lots of personality. I'm excited to try other menu items in the future! read more

See all

Ate breakfast here this morning. Loved the location and loved the building. Great place to enjoy a quiet breakfast in the fantastic courtyard. Limited breakfast menu but everything we chose was really good. We thought the staff and service was excellent. read more

Terrific little coffee spot. Pastries are INCREDIBLE. Owner is energetic, outgoing and a lot of fun!

I love Shirely Bird !! The vibe, the food, the owner! All stellar. Every time I go,I feel welcomed, I feel satisfied and I always want to come back! read more

Great food, wonderful service, perfect coffee, and I love the historic ambiance. One imagines seeing Mark Twain walk around the balcony again. We will be back. read more

So quaint. Cozy. Good energy. Great service. And don't get me started on the food and coffee. So glad to have this in my backyard!! read more

We popped into the Shirlee Bird Cafe on our way out of Bellingham for a coffee and a grab and go breakfast. Hands down the best lavender coffee drink I've ever had, on top of a delicious breakfast muffin, and my partner loved his breakfast sandwich and pastry. Shirlee was incredibly personable and easy to converse with, on top of being very on top it while running a one person show. We loved the vibe and will be back to visit next time we're in Bellingham! read more

What a quaint and wonderful addition to the FH food scene. Sandwiches, pastries & cookies, and fancy coffee drinks, what more do you need? I went at lunch time and had the B&B sandwich made of roast beef, bacon, Gorgonzola Dolce, pea tendrils and tomato preserves. It was perfectly balanced, perfectly grilled and a perfect portion for the price. The other 5-6 offerings looked just as tantalizing including the Waffelini, which I will return for. The cafe is small but has a number of seating choices and feels cozy, not small. There are a couple of games to play and a number of periodicals around to read. The owner was absolutely charming and she makes another fine case to return. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - The B n B!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The cutest little Fairhaven coffee shop ever, run by employees who care. The best pasteries!

I was in town to set up shop and to visit friends and family. I was in a cheerful mood and stopped in to Shirlee Bird Cafe to sit a spell and have a coffee. I ordered a soy-based drink, and they directed me to seating in the interior courtyard that is shared by other businesses. The drink was delivered, and right away I tasted regular milk. I'm allergic (people occasionally ask "what happens?" Uh, a very uncomfortable 24 hours on the toilet, thank you for asking). I took it back in and said I thought they may have made a mistake and forgotten to use soy. It happens--I wasn't angry. Just wanted them to make it right. Wellll, major defensiveness ensued, so I just said "well, forget it" and walked out. The owner/operator Shirlee Bird herself chased_me_down, got in my face, and was incredibly aggressive and weird and street harasser-level rambling. She made a terrible scene, witnessed by others who approached me later to see if I was OK. She then came back out and THREW a 5er at me and marched back to the shop. I got up to return it, and said "this wasn't necessary. I had not paid yet." And then she acted like I had skipped out on paying, instead of that they hadn't charged me yet. It was all super unpleasant and unnecessary, and I am not surprised to read the insider reviews on here indicating what she's like to work for. read more

We stopped in Bellingham on our way to Vancouver and found this little coffee shop. Not only is the coffee fantastic, the baristas are SO friendly. Their cold brew is infused with lavender and it is fantastic. There was a huge display of pastries, which we didn't have any, but definitely a lot of options! I would highly recommend this coffee shop to anyone, and wish it was closer to me in Chicago! read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Small breakfasts and coffee. Perfect if you need a small nosh. Food was interesting and tasty. Great coffee. Great service. Definitely for a small bite to eat vs breakfast. read more

Shirlee Bird Cafe - Super cute, eclectic. Interesting menu. Fresh, hand made. Yummy. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Just go to this place. Please. I came through with a group on a trip from Vancouver to Seattle and we expected a hometown diner feel. Instead, we were blown away by the diversity of food and drink options, the delicious homemade pastries, and Shirlee's wonderful service and personality. The highlights included the blueberry lemon curd danish-style pastry and the lavender-infused cold brew coffee. All the pastries we had were beyond exceptional. The drinks were creative and excellent. The widespread food options were enjoyable. The monte cristo and "waffleini" were both good, while the breakfast burrito was fairly standard. The cafe itself, as well as the surrounding indoor and outdoor seating, was eclectic and wonderful. The historic and cozy setting cemented the local, authentic feel of the place. Shirlee herself was helpful, funny, and incredibly hard-working, running the place single-handedly when we were there. Especially if you're looking for great coffee and pastries, you can't pass this up. And if you have a few minutes, stay to try an interesting lunch option and explore the historic area! read more

I just had a religious experience with a piping hot, blueberry & raspberry scone. As I bit into the perfectly crisp toasted outside, the steamy soft insides fell gently onto my tongue, and I was spellbound. When I finished the bite, I knew I had just tasted the best scone anywhere. I said so, too, making sure both my husband AND Shirlee heard. "This is the BEST scone I've ever had in my entire life!!" And just like that, I was teary-eyed. I blinked my eyes quickly and laughed, "Oh my goodness, it seriously brought tears to my eyes it is SO GOOD." Her scone actually made me cry a tiny bit. Shirlee jumped for joy upon hearing that--she said we made her day. Also, the Monte Cristo sandwiches are also the best we've ever had, but my mind is still too blown over the entirety of the deliciousness I've just experienced to write anymore. read more