A Review of the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, WA

The Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane conjures up emotions of years gone by. This wonderfully restored hotel will make you feel like you’re in another era, but with modern refinements. Originally built in 1914, The Davenport lived a long and lustrous life until 1985 when the downtown area began to see its age and the doors were finally closed.

Over the next decade, downtown Spokane continued to fade into the past and the fate of the ol’ Davenport was held in the balance. On more than one occasion the Hotel was set for demolition, but she staved off destruction for fifteen years.

The Hotel was purchased in the year 2000 by local entrepreneurs who marveled at the history and saw what could be…once again.  After pouring countless dollars into restoration to bring The Davenport back to life…back to its glory days of years gone by, the hotel re-opened in 2002 to much fanfare.

The Davenport Hotel is unique in many ways…first, it’s not owned by some huge hotel conglomerate.  Two, I think few hotels have successfully embraced and retained its history, while modernizing but staying true to its core.

The Davenport feels like an old hotel, and not in the way you might imagine—I mean to say that from the obvious architecture, decor, accents and embellishments…to the impeccable staff and service, The Davenport gives you a sense of how hotels were once run.  Do you remember what it was like to fly on an airplane 30+ years ago?  That’s how the Davenport feels to me, like how a hotel used to be run, but is still doing it today. Clearly the current owners took their cue from Mr. Davenport himself, as he once said…”We hope to so well please our guests that they will be glad they came, sorry to leave and eager to return.”  I would go so far as to say that I’d go out of my way to visit Spokane just to stay in The Davenport Hotel.

My accommodations were luxurious…I stayed in one of the Davenport Parlor suites, which was nearly 700sf.  The king size bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in.  The parlor was spacious and the wet-bar convenient for keeping our refreshments cool.  The bathroom was Romanesque, with granite his/her sinks, large travertine shower and a comfortable soaking tub.

I was lucky enough to visit the Davenport during the holiday season.  There was fresh snow on the ground, and the scent of pine in the lobby really got this Scrooge in the holiday spirit.  The hotel’s historic walking tour was particularly enjoyable with all the Christmas lights accentuating the various focal points…I really loved the many nooks and crannies to explore throughout the hotel.

If you’re planning a wedding, conference or corporate event, it will no doubt be memorable if you stay at The Davenport, their ballrooms are opulent, richly decorated and simply exquisite.

The Davenport Hotel also features several dining options, two of which we tried and enjoyed thoroughly…The Palm Court Grill and the Safari Room.  I distinctly remember the fresh berry salad, the tenderloin with King Crab legs, a spicy shrimp flat-bread pizza and hot apple crisp with rich vanilla ice cream…oh my.

Some of the on-site amenities include:

• Indoor heated pool and spa
• Workout facility
• Florist
• Starbucks Kiosk
• Fine Dining Restaurants
• Gift Shop
• Spa
• Free Town Car service (within 2 miles of the hotel)

Some interesting facts about the hotel:

• The doorman featured on the hotel’s literature has been working there for 60+ years
• The Davenport was the first hotel to feature air conditioning
• The “Crab Louis” was named after the hotel owner, “Louis Davenport”
• Fourth largest hotel in the state of Washington with 611 rooms
• Click here for more history on The Davenport Hotel

After reading my article, watching the video and looking at the various pictures, you might assume that The Davenport is out of your lodging budget.  There is no question that this establishment is grand, but I think you might just be pleasantly surprised at how affordable The Davenport is if comparing it to comparable properties in larger cities.

If you’ve stayed at The Davenport Hotel, please leave a comment and tell my readers and me about your experience.