Best Boutique Hotels and Stays in Spokane
Boutique hotels in Spokane are small in number but distinctive in character: Montvale Hotel and Hotel Ruby are the two in this guide, both in the downtown arts and entertainment district. Montvale sits 140 metres from the Knitting Factory, and Hotel Ruby is a 5-minute walk from Riverfront Park with the Bing Crosby Theater and the Fox Theater one block away. Both put design and location ahead of services, and both allow pets (book early for concert weekends and festival dates). Check the show calendar first for loud nights. Expect compact rooms, short walks and a lively street.
Spokane's arts district is where the city keeps its personality: brick buildings, live music at the Knitting Factory and old theaters converted to stages. It is walkable, a little rough at the edges and more local than polished. Evenings are lively around shows, and mornings are quiet, so ask for a calm room on concert nights (street noise is possible until late).
Where to stay
Two small hotels in the arts district
Boutique in Spokane means design and location rather than resort services. Montvale offers hypo-allergenic bedding and a 24-hour atrium coffee station, while Hotel Ruby uses bright red accents and contemporary art. Guests who want a pool or a hot tub should compare the larger hotels, so the trade-off here is atmosphere over amenities (compare parking, which differs between the two).
Montvale Hotel is the more polished of the pair. Stylish air-conditioned rooms have premium cable TV, hypo-allergenic bedding, a seating area and a work desk, with boutique toiletries in private bathrooms. The second-level atrium serves complimentary coffee and tea 24 hours a day, and an on-site restaurant serves meals. Bicycle rental is available for rides to the river, and pets are allowed. The Spokane Convention Center is 1.4 km away and the airport 11 km (private parking is on site for guests). The restaurant and the atrium keep breakfast simple, and the location puts the evening entertainment within a short walk of the front desk.
Hotel Ruby takes a bolder approach: white walls with bright red accents and contemporary artwork, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi in every room, plus a microwave and a small fridge. The lobby offers coffee 24 hours a day, a bar is on site and laundry facilities help on longer trips. The Bing Crosby Theater and the Fox Theater are one block away, and Riverfront Park is 5 minutes on foot (limited parking is available for a fee, so reserve a space before you arrive). The contemporary artwork gives each room a distinct look compared with standard chain properties, which suits short city breaks.
Location is the shared strength. Both hotels sit in the entertainment district, where the Knitting Factory hosts touring bands and the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is about a mile away. The Spokane Arena is 1 mile from Hotel Ruby, and Gonzaga University is within a 5-minute drive. Walkers can reach most evening plans without a car, and Riverfront Park fills the mornings. Carry a light jacket for late returns, because the river valley cools quickly after dark (check show schedules before booking). Because the district is compact, a single walk can cover a museum visit, a drink and a show without any driving at all.
Practicalities favor Montvale for stays longer than a weekend. Rooms include a microwave and a refrigerator, the atrium offers a place to sit, and family rooms are available. Hotel Ruby suits short city breaks and music weekends, with laundry facilities and a 24-hour front desk. Both allow pets, a small advantage for dog owners who want to walk the river paths after check-in (confirm pet fees and room rules before arrival, since they vary by room). Travelers who prefer a pool or a breakfast buffet should compare the larger hotels nearby, but those who value atmosphere will find the trade-off worthwhile.
A traveler's perspectiveFor a music weekend I would choose Hotel Ruby, for its red-accented rooms and its location: the Fox Theater is one block away and Riverfront Park about a 5-minute walk. Rooms are small but full of character. My advice is to book a parking space ahead, since parking is limited and paid.
Montvale Hotel
Spokane
441 reviews
Atrium coffee and arts district nights, pets welcome
Check availabilityWhy guests love itA couple or small family that likes evenings out will find the Montvale well placed: the Knitting Factory is 140 metres away, and the atrium's free coffee and tea run all day. Rooms have a microwave, a fridge and hypo-allergenic bedding, helpful for light sleepers. It is a boutique place, not a resort, so activities are outside the door rather than inside (private parking is on site).
Hotel Ruby
Spokane
296 reviews
Red-accented boutique rooms in the Entertainment District
Check availabilityWhy guests love itA couple heading to a show will like the setup: the Fox Theater and Bing Crosby Theater are a block away, Riverfront Park is 5 minutes on foot and the lobby coffee never stops. Rooms are compact and playful with red accents and art, with a fridge and microwave for late snacks. Parking is limited and paid, so arrive with a plan. The dog is welcome (pets are allowed).
Local tips
- 1Reserve parking when you book Hotel Ruby, because on-site spaces are limited and carry a fee, and event nights fill them early.
- 2Check the Knitting Factory schedule before choosing Montvale, since shows run late and the venue is only 140 metres away from the front door.
- 3Use the free coffee at Montvale's second-floor atrium, because it is available 24 hours a day and makes early starts easier.
- 4Walk to Riverfront Park from Hotel Ruby, since it takes about 5 minutes and passes the theater blocks on the way.
- 5Ask for a quiet room on concert nights, because the entertainment district can be loud until late and light sleepers notice.
- 6Bring the dog if you like, since both hotels allow pets, though fees and rules should be confirmed first with the front desk.