Historic Hotel Sorrento sits on top of First Hill, right on the border of Downtown Seattle, this unique gem awaits guests of all kinds. Just a few blocks away from both Capitol Hill and Downtown, Sorrento has the advantage of being in the center of Seattle, yet away from the hustle and bustle.
Built for travelers on the way to Alaska during the Gold Rush era, Hotel Sorrento celebrated its 100 year anniversary over a decade ago. That makes it among the oldest hotels still around in the Seattle area, and it boasts its historical style throughout.
The moment you approach the hotel you are stunned by the beauty both outside and in. The brick exterior reflects an Italian oasis style and has aged wonderfully over the century of its existence. A drive-in valet parking service for guests makes bringing your car extremely convenient.
Inside, you’re greeted by an extravagant wood-paneled lobby. Adjacent is a circular guest lounge, with a rockwood tile fireplace, grand piano and a bar with complimentary wine in the evenings. It’s a beautiful introduction to such a striking place and is like stepping back in time to a century ago. Next to the lobby also is the Dunbar Room and Bar, the restaurant of the hotel. There you can admire more of the vintage wood-paneled bar and tiled floor, and enjoy the delicious food.
Sidle over to the elevator and you’ll marvel again at the original button layout, unchanged since the hotel’s early days. The elevator even offers interchangeable rugs to remind guests what day it is. It’s such a nice old fashioned touch. The hotel has seven floors, and many include eye-opening views of the beautiful downtown Seattle skyline.
Head up to the grand rooms and you’ll be blown away by the decadence. The old-world design of the hotel interior is splendid and again, puts you into the period when it was built. We had a beautiful set up in the Juliet Suite on the top floor, with a balcony looking out over the hotel’s courtyard. The bathroom has been remodeled recently with white marble and makes for a cozy place to take a tub bath.
The room is expansive and includes a small fridge, a wardrobe, and a TV with cable. Unique artwork on the walls gives the room character, and the old fashioned style chandelier was a great touch for the old period feel to the room. But with free WiFi for guests, you don’t have to remain stuck in the early twentieth century.
Our suite was next door to the Penthouse, which is occasionally opened for parties and get-togethers. Down the hall is the event room, Top of the Town, where Hotel Sorrento just released its monthly music series. This month’s event on March 27 features folk singer and songwriter Brenda Xu.
The city of Seattle has several historic hotels, but this gem is an exquisite option that not enough visitors have tried. Take a trip back to the early 1900s and see how people traveled in style a hundred years ago. From original architecture, paneling and wonderful historical preservation over the years, Hotel Sorrento is a fun place to stay a night, catch a show, or simply grab a drink.