Montvale Hotel

Built in 1899, the Montvale Hotel is Spokane's oldest standing hotel building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Spokane River and Falls are just two blocks to the north. The hotel's three-story façade retains its classic style, while its interiors have been recently rejuvenated along with the neighborhood, creating a hotel of exceptional character and comfortable accommodations.

In the heart of downtown in the arts district, the Montvale is truly a destination hotel located within a block of the revitalized Fox Theater, Big Easy concert hall and Ella's Supper Club jazz venue. Many art galleries and restaurants are accessible within a few blocks of the hotel.

Accommodation with Panache

The Montvale Building's red brick and large windows are typical of western American buildings of the late 1800s, while the large atrium and grand stairs give the feel of a major city hotel. The Montvale was built in 1899 and completed its conversion into a boutique hotel in 2005.

The overall décor is a mixture of American and European antiques and rugs, accompanied by more modern furniture. Influenced by his year of living in Vienna, Austria, owner Rob Brewster sought to create a place that has European style without feeling overly European. This balance of old Europe and turn-of-the-century western design permeates the Montvale and its restaurant, the Catacombs Pub.

A focus of the interior is its beautiful second and third floor atrium with an enormous 70-foot by 20-foot skylight. The two-story atrium is packed with old wooden bookcases, antique furniture and the owner's unique art collection. Among the art collection is a small painting created by his mother in the late 1960's.

Nocturnal Spectacle

The 36 guestrooms include queens, deluxe kings, parlor suites with Murphy beds, double queens and two outstanding presidential suites. All rooms have private bathrooms, some with jetted tubs. Enhancing the comfort of the rooms are their 11-foot ceilings and over-sized bathrooms with Gilchrist & Soames bath products. From many rooms guests may appreciate striking views of downtown Spokane, especially at night.

When staying at the Montvale, Mardi and I seek out the large corner rooms, which have a separate seating area and fireplace. Another special room is the presidential suite, which has an original painting of Dwight D. Eisenhower painted as he sat for the artist. The room was dedicated by Eisenhower's granddaughter in 2005.

Not Your Average Pub

For dining options, be sure to enjoy the casual-yet-memorable Catacombs Pub, an old European style underground restaurant with large exposed wood beams and iron chandlers. Its wood-fired pizza stone oven uses the original stone and mortar work from the turn of the century and produces an excellent thin-crust chicken cashew pesto pizza.

When dining here, be sure to save room for unusual and decadent desserts. I indulge in the Nutella hazelnut chocolate calzone, while Mardi likes to order the s'mores and make them just the way she likes them with the table-top roaster. After dinner, guests may achieve the ultimate Montvale experience, sipping wine in front of the fireplace in the candle-lit atrium, looking up through the skylight at the stars.

We both love to see old buildings saved and brought back to life. That is what attraced us to the Montvale and keeps us coming back each spring.

Each time we come back this place continues to get better and we fall in love with it all over again. My favorite memory was the first time we arrived in winter and were brought up the hill in their snow-cat--now that was a new experience!