Unique Stay: A Cute and Cozy Hobbit House to Rent on Bainbridge Island, WA
Want to live out your Lord of the Ring dreams? This one room, hand-built Hobbit Hole is built into a hill and is incredibly cozy. Here’s everything you need to know about this gorgeous Hobbit House to rent!
Native Land Acknowledgement
Bainbridge Island is on Suquamish and Coast Salish land.
I love recommending the gear and stays that I'm stoked about and use on the regular. As such, this post contains affiliate links to some of the products I love, and I'll receive commission upon any purchases made through those links at no expense to you.
Getting There
Getting there is a fun adventure in and of itself! From Seattle, hop in line for the Bainbridge Island ferry and enjoy a beautiful 30-minute sail across Puget Sound. Keep an eye out for sea lions–whales even swing by once in a while!
This is a Hipcamp property so keep in mind that you’re glamping!! That said, it’s easily one of the most comfortable glamping experiences I’ve ever had.
The owner, Mary, sent over detailed arrival instructions so finding the place was a breeze! We parked in our designated spot, filled up the little wagon with our supplies (including a cooler–there’s no fridge in the hobbit hole), and carted it down to our private abode. I walked in to find DELICIOUS freshly baked oatmeal butterscotch cookies that I instantly devoured. Such a nice complimentary treat!
The home is built into a hill with its own front yard, covered table and chairs, and a combination fire pit and charcoal barbecue with a grill top. Ideal for roasting hot dogs and/or s’mores. We did both, obviously.
There’s even a frisbee golf basket and frisbees for you to test your aim–I’m out of practice to say the least, but my mom straight up killed it! Feel free to take a stroll around the vegetable and flower gardens and make yourself at home!
Inside the Hobbit House
The hobbit hole itself is super cozy at just 7.5’ x 15.5’ and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. The space has heat and electricity, a small table with two chairs and a futon that pulls out into a bed to sleep two. Poke around to find puzzles, games, snacks, a hot water kettle, coffee maker, bluetooth speaker, books, a sketchpad with colored pencils, and more! There’s even an electric fire place for peak cozy vibes. Pretty sweet setup if you ask me!
Pro Tip: Opt-in for a $7 firewood bundle to be awaiting your arrival so you don’t have to worry about it! There’s also the option to add a six-person (max) campsite if you want to bring your friends and fam along.
What’s the Toilet Situation?
Thought you’d never ask! There’s a clean and well-stocked porta potty near your parking spot. This is your private restroom during your stay.
Things to Do on Bainbridge Island
Bloedel Reserve
The 150-acre public garden and forest reserve is impressive to say the least. Purchase a day pass to walk the property’s meadows, woodlands, marshy ecosystem, moss garden, reflection pool, a Japanese garden, and more. Checkout the Japanese guesthouse and the beautiful and luxurious Bloedel family home that looks like it was plucked straight out of European royal history. Walk to the other side for a stunning view of Puget Sound!
Manitou Beach
Just a short 10-minute walk from the Hobbit Home is a beautiful Pacific Northwest beach with an epic view of the Seattle skyline. Highly recommend a sunset stroll to catch the city aglow!
Fay Bainbridge State Park
This is an awesome driftwood covered beach with a great view of Seattle on the north end of the island. It also offers tent camping for those who’d like to pitch a tent!
Bainbridge Island Wine Tasting
Bainbridge Island wine tasting is a popular activity for islanders and visitors alike. There are almost too many to choose from, so let me make it a little easier for ya!
Winslow Tasting Room: A quaint little tasting room on Winslow Way beckons ferry walk-ons to sip near a great people-watching window or head out back for a fireside treat.
Winery Location: With indoor and outdoor seating options between beautiful pines, this location exudes a more laid back atmosphere with the occasional opportunity to chat with their winemaker. Bonus: If you bike in, you get a free tasting. How cool!
Bainbridge Vineyards crafted some beautiful award winning wines over the years–that combined with its gorgeous property steeped in rich island history, makes this a must-visit spot! The property was purchased from Japanese-American farmer Akio Suyematsu who had a large role in making Bainbridge the leading strawberry producer in the Northwest. Today, it boasts 15 acres of vineyards in a 40-acre historic boundary and is one of the few Bainbridge wineries that actually grows 100% of their grapes on-island. Grab a tasting flight and enjoy the farm’s gorgeous fields. It’s an experience!
Started as a hobby now we’re here. No joke, these winemakers started playing around with winemaking back in the day, purchasing grapes from the oldest vineyards in Washington state and creating batches back at a friends house in the Rolling Bay area of Bainbridge Island that would get better every single year. Their tasting room is nothing but good vibes, getting it a spot in Seattle Met’s “Top 22 Tasting Rooms in
Washington,” and its wines into Seattle Magazine’s list of the “10 Best New Washington Wines” in 2012. They also put on some pretty sweet events too!
Hiking on Bainbridge Island
The trail between Blakely Harbor and Fort Ward.
Stretch your legs on a Bainbridge Island hike! A few of my favorites include:
The Grand Forest: 7 miles of beautifully forested trails in the center of the island. Make your hike as long or as short as you’d like!
Fort Ward Park Trail to Blakely Harbor: This 4.4-mile trail takes you to two of Bainbridge Island’s coolest spots. I’d recommend starting at Blakely Harbor to check out a cool graffitied relic from the old lumber mill days. Cross the bridge and continue across the road to start the forested section of the travel. Take in the gorgeous moss covered trees! It’s a stunning stroll! Then, head down hill to find an abandoned bunker from the WWII days. If you’d like (and I’d highly recommend it), continue on the paved pedestrian-only road along the waterfront for more fort buildings and a potential sea lion sighting or 20.
Gazzam Lake: I haven’t done this one myself, but it has my family’s stamp of approval. It’s a 3.1-mile loop trail with a lake accessible only by hiking or horseback riding.
Bainbridge Island Shopping
Bainbridge is known for its carefully curated shops and farm-to-table goods. Here are my favorites on the island!
WINSLOW
Wildernest is the island’s only outdoors store–it has a little bit of everything including rentals!
Zutto: Look for the sandwich sign on Winslow Way–it’s easy to miss! Then head downstairs for a massive selection of vintage everything. You never know what you might find!
Salt House Mercantile: Absolutely stunning in its design with thoughtfully curated gifts, small batch foods, bath and body, and artisan housewares, the Salt House Mercantile is a Bainbridge must!
Eagle Harbor Book Co: If you love a good book store, stroll in for an experience! It’s located in an old, woody building with ultimate cozy bookstore vibes. It’s just good feels all around.
OUTSIDE OF WINSLOW
Bay Hay and Feed in Rolling Bay is, yes, a nursery, but it’s also so much more. My favorite part is the local foods section–there’s a tiny grocery nook in the back that features some of the tastiest island-made goods around. Try not to walk out of there with one of everything, I dare you.
Restaurants on Bainbridge Island
WINSLOW
Breakfast/Brunch
Pegasus Cafe: While everyone and their moms go to Blackbird Bakery (which is fantastic, don’t get me wrong–they’re just usually out of most things by late morning, which is my time to shine), Pegasus is less crowded, more local, with cozy, storybook vibes. They have baked goods, coffee, beer, and wine, and are located down by the water. Better yet, grab a coffee to go and stroll along the waterfront boardwalk by the marina–it’s a beautiful time!
Bainbridge Apothecary and Tea Shop: This quaint little tea shop on Winslow Way has over 50 types of bulk loose leaf tea and an adorable rental area out back for private parties. They also host a street taco stand in their back courtyard with live music Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-8 p.m.
Madison Diner: This isn’t any old diner–it’s a totally authentic and original 1940s diner built by the Fodero Dining Car Company in Pennsylvania. A Bainbridge Islander bought it in the ‘90s and shipped it cross-country, beautifully restored it, and opened it for business in 1997 where it remains today. Stop in for a milkshake of any flavor imaginable, and some pretty dang good food too.
Lunch/Dinner
Cafe Hitchcock is an all-day café and bar. Before 5 p.m., expect organic espresso drinks, house-made jun kombucha, sandwiches, baked egg dishes, tartines, smoothies, grain bowls and market-inspired salads. After 5 p.m., give their impressive cocktails a try! They even bring out a street-front smoker on special occasions.
Proper Fish: Prepare yourself, because the Seattle Times named this spot Seattle’s best fish and chips ever! I recognized the look from my time spent in London, and sure, enough the owner, Harvey Wolff, is a Londoner himself. The fish is hand cut and fried fresh to order, served with thick cut fries, a scoop of mushy peas, and house-made tartar sauce. If you’re craving fish and chips, why are you still reading this? Get to Proper Fish ASAP.
Bruciato: If it’s a pizza kind of day, look not further. Bruciato’s makes a killer pizza, and you get to cut into it with a fat pair of scissors, which makes it that much more fun. Try the dates, prosciutto, and balsamic (Daterri e Prosciutto)–you won’t be disappointed.
Agate Restaurant: Date night? This one’s for you. Agate has a small diverse menu with indoor and outdoor seating. I haven’t been myself, but I’ve heard nothing but great thing–you bet it’s on my list! I think I’d order either the duck breast or the halibut. Or maybe the mussels. The filet mignon looks pretty dang good too. I can’t choose!
Drinks
Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse: A beautiful space with floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood tables, and modern lumberjack vibes (if that’s a thing). Their hazy IPA is definitely one of my top all-time faves.
Harbour Public House: This waterfront watering hole is a hot spot for BI locals with plenty of history to go around. The house it calls home was originally built in the 1880s, but with a foundation of cedar rounds, some reno work had to be done to bring the relic back from serious decay. The Public House officially opened in the 1990s and remains a community mainstay to this day!
OUTSIDE OF WINSLOW
Breakfast/Brunch
L’Atelier: Chef Tamas is kind of a big deal–he’s trained with some of the world’s best chocolatiers and pastry chefs in France, Belgium, Montreal and Chicago, worked as a chef around the world and competed on the international culinary stage, and chose to spend the last 11 years on Bainbridge Island. Needless to say, the eats are *chefs kiss.* He makes delectable chocolates, pastries, and cakes, but my favorite things on the menu are his mouthwatering Liege and Brussel waffles. Seriously. Do not miss the chance to try one of these masterpieces.
The Marketplace at Pleasant Beach: This space is truly unique–its layout reminds me of a terminal in the best way possible. Let me explain: it’s one big open space with plenty of tables and chairs and a connecting wine bar with a farm-style vibe. Walking in, you’ve got your coffee stand to the left, a pastry case with some crazy delicious and unique donuts (they sell out so don’t be late!), a sandwich/lunch station, taps to the right, and the doors to Earth and Vine (the wine bar) on the far right. Grab a coffee and hang out with a ton of elbow room, or take it to go to walk Schel Chelb beach just a few feet away. There’s also live music every Friday from 7-9 p.m.! Talk about on-stop shop.
Lunch/Dinner
Treehouse Cafe: This Lynwood Center restaurant has a little something for everyone–a safe, delicious bet for the entire family. My family lives right up the hill and this is easily one of our go-to dinner spots. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Joe’s Restaurant: Another Lynwood Center favorite, Joe offers delectable Italian fare in a beautiful environment. Indoor and outdoor seating is available–if the weather is nice, the patio is truly magical! Because it’s up on a hill, you’ll see views of Lynwood Center and the bay peeking through the garden.
Via Rosa 11: This Rolling Bay restaurant specializes in beautiful and tasty Italian comfort food. Think fresh pastas, olive oil, soups, antipasta, and so much more.
Drinks
Highside Distilling: Swing by for handmade Pacific Northwest gin, amaro, fernet, and single malt whiskey tastings, craft cocktails, or a cocktail class!
Bainbridge Brewing Brewery and Taproom: Enjoy Bainbridge’s finest where the good stuff is brewed! On the slower side of the island, the brewery and taproom offers snacks, is family and dog friendly, has indoor and outdoor seating and even offers an upper level for bigger parties.