The cute coastal town of Friday Harbor, just 65 miles and a stunning ferry ride away from Seattle, is the perfect setting for a romantic weekend getaway. Charming restaurants, shops, galleries, boutiques and museums line the streets of this perfectly walkable gem. It’s the basecamp to San Juan Island adventures like beach-combing, birding, hiking, biking, kayaking and whale watching. A place to celebrate love and nature and good food, prepared with care from island grown ingredients. Here are our favorite Friday Harbor restaurants, which serve not only outstanding food, but are also so romantic, you might want to pop the question (all over again).
1) Vinnie’s Ristorante
Romantic Vinny’s serves classic, gourmet Italian dishes with an emphasis on fresh, local seafood. Don’t miss the Drunken Manila Clam appetizer from the local seafood farm, served with a to-die-for Vodka-cream sauce. Rediscover your Italian favorites, like Puttanesca or Penne Primavera and leave room for the best Tiramisu you’ll ever had.
Insider Tip: Visit right when the restaurant opens to pick the most romantic table and feel like you own the place.
2) COHO Restaurant
Located in a cozy Craftsman House, this amazing Farm-to-Table restaurant will indulge all of your senses. Chef Ryan sources the finest local ingredients from land and sea and creates truly awe-inspiring concoctions, you might find too beautiful to eat. COHO is open on all holidays and features themed Chef’s Dinners regularly. Reservations are a must.
Insider Tip: Treat your Sweetie to their Valentine’s Gustatory Rapture, a 5-course meal, paired with the perfect wines and sparklies, raw oysters and of course chocolate and roses.
3) Back Door Kitchen
Tucked behind the ferry overflow parking lot, where you least expect it, you will find the Back Door Kitchen and its lovely gardens. This adorable island oasis serves local, organic food with an Asian twist and outstanding specialty cocktails. Back Door is open seasonally between March and December.
Insider Tip: Reserve an outside table in their garden. They have heat lamps for chilly evenings.