Good news, outdoor drinking fans! Honey Moon, Bellingham's Alley District meadery/cidery and all-around hot spot, has a cool new patio setup. I spotted it while riding my bike down the alley last week, and decided I just had to take a closer look. Plus, I had heard tales of a frosty adult beverage being served up at Honey Moon, so there's that.
Upon closer inspection, the new patio structure proved to be pretty perfect. Lots more seating is available, now that they've installed some bars to lean against and set your drink on. If you feel like sitting, just pull up a barstool while you look out on the alley, for ultimate people watching. Or, relax at a table for two or more. Awnings provide a bit of shade, but there's still enough warmth from the setting sun to keep cardigans at bay—at least for another month or two.
Now for that frosty beverage I promised: it's called a Meadarita, which sounds like it should be a Margarita made with mead, but it's not. It is, however, dispensed from a frozen margarita-like machine.
Turns out a Meadarita isn't a limey-sweet-and-salty drink; rather it's a concoction of mead and either lemon ginger soda or frozen berries (blackberries, raspberries and strawberries). Brilliant! Delicious! And so refreshing! I tasted both flavors and decided the lemon-ginger, made with orange mead, was just right. My companion couldn't make up his mind, so he ordered a beer.
Along with their frozen drinks and regular lineup of meads that include the classic Lovers Mead, strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and more, Honey Moon offers a rotating selection of local craft beers, like Chuckanut Brewery Pilsner, Wander Brewing DogLost Pilsner, and Menace Brewing Beer's Light, as well as Honey Moon's own CiderHead hard cider, made from Bellewood Acres apples.
Like the mead, CiderHead is available to take home by the bottle. Unlike the mead, you can also get CiderHead in cans (exciting!).
Honey Moon always has a nice assortment of snacks, like warm brie and baguette, homemade soups and substantial salads. We shared a cheese and meat plate, which included olives, mixed nuts and fresh cherries for a really nice assortment of flavors and textures. Everything went nicely with the Meadarita and Chuckanut Pilsner.
Honey Moon's interior space is always welcoming, with rotating art displays on the walls and high ceilings that make the space bright and airy. Seems like there is always live music pouring out into the alley from Honey Moon—and their lively event calendar has something for everyone. Open mic night on Wednesdays is very popular.
As long as our weather stays beautiful, I'll opt for outdoor imbibing every time. And I know I'll see many of you filling patio bars, decks and sidewalks throughout beautiful Whatcom County this summer. And don't worry about missing out on any cool spots—my duty (and I take it very seriously) is to keep you posted on all of your available outdoor cocktail, wine and beer options.
Stay tuned for more, but in the meantime, check out Honey Moon's new space for a perfectly enjoyable patio experience!
Honey Moon
Tuesday – Saturday, 5:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Happy Hour 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
1053 N State St., Bellingham, Washington 98225 360-734-0728
(Entrance in the alley behind State Street)
