The Concierge

I make a point of working closely with the restaurant and business owners around Spokane. These relationships not only allow me to get those “hard to get” reservations, but to offer my personal experience and recommendations. We also have a town car service that is complimentary within the downtown area to make sure our guests arrive in comfort and style.

What are your group restaurant recommendations?
We are fortunate to have some of the finest restaurants within just a few blocks of our hotel. Some of my favorites, where I know our guests will get the best service and the finest dining experience, are Churchill’s Steakhouse, which uses only Prime Certified Angus Beef, dry-aged for tenderness; Moxie, a Euro/Asian fusion restaurant with a modern “bistro” atmosphere; and Europa, a beautiful Italian restaurant with a secluded, Old World ambience.

What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
We have some of the best bartenders in Spokane, making our signature martinis in the Peacock Room and the Safari Room in the hotel lobbies. But my favorites outside the hotel are O’Doherty’s, an Irish pub that features live impromptu Irish music every Tuesday night; Bistango, a trendy martini bar; and the Elk Public House, a great place to relax and socialize at the end of a long day.

Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
Spokane prides itself on being “Near Nature, Near Perfect.” Riverfront Park is located in the middle of downtown. Just three blocks from the hotel, it is the site of the 1974 World’s Fair [Expo ’74]. In the park you can find the Centennial Trail, a 37-mile paved trail that follows the scenic Spokane River through the heart of Spokane. Manito Park, located 1.5 miles from the hotel, boasts five gardens, including a rose garden, lilac garden and Japanese garden.

Are there any quirky places we should check out?
No one can truly say they have been to Spokane without seeing The Looff Carousel in Riverfront Park. It was built in 1909 and each horse is hand carved. It still runs today and is an emblem of Spokane’s “home town” feel. Another hidden treasure of Spokane is Auntie’s Booktore, the largest new and used bookstore in the city. Then, you can cozy up with your book and a cup of coffee at one of my favorite places: The Service Station. Half coffee shop, half concert venue, its large open seating area makes it an ideal place to gather with friends or enjoy quiet time on your own (plus, a large portion of all coffee sales goes to benefit free clinics in Africa).

If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
The Davenport Hotel itself is a historic icon in Spokane. I would suggest that you start with the walking tour of the hotel to learn its turbulent past and its phoenix-like rise from the ashes. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, just a mile from the hotel, presents the rich history and art of the Northwest and its people. Then, you can pick up The Skyride gondola in Riverfront Park to get a closer look at the spectacular Spokane Falls, a thrilling trip for any age.

What has been an unusual request from a group?
There was a guest who had brought his wife with him, but was concerned that she would be bored with him being in meetings all day and didn’t want to worry about her having to drive around in a strange city. I arranged a chauffeured car to drive her to some of the most prominent historic sites in the city, take her shopping and to lunch, and then to the symphony. She said it was so relaxing and she enjoyed her afternoon so much that she was thinking of making her husband hire a chauffeur for her at home.