Some hotels have history, and some hotels are historic. The Sorrento Hotel, perched atop Seattle’s First Hill, first opened in 1909, meaning this year the grand dame will be celebrating its 105th birthday. Rightful heir to Seattle’s “first boutique hotel” claim, the seven story Italian Renaissance-styled building is the longest operating hotel in the region. The site of many a romantic wedding (you don’t have to worry about “something old”), the property is now welcoming couples whose parents and grandparents were also wed on the site. Now that’s a deep gene pool.
And the Sorrento Hotel has a deep well of stories itself. The property was originally built when miners were stopping in Seattle en route to Alaska for the gold rush. Just ten blocks straight uphill from the waterfront and piers, the Sorrento was the overnight stop, feeding and fueling place before miners would continue north. Brilliant black and white photos of the period grace the halls, showing horse-drawn carriages out front and no other buildings in site.
Over the decades the property was favored by the art community, especially writers and performers. Top of the Town used to be The Bees Knees for fine dining in Seattle, and the rooftop spot is still well utilized today for private events. The social theme has continued firmly until present day with their popular “Sorrento Nights” collection of programming. Recognized as a creative hub for music, literature and social get-togethers, the property hosts ongoing events, like “Silent Readings” on the first Wednesday of every month (wordless communal reading sessions in the Fireside Room, with drinks, natch, followed by mingling in the bar), as well as live jazz music. A popular gathering place throughout the day, the warm and welcoming Fireside Room is equally apt for happy hour drinks, a business meeting, afternoon tea or just to relax and read a book. Surrounded in Honduran mahogany, guests nestle into plush couches and leather wingback chairs near the warmth of the classic Rookwood fireplace.
The Hunt Club bar is another great place to tuck into to meet like-minded souls. Old school epitomized, this wood was open during Prohibition, and the secret door to the Speakeasy is still visible behind bushes in the front of the hotel. Classic cocktails are here revived, spotlighting local artisan spirits producers. Restaurant chef Dan Gillmore mirrors the same classical homage in his food. Veteran of highly regarded local restaurants (The Herbfarm, Crush, Urbane among them), Chef Gillmore harkens back to the property’s legendary dishes of the past, refreshing them with local producers and modern technique. You can get your classic rack of lamb, but here it’s going to come with black lentils and red pepper relish. And that crab salad? It will be succulent Dungeness, along with avocado, grapefruit, watercress and hazelnuts from Lynden, Wash.,’s Holmquist Hazelnuts Orchards.
The 78 rooms are well appointed, intermingling mod cons with period furnishings. 400 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, down comforters and pillows, terry cloth bathrobes, bathrooms in Italian marble and free wifi make for a restful stay, and the very helpful hotel staff takes care of any additional queries or needs. Tip: the hotel car is available upon request to shuttle you down or pick you up from that steel hill!
A gathering place for Capitol Hill hipsters and local hospital executives, family reunions or first dates, the Sorrento Hotel continues to be a welcoming tradition in our fast paced world. It’s hard not to think about the hundred-plus years of guests making memories in those halls. I love that we’re able to revisit, live and add to that storied history today.
Sorrento Hotel || 900 Madison Street, Seattle || hotelsorrento.com
Follow on Facebook: Sorrento Hotel
Track on Twitter: @SorrentoHotel
