Best Historic Hotels and Stays in Spokane
Historic hotels in Spokane come down to one landmark: the Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection, in downtown Spokane, with three restaurants, a spa and salon and downtown views. The hotel opened in 1914 and still anchors the Davenport district, five minutes by car from Riverfront Park, site of the 1974 World's Fair, and less than ten minutes from Gonzaga University. Older buildings vary in layout, so confirm room types and parking when you book. Check dining reservations early for weekends and holidays, because the Palm Court Grill fills quickly, and ask about renovated rooms if modern bathrooms matter to you.
Spokane's history shows in its downtown: the Spokane Falls that powered early mills, the clock tower left from the 1974 World's Fair, and brick blocks from the railroad boom. The city is practical rather than polished, and its old hotels still serve as meeting places for locals as well as visitors (a morning walk through Riverfront Park covers most of the story).
Where to stay
The Davenport and Spokane's old downtown
Spokane has few preserved hotels, so the Davenport carries the history for the whole city. Around it, the Davenport Tower, The Davenport Grand and The Louie extend the brand, while Steam Plant Hotel and Hotel Ruby give a looser sense of old brick Spokane. Choose the Davenport for the full historic feel and book dining before arrival (weekend tables fill early).
The Davenport Hotel, Autograph Collection is the historic centerpiece. The Palm Court Grill serves fresh seafood in an intimate setting, the Peacock Room Lounge offers a late-night martini and the Safari Room completes the dining trio. The Davenport Spa and Salon, a tennis court, bicycle rental and downtown views add to the stay, and rooms include a flat-screen cable TV, a work desk and ironing facilities. Pets are allowed, and Riverfront Park is 5 minutes by car (the Centennial Biking Trail is 8 km away). Rooms differ by floor, so mention a preference for quiet or for a view when you reserve and confirm it on arrival.
The wider Davenport family helps with options. The Davenport Tower adds an indoor pool, a hot tub and safari-inspired rooms, and sits 8 minutes on foot from Riverfront Park. The Davenport Grand is 100 metres from the park and connects to the Convention Center, with marble walk-in showers. The Louie offers free bicycles under 1 km from the SkyRide, family rooms and an EV charging station. Together they let guests pick a budget and a style within the same district (each has its own parking terms). The three together offer a spectrum from a modern tower to a family-friendly option, all within a short stroll of the river.
Steam Plant Hotel and Hotel Ruby offer a different texture of history. Steam Plant Hotel sits 600 metres from the SkyRide and within 800 metres of the Amtrak station, with free seasonal bicycles, free parking and up to two free breakfasts a day at Rosie's Restaurant. Hotel Ruby sits in the Entertainment District with the Bing Crosby Theater and the Fox Theater one block away. Both suit guests who prefer brick-district character to a grand lobby (Hotel Ruby parking is limited and paid). The Steam Plant's unusual name and Hotel Ruby's red accents both reward guests who prefer character to a standard lobby and uniform room.
Outside the hotels, history is easy to reach on foot. Riverfront Park preserves the 1974 World's Fair site with the clock tower and the Looff Carrousel, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture sits about a mile from Hotel Ruby, and the Centennial Trail follows the river. A morning loop covers the story of the falls, and the theaters around Hotel Ruby fill the evening. Wear walking shoes, because the downtown streets are mostly flat (check museum hours before you go). Spokane's historic buildings are easy to spot on foot, so bring a camera and allow an extra hour for the walk between the park and the theaters.
A traveler's perspectiveTo see the old downtown I would choose the Davenport Hotel and ask for a room with a view. I recommend a quiet dinner at the Palm Court Grill, then a morning walk to Riverfront Park for the clock tower and the falls on the 1974 World's Fair grounds. My advice is to keep the afternoon for walking the old downtown blocks around the hotel.
Local tips
- 1Book the Davenport Hotel's Palm Court Grill when you reserve a room, because the intimate seafood restaurant fills on weekends and event nights.
- 2Ask for a downtown-view room at the Davenport Hotel, since views vary and older buildings have different layouts from floor to floor.
- 3Walk Riverfront Park to see the 1974 World's Fair clock tower and the Looff Carrousel, because both are free to view and close to downtown.
- 4Use Steam Plant Hotel's seasonal free bicycles to tour the river, since it is within 800 metres of the Amtrak station.
- 5Visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, because it sits about a mile from Hotel Ruby and rounds out a history day.
- 6Compare The Davenport Tower or The Davenport Grand for modern comforts, since both sit in the same downtown district as the historic hotel.