An event playground
On my inbound flight to Spokane, Washington, I told a passenger where I’d be staying. She replied that if I’m going to Spokane, Davenport Hotel is the place to be. Little did I know I would echo this same sentiment at the end of my trip. Along with the hotel, the destination itself is one meeting attendees should experience, from the dining options to the lively Riverfront Park.
Exploring Louis Davenport’s Legacy
Davenport Hotel Collection is a collection of five properties in downtown Spokane. I spent my nights at the Davenport Hotel, the collection’s first property, whose story began in 1914 with founder Louis Davenport. This property features 284 guest rooms and 34,000 sq. ft. of meeting space across several unique and memorable venues. If the mattresses made a lasting impression on any attendees, they can be purchased at Davenport Home, the property’s home and bedding shop on the first floor.
“If I’m going to Spokane, Davenport Hotel is the place to be.”
Davenport Grand is the collection’s largest property, with 716 guest rooms and 63,177 sq. ft. of meeting space. Davenport Grand’s placement may be the most ideal, connected via skywalk to the 300,000-square-foot Spokane Convention Center and across the street from Spokane River and Riverfront Park.
The Louie, A Davenport Hotel is the collection’s smallest property and its newest accommodation. This 48-room property is adjacent to Davenport Hotel and can serve as a smart space for attendee overflow, as well as an event space, as the hotel can be bought out, with the lobby acting as an event space.
Food and Coffee
Spokane’s downtown is incredibly walkable. I used this feature to explore the city’s coffee shops. While there were plenty more, the ones I had time to check out were Brews Bros, an old school-style coffee shop across the street from Davenport Hotel; Indaba Coffee, where I had an Americano and one of the tasty maple pecan scones; and First Avenue Coffee, whose modern setting was the perfect place to grab a maple brown sugar latte.
Beyond coffee, I discovered the city’s culinary scene through a range of standout food and beverage experiences.
Davenport Hotel’s Palm Court Grill is its lobby-level restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had salmon blinis, Davenport Crab Louie Salad (this is where Crab Louis Salad originated, named after hotel founder), steak tournedos and Washington cherries jubilee with vanilla bean mousse. This last dish was presented in the most unique way: What our group thought were candles atop candleholders turned out to be our dessert.
House of Brunch is a couple of blocks from Davenport Hotel and makes for an ideal off-site dining spot. There are plenty of dishes to choose from, such as a French omelet, an omelet topped with gruyere cheese on top of a flat iron steak; lobster benedict, which comes with gruyere buttermilk biscuits and a full lobster tail; and Nordic crepes, which come with smoked salmon, poached egg and capers. I chose the first; it was a pleasant start to the morning.
Lilac & Pine is Davenport Grand’s newest restaurant on the property’s first floor. From its caviar deviled eggs to cedar-roasted king salmon and ribeye, Lilac & Pine’s menu covers all your attendees crave. To top it all off, one of the restaurant’s desserts, Pine & Ember “S’Mores Duo,” features two torched marshmallows stuffed with salted vanilla and peanut brittle ice cream.
Spokane is home to several local locations to imbibe. Dry Fly Distilling is a distiller of gin, vodka and whiskey, as well as canned cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. We tried two Davenport-exclusive drinks: Legacy Reserve Gin and Peanut Brittle Bourbon Dry Fly. Meeting profs can host private events for 50 at The Mezzanine, which comes with a full bar and catering from the distillery’s kitchen. Barrister Winery is a wine club and winery that serves white and red wines. Barrister houses two venues for private events: the 150-person Courtyard and 225-person Gallery.
The classy and cozy feel of Loren, a French-inspired restaurant near Riverfront Park, is a perfect location for post-event receptions. The rock and mortar walls placed in various locations make it feel like you’re in an upscale cavern, which makes for a fun ambiance. For smaller gatherings, Loren’s 20-person private space, The Sophia Room, is located just around the corner from the main floor.
Coeur d’Alene Exploration
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is 45 minutes from Spokane, and it opens groups to another world of exploration. Hayden Lake Marina is a partner of Davenport Hotel, so meeting professionals can benefit from 20% off boat rentals when staying at Davenport Hotel. Hayden Lake Marina offers multiple boats for exploring the lake, including an 18-person party pontoon and a 12-person premium sport boat.
A nearly 8-mile stretch of land separates Hayden Lake from Coeur d’Alene Lake. The latter is where you’ll find The Cedars Floating Restaurant. Satisfying meals await, such as crab cakes, various steak cuts and seafood dishes—and you can’t forget dessert; the mile-high mud pie, a tall beer glass-shaped ice cream treat, was my favorite.
This article appears in the July 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
